Vidui [from/by me]

You know why I like Onkelos so much?

Not because I always understand every word he says but because he may have had the same problem I have.

[of course, I don’t believe that he had a problembut it gives me a good feeling…] [does this problem has a medical name??]

He used straightforward language in family relations.

If patients start talking with me about the nephew, of their aunt’s brother….. or so…I get totally lost!! [even in my mother tongue Dutch]

…….Amram took Jochebed, his aunt, as his wife,

……..[Onkelos renders:] his father’s sister………is this not much easier to understand? At least for me

And this is even not comparable with|: the nephew, of their aunt’s brother or something like this.

Amram took Jochebed, his aunt, as his wife, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, and the years of Amram’s life were one hundred thirty seven years. כוַיִּקַּ֨ח עַמְרָ֜ם אֶת־יוֹכֶ֤בֶד דֹּֽדָתוֹ֙ ל֣וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֔ה וַתֵּ֣לֶד ל֔וֹ אֶת־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן וְאֶת־משֶׁ֑ה וּשְׁנֵי֙ חַיֵּ֣י עַמְרָ֔ם שֶׁ֧בַע וּשְׁלשִׁ֛ים וּמְאַ֖ת שָׁנָֽה:

Jochebed, his aunt: Heb. דֹדָתוֹ [Onkelos renders:] his father’s sister, the daughter of Levi, the sister of Kehath.

So next time you want to explain to me a family relation, please use Onkelos style……..