The term "Targum" (KB 1787) means "to translate" or "translator" (cf. Ezra 4:7,18). This was the name given to the Hebrew Scriptures being translated into Aramaic. These two Semitic languages have much in common. The synagogue of Jesus' day read their Scripture texts in Aramaic. This was the language of the Jewish people since the Persian period (i.e., some Targum translations are present in the Dead Sea Scrolls).
The Semitic root seems to have a second meaning/usage, which was to explain a given Scripture text (cf. Neh. 8:8). This translation/explanation is available for every book of the Hebrew Bible except Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel.
There are two main versions.
However, the fragments of Targums seem to indicate at least five different versions (mostly Wisdom Literature).
In many of the later versions of the Targums, the explanation of Scripture supercedes translation of a Hebrew original text. In many ways, these later Targums are much more like rabbinical Midrash than translations.
It is interesting that one aspect of hermeneutics (i.e., genre) was not a literary feature. The Aramaic translators/interpreters viewed all texts as "Historical Narrative." This affected their understanding of Wisdom Literature in particular (i.e., no poetry).
SPECIAL TOPIC: RABBINICAL HERMENEUTICAL TECHNIQUES
SPECIAL TOPIC: HISTORICAL NARRATIVE
SPECIAL TOPIC: WISDOM LITERATURE
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