Hebrew Bible

The Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament, is based on the Masoretic Text, not the Septuagint. While the Septuagint is an important ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, modern Jewish and Christian translations are primarily based on the Masoretic Text. 

Here's why:

• Authority of the Masoretic Text:

  The Masoretic Text is the traditional Jewish and Christian text of the Hebrew Bible, compiled by Jewish scribes over centuries. 
• Earliest Extant Greek Translation:

  The Septuagint is the earliest Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, dating back to the 3rd century BC. 
• Differences in Text:

  While the Septuagint was based on an earlier Hebrew text, it also included additions and variations, particularly in the Apocrypha, that are not included in the Masoretic Text. 
• Christian Translations:

  Modern Christian Old Testaments (like the King James Bible) primarily rely on the Masoretic Text, not the Septuagint. 
• Jewish Tradition:

  Rabbinic Judaism generally uses the Masoretic Text as its authoritative text of the Hebrew Bible. 

  
  

  
  

  The Septuagint and the Masoretic Text are both important versions of the Hebrew Bible, but they are not identical. The Septuagint is an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, while the Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew text developed by Jewish scribes centuries later. The Septuagint is generally considered older, but it also contains some differences from the Masoretic text, including some books not found in the Masoretic canon. The Dead Sea Scrolls have shed light on the history of both, revealing textual variants that support both the Septuagint and the Masoretic traditions. 

  Elaboration: 

  • The Septuagint (LXX):

    The Septuagint, meaning "seventy" in Latin, is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, including the Torah (first five books), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings), and additional books not included in the Masoretic Hebrew Bible. It was created for Greek-speaking Jews in Egypt who had lost fluency in Hebrew. The translation is thought to have been done in the 3rd century BC. 
  • The Masoretic Text (MT):

    The Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew text of the Hebrew Bible, developed and standardized by Jewish scribes, the Masoretes, between the 7th and 10th centuries AD. The Masoretes added vowel markings and notes to the text to preserve pronunciation and clarify meaning. 
  • Differences and Similarities:

    The Septuagint and the Masoretic Text share a common origin in the Hebrew Bible, but they also have significant differences. The Septuagint contains books and additions not found in the Masoretic Text, such as the Apocrypha. Some scholars believe the Septuagint offers a more accurate representation of the original Hebrew text in some instances. 
  • The Dead Sea Scrolls:

    The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in the 20th century, have provided valuable insights into the textual history of both the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text. They reveal a variety of textual traditions, including some that align with the Masoretic Text and others that support the Septuagint. 
  • Conclusion:

    While the Masoretic Text is widely accepted as the standard Hebrew text, the Septuagint provides valuable insights into the history and interpretation of the Hebrew Bible, particularly in understanding ancient Hebrew language and textual variants. 

  Did Jesus preach from the Septuagint? No. The Septuagint was written in Greek. There is no evidence that Jesus or his disciples were able to read Greek. It is reasonable to assume that Jesus was well versed in Hebrew for religious purposes, as it is the liturgical language of Judaism. 

  
  

  Jesus was quoting Aramaic. Not Septuagint. Aramaic was the spoken language of first century Israel. 

  
  

  The Masoretic Text is widely accepted as the authoritative text of the Hebrew Bible. It is the basis for the Jewish Publication Society's translation of the Tanakh, as well as most Protestant Christian versions, including the monumental Authorized King James  

  
  

  Yes, the apostles, especially when writing to Greek-speaking churches, likely read and referenced the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, as the writers of the New Testament often cited the Old Testament through the Septuagint. 

  Here's a more detailed explanation:

  • What is the Septuagint?

    The Septuagint (LXX) is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, and it was the primary version of the Old Testament used by Greek-speaking Jews and early Christians. 
  • Why did the apostles likely use it?

    • The early church was primarily composed of Greek-speaking Christians, and the Septuagint was their primary source for the Old Testament. 
    • The New Testament writers often cited the Old Testament, and they did so using the Septuagint, which was the most readily available Greek version of the Old Testament. 
  • Examples of Septuagint usage in the New Testament:

    • Many scholars believe that the New Testament authors, including Paul, frequently quoted the Septuagint when referring to the Old Testament. 
    • Some studies suggest that a significant number of the New Testament's Old Testament quotations are from the Septuagint rather than the Hebrew text. 
  • The Septuagint's Significance:

    • The Septuagint played a crucial role in the spread of Christianity, as it provided a Greek version of the Old Testament for a primarily Greek-speaking audience. 
    • It also helped to shape the early Christian understanding of the Old Testament and its relationship to the New Testament. 

  The New Testament authors, including the apostles, primarily used the LXX (Septuagint), the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, when quoting from the Old Testament. The Masoretic Text, the Hebrew text used today, was not the primary source for the New Testament authors. While they may have been familiar with the Hebrew text, they generally quoted from the Greek version. 

  Elaboration: 

  • The New Testament was written in Greek, and the apostles and other New Testament authors needed a Greek version of the Old Testament to quote from. 
  • The Septuagint (LXX) was the most widely available and used Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible during the time of the apostles. 
  • New Testament authors frequently quoted the LXX, sometimes with variations that are not found in the Masoretic Text. 
  • Some scholars argue that the New Testament authors' use of the LXX is evidence that they considered it authoritative, while others argue that it simply reflected the most readily available translation at the time. 
  • The Masoretic Text is the modern Hebrew text used in the Jewish tradition, and while it is considered the most accurate Hebrew text available, it was not the primary source for New Testament authors. 

  The LXX was the text that the Apostles knew of and used, but it was not the inspired one,as that was resered for the original Hebrew books, and we usethe Masoric text now as the closest to those originals  

  
  

  there is not one single verse of the Old Testament in Greek in any manuscript found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. There is nothing about the Septuagint in these scrolls. There are no quotes from the Septuagint or references to it. None of the Dead Sea Scrolls mention anything about the Septuagint. All of the Dead Sea Scrolls are in Hebrew or Aramaic

  
  

  While the vast majority of Dead Sea Scrolls are in Hebrew or Aramaic, some fragments are in Greek. Specifically, scholars have identified some Greek fragments from the Dead Sea region, including one fragment of the New Testament, although these are not considered part of the official Septuagint. 

  Here's a more detailed explanation:

  • Most Scrolls in Hebrew/Aramaic:

    The Dead Sea Scrolls are primarily known for their Hebrew and Aramaic texts, particularly those related to the Hebrew Bible. 
  • Greek Fragments Exist:

    While the majority are in Hebrew or Aramaic, some fragments in Greek have been discovered, as mentioned by The Israel Museum, Jerusalem. 
  • No Complete Septuagint:

    These Greek fragments do not represent a full copy of the Septuagint, which is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. 
  • Early New Testament Fragments:

    Some scholars initially suggested that these Greek fragments might be copies of New Testament books, but this idea was later refuted, as detailed by Logos Bible Study. 
  • No Direct Septuagint References:

    There's no conclusive evidence that the Essenes, who are believed to have created the Dead Sea Scrolls, directly used or referenced the Septuagint. 
  • Textual Variations:

    Some of the Hebrew texts in the Dead Sea Scrolls have readings that differ from the Masoretic Text (the standard Hebrew text used in modern Bible translations), sometimes aligning with the Septuagint. This has led to ongoing scholarly debate about the relationship between the different textual traditions, as explained by Cross Bible