Everett Fox: Language, Performance, and Translating the Bible

In conversation with Sefaria Chief Learning Officer Sara Wolkenfeld, Professor Everett Fox discusses the importance of translation and sheds light on the many considerations made by translators, especially when working with critical texts like the Bible.

[gregoriobillikopf]

Sara, this was an excellent interview with Professor Everett Fox. I gasped with joy to hear that he has finished a draft of translation of Isaiah. There is a lot of great stuff from this interview about reading the text slowly and thoughtfully and much more. One of the great comments made was in relation to the value of learning the original language, in our case, Biblical Hebrew, so that translations will still be important and have much to add to the study of the Hebrew Bible, but our own reading will change as we can study in the original. Love the comment made about what will be different about the study of Torah next time, and the answer was "Everything!" Thanks for this great opportunity and the generosity of Sefaria.

[richardkaznyoung]

What a privilege to hear Prof Everett Fox!

[authorgoonit]

Hi and Bless you! I am a Veteran of the USMC SOC Force Reconnaissance Co. that joined the military to escape a highly abusive person who had illegally adopted me. I have had many Religious Adventures and I have recently started to study the Jewish Faith (which I was born into) and was drawn to the Sefaria site.
I am so interested in using the data and Religiious studies that you have put within to bring me closer to Elohim!

[flowernoire]

I just finished listening to Sara Wolkenfield's interview with Professor Fox, and it was fabulous. I recently finished Professor Fox's translation of Genesis and Exodus and I'm about to begin Leviticus. I have tried to read Torah several times throughout my life and have never gotten past the first two books. So far, Professor Fox's translation flows so smoothly almost effortlessly that it allows me to continue with the story. Also, Sefaria, which I am new to, is a wonderful resource permitting me to see the English and Hebrew side by side, and, importantly, the Hebrew script is very clear even including the vowels, significantly better than in most published texts, helping me to learn some Hebrew. Thank you Sefaria and Professor Fox.

[felipedejesuszamudio]

Dear Sara thank You for giving us the oportunity to understand the world of translation because Torah is a book that is universal.

[joseandreslandeta]

A great interview about Hebrew Bible translation! Thank you for share it 🙏🏻

[mariearaujo]

Congratulations translation very explain very well expressed very well expressed explanation I really like your work God bless😇🙏❤💚💙🕎🔯

[lloydcrooks]

Just bought his book 5 books of Moses from England brilliant book

[CalebCarman]

Will Sefaria ever add Robert Alter’s Hebrew Bible translation to its catalogue?

[capt]

i have three question
1) why does the website sefaria allow a christian interpretation unto the tanakh?
2) i thought sefaria is only promoting judaism view, not christian view.
3) And Prof. Everett Fox is a christian, right?

[rschlosberg]

Richard Schlosberg Highland Park, IL