Pinocchio in the Vulgate

Abstract The paper summarizes Jerome’s Latin translation of the law against kidnapping in Deut 24:7, highlighting the differences in meaning between the Hebrew and Latin texts and exploring how Jerome’s interpretation reflects the Roman understanding of this crime. The author concludes that Jerome’s translation effectively balances fidelity to the Hebrew text with simplification and his own interpretive insight, particularly in the choice of the verb sollicitare to describe the crime of kidnapping. This choice resonates with Deuteronomy’s emphasis on the importance of treating fellow Israelites with compassion and aligns with the social realities of Jerome’s time in the Roman world, where deceitful kidnapping and enslavement were significant concerns.