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Announcement: First Kosher Orthodox Rabbinic Translation of the entire New Testament into English
We are pleased to announce the launch of the first ever Kosher Orthodox rabbinic translation of the entire New Testament into English, prepared with full attention to Jewish textual tradition, linguistic accuracy, and halachic sensitivity.
Now accompanied by Jewish rabbinic commentary, this work presents the text in its original context while elucidating its meaning through a lens of Torah scholarship and traditional Jewish interpretation.
This translation seeks to provide scholars, students, and rabbis with a tool for study from a fully Jewish perspective, preserving the textual Greek while clarifying its meaning within a Jewish and rabbinic context.
We respectfully invite esteemed rabbis and Torah scholars to review this work and provide their guidance, approval, and commentary. Your endorsement will help ensure this translation meets the highest standards of Jewish scholarship and integrity.
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“Behold, days are coming, says the L-rd, when I will make a new covenant (brit chadasha) with the house of Yisra᾽el, and with the house of Yehuda… but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Yisra᾽el after those days, says the L-rd; I will put my Torah in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their G-d, and they shall be my people…”
-Jeremiah 31:31, 33
“Rabbi Elazar says: Be diligent in learning Torah, and know what to respond to one who denigrates the Torah. Know before Whom you labor–the Master of your work is trustworthy to pay you the wage for your activity.”
-Pirkei Avos 2:14
“While writing this commentary of the New Testament, I had no other goal, as I have said in the first volume, but to reconcile these two enemy sisters: The Church and the Synagogue… to show everyone that the New Testament only comes to show that the root of existence is in the unity of G–d (ahdut ha-Bore) … and also to strengthen the law of Moses (Torat Moshe)… I publish this commentary (to Matthew) in Hebrew for Jews, to introduce them to the New Testament who, until now, have not recognized its beauty (eynam makirim ’et yofya)… Notwithstanding the contrary misconception, the New Testament is in no manner contrary to the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) or to the Talmud.“
-Rabbi Eliyahu Tzvi Soloveitchik, Kol Kore
Waykeeper Principles #6 & #8
6. The Jewish writings called, “the New Testament,” are not superior or equal, but are subordinate to the Torah given by G-d at Sinai (and therefore not a Halachic authority).
8. We do not yet have a kosher translation of the “New Testament,” but its general teachings align especially with Hasidic Judaism (e.g. serving G-d with and beyond ‘the letter’).
Based on the Weekly NT Schedule…
Sunday (1):
Luke 23:22 → Luke 23:43 (22)
Jewish Commentary:
Monday (2):
Luke 23:44 → Luke 24:8 (21)
Jewish Commentary:
Tuesday (3):
Luke 24:9 → Luke 24:29 (21)
Jewish Commentary:
Wednesday (4):
Luke 24:30 → Luke 24:53 (24)
Jewish Commentary:
The Good News of Yohanan
Thursday (5):
John 1:1 → John 1:18 (18)
Chapter 1
1 In the beginning was the Word (Logos, Memra), and the Word was with the G-d (ho Theos), and the Word was a god (theos).
“… Examine it accurately, and see whether there are really two Gods. For it is said: “I am the God who was seen by thee;” not in my place, but in the place of God, as if he meant of some other God. (229) What then ought we to say? There is one true God only: but they who are called Gods, by an abuse of language, are numerous; on which account the holy scripture on the present occasion indicates that it is the true God that is meant by the use of the article, the expression being, “I am the God (ho Theos);” but when the word is used incorrectly, it is put without the article, the expression being, “He who was seen by thee in the place,” not of the God (tou Theou), but simply “of God” (Theou); (230) and what he here calls God is his most ancient word (Logos), not having any superstitious regard to the position of the names, but only proposing one end to himself, namely, to give a true account of the matter; for in other passages the sacred historian [Moses], when he considered whether there really was any name belonging to the living God, showed that he knew that there was none properly belonging to him; but that whatever appellation any one may give him, will be an abuse of terms; for the living God is not of a nature to be described, but only to be.”
–Philo of Alexandria, On Dreams 1:39:228b-230
“we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other G-d but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one G-d, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him”
-Paul, 1 Corinthians 8:4-6
2 He was in the beginning with the G-d.
“According to Reis Lakish, as it is written: “The spirit of G-d hovered over the surface of the water” (Genesis 1:2), this is the spirit of the King Messiah. If a person merits, they say to him: ‘You preceded the entire act of Creation.’”
-Midrash Vayikra Rabbah 14:1b
3 All things came into being through him, and apart from him nothing came into being that has come into being.
“Another matter, amon means artisan [uman]. The Torah is saying: ‘I was the tool of craft of the Holy One blessed be He.’ The way of the world is that when a flesh-and-blood king builds a palace he does not build it based on his own knowledge, but rather based on the knowledge of an artisan. And the artisan does not build it based on his own knowledge, but rather, he has [plans on] sheets and tablets by which to ascertain how he should build its rooms, how he should build its doors. So too, the Holy One blessed be He looked in the Torah and created the world. The Torah says: “Bereshit God created” (Genesis 1:1), and reshit is nothing other than the Torah, as it says: “The Lord made me at the beginning of [reshit] His way” (Proverbs 8:22).”
-Bereshit Rabba 1:1
“Wasn’t it taught in a baraita: Seven things were created before the world was created, and they are: Torah, and repentance, and the Garden of Eden, and Gehenna, and the Throne of Glory, and the Temple, and the name of Messiah.”
-Talmud, Pesachim 54a:8
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of humanity.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
“What is “in your light, light is seen?” This is the light of Messiah. As it was said: “G-d saw that the light was good.”“
-Yalkut Shimoni on Nach, 499:1b
6 There came a man sent from G-d whose name was Yohanan.
7 He came as a witness, to testify concerning the light, so that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but came to testify concerning the light.
9 The true light, which enlightens every person, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not recognize him.
11 He came to his own, and his own did not receive him.
“from you [Bethlehem] shall emerge for Me—the Messiah, son of David, and so Scripture says (Ps. 118:22): “The stone the builders had rejected became a cornerstone.” and his origin is from of old—“Before the sun his name is Yinnon” (Ps. 72:17).”
-Rashi, Micah 5:1
12 But to all who received him—those who trust in his name—he gave authority to become children of G-d,
13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of G-d.
“And from there, the Holy One, blessed be He, called you ‘faithful servant,’ SINCE SERVANT COMES FROM THE ASPECT OF METAT-RON. Later you were promoted to be king, as the verse states: “And he was a king in Yeshurun” (Devarim 33:5). Then you were a member of the most high household. YOU WERE a king from the aspect of Malchut of Briyah; a member of the household from the aspect of Binah of Briyah. Now you are a king from the aspect of the Tree of Malchut of Atzilut, a member of the household from the aspect of Yud-Hei, Tiferet of Atzilut. Fortunate is your lot. What brought this about for you? Your studious involvement in Torah and the precept to unify the Holy One, blessed be He, and His Shechinah, to bring the King to His post over His hosts on high and on Yisrael below. Because of this, they all inherit from Him souls of Atzilut, and are thus called ‘His children,’ of the Name Yud Hei Vav Hei of Atzilut where there exists no division or mutilation. At first, it is mentioned about them that they are children of the Holy One, blessed be He, and His Shechinah, from the aspect of Yud Hei Vav Hei of the world of Briyah, as it is written concerning him, “EVERY ONE THAT IS CALLED BY MY NAME: for I have created him FOR MY GLORY, I have formed him; yea, I have made him” (Yeshayah 43:7), MEANING THAT HE CREATED HIM FROM THE ASPECT OF YUD HEI VAV HEI OF BRIYAH, FORMED HIM FROM YETZIRAH, AND ALSO MADE HIM FROM THE ASPECT OF ASIYAH. NOW THEY HAVE BECOME children of Yud Hei Vav Hei of Atzilut.”
-Holy Zohar, Kedoshim: Verse 56
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory—glory as of the only son of the Father—full of grace and truth.
“The letter Hei definitely is verbal confession and the secret meaning of: “Take with you words, and turn to Hashem: say to him…so we will offer the words of our lips instead of calves” (Hoshea 14:3). When a person sins, he certainly causes the Hei to distance itself from the Vav, since the son of Yud-Hei (son of G-d), MEANING THE VAV THAT CONTAINS Yud- Hei- Vav, removes himself from the Hei. Because of this, the Temple was destroyed and Yisrael were driven away from there and dispersed among the nations. Because of this, whoever repents affects the return of the Hei to the letter Vav, and redemption depends upon it. Consequently, everything depends on repentance. That is what the ancient sages said. The intimated term for the coming of the Messiah has passed – worse has come to worst – and it is contingent upon repentance only, which is the completion of his Name, WHICH IS THE SECRET MEANING OF HEI THAT COMPLETES HIS NAME WHEN ADDED TO YUD-HEI-VAV.”
-Holy Zohar, Naso: Verse 29
15 Yohanan testified concerning him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me has surpassed me, because he existed before me.’”
16 For from his fullness we have all received—grace upon grace.
17 For the Torah was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Yeshua the Messiah.
““What does it mean, Who are you, O great mountain? This is King Messiah. And why does he call him great mountain? Because he is greater than the Fathers… loftier than Abraham… more elevated than Moses… and higher than the ministering angels… and from whom will he issue? From Zerubbabel…”
-Midrash Tanchuma, Toledot 14, ed. Buber 1:139, cited in the Messiah Texts by Raphael Patai, pg. 41 [2]
18 No one has seen G-d at any time; the only son, who is in the bosom of the Father—he has made Him known.
Friday (6):
John 1:19 → John 1:39 (21)
19 And this is the testimony of Yohanan, when the Judean authorities sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 He confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
“For all the Prophets and the Torah prophesied until Yohanan. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.”
-Yeshua, Matthew 11:13-14
22 Therefore they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
23 He said, “I am a voice crying in the wilderness:
‘Make straight the way of the L-rd,’
as Isaiah the prophet said.”
“It is explained in the Zohar that the reason for the length of our exile is because of the Torah of the L-rd that was delivered into the hands of heretics (minim) — the deniers…
However, the reason is this — as our eyes see, that they (the nations) are gradually drawing nearer one by one to believe in the existence of the Creator, and to believe in the Torah, and to believe in the renewal of the world (ḥiddush ha-‘olam)…
And therefore, the Torah was handed over to them, in order to remove doubt from their hearts… “A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the L-rd.”
-Rabbi Yehonatan Eybeschutz, Ahavat Yehonatan, Haftarah of Vaetchanan §4,
That is, this voice — the heavenly voice — cries concerning the Torah that was given into the wilderness,
for the heretics (minim) are indeed a wilderness, where no good plant grows.
And it says, “Prepare the way of the L-rd” — meaning: that they should bend their shoulders to serve the L-rd.
“Make straight in the desert (ba‘aravah) a highway for our G-d” — the word aravah (plain) refers to the heretics, who are like the willow (aravah) that grows by water and has a beautiful appearance like cedars, but nevertheless bears no fruit, and is vanity, and has no substance.
And it says that the reason the Torah was given to them is so that they will pave the highway for our G-d.”
24 Now those sent were from the Pharisees.
25 And they asked him, saying, “Why then are you immersing, if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 Yohanan answered them, saying, “I immerse in water, but among you stands one whom you do not know,
27 the one coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”
28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where Yohanan was immersing.
29 On the next day he saw Yeshua coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of G-d, who takes away the sin of the world!
“… In the Midrash, there is a saying that they put the bones of Joseph [ben Rachel, lit. ‘son of sheep’] within the skin of a lamb, and the spirit of life entered the skin, and this is as it is written: “He led Joseph like a flock”” [Psalm 80:2].”
-Tosafot Shantz, Sotah 13a
“Isaac said to his father: O my father! Behold the fire and the wood, where is the lamb for the burnt offering? He replied to him: My son! Thou art the lamb for the burnt offering, as it is said, “And Abraham said, God will provide for himself the lamb” (Gen. 22:8). The ministering angels said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all the worlds! Thou art called merciful and compassionate, whose mercy is upon all His works; have mercy upon Isaac, for he is a man, and the son of man, and is bound before Thee like an animal.”
-Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezer 31
30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because he existed before me.’
31 I myself did not know him, but so that he might be revealed to Israel, I came immersing in water.”
32 And Yohanan testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained upon him.
“Just like the Holy One, blessed be He, sent out the dove, AS NOAH IS OF THE ASPECT OF YESOD, but she did not find a place to rest, AS IT IS WRITTEN, “BUT THE DOVE FOUND NO REST” (BERESHEET 8:9), so did he send for you, Faithful Shepherd first. It is written of them, “And he looked this way and that, and when he saw that there was no man” (Shemot 2:12), WHICH MEANS HE SAW they were all guilty and there was no man among them who had the merit to get out of exile. For that reason, you refused to go there but said, “Send, I pray You, by the hand of him whom You will send” (Shemot 4:13). Yet NOW you are like at that time OF THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT. In you it shall be fulfilled together with Yisrael, “As in the days of your coming out of the land of Egypt I will show him marvelous things” (Michah 7:15). During the last exile He will send with you two Messiahs, MESSIAH, SON OF JOSEPH, AND MESSIAH, SON OF DAVID, who correspond to the two wings of the dove, WHO IS THE SHECHINAH, because you are in the fourth exile like a body without wings. Moreover, at first Yisrael was like a body, and you and Aaron like the two wings of the dove, with which Yisrael flew OUT OF EXILE.”
-Holy Zohar, Ki Tetze, 8:55-56
33 I myself did not know him, but the One who sent me to immerse in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining, this is the one who immerses in the Holy Spirit.’
“He washed his garments in wine” (Beresheet 49:11). HE ASKS, Why does it say “washed” IN THE PAST TENSE instead of “washes?” HE ANSWERS, He has been washing since the world was created. Who has? King Messiah…”
–Holy Zohar, Vayechi: Verse 630
34 And I have seen and testified that this is the son of G-d.”
35 Again the next day Yohanan was standing with two of his disciples,
36 and looking at Yeshua walking, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of G-d!”
“A lamb is sacrificed as a burnt offering, as written: “But where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Beresheet 22:7). It says of it: “Your lamb shall be without blemish (Heb. tamim), a male,” (Shemot 12:5) as, “a plain (Heb. tamim) man,” (Beresheet 25:27) MEANING PERFECT. ALSO, “A LAMB WITHOUT A BLEMISH,” MEANS IT IS PERFECT, BEING A BURNT OFFERING, WHICH IS ON THE RIGHT. The lamb is to the right and a he-goat is to the left, namely, “and one kid of the goats for a sin offering,” AS GOATS (HEB. IZIM) INDICATE HARSH (HEB. AZIM) JUDGMENTS OF THE LEFT. There is a he-goat and there is a he-goat, NAMELY one he-goat for Hashem and one he-goat for Azazel, as written: “And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for Hashem and the other lot for Azazel” (Vayikra 16:8). It was concerning this he-goat (Heb. seir) that it says of Esav, that he is “a hairy (Heb. sair) man” (Beresheet 27:11). This is THE ASPECT OF the liver (Heb. kaved lit. ‘heavy’), which receives AND ABSORBS all the yeast in the blood, WHICH ARE boils, smallpox, skin sores and all kinds of leprosy. Hence, it is written: “And the goat shall bear upon itself all their sins (Heb. avonotam) to a barren land” (Vayikra 16:22). AVONOTAM IS COMPOSED OF THE LETTERS OF Avonot-tam, the sins of the perfect, that is, the heart, CALLED ‘PERFECT.’ It then stops being a part of the heart, THE SECRET OF MALCHUT, which is then perfumed, and AZAZEL is made heavy with those sins IT CARRIES UPON ITSELF, and is not light enough to rise to Jacob, the perfect man, THE SECRET OF ZEIR ANPIN. THE FAITHFUL SHEPHERD DID NOT UTTER HIS QUESTION BECAUSE HE WANTED THEM TO ASK IT. The sages of the Mishnah and the heads of the Yeshivah, who came down with the Tannaim and the Amoraim, rejoiced.”
-Holy Zohar, Tzav: Verse 42
37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Yeshua.
38 Turning and seeing them following, Yeshua said to them, “What are you seeking?”
They said to him, “Rabbi, where are you staying?”
39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day; it was about the tenth hour.
Shabbat (7):
John 1:40 → John 2:11 (23)
40 Andrew, the brother of Shimon Peter, was one of the two who heard Yohanan and followed him.
41 He first found his own brother Shimon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Anointed One).
42 He brought him to Yeshua. Looking at him, Yeshua said, “You are Shimon son of Yohanan; you shall be called Kepha” (which means Rock).
43 The next day he desired to go to Galilee, and he found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found the one of whom Moses wrote in the Torah, and also the Prophets—Yeshua of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
“Mashiach ben David comes to bring peace to the world and not war. Yeshu of Nazareth said about himself, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the world, rather war” (Matthew 10:34). And likewise, he certainly was the secret of Mashiach ben Yosef (Messiah the son of Joseph)…”
-Rabbi Moshe David Valle, Sefer Likkutim vol. 1, p. 242
46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47 Yeshua saw Nathanael coming toward him and said concerning him, “Behold, truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”
48 Nathanael said to him, “From where do you know me?”
Yeshua answered, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
Nathanael was the 6th disciple from Shimon, representing the Tribe of Dan, symbolized by the Serpent (who also was under the fig tree, Ariel Cohen Alloro).
49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the son of G-d; You are the King of Israel!”
“The Faithful Shepherd rose and prostrated himself before the Holy One, blessed be He. He wept and said, may it please Him to regard me as a son, that my doings towards the Holy One, blessed be He and His Shechinah will be considered by them as those of a son who strives to do them for his father and mother, whom he loves more than he loves himself, his own Nefesh, Ruach and Neshamah. Whatever he has he regards as naught, so as to do with them his father’s and mother’s wishes and redeem them through them. And though I know everything is His domain AND I HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER HIM, yet the Merciful desires the heart OF MAN TO BE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. At that time the Holy One, blessed be He came to him, kissed him, and He said, Faithful Shepherd, you are indeed My son and the son of the Shechinah. Sages and angels, kiss the son [Psalm 2:12]. They all rose and kissed him and accepted him as a Rabbi and king over them.”
-The Holy Zohar, Ki Tezte 22:108
50 Yeshua answered and said, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of G-d ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
“Until MESSIAH descends and returns FROM THE PLACE OF UNION, bringing lights and bliss down with him for the pleasure and consolation of the souls. And many angels and Chariots DESCEND WITH MESSIAH, each carrying a garment for the souls of those killed by THE IDOLATROUS nations. There these souls experience divine bliss while Messiah ascends and descends.”
-Holy Zohar, Bereshit B: Verse 19
Chapter 2
1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Yeshua was there.
2 Yeshua also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.
3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Yeshua said to him, “They have no wine.”
4 And Yeshua said to her, “Woman, what is that to me and to you? My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.”
6 Now there were six stone water jars set there for the Jewish purification rites, each holding two or three measures.
7 Yeshua said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” So they took it.
9 When the master of the banquet tasted the water that had become wine and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the banquet called the bridegroom
10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the inferior; but you have kept the good wine until now.”
“because they poured out [he’eru] their souls to death in exile, just as it says: “Because he poured out his soul to death” (Isaiah 53:12), and they engaged in the study of Torah that is sweeter than honey. That is why the Holy One blessed be He is destined to give them wine that has been preserved in its grapes since the six days of Creation”
-Bamidbar Rabba 13:2
““He will bind his foal to the vine” – when He will gather all of Israel, which is called “vine,” as it is stated: “You transported a vine from Egypt” (Psalms 80:9). “And to the branch of the vine his donkey’s foal” – this is the one in whose regard it is written: “He is humble, and riding upon a donkey…” (Zechariah 9:9).
-Bereshit Rabbah 99:8
Another matter: “And to the branch of the vine his donkey’s foal” – it is the one who plants all of Israel like a vine branch. How does he do so? “I will sprinkle pure water upon you” (Ezekiel 36:25).
“He launders his garments in wine” – as wine is abundant within his borders. And in the blood of grapes, his clothes [suto]” – suto is nothing other than error, as it is written: “If your brother…will entice you [yesitekha]…” (Deuteronomy 13:7). If they err in halakha, it will be laundered within his domain.
“His eyes shall be red from wine, and his teeth white from milk” (Genesis 49:12).
“His eyes shall be red [ḥakhlili] from wine” – from here you learn that wine is abundant in his domain, like a person who says to another: ‘Pour for me, and again, as my palate is sweet to me, a sweet palate for me, for me [ḥeikh li li].’”
11 This, the first of the signs, Yeshua did in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory, and his disciples trusted in him.
Eye To Zion 