The Hebrew Bible
by Robert Alter · first published 2018
6mentions
5recommended by
5HN commenters
2019–2024first – last mentioned
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
A one-man translation that aims to carry the literary style, poetic rhythms and metaphors of the Hebrew into English, with commentary. It suits readers who want the text's literary qualities and notes.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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…is quite strong and would date at least to the Babylonian captivity. I believe Dr. Robert Alter leans toward an evolution from polytheism -> monotheism in Jewish thinking (I highly recommend his The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary); but I think the evidence for a sort of henotheism is a bit stronger and more sensible, which would better fit the sources you shared here, alongside the biblical texts.
on “The camel, the rope, and the needle's eye” ↗I would teach this one: https://www.amazon.com/Hebrew-Bible-Translation-Commentary-T...
on “Oklahoma's State Superintendent Requires Public Schools to Teach the Bible” ↗If you're stoked for that, then I would be remiss to not say something about Robert Alter's one man translation of the Hebrew Bible. From wiki: "Alter's translation aims to convey the literary style of the original Hebrew text in English, recreating as much as possible its poetic rhythms and metaphors" I think many of the Psalms…
on “English as She Is Spoke” ↗I don't know about the New Testament, but I'd recommend Robert Alter's The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary for the Old Testament. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BN5HWWX
on “Earliest known draft of the King James Bible discovered” ↗…Dynamics of Biblical Parallelism, Berlin and Freedman Poet and Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes: A Literary-Cultural Approach to the Parables in Luke, Kenneth E. Bailey Robert Alter's translations of the Hebrew Bible have lots of interesting notes.
on “Ask HN: Best resources for appreciating the Bible for non religious folk?” ↗I have found the bible they are going to teach https://www.amazon.com/Hebrew-Bible-Translation-Commentary-T...
on “Oklahoma orders schools to teach Bible 'immediately'” ↗