Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Kiddushin 97:13

על מנת שאני שונה חזקיה אמר הלכות ור' יוחנן אמר תורה

Even if he translates it according to his own understanding! But it was taught: R'Judah said: If one translates<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This refers to the public translations in the synagogue alongside the Reading of the Law, which was also a feature of ancient times. ktrah hekt ,t utrhu');"><sup>17</sup></span> a verse literally, he is a liar; if he adds thereto, he is a blasphemer and a libeller.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Meharef and megaddef are synonyms. [Tosaf. In the name of R. Hananel cites Ex. XXIV. 10: of which the literal rendering 'they saw the God of Israel' conveys a lie, as God cannot be seen, whilst the added words in the rendering 'they saw the angel of the God of Israel' involves a blasphemy; for further examples v. Harkavy, A., Teshuboth ha-Geonim, pp. 124ff.]');"><sup>18</sup></span> Then what is meant by translation?

Daf Shevui to Kiddushin

The word “shoneh” (or mishnah) which I have translated as “recite” always refers to reciting Oral Torah and not reading Written Torah. Therefore, when R. Yohanan says “Torah” he must mean midrash, which is exegesis of Torah. Thus we have here the two main forms of Oral Torah—Midrash, which are laws connected to verses, and halakhot, laws taught independent of verses. The latter form is found today in midrashic collections that follow the order of four of the five books of the Torah (there is none on Genesis). The former is found in the Mishnah and Tosefta.
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