The Aramaic English
Standard Version

The word "Peshitta" is Aramaic and means "straight" or "simple", (the original and pure version). The Peshitta is one of the oldest dated Biblical manuscript in existence. The Peshitta contains the books in the "Old" and "New Testaments" that were written in Aramaic and Aramaic dialects, the language spoken by the Messiah and His Disciples in the First Century.

A Targum is "any of several translations of the Hebrew Scriptures or its parts into Aramaic. The earliest date from after the Babylonian Exile and were designed to meet the needs of uneducated Jews who did not know Hebrew. After the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem (AD 70), Targums became established in synagogues, where scripture was read aloud with a translation in Aramaic. These readings eventually incorporated paraphrase and commentary. Targums were regarded as authoritative throughout the Talmudic period (see Talmud) and began to be committed to writing in the 5th century." (Britannica Concise Encyclopedia).

The Aramaic text used for the AESV is considered to be a Targum (Aramaic translation and commentary). Both Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts, donated to The Peshitta Foundation and held in trust or on loan, were used as the basis for translation, as well as to assist in updating the standard version of the Torah. Aramaic and Hebrew translations of the same were used for translating the Gospel of Matthew and the Epistle of James.

This translation began in 1987. Various English translations were consulted for comparison and references (see notes below). In 2007 a new translation team was organized to complete the process of editing and formatting for this project in order to conform closer with the traditional Eastern text of the Peshitta.

The purpose behind this translation is to present a pure, understandable and modern translation of the Peshitta in English for those who are unable to read the Original.

This Version of the Peshitta substitutes traditional Hebrew names and phrases for most equivalent Aramaic/Greek/English names and phrases. The meaning of the Holy Scriptures remains the same as that of the Peshitta - the most accurate edition of the Word of God unchanged since the time of the Apostles. Similar instances are given for other individuals' names and geographic locations as well. Most references to "the Jews" is translated as "the Yisraelites" or "the Judeans" and similar variations where appropriate. The Divine Name has been rendered directly from Aramaic in the form of "Mar-Yah" (meaning "Lord Yah") equivalent to the familiar form of "Yahweh".

If you have questions about any of the documents on this site please feel free to contact The Peshitta Foundation.

The AESV documents should be considered as drafts. There may be some typographical and/or grammatical errors. The AESV is still a work in progress. You are invited to notify the Foundation of any typos you may find within the drafts.

Copyright Information Concerning the Aramaic English Standard Version

The Aramaic English Standard Version (AESV) is Copyright ©1987-2008 by The Peshitta Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means - graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval systems including but not limited to display on the Internet - without written permission of the publisher.

Please note that our copyright of this work is not to infringe on the Gospel being preached throughout the world, but to protect both those who have laboured to produce the translation and the work itself from being unnecessarily abused by its enemies.

Click here to begin reading the first book of the Scriptures or here to access a list of the books within the AESV that have thus far been translated.