Syriac: (2 Kings 18:26; Ezra 4:7; Daniel 2:4) more correctly rendered "Aramaic," including
both the Syriac and the Chaldee languages. In the New Testament there
are several Syriac words, such as1. "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"
(Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46)
gives the Heb. form, "Eli, Eli"),
2. "Raca"
(Matthew 5:22)
3. "Ephphatha"
(Mark 7:34)
4. "Maran-atha"
(1 Corinthians 16:22)
A Syriac version of the Old Testament, containing all the canonical
books, along with some apocryphal books (called the Peshitto, i.e.,
simple translation, and not a paraphrase), was made early in the second
century, and is therefore the first Christian translation of the Old
Testament. It was made directly from the original, and not from the
LXX. Version. The New Testament was also translated from Greek into
Syriac about the same time. It is noticeable that this version does not
contain the Second and Third Epistles of John, 2 Peter, Jude, and the
Apocalypse. These were, however, translated subsequently and placed in
the version.
(See VERSION)
