What does the term "Septuagint" refer to?

Definition and Origin

The term “Septuagint” refers to an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures produced several centuries before the birth of Christ. The name comes from the Latin word for “seventy” because, according to tradition, around seventy (some say seventy-two) Jewish scholars worked on this translation. This tradition is often associated with a document called the Letter of Aristeas, which describes how the translation was commissioned for the famous Library of Alexandria.

The Septuagint is commonly abbreviated with the Roman numerals “LXX” (70). It became the principal Bible translation for many Greek-speaking Jewish communities in the Hellenistic era and remained influential among early Christians, who frequently cited it in the New Testament. For example, the Gospel of Luke quotes Isaiah in a form close to the LXX (Luke 4:18–19).

Historical Background

During the intertestamental period, large numbers of Jewish people lived outside the land of Israel, particularly in regions around the Mediterranean. In places such as Alexandria, Greek had become the primary language. As a result, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures was needed to allow Jewish communities to read, study, and worship in their everyday language.

Scholars generally place the initial work of translation in the 3rd century BC, beginning with the Torah (Genesis through Deuteronomy). Over time, the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures were also translated. Some ancient sources claim that each of the seventy scholars produced identical translations independently—an account intended to emphasize divine providence and consistency.

Structure and Scope

The Septuagint includes the standard books found in the Hebrew canon, as well as additional writings (sometimes called the deuterocanonical or apocryphal books). Early manuscripts of the LXX, such as parts of Codex Sinaiticus or Codex Vaticanus, contain these writings alongside the books mirrored in the Hebrew Bible’s canon.

While most Protestant traditions affirm only the books of the Hebrew canon as Scripture, the Septuagint’s inclusion of these extra writings played a meaningful role in both Jewish and Christian traditions of the ancient world. The translations occasionally differ slightly from the Masoretic Text (the authoritative Hebrew text in traditional Jewish communities), but such differences have been critically studied by scholars to understand the textual history of the Old Testament.

Textual Significance and Manuscript Evidence

Because the Septuagint predates many of our oldest surviving Hebrew manuscripts by several centuries, it serves as an important witness in biblical studies. In some places, the Greek preserves a reading that aligns with certain passages found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, thus providing evidence for textual variants in ancient Hebrew sources.

For example, particular readings in the LXX of the Book of Isaiah can match the wording found in the Qumran scrolls more closely than the Masoretic Text. This allows scholars to verify that the text of Scripture was transmitted with remarkable care and consistency, even if occasional differences in phrasing or ordering appear in surviving manuscripts.

The existence of the Septuagint also helps to explain how many Old Testament quotations in the New Testament can differ slightly from Hebrew-based modern translations. New Testament authors, such as the Apostle Paul, often quoted the Scriptures as they were known in their Greek-speaking environment. This is why certain quotations match the LXX rendering. For instance, in Romans, Paul draws on passages that align word-for-word with the Greek text of the Old Testament (see Romans 3:10–12, which quotes Psalm 14:1–3 in a form more akin to the LXX).

Role in Early Christian Communities

The Septuagint was immensely important in the apostolic and post-apostolic ages. As the early church spread rapidly across the Greek-speaking world, the LXX provided a ready-made Scripture for Gentile believers who did not know Hebrew. Early Church Fathers—from Justin Martyr to Irenaeus—frequently cited it in their teachings and writings.

Furthermore, the LXX contributed to theological discussions on key doctrines. For example, the Greek word used to render Isaiah 7:14 can mean “virgin.” This became a focal point in discussions about the nature of the Messiah’s birth (Matthew 1:23). The translators of the LXX, centuries before Christ’s birth, rendered the Hebrew in a manner that prepared the way for the New Testament understanding of the virgin birth.

Impact on Modern Translations

Modern Bible translators often consult the LXX as a secondary check against the Masoretic Text. When scholars encounter difficult readings, the LXX can shed light on possible interpretations or on how ancient translators understood the Hebrew original. In some instances, the centuries of scholarship behind the Greek translation help confirm a particular reading found in the Hebrew text.

Even today, versions of the Bible that aim for a fresh translation from the original languages can benefit from the insights provided by this ancient witness. The Berean Standard Bible, while grounded primarily in the Hebrew and Greek texts, will at times note where the Septuagint offers alternative nuances.

Example of LXX Influence in the New Testament

A prime illustration of the Septuagint’s influence is in Luke 4:18–19. When Jesus reads from Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth, certain phrases match the Greek wording of Isaiah 61:1–2. This alignment reveals how the text was recognizable to listeners who knew the Greek Scriptures. It underscores the role of the LXX as a common textual foundation in the first-century Mediterranean world.

Relevance for Understanding Scripture Today

1. Historical Insight: The Septuagint offers a valuable snapshot of how Hebrew Scriptures were understood during the Hellenistic period. It also verifies the enduring nature of the biblical message.

2. Bridge for New Testament Readers: Since the New Testament authors and early church communities relied on the LXX, modern readers can see how these writers engaged the Old Testament in Greek-speaking contexts.

3. Textual Confidence: The longstanding transmission of Scripture—from ancient Hebrew manuscripts to Greek translations like the LXX—reinforces the reliability of the Bible’s message. As Jesus declares, “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).

4. Apologetic Use: For those exploring the foundations of biblical faith, the Septuagint stands as further testimony to the preservation of the biblical text and a valuable source in biblical apologetics. Alongside archaeological discoveries (such as the Dead Sea Scrolls) and manuscript studies, the LXX helps illustrate the continuity and trustworthiness of Scripture through the ages.

Conclusion

The term “Septuagint” refers to the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, completed by Jewish scholars centuries before Christ. Its name, meaning “seventy,” recalls the tradition of seventy (or seventy-two) translators. Widely used among the Jewish diaspora and early Christians, it became a critical link between the original Hebrew texts and the Greek-speaking world.

Even now, the LXX remains a cornerstone in biblical scholarship, aiding in textual criticism, illuminating the theological perspectives of ancient audiences, and providing context for many New Testament quotations. Its enduring testimony supports the unity and reliability of the Scriptures, an essential resource for believers and researchers alike.