Logic behind Targum of בא

Question

Targum Onklus Will either use the word אתא or על for the word בא. What is the logic behind his choice?

Of interest is the times where a variant text is brought, for instance in parshas Vayeishev 30 16 where אתא is used and an older version of על is brought in the parenthesis.

there's a נ׳י written next to it which if I'm not mistaken stands for נוסח ישן. — user6591, Jan 04 '16 at 02:55
Mine say נ"א for נוסח אחר, never seen נ"י in that context. Just a thought, but it might follow a similar pattern to אזל vs. הלך as translations for וילך — Yitzchak, Jan 04 '16 at 02:56
But that is inconsequential to the question. The point is there is a variant text with whatever implications come along with that. — user6591, Jan 04 '16 at 02:56
I see artscroll has נ׳א whereas my mikros gedolos has נ׳י, so ignore the older comment for now:) — user6591, Jan 04 '16 at 02:59
If you have a theory please don't be shy, I have my own but their not great so I was hoping someone here might have a lead to a source or a good origional idea. Shaarei Aharon is my go to for these types of issues and he has nothing. — user6591, Jan 04 '16 at 03:01

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 08 '16 at 16:13

In Jastrow, vol.1, pg 132, it gives several meanings for "אתא" depending on the context. They are: to join, to include, to arrive, and to occur to.

In Jastrow, vol. 2, pp. 1083-1084, it explains that the root of "על" is "עלל". Again, there are several meanings dependent upon the specific usage. They are: to bring about, to go about, to attend to, to be liable or likely to, to enter, to attend, and to search for.

In the context of your posuk, VaYeshev 30:16, the Hebrew is:

וַיָּבֹא יַעֲקֹב מִן-הַשָּׂדֶה, בָּעֶרֶב, וַתֵּצֵא לֵאָה לִקְרָאתוֹ וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלַי תָּבוֹא, כִּי שָׂכֹר שְׂכַרְתִּיךָ בְּדוּדָאֵי בְּנִי; וַיִּשְׁכַּב עִמָּהּ, בַּלַּיְלָה הוּא.

In the context of "על", Onkelos would be read, "And Yaacov 'entered in' (or 'came up', depending on the the elevation of the field as compared to the tents.) from the field, in the evening, and Leah went out to greet him and said, "he will 'look for' me (or he 'will attend to' me)...".

In the context of "אתא", Onkelos would read, "Yaacov 'came from' or 'arrived from' the field, in the evening, and Leah went out to greet him and said, "he will 'look for' me (or he 'will attend to' me)...".

Logic behind Targum of בא

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