Editing Torah (section)

===Aramaic===
{{Main|Targum}}

The [[Book of Ezra]] refers to translations and commentaries of the Hebrew text into [[Aramaic]], the more commonly understood language of the time. These translations would seem to date to the 6th century BCE. The Aramaic term for ''translation'' is ''Targum''.{{sfn|Chilton|1987|p=xiii}} The ''[[Encyclopaedia Judaica]]'' has: {{blockquote|At an early period, it was customary to translate the Hebrew text into the vernacular at the time of the reading (e.g., in Palestine and Babylon the translation was into Aramaic). The targum ("translation") was done by a special synagogue official, called the meturgeman {{omission}} Eventually, the practice of translating into the vernacular was discontinued.<ref>{{Cite EJ |title=Torah, Reading of}}</ref>
}}

However, there is no suggestion that these translations had been written down as early as this. There are suggestions that the Targum was written down at an early date, although for private use only. {{blockquote|The official recognition of a written Targum and the final redaction of its text, however, belong to the post-Talmudic period, thus not earlier than the fifth century C.E.<ref>{{Cite EJ |title=Bible: Translations}}</ref>}}