What is the Targum of Jonathan?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10
The Targum of Jonathan (also known as Targum Yonatan) is an ancient Aramaic translation and paraphrase of the Books of the Prophets (the Nevi'im). In the Jewish tradition, it is attributed to Jonathan ben Uzziel, a disciple of the famous Rabbi Hillel.
For Coptic Orthodox Christians and historians, this document is significant because it provides a "snapshot" of how Jews understood the scriptures before they intentionally altered their interpretations to oppose the Christian faith.
The Significance of Targum Jonathan on Isaiah 53
In the Targum of Jonathan, the opening verse of the prophecy (Isaiah 52:13) is explicitly translated as:
"Behold, my servant the Messiah shall prosper; he shall be high, and increase, and be exceeding strong."
By inserting the word "Messiah" directly into the text, this Targum proves that the ancient Jewish understanding was that this "Servant" was a specific individual—the King Messiah—and not the nation of Israel, as modern rabbis claim.
How It Differs from the Biblical Text
A Targum is not a literal word-for-word translation; it is a "paraphrase." When you read Targum Jonathan’s version of Isaiah 53, you see a struggle within the Jewish mind. While the author admits the passage is about the Messiah, he tries to reword the "suffering" parts to fit a more political or triumphant Jewish expectation:
- Distorting the Suffering: Where the Hebrew Bible says the Servant was "despised and rejected," Targum Jonathan tries to project that rejection onto the enemies of the Messiah rather than the Messiah Himself.
- The Intercessor: Despite these distortions, the Targum still retains the idea that the Messiah would intercede for the sins of the people. For example, it paraphrases verse 4 to say, "Then he shall pray for our sins, and our iniquities for his sake shall be forgiven."
Why the Rabbis Changed Their View
The existence of the Targum of Jonathan is an embarrassment to modern rabbinical scholars. Because the Targum clearly identifies the Servant as the Messiah, it leaves them with no choice but to explain how the "Messiah" could be "led as a lamb to the slaughter" and "cut off from the land of the living."
Since this points directly to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the later rabbis (such as Rashi) abandoned the ancient Targum's messianic interpretation. They chose instead to claim the chapter refers to the Jewish people, essentially trying to hide the truth that their own ancient traditions once recognized this prophecy as a description of a suffering and interceding Savior.
In the Coptic Church, we do not need such paraphrases. We read the Prophet Isaiah clearly and recognize that the Mother of God gave birth to the One who fulfills every word of this prophecy: the One who was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.