Moses Breaking the Tables of the Law (1659), by Rembrandt. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

The first translation of the Bible was by Ptolemy the Second, some 2,200 years ago, into Greek. But Greek has letters and sounds that Biblical Hebrew does not, and vice versa. Later on, there was Jerome’s Latin version, which had similar differences.

These translations were the basis of the hallowed King James Bible — a magnificent literary achievement that has dominated the English-speaking Bible world for hundreds of years. In my day, it was studied in the English department of Cambridge for its almost poetic language.

For hundreds of years, non-Jewish theologians and academics decided quite arbitrarily how to transliterate Hebrew into English. And it doesn’t work for me.

Some of the English Biblical names are laughable. Malkitsedek (My King is Righteous) in Hebrew, becomes Melchizedek. Why does the king of Gerar AviMelech (My father the King) in Hebrew become AbiMelek in English? Or for that matter, why does Avraham become ABraham? And why is Moses, not called Mosheh (with a Hey at the end)?

In English, they talk about God as Jehovah. In Hebrew, the primary name is made up of five letters — a Yod, a Hey, a Vav, and a Hey. But there is no J in Hebrew. And rabbis’ names like Akivah, can be Akiba, Akiva, or Akibah. But the one that riles me most is that the wonderful queen Shlom Zion, becomes Salome!

Furthermore, why are there two Bs in Shabat? Amongst Chassidim (or is it Hasidim) many say ShEEl instead of ShUl, and Kigel instead of Kugel. And you will of course know that in our Jewish world many prefer Bereishis and Shemos to Bereishit and Shemot. Don’t even try to understand how to pronounce the letter AYIN! And don’t forget Yiddish.

Nowadays even rabbinic translators cannot agree either on translations or transliterations.

But there’s more. We know that it was the Church that gave us chapters in the Torah and named the Five Books as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. But why do we not write Bereishit, Shemot, Vayikra, Bamidbar, and Devarim? I often mention Jerusalem. But I have decided to call it Yerushalayim instead, and too bad for anyone who objects!

For my non-Jewish readers I apologize if I confuse. Don’t worry, I confuse Jews too. I guess it’s the downside of living in a multi-lingual and cultural world. What’s more, I admit I am not a grammarian. Although even they often seem confused.

The author is a writer and rabbi, currently based in New York.