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THE HEBREW GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

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Hebrew Gospel of Matthew, by George Howard, is the complete Hebrew text of Matthew that "appeared in the body of a fourteenth century Jewish polemical treatise" by a Jewish apologist named Shem-Tob (or Shem-Tov). Howard presents us with the Hebrew text and an English translation on facing pages followed by an analysis of the text.

Several of the early church fathers, including Papias, Eusebius, Irenaeus, Origin, and Jerome state that Matthew wrote his Gospel in Hebrew and others later translated it. Greek and Latin speaking Christians, however, did not retain this Hebrew text and, as a result, little is know about it.

Shem-Tob's Hebrew Matthew is particularly of interest because:
1. It is the earliest complete Hebrew text of the Gospel known.
2. Though preserved in a fourteenth century treatise, the text appears to predate the fourteenth century.
3. It does not appear to be a translation of any known Greek or Latin text.

In his analysis of the text, Howard begins by comparing various verses from Shem-Tob's Matthew to (1) Hebrew excerpts from Matthew that were quoted in earlier writings and to (2) the later Hebrew texts of Matthew published by Sebastian Münster (1537) and Jean du Tillet (1555). He shows both places where the various Hebrew texts agree with each other, but differ from the Greek Matthew, and places where the various Hebrew texts differ from each other. He concludes that Shem-Tob's Hebrew Matthew is not the same as Münster's and du Tillet's (which are very similar to each other) nor is it a translation of the Latin Vulgate or "any known copy of the Greek text." He also states reasons for believing that Münster and du Tillet's represent later revisions to the textual tradition preserved in Shem-Tob.

Howard then presents an analysis of the linguistic and literary features of the text (including the use of puns and connective words which, being specific to Hebrew, don't exist in the Greek version of Matthew), the relationship of the text to other non-Hebrew textual traditions, theological motifs, and other interesting aspects of the text.

Howard's book is a scholarly presentation of this Hebrew Matthew and would be of interest to any serious student of the Hebrew origins of Matthew.

A word of caution is in order, however. While Shem-Tob appears to have used a pre-existing Hebrew text of Matthew, we do not know where he obtained it, what its textual history is, what kind of revisions or alterations may have been made throughout its history, or how accurately it reproduces the original Hebrew Gospel of Matthew. It is, in a sense, an important puzzle piece in a puzzle where most of the pieces have been lost.

Some background may be useful here. Jerome, the translator of the Vulgate around 400 A.D., who is considered the greatest Hebrew scholar of the late Roman Imperial age, wrote the following in his De Viris Illustribus (Of Illustrious Men):

"Matthew, also called Levi, apostle and aforetimes publican, composed a gospel of Christ at first published in Judea in Hebrew for the sake of those of the circumcision who believed, but this was afterwards translated into Greek though by what author is uncertain. The Hebrew itself has been preserved until the present day in the library. at Caesarea which Pamphilus so diligently gathered. I have also had the opportunity of having the volume described to me bythe Nazarenes of Beroea, a city of Syria, who use it. In this it is to be noted that wherever the Evangelist, whether on his own account or in the person of our Lord the Saviour quotes the testimony of the Old Testament he does not follow the authority of the translators of the Septuagint but the Hebrew. Wherefore these two forms exist "Out of Egypt have I called my son, " and "for he shall be called a Nazarene."

It is apparently unknown whether this Hebrew Matthew is the original of which Jerome wrote, but the possibility exists that this is the earliest Gospel of all. Considering the close relation of Hebrew to Aramaic, the language would in that case be the closest to Jesus' own.

The first book I read about Hebrew Matthew Gospel was this Georges Howard book and I found it very well done and a must. In that time.

Then I learned it also exists 2 more Hebrew Matthew Gospel texts.

The first one has been published by Sebastian Munster in Basel 1537 as a book with the Hebrew text copied and a Latin translation and several reprints of this text during the 16th century.
The original hebrew manuscript is lost, and there is a possibility Munster had to fill some little gaps in his manuscript.

The second text is the DuTillet edition in Paris, Jean Mercier 1555, with a Latin translation too.
Very important, DuTillet kept on the manuscript he found in Rome, and this manuscript is today in Bibliotheque Nationale de France, Paris (Richelieu building), under Hebrew Mss. # 132, written in medieval hebrew script.


I adquired copies of both texts and discussed them with scholars who studied them better that I did.

The 2 texts come from 2 distinct sources, but are very similar with few differences (except some verses at the beginning and at the end), but with many scribal simplifications in one or another text.
They agree with what old "Church Fathers" quote in the Hebrew text they could read.

A comparation of the Hebrew text vs the Greek version we know, makes obvious the Greek translator made many little translation errors, misunderstanding somme words with several meanings (Syria and Country), and more often confusing Hebrew similar letters (such as HE and HET or YOD and VAV).
It is clear theese Hebrew texts directly come from a Hebrew original, and the Greek we have is a translation.

In comparison, the Shem Tov editions Howard studied are a very very poor copy of the original text, modified by go-between scribes with certainly agendas to twist the text.

So, George Howard made a very good study of the wrong manuscript.

This beautiful translation of the preservation of a Hebrew version of the Gospel According to St. Matthew is a much needed account of an overlooked document. Arguing persuasively that although the document we have now dates from the medieval period, it is highly probable that it has its roots in an original Hebrew manuscript. With plenty of subtle changes compared to the standard Western version we use in the 21st Century, this illuminating book is a much needed light on Jesus' Pharisaic Jewishness.

This is a high-quality, scholarly review of a little-known text that may, in fact be a direct descendant of Matthew's original Gospel. The book benefits from Howard's insightful commentary and considered opinions. The are plenty of notes on the text and translation that allow the serious student room for further study. Makes a fascinating companion alongside a Talmud/Mishnah for comparing word usage and phraseology.

Note that the Hebrew text does not include vowel markings.

It's an absolute scandal that theologians have ignored the FACT that the Book of Matthew in the bible was originally written in the Hebrew language as documented by the Church fathers. The FACT that one of the now twenty nine documents, written in ancient Hebrew was found in Hitler's collections after WW2 is one of the most important discoveries of our time. The fact that George Howard was brave enough to research, translate, and publish it 30 years ago and almost no one knows it, is a tragedy. Having moved in theological circles myself, I can only imagine what poor Mr. Howard must have gone through to publish this work in the first place. Thank God for a young Karaite Jewish scholar who cared enough for a Christian friends simple question, to miraculously find the original documents again in the archives in Jerusalem and reintroduce them, along with this immensely important book. This time we the laypeople get to see them for ourselves. I understand what it must have been like for folks at the time of the Reformation to finally get a copy of the bible and come out of the dark ages.

Thank You Nehemia Gordon for unearthing this yet one more time, and expounding on key passages in it for our clarity. We would have otherwise never even known they exist. Please don't stop interpreting them for us.

The Hebrew Yeshua vs. the Greek JesusA Prayer to Our FatherThe Naming of Jesus in Hebrew Matthew

Since Matthew is the only book in the New Testament written originally in Hebrew it is essential to have the direct translation to get the true and full meaning of the writings. The subtle but powerful differences in the words change our view of God, Jesus and our Christianity. Read the difference in the Lord's Prayer and you will be convinced.

I'm looking for "Matthaei authenticum", that is, the Hebrew Gospel that Jerome talked about. But obviously Shem Tob version is not the "original Matthew" that i'm looking for. It is said that Matthaei authenticum is shorter than canonical Matthew, and Matthaei authenticum doesn't have Jesus genealogy. But Shem Tob's version has the same length as canonical Matthew and Shem Tob's version has Jesus genealogy.

However, there are some parts of the book (Shem Tob's version) that worth noting:
1. Shem Tob's Matthew 3:10 : "The crowds asked him: if so what shall we do? John answered them: He who has two shirts let him give one to him who has none ..." (etc).
Canonical Matthew doesn't have it, but Luke does.

2. Shem Tob's Matthew 23:35 : " ... unto the blood of Zechariah the Son of Barachiah ..." is just the same as canonical Matthew.
However, it is said that according to Jerome, it was written on Hebrew Gospel "Zechariah son of Jehoiada" just like 2 Chronicles 24:20.

3. Shem Tob's 27:9 : "Then was fulfilled the word of Zechariah the prophet ..." while according to canonical Matthew, it is written "Jeremiah the prophet".
Looks like Shem Tob's version is right on this one.

4. Shem Tob's 28:16 : "After this when his twelve disciples came to Galilee ... " while canonical Matthew recorded it as eleven disciples!

5. Shem Tob's 28:19-20 : "Go - and (teach) them to carry all the things which I have commanded you forever". There's no mention of 'baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'

6. According to Shem Tob, John the Baptizer ate locust, just like canonical Matthew said; while according to Hebrew gospel, John ate manna or honey cake.

In conclusion, I'm sure that Shem Tob's version is not the original Matthew that i'm looking for. I believe, the original Matthew is more like Q gospel, that is, in some parts it's more like canonical Luke than canonical Matthew. But Shem Tob's version is very similar to canonical Matthew. Shem Tob's has all 28 chapters of canonical Matthew. I guess he just omitted and altered some words to canonical Matthew.
In my opinion, Shem Tob's version is just another medieval gospel.

When i first heard of Shem-Tob's translation, i soon learned of George Howard's English version. A used copy was around twelve hundred bucks about two years ago. So when i saw that it was now mass printed and available for thirty bucks i was pretty exited. My main reason for wanting this book was for some clarity into Mt.24:28 "where the eagles (or vultures) are (gathered/assembled)there the body (or corpse) will be. This was part of the Messiah's response when the disciples asked what the sign of his coming would be. i wanted some insight, it seems important.

Shem-tob's/Howards version:
"Wherever the body is, there will be gathered the vultures"

Not quite the insight i was looking for.
Either way though a translation that predates the earliest we have is desirable anyway. I have not gotten a chance to sit down and truly study it(i'll post). but the word connections section alone has showed me the superiority of the version. Oh, and Howard has the Hebrew version accompanying the English (not a parallel translation, but hey!).
Peace and blessings to all who seek Yahweh.
study diligently and earnestly seek the gospel once delivered to the saints.

I am on a personal search for the deeper truths of God. I've experienced that God meets with you and guides you into these deeper truths when you demonstrate a true desire to know more. He truly lead me to discover this book,"Hebrew Gospel of Matthew", And I have been shown deeper truths in it. I would recommend this book to anyone who desires a richer understanding of the book of Matthew and a deeper insight into our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

Big Mike.