Key Ancient Bible Translations: Septuagint

Key idea

  • Key ancient translations of the Bible; these translations made the Hebrew Scriptures accessible beyond Hebrew/Aramaic audiences.
  • The Septuagint (often abbreviated LXX) is a central example of these early translations.

Septuagint (LXX)

  • What it is:
    • A Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (the Tanakh), widely used by Greek-speaking Jews in the diaspora and later by early Christians.
  • Origin and dating:
    • Traditionally attributed to about seventy (or seventy-two) translators working in Alexandria, Egypt.
    • Timeframe: roughly the 3rd–2nd centuries BCE, i.e., around 3rd century BCE3^{\text{rd}}\text{ century BCE} to 2nd century BCE2^{\text{nd}}\text{ century BCE}.
    • The nickname LXX stems from the legendary total of translators (the Roman numeral for 70).
  • Language and form:
    • Written in Koine Greek, the common dialect of the Hellenistic world.
  • Contents:
    • Translates the Hebrew Bible into Greek and, in many traditions, includes the Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal books.
  • Significance in religious history:
    • Became the primary Bible of early Christians who read Greek and quoted Scripture from it in the New Testament era.
    • Provides an important textual witness to the Hebrew text as it existed in the diaspora and in antiquity, influencing later textual criticism.
  • Relationship to other textual traditions:
    • Differences exist between the LXX and the later Masoretic Text (MT) of the Hebrew Bible in wording, order, and included books.
    • LXX occasionally reflects older Hebrew readings or interpretive expansions not found in MT.
  • Canonical considerations:
    • In Judaism, MT is central; the LXX is a crucial historical and linguistic resource.
    • In many Christian traditions (notably Orthodox churches), books present in the LXX beyond MT are regarded as canonical or semi-canonical.
  • Influence on later biblical study and interpretation:
    • Early Christian writers frequently cited the NT using the LXX wording and phrasing.
    • Helps scholars understand how Hebrew scriptures were viewed in antiquity and how Greek-speaking communities interpreted prophetic passages.
  • Notable linguistic and interpretive features:
    • The translation sometimes renders Hebrew idioms into Greek equivalents, producing interpretive as well as literal renderings.
    • Transmission history includes variants across manuscripts; LXX serves as a key witness for reconstructing ancient textual traditions.

Practical and scholarly implications

  • Textual criticism:
    • LXX is used to compare with MT to identify textual variants and to infer earlier Hebrew readings.
  • Theological interpretation:
    • The LXX’s selections and translations have shaped doctrinal understandings in Christian theology, especially regarding prophecy and messianic expectations.
  • Language and reception history:
    • Demonstrates how a Hebrew Bible was made accessible in a major world language (Koine Greek) and how that accessibility influenced religious communities.

Quick reference points

  • Abbreviation: LXX (Septuagint)
  • Language: Koine Greek
  • Century of origin: 3rd century BCE3^{\text{rd}}\text{ century BCE} to 2nd century BCE2^{\text{nd}}\text{ century BCE}
  • Translators: traditionally cited as 7070 (or 7272) scholars
  • Key distinction: Greek translation of Hebrew Bible, often including Deuterocanonical books depending on tradition