[MS: What is the best (or correct) translation of Devarim 25:19?
"you shall blot out the memory of Amalek"? - See many Sources below.
-vs-
"you shall wipe out the remembrance of Amalek" - Alter's translation.
What difference can it make? The issue is: Do we Jews blot out recalling Amalek among ourselves, or maybe by others? Or do we Jews prepare for, and fight, those who will create "the remembrance of Amalek" to do evil.
In several recent posts, my argument is that bad generations of Amalek/Hitler/Stalin/Hamas will use "remembrance of Amalek" to glorify its evil values, monstrous means and its ultimate goal, to destroy the Jews.
There is some overlap between the two translations, but I suggest the focus is to wipe out the reverence for the good old days of Amalek, its glory and monstrosity.
This is only my suggestion, not an argument Alter made, but his translations, and Notes on verse Devarim 25:19, and on other related verses. are consistent with it.]
Alter's unusual translation of Devarim verse 25:19
19 And it shall be, when the LORD your God grants you respite from all your enemies around in the land that the LORD your God is about to give you in estate to take hold of it, you shall wipe out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens, you shall not forget. "
[MS: Many people are confused by this commandment to "remember", don't remember and don't forget.
A close reading of the verses resolves confusion about:
- a commandment to remember Amalek in verse 17;
- to "wipe out" remembering Amalek in verse 19;
- and finally "you shall not forget" Amalek at end of verse 19.}
See link here to this argument in full.
In the MS Collection about Robert Alter's work, many recent posts discuss Amalek, Hamas, the IDF, the hostages, the Bibas Family tragedy, Sinat Chinom and related issues. See link here.]
Note by Alter to verse 19.
19. you shall wipe out the remembrance of Amalek . The noun zekher , which is also used in the parallel verse in Exodus 17:14, means “name” but derives from the root meaning “remembrance.” .... But it is important to retain the idea of remembering in translation because the writer is pointedly playing with “remembrance . . . do not forget.”
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Sources - Sample
[MS: Some other Sources use the translation blot out "the Name" of Amalek. See the Resources panel on Sefaria.]
Koren Translation
(יט) וְהָיָ֡ה בְּהָנִ֣יחַ יהוה אֱלֹהֶ֣יךָ ׀ לְ֠ךָ֠ מִכׇּל־אֹ֨יְבֶ֜יךָ מִסָּבִ֗יב בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְהֹוָה־אֱ֠לֹהֶ֠יךָ נֹתֵ֨ן לְךָ֤ נַחֲלָה֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ תִּמְחֶה֙ אֶת־זֵ֣כֶר עֲמָלֵ֔ק מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם לֹ֖א תִּשְׁכָּֽח׃ {פ}
JPS 1985
וְהָיָ֡ה בְּהָנִ֣יחַ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֣יךָ ׀ לְ֠ךָ֠ מִכׇּל־אֹ֨יְבֶ֜יךָ מִסָּבִ֗יב בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְהֹוָה־אֱ֠לֹהֶ֠יךָ נֹתֵ֨ן לְךָ֤ נַחֲלָה֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ תִּמְחֶה֙ אֶת־זֵ֣כֶר עֲמָלֵ֔ק מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם לֹ֖א תִּשְׁכָּֽח׃ {פ}
Therefore, when your God יהוה grants you safety from all your enemies around you, in the land that your God יהוה is giving you as a hereditary portion, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!
The Schocken Bible E. Fox 1995
(יט) וְהָיָ֡ה בְּהָנִ֣יחַ יהוה אֱלֹהֶ֣יךָ ׀ לְ֠ךָ֠ מִכׇּל־אֹ֨יְבֶ֜יךָ מִסָּבִ֗יב בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְהֹוָה־אֱ֠לֹהֶ֠יךָ נֹתֵ֨ן לְךָ֤ נַחֲלָה֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ תִּמְחֶה֙ אֶת־זֵ֣כֶר עֲמָלֵ֔ק מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם לֹ֖א תִּשְׁכָּֽח׃ {פ}
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[MS: See prior posts for background to this post.
Revised March 26, 2025]
In respect and memory of The Bibas Family and the hostages and the IDF.
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