Here is a direct side-by-side comparison of the Masoretic Text with the LXX. I have concluded that the LXX is much to be preferred over the Masoretic Text, a position from which the Eastern Orthodox Church never deviated. Perhaps, if you take the time to read my comparisons and other articles, you will arrive at the same conclusion.
The Septuagint version I am using is the Lexham English Septuagint 2nd Edition, which is available in print or as part of Logos Bible Software. Occasionally I also use the Brenton translation of the LXX for insight into difficult passages.
If you want to know more, click on the following links.
- Why Christians Should Prefer the Septuagint over the Masoretic Text.
- Some Insights Gained through Comparing the Masoretic Text to the Septuagint
- More side by side comparisons of the Masoretic Text (MT) to the Septuagint (LXX).
| Masoretic Text | Septuagint | Significance |
|
8 “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s sons shall bow down to you. 9 “Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him up? 10 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. Genesis 49:8–10 (NASB95) |
8 Judah, may your brothers praise you; may your hands be upon the back of your enemies. The sons of your father will revere you. 9 A cub of a lion, Judah; from a shoot, my son, you went up. After lying back, you slept like a lion and like a cub. Who will stir him up? 10 A ruler will not cease from Judah, and one who leads from his thighs, until the things laid away for him come, and he is the expectation of nations. Genesis 49:8–10 (LES2) |
The MT and LXX agree that Judah is associated with a lion. This is significant regarding Christ, who is descended from the line of David, who was descended from Judah. (Luke 2:4, 3:23-38) Jesus is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah in Revelation 5:5. The promise that a ruler will not cease from Judah’s line cannot refer to the kings of Judah because that line of rulers came to an end, unless one considers the eternal rule of Jesus the Messiah. David was a type of Christ. Being prophetic, that king of Judah foresaw the coming of the Lord. (Psalm 110:1) The angel Gabriel announced to Mary that the child in her womb, that was conceived by the Holy Spirit, would “be great, and he will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31-33) What the MT translates as “until Shiloh,” whose meaning is uncertain, the LXX translates “until the things laid away for him come,” which makes much more sense, especially regarding Christ. The last part of verse 10 in the MT reads, “to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” The MT uses an unusual Hebrew word “am” which means paternal people or family. The LXX, on the other hand, says that this one, Christ, will be the “expectation of the nations.” The LXX uses the Greek word “ethnos,” which corresponds to other verses that predict that the Messiah or Christ will become a blessing to all nations. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. Luke 2:10 (NKJV) Eventually every knee will bow to him, which corroborates the claim of the MT. (Philippians 2:10-11) |
| Both the MT and LXX point to Christ is the above passage, but the LXX makes it plainer, especially in the very last phrase. |
