“You Shall Not Boil a Kid in Its Mother’s Milk” in Saʿadya Gaon’s Translation of the Pentateuch

The article analyses Saʿadya Gaon’s translation of the prohibition “You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk” found in Exodus and Deuteronomy, examining its variants in early manuscripts and Geniza fragments. The study reveals that while Saʿadya’s translations generally align with Jewish rabbinic halakhic interpretations, significant variation exists across the texts. Some renderings interpret the prohibition as forbidding the cooking or consumption of meat with milk, while others present a literal translation of the Biblical Hebrew. The findings suggest an evolution in Saʿadya’s approach, influenced by the broader exegetical tradition. The article highlights the dynamic nature of biblical translation in medieval Jewish communities and Saʿadya’s role in bridging linguistic, cultural, and religious contexts.