The Greek Translations of the Hebrew Bible LXX

The Greek Translation(s) of the Hebrew Bible (LXX) and Biblical Studies

The Greek Translation(s) of the Hebrew Bible (LXX) and Biblical Studies Part 1: The LXX and the Hebrew Bible (HB) A. LXX and HB Textual Criticism B. LXX and early HB interpretation Part 2: The LXX and the NT A. The use of the NT in LXX Studies B. The use of the LXX in NT studies

HB LXX NT

Part 1: The LXX and the Hebrew Bible (HB) The Greek translations are witnesses to 1) the text that the translators had in front of them, and 2) to their understanding of it.

Part 1: The LXX and the Hebrew Bible (HB) Two important uses flow from this fact: A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism B. The use of the LXX in the study of early HB interpretation

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism: the good, the bad, and the ugly “By far the greatest significance of the LXX. . . has been its extensive use by scholars in the textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible” (Jobes and Silva, 157).

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism The Good: The LXX represents an independent early witness to the HB text

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism Textual history of HB: 1) a standardized text emerged around the second century (proto-MT) 2) Masoretic activity (ca. 500– 1000 CE): the earliest MSS of the MT date to around the 9 th century

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism The Septuagint is the earliest translation of the Old Testament. As a result, the LXX reaches back before the standardization of the Hebrew text and provides a crucial witness The Septuagint “reflects more important variants than all other witnesses combined” (Brotzman, 73).

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism The Bad: multiple levels of possible variants

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism Manuscripts

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism Manuscripts Revision/recensions

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism Manuscripts Revision/recensions OG/LXX

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism Manuscripts Revision/recensions OG/LXX Vorlage (parent text)

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism Manuscripts Revision/recensions OG/LXX Vorlage (parent text) Autograph(? )

Level Manuscripts Source of reading accidental or intentional errors mixed MSS with various recensions “OG/LXX” Vorlage (Parent Text) Autographs Revision / Recensions corrections toward the standard text stylistic revision More NEXT WEEK individual style interpretive paraphrase misunderstanding “bias” Copying errors Different editions (e. g. , Jeremiah? ) Original reading

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism The Ugly: Using the LXX for HB textual criticism: Three issues:

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism The Ugly: Using the LXX for HB textual criticism: Three issues: 1. Working from the MSS to the recensions

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism The Ugly: Using the LXX for HB textual criticism: Three issues: 1. Working from the MSS to the recensions “. . . there is no single uncial that exclusively reflects any of the three editions of the early fourth century A. D. ” (Brotzman, 78).

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism The Ugly: Using the LXX for HB textual criticism: Three issues: 2. An “original” LXX text?

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism The Ugly: Using the LXX for HB textual criticism: Three issues: 2. An “original” LXX text? Khale (multiple texts) vs Lagarde (one original text)

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism The Ugly: Using the LXX for HB textual criticism: Three issues: 3. MT or LXX?

MT or LXX? General Thoughts. . . Prefer agreements between the MT and LXX (Swete, 445). Take into consideration the quality of both the MT and LXX for the particular book with which you are working (Jobes and Silva, 166) “Translations which are free can be used for text critical purposes only with much caution” (Wevers, 93). The existence of an actual Hebrew text strengthens the possibility that an LXX reading is genuine (Jobes and Silva, 167). Swete says to prefer the LXX when: “It (a) fills up a lacuna which can be traced to homoioteleuton in the Hebrew, or (b) removes an apparent interpolation, or (c) appears to represent a bona fide variant in the original, which makes better sense than the existing text” (Swete, 445). This is strengthened when it is supported by other independent witnesses (ibid).

Jobes and Silva’s checklist (pp. 167– 9): 1. “Ascertain the Greek text. ” 2. “Inquire whether the Greek translator’s method of work can account for a change in this passage. ” 3. “Determine whether the equivalence is merely possible or likely. ” 4. “Evaluate the internal evidence. ” 5. “Determine whether the LXX variant is supported by other witnesses. ” 6. “Choose between the two competing readings. ”

BHS Gen 4: 8 Rhalfs Gen 4: 8 ויאמר קין אל־הבל אחיו ויהי בהיותם בשדה ויקם קין אל־הבל אחיו ויהרגהו׃ καὶ εἶπεν Καιν πρὸς Ἅβελ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ Διέλθωμεν εἰς τὸ πεδίον. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ καὶ ἀνέστη Καιν ἐπὶ Ἅβελ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπέκτεινεν αὐτόν. And Cain spoke to his brother Abel. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. (My translation) NETS: And Kain said to his brother Habel, “Let us go through into the plain. ” And it came about when they were in the plain, that then Kain rose up against his brother Habel and killed him. Διέλθωμεν εἰς τὸ πεδίον: Samaritan Pentateuch, Peshitta, Vulgate, Targum Ier.

BHS Gen 47: 21 ואת־העם העביר אתו לערים מקצה גבול־מצרים ועד־קצהו׃ Rhalfs Gen 47: 21 καὶ τὸν λαὸν κατεδουλώσατο αὐτῷ εἰς παῖδας ἀπʼ ἄκρων ὁρίων Αἰγύπτου ἕως τῶν ἄκρων, NKJV: And as for the people, he moved them NETS: and the people he subjugated to into the cities, from one end of the borders him as slaves from the furthest of Egypt to the other end. boundaries of Egypt to the furthest Greek, Samaritan Pentateuch, cf. Vulgate

A. The use of the LXX for HB textual criticism Conclusion: 1. The goal is to reconstruct the recensions, and by their witness, to reconstruct the text of the original Greek translation(s). 2. After that, it is necessary to use the original Greek translation as a witness to its Vorlage, and use it as a witness to the original text of the Hebrew Bible.

Part 1: The LXX and the Hebrew Bible (HB) B. The use of the LXX in the study of early HB interpretation

Part 1: The LXX and the Hebrew Bible (HB) “The astute reader will realize that the value of a Greek translation for understanding theology and interpretation of the Hebrew Bible actually runs counter to its text-critical value in establishing the Hebrew Vorlage, or parent text, from which it was translated. Generally speaking, if a given reading has arisen from translation technique, whether linguistically or theologically motivated, it has not arisen from a variant Hebrew text. . Unfortunately, it is often impossible to determine with certainty which explanation is correct” (Jobes and Silva, 94).

B. The use of the LXX in the study of early HB interpretation “The LXX is the earliest translation of the Hebrew OT, and in those places where it paraphrases, it often represents an interpretation. In this respect, the LXX is the earliest commentary on the Hebrew OT” (Beale, 108).

B. The use of the LXX in the study of early HB interpretation Words and Concepts (Jobes and Silva)

B. The use of the LXX in the study of early HB interpretation Use of the LXX for understanding the words of the HB

B. The use of the LXX in the study of early HB interpretation Use of the LXX as commentary on the HB Hellenization?

B. The use of the LXX in the study of early HB interpretation Use of the LXX as commentary on the HB Hellenization? Midrash

B. The use of the LXX in the study of early HB interpretation Use of the LXX as commentary on the HB Hellenization? Midrash Theological Interpretation

B. The use of the LXX in the study of early HB interpretation Use of the LXX as commentary on the HB Hellenization? Midrash Theological Interpretation Translation of מזבח with θυσιαστήριον when referring to an altar to the Lord, and βωμός when referring to a pagan altar (Jobes and Silva)

The Greek Translation(s) of the Hebrew Bible (LXX) and Biblical Studies Part 2: The LXX and the NT A. The use of the NT in LXX Studies B. The use of the LXX in NT studies

Part 2: The LXX and the NT A. The use of the NT in LXX Studies as textual witness

Part 2: The LXX and the NT A. The use of the NT in LXX Studies as textual witness The NT quotations originate before the great recensions, and are therefore able to function as a textual witness to the early versions of the Greek OT (Marcos, 265).

Part 2: The LXX and the NT A. The use of the NT in LXX Studies as textual witness However, sometimes scribes changed LXX readings to agree with their quotations in the NT (Jobes and Silva, 210).

Part 2: The LXX and the NT A. The use of the NT in LXX Studies as textual witness The questions is whether we have reason to think that a variant originated with a NT author

Part 2: The LXX and the NT B. The use of the LXX in NT studies

B. The use of the LXX in NT studies LXX as a help to establishing the NT text

B. The use of the LXX in NT studies LXX influence on NT language and thought

B. The use of the LXX in NT studies LXX influence on NT language NT authors were steeped in the language of the LXX (Swete, 451– 2)

B. The use of the LXX in NT studies LXX influence on NT language NT authors were steeped in the language of the LXX (Swete, 451– 2) The Question of Semiticisms

B. The use of the LXX in NT studies LXX influence on NT language NT authors were steeped in the language of the LXX (Swete, 451– 2) The Question of Semiticisms LXX influence on NT word usage Dr. Black: νόμος for ( תורה 221 -2) Jobes and Silva (206): καρδία for לב

Richard Baukham, Gospel of Glory, p. 45 Importance Wealth Power Honor Prestige Reputation (usually good = honor) Visible splendor Greek Old Testament (LXX), δόξα Honor Prestige Reputation Visible splendor New Testament, δόξα Honor Prestige Reputation Visible splendor Hebrew, כבוד root: כבד , to be heavy Greek, δόξα verb: δοκέω, to think, believe, suppose opinion

B. The use of the LXX in NT studies LXX influence on NT thought Quotations Theological Allusions Vocabulary

B. The use of the LXX in NT studies LXX influence on NT thought Quotations NT, (Jobes and Silva, 207) LXX, and MT agree: 20% NT agree with MT over LXX: < 5% NT agree with LXX over MT: 33%

B. The use of the LXX in NT studies LXX influence on NT thought Quotations Theological Vocabulary Use of ὁ κύριος for Christ Use of ὁ ἄγγελος (“messenger”) for “angel”

B. The use of the LXX in NT studies LXX influence on NT thought Quotations Theological Allusions: Vocabulary “the deepest and most pervasive impact of the LXX” (Jobes and Silva, 223).

Phil 2: 14– 15 (NA 27) Deut 32: 5 (Rhalfs) Πάντα ποιεῖτε χωρὶς γογγυσμῶν καὶ ἡμάρτοσαν οὐκ αὐτῷ τέκνα διαλογισμῶν, 15 ἵνα γένησθε μωμητά, γενεὰ σκολιὰ καὶ ἄμεμπτοι καὶ ἀκέραιοι, τέκνα θεοῦ διεστραμμένη. ἄμωμα μέσον γενεᾶς σκολιᾶς καὶ διεστραμμένης, ἐν οἷς φαίνεσθε ὡς φωστῆρες ἐν κόσμῳ. . . NIV: Do everything without complaining or NETS: blemished children, not his, have arguing, 15 so that you may become sinned, a generation, crooked and perverse blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe. . .

Conclusion: The importance of the LXX for Biblical Studies

Conclusion: The importance of the LXX for Biblical Studies “Gentlemen, have you a Septuagint? If not, sell all you have, and buy a Septuagint. ” (Ferdinand Hitzig, quoted in Jobes and Silva, 9)