The LXX - Its origins and uses

LXX

1. The Septuagint*, its origin The Septuagint*, its origin
and use in the New and use in the New
TestamentTestament
Laindon Bible ClassLaindon Bible Class
1111
thth
June 2008, SJIF June 2008, SJIF* Hereafter LXX i.e. seventy* Hereafter LXX i.e. seventy

2. In simple terms
A Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament
scriptures
Started during the reign of Ptolemy (II)
Philadelphus (285-246 BC)
(By deduction) Translated from older Hebrew
manuscripts than exist in the world today
The ‘Authorised Version’ of the scriptures for
Greek speaking Jews until 1
st
century AD and for
Greek speaking Christians for the Christian era
(still official vn. Greek Orthodox)

3. Why consider this subject?
Its antiquity -- Complete preserved versions of the LXX
exist that pre-date the Massoretic texts by 700+ years and
manuscripts pre-Christ have been found
How we got our Bible -- The LXX was the first major
translation of the Hebrew scriptures
The preservation of God’s word -- The LXX shows us the
way in which God’s providence actively worked to help
spread the gospel quickly and effectively
Its use by Spirit-guided writers of the NT -- The LXX
appears to be the source for the substantial majority of NT
quotes of the OT (85-95%)
Shedding light on certain passages -- The LXX appears
to help elucidate some OT passages

4. The Dead Sea Scrolls, a key find
Sections of LXX translations of
Exodus, Leviticus and
Deuteronomy discovered in the
caves at Qumran…

5. Scrolls and manuscripts uncovered
Parts LXX
2
nd
c. BC Leviticus, Deuteronomy
1
st
c. BC Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
Deuteronomy, Minor Prophets
>1,000 years before Massoretic text
Complete LXX
4
th
c. AD Codex Vaticanus / Sinaiticus
5
th
c. AD Codex Alexandrus
600-700 years before Massoretic text

6. A letter from Aristeas to Philocrates
A lot of the ‘accepted wisdom’ about the LXX is
derived from a letter by Aristeas (supposed
courtier of Ptolemy II) to Philocrates
He claimed the work was translated by 72 Hebrew
Jews (6 from each tribe) over 72 days (rounded to
LXX, septuaginta)
Others subsequently embellished this account yet
further (pairs in cells, inspiration etc.)
This letter has now been almost universally
acknowledged by scholars to be a fake…

7. Dispelling some myths about the LXX
1
The translation may have been
performed by far fewer scholars
The translation was performed by
70 or 72 scholars
The translation was performed by
Hellenistic Jews (i.e. from outside
Judah)
The translation was performed by
Hebrew Jews (i.e. from Judah)
Language scholars agree that
Pentateuch is best translation and
quality varies
The translation is of a consistent
quality throughout
The translation was completed in
three stages: Law c.250 BC,
Prophets before 150 BC and
Writings shortly afterwards
The translation was completed as a
single version at one time
The truthThe myth

8. Dispelling some myths about the LXX
2
Some OT quotes appear to be
drawn from LXX**, some from
original Hebrew and some from
other Greek version(s)
The translation is used uniformly
by certain Spirit-guided NT writers
and not by others
The translation may have been
added to this library but was
probably for the Hellenistic Jews
in Egypt (c.1,000,000 in Egypt at
beginning of Christian era, 200,000
in Alexandria* = 2 / 5 divisions)
The translation was performed so
as to make available a Greek copy
of the Hebrew scriptures for the
Library at Alexandria
The truthThe myth
* World’s largest expatriate Jewish colony
** As noted earlier, the ‘substantial majority’

9. Some familiar principles revisited
God is all powerful and would not have allowed
His original message to have been corrupted
beyond all understanding
God’s providence has ensured the message has been
preserved down to our own day
Higher critic objections are answered by faith
However, no translation is inspired
“errors of transcription or translation” BASF
Ecclesiastes 12v12-14
“…of making many books there is no end; and much study is a
weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of
man….”

10. The presence of a need…
The Jews of the dispersion felt the need for a copy
of the Scriptures in Greek
This, in the passage of time, led to two very
important outcomes:
There was an
available and
accessible version of
the Scriptures for
non-Hebrew
Christians
There was a ready made
vocabulary of ordinary Greek words
for NT Spirit-guided writers to call
upon for specialised theological
terms (e.g. law, covenant, sin,
propitiation, righteousness)
A key foundation stone for spreading the gospel

11. Acts 17v1-4, 12
“Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they
came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And
Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days
reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and
alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from
the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And
some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of
the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief
women not a few.”
The LXX’s role in spreading gospel
Acts 17v1-4, 12
“Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they
came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And
Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days
reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and
alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from
the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And
some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of
the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief
women not a few.”
“Therefore many of them [Bereans] believed; also of honourable
women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.”
The LXX paved the way for the Gentiles to receive the good
news

12. The use of the LXX in the NT
The ‘substantial majority’ of the 300-350 NT
quotations from the OT agree with the LXX
But what about fact that LXX ‘quality varies’?
We need not worry ourselves about this and why
some passages seem to be drawn from LXX and
others from the Hebrew text or some other Greek
text
We can rest assured that sense is preserved
Acts 2v4 (see also 2 Peter 1v19-21)
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

13. An aside – Jewish backlash to LXX
Disputed the Greek word used in Isaiah 7v14
“virgin”
Disputed the LXX rendering of passages such as
Amos 9v11-12 in Acts 15v16-18 “all the Gentiles”
These just a couple of examples…
New Jewish versions of Greek appeared, first
being that of Aquila in 130 AD (Isaiah 7v14, used
neanis, young woman, not parthenos virgin!)

14. The Ethiopian Eunuch, a cameo
Acts 8v32-33 (KJV)
“The place of the
scripture which he read
was this, He was led as
a sheep to the
slaughter; and like a
lamb dumb before his
shearer, so opened he
not his mouth: In his
humiliation his judgment
was taken away: and
who shall declare his
generation? for his life is
taken from the earth.”
Isaiah 53v7-8 (KJV)
“He was oppressed, and
he was afflicted, yet he
opened not his mouth: he
is brought as a lamb to the
slaughter, and as a sheep
before her shearers is
dumb, so he openeth not
his mouth. He was taken
from prison and from
judgment: and who shall
declare his generation? for
he was cut off out of the
land of the living: for the
transgression of my
people was he stricken.”
Isaiah 53v7-8 (LXX)
“And he, because of his
affliction, opens not his
mouth: he was led as a
sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before the
shearer is dumb, so he
opens not his mouth. In
his humiliation his
judgment was taken away:
who shall declare his
generation? for his life is
taken away from the earth:
because of the iniquities of
my people he was led to
death.”
“…as the Spirit
gave them
utterance…”

15. Proceeding with caution…
It is too easy to slip into the trap of referring to
many different versions until the particular point
expected / desired is put forwards
However, if this point is found in only 1 out of say
5 translations, how valid is it really?
We must always compare scripture with scripture,
not superimpose human ideas
With this caveat, the LXX can nevertheless
sometimes help us to elucidate scripture*
* If used in a balanced / discerning way

16. Interesting example 1
Genesis 4v8 (KJV)
“And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were
in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.”
Genesis 4v8 (LXX)
“And Cain said to Abel his brother, Let us go out into the plain; and it came to
pass that when they were in the plain Cain rose up against Abel his brother
and slew him.”
Genesis 4v8 (NIV)
“Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they
were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.”
LXX appears to have preserved part of the original text
which our Hebrew (Massoretic) texts have lost
“talked” about what?

17. Interesting example 2
1 Samuel 14v41 (LXX)
“And Saul said, O Lord God of Israel, why hast thou not answered thy
servant this day? is the iniquity in me, or in Jonathan my son? Lord God of
Israel, give clear manifestations; and if the lot should declare this, give, I pray
thee, to thy people of Israel, give, I pray, holiness. And Jonathan and Saul
are taken, and the people escaped.”
1 Samuel 14v41 (NIV)
“Therefore Saul said, "O LORD God of Israel, why hast thou not answered
thy servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O LORD,
God of Israel, give Urim [Heb. ‘lights’]; but if this guilt is in thy people Israel,
give Thummim [Heb. ‘perfections’]." And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but
the people escaped.
1 Samuel 14v41 (KJV)
“Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And
Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.”
what is this?
A marvellous illustration of Urim / Thummim?

18. Interesting example 3
1 Kings 8v53 (LXX)
“Then spoke Solomon concerning the house, when he had finished building it
—
He manifested the sun in the heaven:
the Lord said he would dwell in darkness:
build thou my house,
a beautiful house for thyself to dwell in anew.
Behold, is not this written in the book of the song?”*
1 Kings 8v12-14 (KJV)
“Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in thick darkness.
I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide
in for ever. And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the
congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood;)”
LXX preserves the poetic form (quatrain)?
* Very similar
in Hebrew to
“Jasher” as in 2
Sam. 1v18

19. We could go on…
Deuteronomy 32v43 (KJV)
“Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will
avenge the blood of his servants, and will render
vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful
unto his land, and to his people.”
Deuteronomy 32v43 (LXX)
“Rejoice, ye heavens, with him, and let all the angels
of God worship him; rejoice ye Gentiles, with his
people, and let all the sons of God strengthen
themselves in him; for he will avenge the blood of his
sons, and he will render vengeance, and recompense
justice to his enemies, and will reward them that hate
him; and the Lord shall purge the land of his people.
Hebrews 1v6
(KJV)
“And again,
when he
bringeth in the
firstbegotten into
the world, he
saith, And let all
the angels of
God worship
him.”
Psalm 97v7
(KJV)
“Confounded be
all they that
serve graven
images, that
boast
themselves of
idols: worship
him, all ye gods.”
Psalm 8v5 (KJV)
“For thou hast made him a little lower
than the angels [Heb. elohim], and
hast crowned him with glory and
honour.”
Psalm 8v5 (LXX)
“Thou madest him a little less than
angels [Gk. aggelos], thou hast
crowned him with glory and honour;”

20. Our conclusions…
After dispelling the myths, we can better understand what LXX is and
how it came to exist
The translation paved the way for the Gentile acceptance of the
gospel:
Freely available scriptures
Transportable vocabulary
The antiquity of the book does not necessarily mean it is a ‘better’
version (we do not place ourselves in the position of the Spirit)
However, it was an important source for NT writers, who the Spirit
guided to use a form of words familiar to the masses (whilst still
preserving the sense)
The LXX remains a useful reference work, but as it he case with all
translations, was subject to ‘errors of transcription or translation’
The LXX is a wondrous example of God’s providence at work