How did Aramaic translations called Targums make the Hebrew Bible accessible?

Targums made the Hebrew Bible accessible by providing Aramaic translations for Jewish communities who, following the Babylonian Exile, increasingly used Aramaic as their everyday vernacular while Hebrew remained primarily a language of study and liturgy.123

In the synagogue, a professional interpreter known as a meturgeman would read the Hebrew text aloud and provide an immediate oral translation. While these renderings began as impromptu exercises, they eventually became fixed and were committed to writing.12

To ensure the text was truly intelligible, the meturgeman often moved beyond literal translation into paraphrase and commentary. These translations served several vital functions:1
* Clarification: They explained obscure passages and adjusted historical incidents to reflect the ideas of later times.1
* Education: They incorporated homiletic discourses, legends, and allegories to emphasize moral lessons.12
* Application: They adapted biblical rules and regulations to meet the specific conditions and requirements of the current age.1

Through this process, the Targums transformed the sacred text into a living, understandable tradition for the congregation.1