ONMOS, the supposed author of an Aramaic version (Targura) of the Pentateuch. The name seems a corruption from that of Akilas, one of the Greek translators of the Old Testament (see AQUILA). The translation said to be by Onkelos, is, in its present shape at least, probably the work of the Babylonian schools of the 3d and 4th centuries A.D. At first orally transmitted, various portions of it began to be collected and written down in the 2d c., and were finally redacted about the time mentioned. The history of the origin and growth of Aramaic versions in general will be treated under 7argum (VisneroNs). The idiom of Onkelos closely resembles that of Ezra and Daniel. The translation itself is executed in accordance with a sober and clear, though not a slavish exegesis, and keeps closely to its text in most instances. In some cases, however, where the meaning is not clear it expands into a brief explanation or paraphrase, uniting the latter sometimes with Haegadistic by-work, chosen with tact and taste, so as to please the people and not to offend the dignity of the subject. Not unfrequently it differs
entirely from the original, as far e. g., as anthropomorphisms and anthropopathies—any thing, in fact, which might seem derogatory to the Deity—are concerned. Further may be noticed a repugnance to bring the Divine Being into too close contact, as it were with man, by the interposition of a kind of spiritual barrier (the "word," "Shechinah," "glory ") when a conversation or the like is reported between God and man. Its use lies partly in a linguistic, partly in a theological direction; but little has been done for its study as yet. Notwithstanding the numerous MSS. of it extant in almost all the larger libraries of Europe, and in spite of the grossly incorrect state of our current printed editions, no critical edition has ever been attempted,