The Septuagint, often abbreviated as LXX, is a translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek. It holds significant historical and theological importance, influencing both ancient and modern Christian thought. Its origins, use in the first century, and continued relevance today highlight its value to Bible scholars and believers alike.
Origins and Circumstances of the Septuagint’s Preparation
The Historical Background
The Septuagint’s preparation is rooted in the historical context of the Jewish diaspora, particularly in Alexandria, Egypt. Following Alexander the Great’s conquest in 332 B.C.E., Greek culture and language spread throughout his empire, including Egypt. Alexandria became a major center of learning and had a significant Jewish population. Many Jews in Alexandria and other regions of the diaspora spoke Greek as their primary language and had limited knowledge of Hebrew.
The Need for a Greek Translation
The necessity for a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures arose from the Jewish community’s linguistic shift. As McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia notes, after the Jews returned from Babylonian captivity, many had lost their familiarity with Hebrew. This was even more pronounced in Alexandria, where Jews primarily spoke Alexandrian Greek. To meet their spiritual needs, a translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek became essential.
The Process of Translation
Tradition holds that about 72 Jewish scholars were involved in translating the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, hence the name Septuagint, meaning “70,” designated as LXX. Aristobulus, a Jewish scholar from the second century B.C.E., mentioned that the translation was completed during the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus (285-246 B.C.E.). Initially, the translation likely focused on the Pentateuch, but by the end of the second century B.C.E., the entire Hebrew Scriptures were available in Greek.
The Septuagint’s Role in the First Century
Use Among Greek-Speaking Jews
The Septuagint was widely used by Greek-speaking Jews before and during the time of Jesus Christ and the apostles. Many Jews and proselytes gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost in 33 C.E. spoke Greek and were familiar with the Septuagint. Acts 2:9-11 lists regions like Asia, Egypt, Libya, Rome, and Crete, where Greek was commonly spoken. The Septuagint thus played a crucial role in spreading the Scriptures and the message of the Gospel among these communities.
Quotations by Jesus and the Apostles
The New Testament contains numerous quotations and references to the Hebrew Scriptures, many of which are derived from the Septuagint. For example, in Acts 7:14, Stephen refers to the number of Jacob’s family members who went to Egypt as seventy-five, aligning with the Septuagint’s rendering rather than the Hebrew text’s seventy (Genesis 46:26-27). The apostle Paul also frequently quoted from the Septuagint in his letters to Greek-speaking audiences, facilitating their understanding of the Scriptures (Galatians 3:8).
The Influence of the Septuagint on Early Christianity
Facilitating the Spread of the Gospel
The Septuagint was instrumental in the early spread of Christianity. It provided a common scriptural foundation for Greek-speaking Jews and Gentiles who were drawn to the teachings of Jesus. The accessibility of the Scriptures in Greek enabled the apostles and early Christians to preach the Gospel more effectively across the Roman Empire. This widespread use of the Septuagint is evident in the numerous quotations from it in the New Testament.
Shaping Christian Doctrine
The Septuagint also influenced early Christian doctrine and theology. The New Testament writers often relied on the Septuagint’s interpretations and translations of Hebrew texts, which shaped their understanding of key theological concepts. For instance, the concept of the Messiah as a suffering servant is drawn from Isaiah 53, a passage frequently referenced in the New Testament to describe Jesus’ mission and sacrifice (Acts 8:32-35).
The Septuagint’s Continued Relevance Today
Uncovering Copyist Errors
The Septuagint remains valuable in textual criticism, helping scholars identify and correct copyist errors in later Hebrew manuscripts. For example, Genesis 4:8 in the Hebrew text is incomplete, but the Septuagint provides the missing phrase, “Let us go out into the field,” clarifying the narrative. This addition is supported by other ancient manuscripts, increasing confidence in its authenticity.
Likely, Genesis 4:8 originally included two consecutive clauses that end with the expression “in(to) the field” (bassadeh). It is most likely that the scribe’s eye skipped over the earlier expression ending with the expression “into the field” to the same word in the second instance; therefore, accidentally omitting the quotation. Clearly, the LXX, as well as the SP, SYR, and the VG have been useful in identifying this error in the Hebrew text. The odds are increased greatly that “let us go over into the field” was in the original because of it being found in such a wide number of versions, especially with the Septuagint being one of those versions.
Verifying Textual Integrity
Comparing the Septuagint with the Hebrew text and other ancient versions, such as the Samaritan Pentateuch, Syriac, and Vulgate, aids in verifying the integrity of the biblical text. These comparisons help scholars identify and correct discrepancies, ensuring a more accurate rendering of God’s Word. For instance, variations in numbers or names between the Septuagint and the Hebrew text can shed light on potential transmission errors and guide corrections.
The Divine Name in the Septuagint
Early copies of the Septuagint contained the divine name Jehovah, represented by the Tetragrammaton (JHVH). However, later copies replaced it with the Greek words for “God” (Theos) and “Lord” (Kyrios). Discoveries such as the Fouad 266 papyri and fragments from the Dead Sea region confirm that the Tetragrammaton was originally present in the Septuagint, supporting the use of God’s name in early Jewish and Christian texts.
The Septuagint and Modern Translations
Influencing Contemporary Versions
The Septuagint continues to influence modern Bible translations. For example, the Updated American Standard Version (UASV) includes hundreds of footnote references to the Septuagint and other ancient manuscripts. These references provide additional insights and context for interpreting the Scriptures, enhancing the accuracy and depth of modern translations.
Aiding Biblical Studies
The Septuagint is a valuable resource for biblical scholars and students. It offers a different perspective on the Hebrew Scriptures, reflecting the understanding and interpretation of ancient Jewish translators. Studying the Septuagint alongside the Hebrew text and other translations enriches one’s comprehension of the Bible and its historical and cultural background.
Case Studies of the Septuagint’s Usefulness
The Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8:26-38 recounts the story of an Ethiopian eunuch reading from the book of Isaiah. The passage he read, Isaiah 53:7-8, was from the Septuagint. Philip explained the meaning of the text to him, leading to his conversion and baptism. This account illustrates the Septuagint’s role in spreading the Gospel and its accessibility to Greek-speaking readers.
The disciple Philip explained a passage that was read from the “Septuagint.”
Paul’s Missionary Journeys
During his missionary journeys, Paul often preached to Greek-speaking audiences familiar with the Septuagint. In Acts 17:2-4, Paul reasoned with the Jews and God-fearing Greeks in Thessalonica, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. His use of the Septuagint facilitated their understanding of his message and contributed to the spread of Christianity in the region.
The apostle Paul often quoted from the “Septuagint.”
The Septuagint’s Impact on Theology and Doctrine
Messianic Prophecies
The Septuagint played a crucial role in shaping early Christian understanding of Messianic prophecies. Passages such as Isaiah 7:14, which the Septuagint translates as “a virgin shall conceive and bear a son,” were interpreted by early Christians as referring to the virgin birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:23). This translation influenced the development of key doctrines in Christian theology.
Soteriology
The Septuagint’s rendering of sacrificial language and atonement concepts also impacted early Christian soteriology. Leviticus 17:11 in the Septuagint emphasizes the importance of blood for atonement, a theme central to the New Testament’s explanation of Jesus’ sacrificial death (Hebrews 9:22). The Septuagint’s influence is evident in the theological language and concepts used by New Testament writers.
The Septuagint in Modern Biblical Scholarship
Textual Criticism
The Septuagint is an essential tool in textual criticism, helping scholars compare and contrast ancient manuscripts to reconstruct the original text. Its differences from the Hebrew Masoretic Text provide insights into the textual history and transmission of the Scriptures. This comparative study enhances our understanding of the Bible’s development and preservation.
Historical and Cultural Context
Studying the Septuagint offers valuable insights into the historical and cultural context of the Jewish diaspora in the Hellenistic period. It reflects the linguistic and cultural interactions between Jews and Greeks, shedding light on how Jewish communities adapted and preserved their religious heritage in a foreign environment. This context enriches our appreciation of the Septuagint’s significance.
Use of the Septiaging In Making Textual Decisions
The primary weight of external evidence generally goes to the original language manuscripts, and the Codex Leningrad B 19A and the Aleppo Codex are almost always preferred. In Old Testament Textual Criticism, the Masoretic text is our starting point and should only be abandoned as a last resort. While it is true that the Masoretic Text is not perfect, there needs to be a heavy burden of proof if we are to go with an alternative reading. All of the evidence needs to be examined before concluding that a reading in the Masoretic Text is corrupt. The Septuagint continues to be very much important today and is used by textual scholars to help uncover copyists’ errors that might have crept into the Hebrew manuscripts either intentionally or unintentionally. However, it cannot do it alone without the support of other sources. There are a number of times when you might have the Syriac, Septuagint, Dead Sea Scrolls, Aramaic Targums, and the Vulgate that are at odds with the Masoretic Text; the preferred choice should not be the MT.
Initially, the Septuagint (LXX) was viewed by the Jews as inspired by God, equal to the Hebrew Scriptures. However, in the first century C.E., the Christians adopted the Septuagint in their churches. It was used by the Christians in their evangelism to make disciples and to debate the Jews on Jesus being the long-awaited Messiah. Soon, the Jews began to look at the Septuagint with suspicion. This resulted in the Jews of the second century C.E. abandoning the Septuagint and returning to the Hebrew Scriptures. This has proved to be beneficial for the textual scholar and translator. In the second century C.E., other Greek translations of the Septuagint were produced. We have, for example, LXXAq Aquila, LXXSym Symmachus, and LXXTh Theodotion. The consonantal text of the Hebrew Scriptures became the standard text between the first and second centuries C.E. However, textual variants still continued until the Masoretes and the Masoretic text. However, scribes taking liberties by altering the text was no longer the case, as was true of the previous period of the Sopherim. The scribes who copied the Hebrew Scriptures from the time of Ezra down to the time of Jesus were called Sopherim, i.e., scribes.
From the 6th century C.E. to the 10th century C.E., we have the Masoretes, groups of extraordinary Jewish scribe-scholars. The Masoretes were very much concerned with the accurate transmission of each word, even each letter, of the text they were copying. Accuracy was of supreme importance; therefore, the Masoretes used the side margins of each page to inform others of deliberate or inadvertent changes in the text by past copyists. The Masoretes also use these marginal notes for other reasons as well, such as unusual word forms and combinations. They even marked how frequently they occurred within a book or even the whole Hebrew Old Testament. Of course, marginal spaces were very limited, so they used abbreviated code. They also formed a cross-checking tool where they would mark the middle word and letter of certain books. Their push for accuracy moved them to go so far as to count every letter of the Hebrew Old Testament.
In the Masoretic text, we find notes in the side margins, which are known as the Small Masora. There are also notes in the top margin, which are referred to as the Large Masora. Any other notes placed elsewhere within the text are called the Final Masora. The Masoretes used the notes in the top and bottom margins to record more extensive notes, comments concerning the abbreviated notes in the side margins. This enabled them to be able to cross-check their work. We must remember that there were no numbered verses at this time, and they had no Bible concordances. One might wonder how the Masoretes could refer to different parts of the Hebrew text to have an effective cross-checking system. They would list part of a parallel verse in the top and bottom margins to remind them of where the word(s) indicated were found. Because they were dealing with limited space, they often could only list one word to remind them where each parallel verse could be found. To have an effective cross-reference system by way of these marginal notes, the Masoretes would literally have to have memorized the entire Hebrew Bible.
Practical Implications for Believers
Enhancing Bible Study
Incorporating the Septuagint into personal and communal Bible study can deepen believers’ understanding of the Scriptures. By examining how the Septuagint translates and interprets key passages, readers gain a broader perspective on biblical themes and doctrines. This comparative approach can enhance one’s faith and comprehension of God’s Word.
Strengthening Faith
Recognizing the Septuagint’s role in the early church and its use by Jesus and the apostles can strengthen believers’ confidence in the Bible’s reliability and authority. The Septuagint’s historical and theological significance underscores the continuity of God’s revelation from the Old Testament to the New Testament, affirming the unity and coherence of Scripture.
Conclusion
The Septuagint, a translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, has played a pivotal role in the history of Christianity. Its origins in the first century and continued relevance today highlight its value for biblical scholarship and spiritual growth. By understanding the Septuagint’s significance and incorporating it into Bible study, believers can gain deeper insights into God’s Word and strengthen their faith.
About the Author
EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).
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