Steps leading to the preparation of a new translationinto the English language were taken by the Jewish Publication Societyof America in 1892. It was intended to secure, through cooperation of scholarsin the United States and Great Britain, a new translation of each book,and to place it into the hands of an Editorial Committee, who by correspondencewith the translators should harmonize the results of the work of the individualcontributors. This method was followed until 1901, when it became apparentthat by this procedure the translation of the entire Hebrew Bible wouldbe indefinitely delayed. It was too complex to accomplish the requiredwork.

In 1908, JPSA and the Central Conference of American Rabbisagreed upon a revised plan in which the entire work would be done by aBoard of Editors. In preparing the manuscript, the Board took into accountthe existing English versions, the standard commentaries, the other JPSAtranslations, the Revised Version prepared for theJews in England, and other sources. Such ancient versions as theSeptuagint and those of Aquila, Symmachus, Theodotion,the Targums, the Peshitta, the Vulgate, and the Arabic version of Saadya werealso consulted. The manuscript was reviewed by the Board of Editors over aperiod of seven years. Each point was thoroughly discussed before a decisionwas finalized.

The aims of this translation were to combine the spiritof Jewish tradition with the results of Biblical scholarship. The textfollows Jewish tradition of separating the Scriptures into three divisions,namely: Law (Torah), Prophets (Nebi'im), and Writings (Ketubim).

Jewish Publication Society of America (1917)

[Tyndale House, Cambridge, UnitedKingdom]

Comparisons which include this version:

The Fringe on the Borders of a Garment
Offering Sacrifices to the He-Goat
The Sides of the Court of the Tabernacle
Words with Heathen Origins in the Scriptures