Abstract:

The   difference   between   Jewish ladinamientos (Ladino   versions)   and   the   medieval romanceamientos translated from the Hebrew Bible is a widely debated subject among Spanish studies scholars. The different function assigned to them in Jewish and Christian communities constitutes a partial but legitimate explanation if the factors that precede the emergence of these texts in Romance are taken into  account,  such  as,  for  example,  the  interpretation  technique  of  the  Masoretic Text  among  the  Jews and the regulations prescribed by the sages for the use of translations. This work aims to describe the oral interpretation technique of the Hebrew Bible among Spanish Jews and its consequences for the medieval Romanceamientos and Ladinamientos and Sephardic translations printed after 1492. The various versions in Romance and Ladino of verse 4, 21 of the book of Judges are used to illustrate the question.