The Hebrew Bible makes one of its most radical claims in (Deuteronomy 30:12-14): "It is not in heaven... nor is it overseas... for the matter is extremely close to you, in your mouth and in your heart to fulfill it." Targum Onkelos translates this passage with minimal alteration, because its theological message—that the Torah is accessible to every human being—needs no Aramaic enhancement.
The context, however, reveals Onkelos's hand. The chapter opens with a prophecy of exile and return. "When there come upon you all these statements, the blessing and the curse" (Deuteronomy 30:1)—Israel will be scattered among the nations. But then: "You will return to God" (Deuteronomy 30:2). Onkelos renders this as "return to the fear of God"—repentance is not an emotional experience. It is a reorientation toward reverence.
"God will circumcise your heart" (Deuteronomy 30:6)—Onkelos translates this as God will "remove the foolishness from your heart." The metaphor of circumcision becomes an intellectual operation. The obstacle to loving God is not spiritual blockage but stupidity—the foolish attachment to things that do not matter. Remove the foolishness, and love becomes possible.
Then comes the famous declaration. The Torah is not in heaven, requiring someone to ascend and retrieve it. It is not across the sea, requiring a voyage. "The matter is extremely close to you—in your mouth and in your heart to fulfill it" (Deuteronomy 30:14). Onkelos translates "heart" as "mind"—the Torah is in your mouth (study) and in your mind (understanding). Accessibility is the Torah's defining feature. No priesthood, no secret knowledge, no mystical journey required. The greatest revelation in human history is as close as your own lips.