Introduction Horned Moses Devil Stereotype Stereotypes Today
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Lost in Translation: Anti-Semitic Stereotypes Based on Mistranslations Averyl Edwards, Annika Wurm, Manuel Castillo Introduction Horned Moses Devil Stereotype The Book of Revelation Chapter other myths such as the legend of When St. Jerome was translating the were portrayed as “natural growths” was in Since before the Middle Ages, 13 in the New Testament describes the Wandering Jew (Figure 1), who Hebrew Bible into Latin, he translated the 1200, usually in sculpture or stained glass. mistranslations of the Hebrew Bible and the coming of the Antichrist. It supposedly taunted Jesus on his Hebrew phrase garen pnei Moshe as “horns The practice gained popularity, evidenced in other religious texts have resulted in Jewish references beasts with horns on way to Crucifixion and was around Moses’ face,” despite his knowledge Claus Sluter’s 1404 sculpture in Chatreuse de stereotypes that are still present today. While multiple occasions: “…having doomed to wander forever as Figure 2: Michelangelo, Moses from the of alternate interpretations of garen meaning Champmol or even, most famously, some of them where innocuous mistakes, Tomb of Pope Julius II, c. 1513-1515, seven heads and ten horns, and punishment. This myth was marble, 235 cm (San Pietro in Vincoli, “glorified,” or “rays of light.” Much debate Michelangelo’s sculpture of Moses in the others were part of very intentional Rome upon his horns ten crowns,” (13:1) resonant with Christians who saw has been given over whether this was an Sistine Chapel (Figure 3). Christian efforts to alter the language of “And I beheld another beast Jews’ frequent homelessness due innocuous misinterpretation on his part or the Hebrew Bible to create “evidence” for coming up out of the earth; and he to expulsion as punishment for a way of demonizing Moses, a leader of the Similar to St. Jerome, some consider the the coming of Jesus as the Messiah. Few had two horns like a lamb, and he their not having accepted Jesus as Crucifixion Psalm Old Testament and thus a symbol of the portrayal of Moses with horns in the time of Christians in the Middle Ages read Hebrew, spake as a dragon,” (13:11-12). the Messiah. Over time, the “outdated” religion of the Jews from the Renaissance to be innocuous in its intention. so any changes would not have been noticed Many Christians have cited Psalm 22:17 as Although the horns were written to Wandering Jew also became perspective of contemporary Christians. It is While some in that time may have seen it and the translated versions were accepted as particularly convincing “evidence” from the symbolize power, horns naturally associated with exorcism, no secret that St. Jerome was personally that way, there were telltale signs in the word of G-d. Hebrew Bible of the coming of Jesus as the became affiliated with evil in the furthering the association of Jews biased against Jews, considering their contemporary art that horns were often Messiah. The translation of the passage in Christian tradition. The affiliation with demons and the Devil. conscience “stained with the blood of associated with the devil and demons. For the King James Bible reads as follows:“For of Moses, and then eventually all Christ” and insolent in their rejection of such a trait to be on both demons and Moses dogs have compassed me, the assembly of Jews, with horns led to an Jesus’ messianic status. (and rarely on other, more positively the wicked have enclosed me; they have overall stereotype as Jews being Conclusion connoted beings), the evidence would suggest pierced my hands and my feet.” This affiliated with the devil. In the Christian tradition, horns most often that the connection was negative in nature. While it is not necessarily the translation, however, differs greatly from a In the Early Middle Ages, the evoke the imagery of the Revelation of St. Furthermore, Michelangelo also included the case that mistranslations of the common Jewish translation of the same leaders of the Church referred to John, which portrays horned beasts as Jewish badge of shame of his time period on Hebrew text by Christians in verse: “For dogs have encompassed me; a verses in the New Testament that harbingers of the Final Judgment, quite a painting of the biblical character Aminadab, the Middle Ages actively company of evil-doers have inclosed me; stated that Jews were direct evil in nature. On the other hand, in the Aaron’s father-in-law. The inclusion of this caused anti-Semitic sentiment, like a lion, they are at my hands and my descendants of the devil and Jewish tradition in which the Hebrew text anachronistic detail implies an intention to it is reasonable to conclude that feet.”According to Rabbi Tovia Singer, the came to associate Jews with evil. was written, horns on Moses would have otherize the characters of the Hebrew the presence of mistranslated King James version “deliberately During this time period, a lot of been interpreted as symbols of power, or Bible/Old Testament, emphasizing their text served to aid those who mistranslated the Hebrew word kaari as art, poetry, drama, and religious perhaps an even g-dlike status. antiquated nature compared to that of the wished to spread their anti- Figure 1: The Wandering Jew by Gustave Dore. ‘pierced,’ rather than ‘like a lion,’ thereby instruction identified Jews with the New Testament, and by extension, to Semitism, and did so rather drawing the reader to a false conclusion that Devil. Jews were portrayed not This interpretation of the Hebrew text reinforce the otherness of the Jews of his successfully. This is due in part this Psalm is describing the Crucifixion.” only with horns, but also tails, became visually manifested first in the time. to the lack of widespread Background This mistranslation has been widely used in goats’ beards, and noxious odor. Aelferic Paraphrase, of 11th Century England. Hebrew knowledge within attempts to convert Jews to Christianity, They would be included in scenes There are three general ways in which texts This document was used as an illustrated medieval Europe, as well as the often associated with anti-Semitic in which they were conspiring with can be interpreted: through etymology, internal vernacular edition of the Torah and the Book propaganda that reinforced stereotypes that Jews do not even know the Devil or as demons torturing structure, and cognates In reference to the of Joshua, and portrayed Moses as wearing a these stereotypes in the art, their own holy scripture. Jesus. Even portrayals of the Devil Hebrew Bible, confusion due to etymology horned headdress not unlike that of the poetry, and drama consumed by himself were affiliated with Jews: occurs between the words “desirable” and Viking helmets familiar to that region. This the masses, leading to deeply he was often depicted as Jewish or “take,” which have the same roots. Therefore, pattern of portraying Moses with horned rooted and pervasive surrounded by Jews. translators have sometimes written the headdresses continued through the 12th and stereotypes which still can be The literal demonization of Jews commandment “thou shalt not covet” as “thou 13th Centuries in English and French found today. Figure 3: Late 15th Century painting from Frankfurt-Main depicting Jews as during this time period also led to shalt not take.” Even these subtle differences consorting with the Devil. Both the Jews and the Devil wear the circular Stereotypes Today manuscripts. The first time Moses’ horns Jewish badge of shame, a common tool for setting Jews apart in the Early in meanings can distort texts to a high degree. Modern Era. The Hebrew meanings of “virgin” and “young Rabbi Art Levine addresses the issue of the Horned Moses stereotype in a commentary on Parshat Ki Tissa, the Torah portion in which this fateful verse occurs: Works Cited woman” are nearly identical, causing •Balser B. 2006. Anti-Defamation League [Internet]. [cited 2016 Feb 16] Available “To the incalculable harm and suffering of Jews thereafter, Jerome’s interpretive intention was lost, ignored, and/or suppressed by those who either did not know better from: http://www.adl.org/assets/pdf/education-outreach/CAS-Myths-and-Facts.pdf •Hebrew and Greek Words Mistranslated to Mean Hell [Internet]. God's Plan for All; translations of many parables to be disputed or who did, but had other agendas. The pernicious staying-power of this evil is also noted by Rabbi Sonsino. He recounts an experience of a friend in South Carolina [cited 2016 Feb 14] . Available from: http://www.godsplanforall.com/mistranslationstomeanhell among scholars. Lastly, the terms “father,” in 1963, when mentioned to a civilian army base secretary that he was Jewish. The secretary asked to feel his head. After doing so, she said, in all seriousness: •Hoffman J. 2011 Oct 14. Five Ways Your Bible Translation Distorts the Original Meaning of the Text [Internet]. Huffpost Religion; [2011 Dec 14, cited 2016 Feb 14] . “brother,” and “sister” were originally used to Available from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-joel-hoffman/five-ways-your-bible- “Where are you horns? I thought all Jews had horns.” Ironically, I recently heard another version of the same story from an acquaintance whose grandfather tran_b_1007058.html •Hoffman J. 2011 Dec 9. Five Mistakes in Your Bible Translation [Internet]. Huffpost describe the hierarchy of society, and not visited his friend in Spain in the 1930s. When the friend made an anti-Semitic remark, the grandfather revealed that he was Jewish. His shocked friend demanded Religion; [2012 Feb 8, cited 2016 Feb 14] . Available from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-joel-hoffman/five-mistakes-bible- necessarily kinship ties. Therefore, even an translation_b_1129620.html that he first remove his hat.