Lost Hebrew Psalms of Solomon source behind Greek translation

This article describes an entity that is not directly attested as a surviving Hebrew Psalms of Solomon manuscript; it is inferred from Greek-only survival and reported signs of Hebrew translation.

Epistemic status

Draft article. The Greek collection is attested; the Hebrew source behind it is an inferred missing layer.

Summary

Jewish Encyclopedia says the Psalms of Solomon exists only in Greek and in translations from Greek, while probably being written originally in Hebrew. It explains some Greek obscurities as misunderstandings of Hebrew words. Inferpedia treats the lost Hebrew poetic source behind the Greek as a draft inferred-source entity.

What is being inferred

The inferred entity is a lost Hebrew Psalms of Solomon source behind the Greek and Greek-derived witnesses.

What is attested

The source attests Greek and Greek-derived survival, probable Hebrew composition, translation difficulties explained from Hebrew, and uncertainty about Solomonic ascription.

Why infer this entity

A Greek work whose language is explained as a translation of Hebrew implies a missing Hebrew source layer, even when the Greek collection itself survives.

Evidence ledger

• E1, Jewish Encyclopedia: supporting trace for Greek-only survival.
• E2, Jewish Encyclopedia: supporting trace for probable Hebrew original language.
• E3, Jewish Encyclopedia: supporting trace for Greek obscurities explained from Hebrew.
• E4, Jewish Encyclopedia: complicating trace for uncertain Solomonic ascription.

Counterarguments

The source is older and should be checked against modern critical editions. The Hebrew source wording and collection formation cannot be directly inspected.

Confidence scores

Direct attestation: 52. Existence warrant: 78. Specificity: 72. Reconstruction dependence: 86. Counterevidence: 28.

What would change the score

A modern critical edition of the Greek and Syriac witnesses with Hebrew retroversion analysis would change the score.