MATTITYAHU Messianic Literal King James Version, From Greek, Of Matthew And Parallel Translation From The Ancient Mishnaic-Hebrew Shem Tov (Including other various ancient passages) all rights reserved @ 1990/wfc Free-ware computer version. The ancient historian Papias writes: "So then Mattityahu-[Matthew] composed the oracles in the Hebrew language, and each one interpreted them as he could." This seems, from the material we have, to have been the case. -That possibly Mattityahu kept a travel-journal during his walk with Yeshua-[Jesus] in Hebrew, and that from very early various peoples made a composition of the "Book of Matthew" from these notes. This has resulted in several Hebrew/Aramaic versions to which we have access today, {some being complete, and fragments of several others}, which brings us a wide variety of manuscripts for Mattityahu, {and in a variety as we don't see with the other Books of the New Covenant.} Also, I feel that the material that the Book of Matthew was written from pre-dated even Mark; and so I suggest that even Mark made use of this "travel-journal" of Mattityahu. With this in mind, I have tried to represent the ancient Hebrew version(s) here. The reading on the right is from the Shem Tov manuscripts, which was copied from an ancient Mishnaic Hebrew version of Matthew, which was written probably as early as 1st century AD/CE. And, {while not completely without later centuries editing}, contains an ancient text of Matthew, which is fairly easy to see among the later Hebrew language forms and revisions. It is held to be an original Hebrew composition, rather than a translation from the Greek. It should be noted however; that while the Hebrew may not have all the material that the Greek contains, the Greek [and Hebrew] may have included material at a latter date from another early text source. Alternate meanings supported or included in the Hebrew of ST are noted in <>'s. Words and statements found in other early Hebrew versions, are noted inside of []'s, of which many such readings, {but not all of them}, are included. It isn't certain where some of these were placed, {as in the 'Gospel of the Hebrews' for example.} In these cases, I have placed some of those passages in []'s where I thought they best fit. Words not in the Hebrew but supplied for clarity, are inside of ()'s. Certain words have alternate words following /'s. Sometimes certain ancient Hebrew versions will agree with the Greek, {at times}, rather than with the Shem Tov, -{when the ST differs from the Greek}. When this occurs it is not always noted in this book. The reading on the left is a literal reading of the Greek New Covenant based upon the Textus Receptus. Words found in the Majority and/or Alexandrian texts but not in the Receptus are supplied in []'s. Words in the Receptus but not in the Majority and/or Alexandrian texts are noted inside of {}'s. Alternate meanings supported by the Greek are noted inside of <>'s, as are Hebrew and Aramaic expression meanings, which are noted when they occure. Words not in the Greek, but supplied for clarity are in ()'s. Certain words have alternate words following /'s. Judaic words, names, etc..., are transliterated often directly from Hebrew, and should this pose a problem in not being familiar with the words/terms, a comparison with most Bibles should reveal their meaning. In the Greek version, in many cases, the King James Version language form and sentence structure has been retained when it agrees with the Greek texts. The reading attempts to be as accurate as possible, yet noting however, things such as Israeli monetary values, (ex., 10-Agorot for Denarii), and certain expressions, (ex., Shalom for Hail), ect.... A more archaic English is retained for Tanach [O.T.] readings, which would in a limited way, reflect the situation of 1st Century Mishnaic Hebrew or Hebrew/Aramaic-dialect speakers quoting Scripture written in an earlier language form. To save on the cost of this book, the Hebrew and Greek texts have not been printed. While the Hebrew translation here is not quite as literal as the Greek translation, it is not a pharaphrase, and is a fairly accurate reflection of the Hebrew text. For further valuable information on this and other ancient Hebrew/Aramaic manuscripts, the following is suggested reading material: The Gospel of Matthew According To A Primitive Hebrew Text. By George Howard, Mercer University Press, Macon, Georgia 31207 ISBN 0-86554-250-3 B'sorot Matti, The Good News According To Matthew, From An Old Hebrew Manuscript. Hebrew/Aramaic New Testament Research Institute. Post Office Box 471, Hurst, Texas 76053 {As well as other writings by the H/A N.T.R.I.} The Mishnaic Hebrew Matthew The language is very much 1st century Hebrew, now...there are some translation corrections from later centuries in the manuscript, but these are very obvious due to the striking language change, and so, we are able to tell quite well how the origional text reads even in these cases. The aritcle I have is from Bible Review, Winter 1986, [actually, over a year now since the discovery], and it was found amongst the writings of the 14th century Hebrew treatise written by Rabbi Shem-Tob ben Shaprut, called Even Bohan, the Touchstone. Written in 1380, revised in 1385-1400+. The reason it was overlooked for so long, as it was always assumed to be a 14th century Hebrew translation of Matthew untill looked at closely in the last couple of years. And also because in 1690, Richard Simon in Histoire Critique des Versions du Nouveau Testament, [Rotterdam R.Leers, 1690, p.231] mistakenly identified the Hewbrew Matthew in Shem-Tob's work with the Hebrew Matthew in Munster and du Tillet. So, was ignored till of late. . Also, interesting to note, the Name HaShem is abbreviated in the manuscript, not having been edited out, or Adonai substituted. . Of the examples listed, I find this one to be rather interesting... . Is Yeshua's statement to Simeon...You are a stone -(even) and I will build -(evneh) overhead you My house of prayer. . Compaire with the Greek...You are Kefa/Peter -(petros) and on this rock -(petra) I will build my Congregation/church. . This, untill the discovery of the Shem-Tob Matthew, was considered the proof of a Greek origional as due tothe pun in the Greek. But now we see, there is an equal pun of words in the Hebrew. A brief list of a few of the Judaic/Hebrew terms used: Yeshua=Jesus HaMashiach=The Christ Elohim/Eloheynu=God/our God Yochanan=John Mattityahu=Matthew Talmidim=Disciples Moshe=Moses Torah=Law YHVH/Adonai/HaShem=LORD Shlomo=Solomon Ya'akov=Jacob/James Tanach=Hebrew Bible [O.T.] Miriam=Mary Yerushalayim=Jerusalem Cohen/Cohanim=Priest/Priests Aharon=Aaron Bar/Ben=son Bat=daughter B'rit=Covenant Bat-kol=voice from Heaven B'rakhah=blessing Eretz=land Get=bill of divorce Goyim=Nations/gentiles/pagan Kadosh=Holy Shim'on Kefa=Simon Peter Gan-Eden=Garden of Eden L'vi=Levite/Levi Matzah=unleaven bread Ruach HaKodesh=Holy Spirit Menorah=Lamp Mikveh=ritual immersion Mitsvot=Commandments Noach=Noah Parokhet=Temple Curtain Natzratim=Jewish Believers Pesach=Passover Sedar=Passover meal P'rushim=Pharisees Sha'ul=Saul/Paul Shavu'ot=Pentecost Shalom Alechem=Peace to you Y'hudah=Judah Sh'khinah=Divine Presence Sukkot=the Feast of Booths Amaine=Amen You are welcome to use this free-ware version in any way that you see fit, except for reprint for profit of any kind, or any alteration of this file, if uploading it to another BBS or person so altered. b'Yeshua HaMashiach