Tiqqun soferim

Tiqqūn sōferīm (Hebrew: תיקון סופרים, plural תיקוני סופרים‎ tiqqūnēi sōferīm) is a term from rabbinic literature meaning "correction/emendation of the scribes"[2] or "scribal correction" and refers to a change of wording in the Tanakh in order to preserve the honor of God or for a similar reason.

[citation needed] The first to use the term tiqqun soferim was Shimon ben Pazi (an amora); previously, the tannaim had used the phrase kina hakatuv ("the verse used a euphemism") in reference to the same verses.

[3] Many traditional commentators (including Elijah Mizrachi,[b] Rashba,[c] and Joseph Albo[d]) consider tiqqunei soferim not as actual changes in the text, but rather as meaning that the original author acted like one who corrects a text for reasons of honoring God.

On the other hand, modern scholars interpret the words of the old rabbis literally — that the text was corrected by later scribes, perhaps those of the Great Assembly that edited the Biblical corpus.

[2][4][5][6][7] Even among traditional commentators, including the Arukh and Rashi, there are those who believe that the tiqqunei soferim were actual changes that were made (and this seems to be stated explicitly in the Midrash Tanhuma).