Memra Reverse Audit: 1,416 confirmed hypostatic entries — OT bracket sweep complete #23

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opened 2026-02-21 15:29:39 +00:00 by grams777 · 0 comments

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2026-02-21 15:29:39 +00:00

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Summary

A comprehensive reverse audit of Targum Memra instances has been completed, identifying 1,416 confirmed hypostatic Memra entries across 8 Targum traditions and 28 biblical books. This provides the evidentiary basis for bracketing [Speech] in the UPDV Old Testament and has implications for the Gospel of John translation.

What Was Done

Phase 1: External Evidence (Multi-attestation)

Evaluated 1,826 Targum Memra instances using cross-verification across independent Targum traditions.

Threshold: TgO+1 (Onqelos + at least 1 Palestinian tradition) OR 3+ Palestinian traditions.

Yield: 533 Revenant (bracket-worthy) + 246 Camouflaged (circumlocutional function)

Phase 2: Internal Evidence (Secondary Sweep)

Evaluated all 1,047 entries that failed Phase 1's multi-attestation threshold, using pattern matching against the confirmed Phase 1 corpus. Individual review of each entry with full Aramaic context.

Yield: 880 additional confirmed entries (secondary tier)

Combined Result

1,416 confirmed hypostatic Memra entries (533 primary + 880 secondary + 3 upgraded)
15 behavioral patterns: ACCEPT/REJECT, JUDGE, BELIEVE IN, PROTECTIVE, DWELL, COVENANTAL, REVELATORY, NAME, KEEP/GUARD, REDEMPTIVE, CREATIVE, I AM, OATH, AFFECTIVE/RELATIONAL, ATONEMENT
28 books covered
8 Targum traditions: TgO, TgN, TgPsJ, TgNmg, FrTgP, FrTgVNL, TgJ, TgPs

Scholarly Validation

Boyarin Cross-Reference (Border Lines)

11 of 12 Boyarin Targum citations confirmed (92%). Our audit extends ~90× beyond Boyarin's coverage. Key quotes validating methodology:

"the more rabbinized Targums noticeably suppress the term Memra"
"remnants (almost revenants) of Logos theology"
"camouflaging a no-longer acceptable theological position"

Ronning Cross-Reference (The Jewish Targums and John's Logos Theology)

304 overlapping entries. Our audit extends 761 unique verses beyond Ronning. All 6 of Ronning's core arguments supported.

OT Impact: Bracket Sweep

100% of confirmed entries evaluated for UPDV bracketing with proposed [Speech] renderings. Tiered notation: Primary [Speech] (strong multi-attestation) vs. Secondary [Speech] (internal evidence).

NT Impact: John's Gospel

7 Johannine fingerprint patterns trace back to Memra theology:

KEEP/GUARD (τηρέω + λόγον) — not attested in classical Greek per TDNT
ACCEPT/REJECT
JUDGE
DWELL (σκηνόω)
NAME
I AM (ἐγώ εἰμι)
BELIEVE IN (πιστεύω εἰς) — 36× in John, 0× in Synoptics as theological formula

25 NT verses where "Speech" should replace "Word" in John's writings.

Liturgical Calendar Mapping

John's 6 explicit feast markers align with synagogue readings most saturated with Memra entries:

Sukkot: primary Memra feast (Ha'azinu = "Memra Shabbat," 35 entries)
Passover: 49 Memra entries in festival readings
John's feast structure is unique among the four Gospels

UPDV Redaction Impact

The Memra evidence challenges specific editorial decisions — see:

#19 John 7:37-38 (restore to text)
#20 John 7:39 (footnote as early Spirit gloss)
#21 John 14:26 (Holy Spirit appositive)
#22 John 19:36-37 (Passover lamb ending)

Next Steps

Integrate [Speech] brackets into UPDV OT text
Apply 25 NT "Speech" renderings to John
Resolve the four John redaction issues (#19-#22)
Companion document for exceptions appendix entries
Investigate "progressive endings" Memra density for John's ending

## Summary A comprehensive reverse audit of Targum Memra instances has been completed, identifying 1,416 confirmed hypostatic Memra entries across 8 Targum traditions and 28 biblical books. This provides the evidentiary basis for bracketing [Speech] in the UPDV Old Testament and has implications for the Gospel of John translation. ## What Was Done ### Phase 1: External Evidence (Multi-attestation) Evaluated 1,826 Targum Memra instances using cross-verification across independent Targum traditions. **Threshold**: TgO+1 (Onqelos + at least 1 Palestinian tradition) OR 3+ Palestinian traditions. **Yield**: 533 Revenant (bracket-worthy) + 246 Camouflaged (circumlocutional function) ### Phase 2: Internal Evidence (Secondary Sweep) Evaluated all 1,047 entries that failed Phase 1's multi-attestation threshold, using pattern matching against the confirmed Phase 1 corpus. Individual review of each entry with full Aramaic context. **Yield**: 880 additional confirmed entries (secondary tier) ### Combined Result - **1,416 confirmed hypostatic Memra entries** (533 primary + 880 secondary + 3 upgraded) - **15 behavioral patterns**: ACCEPT/REJECT, JUDGE, BELIEVE IN, PROTECTIVE, DWELL, COVENANTAL, REVELATORY, NAME, KEEP/GUARD, REDEMPTIVE, CREATIVE, I AM, OATH, AFFECTIVE/RELATIONAL, ATONEMENT - **28 books** covered - **8 Targum traditions**: TgO, TgN, TgPsJ, TgNmg, FrTgP, FrTgVNL, TgJ, TgPs ## Scholarly Validation ### Boyarin Cross-Reference (*Border Lines*) 11 of 12 Boyarin Targum citations confirmed (92%). Our audit extends ~90× beyond Boyarin's coverage. Key quotes validating methodology: - "the more rabbinized Targums noticeably suppress the term Memra" - "remnants (almost revenants) of Logos theology" - "camouflaging a no-longer acceptable theological position" ### Ronning Cross-Reference (*The Jewish Targums and John's Logos Theology*) 304 overlapping entries. Our audit extends 761 unique verses beyond Ronning. All 6 of Ronning's core arguments supported. ## OT Impact: Bracket Sweep 100% of confirmed entries evaluated for UPDV bracketing with proposed [Speech] renderings. Tiered notation: Primary [Speech] (strong multi-attestation) vs. Secondary *[Speech]* (internal evidence). ## NT Impact: John's Gospel 7 Johannine fingerprint patterns trace back to Memra theology: 1. KEEP/GUARD (τηρέω + λόγον) — not attested in classical Greek per TDNT 2. ACCEPT/REJECT 3. JUDGE 4. DWELL (σκηνόω) 5. NAME 6. I AM (ἐγώ εἰμι) 7. BELIEVE IN (πιστεύω εἰς) — 36× in John, 0× in Synoptics as theological formula **25 NT verses** where "Speech" should replace "Word" in John's writings. ### Liturgical Calendar Mapping John's 6 explicit feast markers align with synagogue readings most saturated with Memra entries: - Sukkot: primary Memra feast (Ha'azinu = "Memra Shabbat," 35 entries) - Passover: 49 Memra entries in festival readings - John's feast structure is unique among the four Gospels ### UPDV Redaction Impact The Memra evidence challenges specific editorial decisions — see: - #19 John 7:37-38 (restore to text) - #20 John 7:39 (footnote as early Spirit gloss) - #21 John 14:26 (Holy Spirit appositive) - #22 John 19:36-37 (Passover lamb ending) ## Next Steps 1. Integrate [Speech] brackets into UPDV OT text 2. Apply 25 NT "Speech" renderings to John 3. Resolve the four John redaction issues (#19-#22) 4. Companion document for exceptions appendix entries 5. Investigate "progressive endings" Memra density for John's ending