Abstract

In this article, the author presents Martin Buber’s translation of the Hebrew bible into German. Buber made a great effort to express the original etymological meaning of the Hebrew words in the German translation. In his work, Buber followed a dialogical principle and a theo-political principle. The dialogical principle refers to a hermeneutical interpretation which enables a dialogue between the original text and present time. In his theo-political interpretation, Buber emphasizes the politics of the people of Israel and God as the king of Israel. These principles are most fruitful for a hermeneutical and existential interpretation of the Bible, rather than for a historical-critical interpretation.