Die Vetus Latina der Klagelieder als Zeugin für den Bedeutungswandel hebräischer Lexeme im Licht ihrer aramäischen Umwelt

Abstract The fragments of the Vetus Latina are rightly regarded as valuable witnesses for the reconstruction of the original text of the Septuagint ( OG ). Only a few texts are available for the book of Lamentations. This study builds on a thesis of Orientalist Anton Baumstark, who has claimed an Aramaic influence for the Old Latin text of Hab 3. Similarly, the various fragments of Lamentations are characterized by several special readings that reflect the Aramaic linguistic world, especially of the Targumim. However, a direct dependence on the Targumim cannot be assumed. In the course of the LXX transmission, many of these readings preserved by the VL were adapted to the Hebrew understanding of the language and thus disappeared from the LXX texts. Finally, it is notable that many of the special readings of the VT with an Aramaic background also agree with the Antiochene text group. Since this text group is particularly close to the Syriac-Aramaic language world, this confirms the thesis.