Parshanut in English: Rabbinic Bible Commentary in Translation
Parshanut in English: Rabbinic Bible Commentary in Translation
Revised updated edition
Yisrael Dubitsky
The following revises, expands upon and updates my previous effort on this forum. Originally it was meant as a ten year retrospective, to see not only which works were completed in that time span but also which commentators were first touched upon. Of course, in the course of my research, I found several errors of mine from the earlier edition, and many items I had neglected to include, or was not even aware of before. Technical difficulties have delayed its appearance until now but what better time to present it than at the beginning of a new Torah reading cycle?
In contrast to the first edition, I struggled with the criteria for inclusion. Ideally, and initially, I had wished to include only items which were
1) Commentary on Tanakh or an individual book within it (but not a supercommentary upon a commentary);
2) Rabbinic in substance (so, for example, not Samaritan, or Karaite, or based on modern scientific scholarship);
3) Generally, from the High Middle Ages and later (thus not classical rabbinic midrash or targum; but medieval midrash compilations/anthologies such as: Midrash ha-Gadol; Midrash Lekah Tov; Midrash Sekhel Tov; Yalkut Makhiri; or Yalkut Shimoni would be eligible; and so would slightly earlier work such as Geonic literature if any existed);
4) Where the work was an intentional and systematic commentary on the biblical book (meaning, not that every verse in a chapter is commented upon, but most are; not simply essays on “themes” or “issues” in the chapters or parshiyot);
5) Where the translation was complete, not adapted, digested, excerpted, paraphrased, or selected from the original;
6) Of significant length, meaning (subjective as the choice was) more than a chapter or two long (unless the entire biblical book was only a chapter, such as Obadiah);
7) Where no matter in what language the original work first appeared, the translation was into English (meaning, original commentary – even in English — was not eligible);
8) Appears in a separate monograph publication, either entirely devoted to the work, or even just a chapter within the book, but not simply an article in a periodical, which is more difficult for the average reader to access.
Unfortunately as I progressed in my compilation, I realized I could not stand by many of these requirements. There were simply too many less-than-ideal-as-above works, which a learned public would expect and/or require in such a listing. For example, Abarbanel or Hasidic commentary are not precisely verse by verse but are important, and perhaps expected, additions to a listing of rabbinic commentary. I think I retained fully requirements 2, 3 and 7 above, but the other requirements are less than perfectly observed. Thus, among other breaches, there are supercommentaries as well as some journal articles represented.
There were several items (especially theses from HUC or books at British Library) which I couldn’t examine personally. Nevertheless, I added them to the list. If it should turn out that the items were not actually relevant to this list (i.e. they don’t translate a text systematically, etc.), I will delete them in a later edition. In case they were relevant, however, it is important that readers are aware of them.
Clearly, as a delimited compilation, there will be some works that many will believe should not be included, and some that many may think should be included. Every reader may have a different perspective on what should or should not be included. However, a bibliographer must be granted privilege in determining which items to include. I welcome arguments, complaints, suggestions or recommendations and apologize in advance for inadequacies, deficiencies and/or errors in my compilation. The nature of the beast is such that this is a work in progress (hopefully to be updated in less than 13 years’ time between editions).
Commentaries are arranged chronologically by author, and then by biblical book (standard Hebrew Bible order). For space and simplicity sake, works are identified only by their author’s and translator’s (or publishers’) names but, for fuller bibliographical data, also linked to a bibliographical record in a library catalog database (usually the National Library of Israel [NLI]; where a record didn’t exist there, or I was unsatisfied with it in some way, I linked to OCLC’s public international union catalog database WorldCat. When needed, I linked to other catalogs instead. Sometimes i recorded a newly published volume not yet represented on any of the WorldCat contributor records). This method of linking to a stable URL of a catalog’s bibliographical record could not be done in the previous edition, as JTS at that time had not provided permanent URLs for their records. Thus, clunky as it may have been, the only alternative to reach the bib records at JTSAL was to request readers copy and paste the Call Number I provided. Thankfully, this method is no longer required. I will expand a bit on my linking to library bib records, rather than standard bibliographical citation, below.
Where a title of an author’s work, rather than his name, serves more popularly as his principal identification, the title is used, with the author’s name appearing parenthetically. Otherwise, the author name is the primary identifier. Translations of entire works are listed before only parts of the same, and then by date of publication. As mentioned, links to online library catalog records (generally, NLI or WorldCat) for the item serve as the full bibliographic data. Publication years in parentheses following the link indicate only the first year of the edition. Generally, where possible, the first edition of the work is listed.
As mentioned, generally only significantly lengthy works (covering more than one or two chapters of Bible text) are included. There are several cases of introductions to works that are included here too. Unless delimited otherwise, items cover the entire book, number of volumes notwithstanding (e.g. 4 vols. on the five books of Torah). Items marked “currently…” imply a work in progress.
Again, as mentioned, adaptations, anthologies, digests, excerpts or paraphrases of translations, such as are found in the Hertz, Soncino Press, Judaica Press (except for Rashi), ArtScroll, Living Torah and Living Nach or Etz Hayim bible commentaries, are generally not included. However, this ideal could not always be observed. Perhaps contradicting the above, but condensed versions, as are sometimes found in Munk translations, are in fact included. The JPS Commentators Bible, in addition to its systematic translation of four major commentators, also occasionally includes selections from Bekhor Shor, Radak, Hazekuni, Gersonides, Abarbanel and Sforno. These latter have not been included in the list.
Further, as per requirement 2 above, academic or modern critical commentaries, even those written by rabbis, are excluded.
It is important to emphasize, no implication regarding quality of the translation (or the commentary itself!) should be drawn from inclusion in this list.
I have endeavored, where feasible, to include in addition a link to a digital copy of the work – whether as a simple PDF (from sites such as Hebrewbooks, Internet Archive, Google Books or the like) or via more sophisticated presentations such as on Sefaria or Alhatorah or the like. I only include links to sites that are free for all, not subscription or paid sites which would limit access. In addition, Sefaria or Alhatorah or other websites sometimes host a work before it has reached print status; as such, it is “online-only” or even “born-digital.” These I included by adding the word “online” in parentheses following the author name; if it wasn’t clear to me when the work was added to the site, it appears with a question mark in place of the year of publication. Moreover, Sefaria and Alhatorah are such wonderful sites that they often add new material so that my listing may be incomplete or obsolete very soon after it appears. Yet another reason for this compilation to be considered a work in progress!
Furthermore, I have colored items in red that are new or newly discovered by me since the first edition some 13 years ago. When the commentator’s name is in red, it means all works/translations beneath it are new. When a new work or an added volume of an already published work has appeared in that time period, that detail (e.g. biblical book name, volume number, publication year) is in red. Thus, readers will be able to spot new materials immediately.
Romanization of Hebrew titles follows Mahler’s Library of Congress authorized system (e.g. no doubling for dagesh, etc.; except for inferior dots). Thus, for example, Hazekuni, and not Chizkuni. Authors’ names are based on the spelling in VIAF, but not always its form (thus, Rashbam, not simply “Samuel ben Meir”; or Joseph Kara, not “Kara, Joseph”). Further, where an added word (or different date) will make the identification more accessible (e.g. Rabenu Hananel and not just Hananel ben…), it is preferred. Bold-face is used to reflect more popular identifications.
Finally, a brief word as to reasons for a bibliography linking to library catalog records rather than the standard format of a bibliographical index of works: While standard bibliography format represents the known literature of the subject in a very brief form, there is often little way for an average reader to access all the material, or even know where to turn to reach it. In these times, however, where much of the world is a click away, it is important for the average reader – one not necessarily associated with a university library or geographically near a large library – to have easy access to the material and the choice of whether to see further bibliographical data than the absolute minimum. A library catalog record provides the bibliographical data, and holding information for where the item is held; a particular library’s holdings information is an important gauge in evaluating its worth. Furthermore, a database like WorldCat is important for providing many different library possibilities in varying geographical areas. This helps the average reader access the item. A catalog may be a bit unwieldy, inasmuch as different titles on the different volumes of the same work may result in the work spread out over a few records (see the Sifte Hakhamim records as an example) – or even duplicate records for the same item (as happens often in WorldCat). Those varying details, however, are often covered over in a standard bibliography which may “normalize” all variations so as to be contained in one line entry. A more severe disadvantage of such a system is if/when the library catalog changes (permanent) URL details. However, this is a risk that seems to be outweighed by the advantages of such a system. Referring to a book via its library catalog record will prove beneficial to more readers than a standard bibliography.
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF RABBINIC BIBLE COMMENTARIES
Medieval
- Sa`adia ben Joseph Gaon [882-942]
- Torah
Linetsky [Gen 1-28] (2002)
- Job
Goodman (1988)
- Esther
Wechsler (2015)
- Daniel
Alobaidi (2006)
- Rabenu Hananel ben Hushi’el [d. 1055/6]
Torah
Munk (2006) 4 vols.
- Rashi [Solomon ben Isaac, 1041-1105]
A. Bible
Judaica Press (Hoenig/Rosenberg):
B. Torah
- Rosenbaum/Silbermann (1929) 5 vols.
a. Sefaria.org / Sefaria.org / Sefaria.org / Sefaria.org / Sefaria.org
- Ben-Isaiah/Sharfman (1949) 5 vols.
- Metsudah (Kleinkaufman) (1991) 5 vols.
- Artscroll (Herczeg) (1994) 5 vols.
- JPS (Carasik) (2005) 5 vols
- Lowe [Gen] (1928)
- Doron [Gen 1-6] (1982)
- Milstein [currently partial ?] (1993) 9 vols.
- “Ariel Chumash” (Feldman et al.) [currently Gen] (1997) 2 vols.
- Moore [currently Gen] (2002)
C. Joshua
- See above: Judaica Press
- Metsudah (Davis) (1997)
a. Sefaria.org
D. Judges
- See above: Judaica Press
- Metsudah (Rabinowitz/Davis) (1998)
a. Sefaria.org
E. Samuel
- See above: Judaica Press
- Metsudah (Pupko/Davis) (1999) 2 vols.
a. Sefaria.org
F. Kings
- See above: Judaica Press
- Metsudah (Pupko/Davis) (2001) 2 vols.
a. Sefaria.org
G. Isaiah
- Turner [Isa 11; 52-53] (1847)
- See above: Judaica Press
H. Ezekiel
- VanGemeren [Chariot chapters and passages] (1974)
- See above: Judaica Press
I. Psalms
- See above: Judaica Press
- Gruber (2004)
- Feldheim (Herczeg) (2009) 2 vols.
J. Five Scrolls
- See above: Judaica Press
- Metsudah (Pupko/Davis) (2001)
a. Sefaria.org
- Beattie [Ruth] (1977)
- Schwartz [Esther, Song of Songs, Ruth] (1983)
- Shute [Lamentations] (1998)
- Anderson [Lamentations] (2004)
- Herczeg [Esther] (2016)
K. Daniel
- See above: Judaica Press
- Shahar/Oratz/Hirshfeld (1994)
- Joseph Kara [ca. 1065-1135]
A. Ezekiel
VanGemeren [Chariot chapters and passages] (1974)
B. Lamentations
Anderson (2004)
- Rashbam [Samuel ben Meir, ca. 11-12th cens.]
A. Torah
- Lockshin
a. [Gen] (1989)
b. [Ex] (1997)
c . [Lev & Num] (2001)
d. [Deut] (2004)
- Munk (2006) 4 vols.
- JPS (Carasik) (2005) 5 vols.
B. Five Scrolls
- Thompson [Song of Songs] (1988)
- Japhet/Salters [Ecclesiastes] (1985)
- Eliezer, of Beaugency [ca. 12th cen.]
Ezekiel
VanGemeren [Chariot chapters and passages] (1974)
- Menachem ben Simon, of Posquières [ca. 12th cen.]
Ezekiel
VanGemeren [Chariot chapters and passages] (1974)
- Abraham ben Meir Ibn Ezra [1092-1167]
A. Torah
- Strickman/Silver (1988) 5 vols.
- Benyowitz (2006) 3 vols.
- JPS (Carasik) (2005) 5 vols.
- Oles [Gen] (1958)
- Shachter [Lev, Deut] (1986) 2 vols.
a. Sefaria.org / Sefaria.org
b. alhatorah.org / alhatorah.org
B. Isaiah
- Friedlander (1873)
- Turner [Isa 11; 52-53] (1847)
C. Hosea
Lipshitz (1988)
D. Haggai, Zecharia, Malakhi
Frazer (2017)
E. Psalms
Strickman (2009) 3 vols.
F. Five Scrolls
- Mathews [Song of Songs] (1874)
a. Pdf
a. Pdf
- Shute [Lamentations] (1998)
- Anderson [Lamentations] (2004)
a. Pdf
- Moses ben Sheshet [fl. ca. 1190-1200?]
Jeremiah/Ezekiel
Driver (1871)
- Shmuel ibn Tibbon [1150-1230]
Ecclesiastes
Robinson (2007)
- Radak [David ben Joseph Kimhi, ca. 1160-ca. 1235]
A. Genesis
Munk (2006) 4 vols.
B. Isaiah
- Turner [Isa 11; 52-53] (1847)
- Cohen [Isa 40-66] (1954)
C. Ezekiel
VanGemeren [Chariot chapters and passages] (1974)
D. Hosea
Turner [Hos 1] (1847)
E. Zechariah
M’Caul (1837)
F. Psalms
- Baker/Nicholson [Pss 120-150] (1973)
G. Ruth
Beattie [Ruth] (1977)
H. Chronicles
Berger (2007)
- Ezra ben Solomon, of Gerona [d. ca. 1238]
Song of Songs
Brody (1999)
- Joseph ben Isaac Bekhor Shor, of Orleans [12th cen.]
Genesis
- Thompson (online) [Gen 1-2 :3] ( ?)
- Lockshin (online) [Gen 2 :4-9 :13] ( ?)
- Unknown [Anonymous, late 12th cen]
Song of Songs
Japhet/Walfish (2017)
- Ramban [Moses ben Nahman = Nachmanides, ca. 1195-ca. 1270]
A. Torah
- Chavel (1971) 5 vols.
- Artscroll (Blinder et al) (2004) 7 vols.
- JPS (Carasik) (2005) 5 vols.
- Newman [Gen 1-6] (1960)
- Bick [introduction] (online) (?)
- Kanter [introduction] (In: Academic Journal of Hebrew Theological College, 1 (2001): 13–35)
- Strickman (online) [currently Ex] (?)
B. Ecclesiastes
Chavel (1978): vol. 1
- Tanhum ben Joseph ha-Yerushalmi [ca. 1220-1291]
Five Scrolls
- Shem Tov ben Joseph Falaquera [ca. 1225–1295]
(Torah)
Jospe (1988)
- Zohar [ca. 1280]
Torah
- Soncino (Sperling/Simon) (1931) 5 vols.
- Matt (“Pritzker edition”) (2004) 12 vols.
- Midrash ha-Ne`elam (Zohar) [ca. 1280]
Ruth
Englander/Basser (1993)
- Hazekuni [=Hezekiah ben Manoah, 13th cen.]
Torah
Munk (2013) 4 vols.
- Da`at Zekenim mi-Ba`alei ha-Tosafot [probably compilatory, 13th cen]
Torah
Munk (online) (2015)
- Yalkut Shimoni [=Shim`on ha-Darshan, of Frankfurt?; compilatory, 13th cen]
A. Jonah
Greenup (1922)
B. Nachum
Greenup (1923)
C. Zecharia
King (1882)
D. Psalms
- Narot (1940)
- Fischer [Bk 1] (1962)
- Waldenberg [Bk 2-3] (1962)
- Unknown [Anonymous, probably compilatory, 13th cen]
Job
Hirsch (1905)
- Ba`al ha-Turim [= Jacob ben Asher, ca. 1269-ca. 1340]
Torah
- Artscroll (Touger) (1999) 5 vols.
- Munk (2005) 4 vols.
a. Sefaria.org
- Ralbag [Levi ben Gershom = Gersonides, 1288-1344]
A. Job
B. Song of Songs
26. Rabenu Bahya ben Asher ben Hlava [d. 1340]
Torah
Munk (1998) 7 vols.
- Yalkut ha-Makhiri [=Makir ben Aba Mari, ca. 1335-1410]
Jonah
Greenup (1911)
- Abraham ben Isaac ha-Levi Tamakh [d. 1393]
Song of Songs
Feldman (1970)
- Midrash ha-Gadol [=Adani, David ben Amram, 14th cen]
Numbers
Fisch (1940)
- Avat Nefesh [Unknown, end of 14th cen]
Genesis
Gartig (1994)
- Akedat Yitshak [= Isaac ben Moses Arama, ca. 1420-1494]
Torah
Munk (1986) 2 vols.
- Isaac Abravanel [1437-1508]
A. Torah
- Tomaschoff [Gen] (2007)
- Bar Eitan [currently Gen-Lev] (2012) 5 vols.
- Lazar (2015) 5 vols.
- Kasnett (2017)
B. Jonah
Werner (1979)
- Tseror ha-Mor [= Abraham ben Jacob Saba, 1440-1508]
Torah
Munk (2008) 5 vols.
- Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno [ca. 1470-ca. 1550]
Torah
- Artscroll (Pelcovitz) (1987) 2 vols.
- Munk (2006) 4 vols.
- Stahl [Deut] (1975)
(Pre-)Modern
- Moses Alshekh [ca. 1520-1593]
A. Torah
B. Jonah
C. Psalms
Munk (1990) 2 vols.
D. Proverbs
- Munk (1991)
- Hirshfeld/Braude (2006) 2 vols.
E. Job
Shahar (1996) 2 vols.
F. Five Scrolls
- Shahar [Song of Songs] (1993)
- Shahar/Oschry [Ruth] (1991)
- Hirshfeld [Lamentations] (1993)
- Shahar [Ecclesiastes] (1992)
- Honig [Esther] (1993) 2 vols.
g. Daniel
Shahar/Oratz/Hirshfeld (1994)
- Eliezer ben Elijah Ashkenazi [1512-1585]
Esther
Brown (2006)
- Keli Yakar [= Ephraim Solomon ben Aaron, of Luntshits (Lenczycza), 1550-1619]
Torah
- Levine [currently Gen-Ex] (2002)
- Kanter [Deut] (2003)
- Tse’enah u-Re’enah [= Yaakov ben Yitzchak Ashkenazi, of Janow, 1550-1628]
Torah
- Artscroll (Zakon) (1983) 3 vols.
- Faierstein (2017) 2 vols.
- Hershon [Gen] (1885)
- Shelah [Shene Luhot Ha-berit = Isaiah Horowitz, ca. 1565-1630]
Torah
Munk (1992) 3 vols.
- Sifte Hakhamim [=Shabbetai ben Joseph Bass, 1641-1718]
Torah
Davis et al.
- Me`am Lo`ez [= Jacob Culi, d. 1732, et al.; Shmuel Yerushalmi, d. 1997]
Moznaim (Kaplan et al.) (1977) 43 vols.:
- Torah (1977) 20 vols.
- Joshua (1990)
- Judges (1991)
- Samuel I (1991) Samuel II (1993)
- Kings I (1994) Kings II (1997)
- Isaiah (1999)
- Jeremiah (1994) 2 vols.
- Trei Asar (1997) 2 vols.
- Psalms (1989) 5 vols.
- Proverbs (1993) 2 vols.
- Ruth (1985)
- Song of Songs (1988)
- Ecclesiastes (1986)
- Lamentations (1986)
- Esther (1978)
- Or ha-Hayim [= Hayyim ben Moses Attar, 1696-1743]
Torah
- Munk (1995) 5 vols.
- Artscroll (Herzka) (2016) 10 vols.
- Moses Mendelssohn [1729-1786]
Ecclesiastes
Preston (1845)
- Hatam Sofer [= Moses Sofer, 1762-1839]
Torah
Stern [currently Gen-Lev] (1996) 3 vols.
- Ha-Ketav veha-Kabalah [= Jacob Zevi Meklenburg, 1785-1865]
Torah
Munk (2001) 7 vols.
- Shadal [Samuel David Luzzatto, 1800-1865]
Torah
- Munk (2012) 4 vols.
- Klein [currently Gen–Ex] 2 vols.
- Genesis (1998)
alhatorah.org [only Gen 1-11]
- Exodus (2015)
alhatorah.org [only Ex 1-5]
- [Leviticus (March 2021)]
- Morais [introduction] (1926)
- Samson Raphael Hirsch [1808-1888]
- Torah
B. Psalms
Hirschler (1960) 2 vols.
C. Proverbs
Paritzky (1976)
- Malbim [Malbim, Meir Loeb ben Jehiel Michael Weiser, 1809-1879]
A. Torah
Faier [Gen–Ex 12] (1978) 5 vols.
alhatorah.org [currently Ex]
B. Jonah
Werner (1979)
C. Proverbs
Wengrov/Zornberg (1982)
D. Job
Pfeffer (2003)
E. Five Scrolls
- Netsiv [Naphtali Zevi Judah Berlin, 1817-1893]
Song of Songs
Landesman (1993)
- Bet ha-Levi [= Joseph Baer Soloveichik, 1820-1892]
Torah
Herczeg [currently Gen-Ex] (1990) 2 vols.
- Julius Hirsch [1842-1909]
Isaiah
Breuer (2015)
- Joseph Breuer [1882-1980]
A. [Torah
See above: Hirsch (Genesis)]
B. Jeremiah
Hirschler (1988)
C. Ezekiel
Hirschler (1993)
- Da`at Sofrim [= Chaim Dov Rabinowitz, 1911-2001]
Bible
Starrett [currently Jos-Jud; Sam; Kgs; Isa; Jer; Ezk; 12; Ps; Prov; Job; Dan-Neh; Chr] (2001) 12 vols.
- Da`at Mikra [=Mordekhai Zer-Kavod et al., 20th cen.]
A. Psalms
Berman (2003) 3 vols.
B. Job
Green (2009)
C. Proverbs
Kanter & Cohen (2014)
Hasidic:
- Levi Isaac ben Meir, of Berdichev [1740-1809]
Torah
Munk [currently Gen-Lev] (2009) 3 vols.
- Menahem Mendel, of Rymanov [1745-1815]
Torah
Levine (1996)
- Me ha-Shiloah [= Mordecai Joseph Leiner, 1802-1854]
Torah
Edwards (2001)
- Sefat Emet [= Judah Aryeh Leib Alter, 1847-1905]
Torah
Green (1998)
8 thoughts on “Parshanut in English: Rabbinic Bible Commentary in Translation”
Amazing!
I would just add: Feldheim shows Raphael Breuer on Kohelet and Mendel Hirsch on Trei Asar, printed to match the Hirsch-Breuer Yeshaya-Yirmiyah-Yechezkel listed by you.
One more: The Torah Temimah has been translated.
Thanks Nachum. But the Essential Torah Temimah (if that is what you mean) is not a translation of the commentary, only of the Talmudic etc sources that the TT compiles and then comments upon. So it didnt quite fit my parameters.
I did not know that, but you know better than I.
Is this by the helpful and modest Yisrael Dubitsky who used to man the help desk at JTS library? Nice to see you here. I think there is an english translation of Rabbi Joseph Carlebachs Drei Propheten commentary on Neviimm Achharonim
Hi Nechama! There is indeed such a translation https://www.nli.org.il/en/books/NNL_ALEPH002590547/NLI but the commentary itself doesnt seem to me to be systematic, although I may be wrong, so not part of my parameters.
Here’s another:
https://www.nli.org.il/en/books/NNL_ALEPH004397927/NLI
Although, as per your previous comment, not necessarily systematic.