In Search of Inspiration: Translating Ilhām in the Hebrew Tradition of Themistius’s Paraphrase of Aristotle’s Metaphysics 12 and Related Texts
The present paper examines how medieval Hebrew translators, scribes, and scholars engaged with the Arabic term ilhām (divine inspiration) in different contexts. The launching point for discussion is the term’s perplexing appearance in the Arabic translation of Themistius’s paraphrase of Aristotle’s...
| Published in: | Henoch |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Ed. Morcelliana
2022
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| In: |
Henoch
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| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Inspiration
/ Arabic language
/ Hebrew language
/ Middle Ages
/ Aristoteles 384 BC-322 BC
/ Biology
/ Translation
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| RelBib Classification: | BH Judaism HA Bible |
| Further subjects: | B
Judah Halevi
B Tibbon B Averroes B Gersonides B Medieval Hebrew Philosophy |
| Summary: | The present paper examines how medieval Hebrew translators, scribes, and scholars engaged with the Arabic term ilhām (divine inspiration) in different contexts. The launching point for discussion is the term’s perplexing appearance in the Arabic translation of Themistius’s paraphrase of Aristotle’s Metaphysics 12, in which it marks the actualization of form in the process of biological generation. The occurrence confused the Hebrew scholars, who rendered it into Hebrew by several terms. An examination of other texts and manuscripts reveals that over twenty terms were used to translate ilhām, effectively eliminating its original semantic field and infusing it with various new meanings. This complex case study enables us to retrace various practices of translation, copying, and interpretation, which are emblematic of medieval Hebrew philosophical activity. |
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| ISSN: | 0393-6805 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Henoch
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