Comparing MT to the Septuagint (LXX): Introductory Examples

If you are just beginning to explore the Septuagint (LXX), here are some introductory examples that compare its text to the Masoretic Text (MT). I hope it will be sufficient to whet your appetite to continue to explore why I believe the church in the West should never have abandoned the LXX.

There is evidence that the MT was produced by those who wished to undermine the Christians’ use of the LXX to prove Christ is the Messiah.

I list several examples below for your consideration. 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 refer to the Brenton translation to help clarify difficult passages.

If you want to know more, click on the following links.

NT Quote	MT	LXX	Comment
24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written. Romans 2:24 (NKJV)	…“And My name is blasphemed continually every day. Isaiah 52:5 (NKJV)	…Because of you my name is always blasphemed among the nations. Isaiah 52:5 (LES2)	The Greek in Romans matches that of the LXX. Paul omits the word “always.” The MT, apparently seeking to minimize damage to the Jewish image, omits “because of you” as the reason for God’s name being blasphemed. Paul understood that this was important, just as is written in the LXX.
4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.” Romans 3:4 (NKJV)	…That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. Psalm 51:4 (NKJV)	…that you would be vindicated in your words and prevail when you judge. Psalm 50:6 (LES2)	The Greek in the LXX perfectly matches the quote in Romans, even though different English words are used. This one goes to the LXX. The MT is slightly different, using “blameless” instead of “prevail.” The MT also changes “vindicated in your words” to “found just when you speak.” Since we believe the NT is the inspired Word of God and it quotes the LXX, therefore, the LXX must be the inspired Word of God, too, not the MT, which does not agree..
10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” 13 “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:10–18 (NKJV)	2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. 3 They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one. Psalm 14:2–3 (NKJV)	2 The Lord looked out from the heavens upon the sons of humans, to see if there is one who understands or one who seeks out God. 3 All turned aside together. They became useless. There is not one doing goodness; there is not even one. Their throat is an opened grave. With their tongues they have dealt treacherously with one another. The poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are quick to pour out blood. Destruction and misery are in their ways, and they know not the way of peace. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Psalm 13:2–3 (LES2)	This comparison makes it quite plain that Paul quoted the LXX. The Greek matches perfectly. The MT does not even contain a large section of the quote in verse 3.
	16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; 17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. 18 They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots. Psalm 22:16–18 (NKJV)	17 For many dogs encircled me. A gathering of those doing evil surrounded me. They pierced my hands and feet. [Which the translators took from the LXX. Literally the MT says; “like a lion my hands and my feet.”] 18 They can count all my bones; they perceived and gazed upon me. 19 They distributed my garments among themselves, and they cast a lot for my clothing. Psalm 21:17–19 (LES2)	These two passages are mostly the same. This is because the translators took it upon themselves to depart from the MT regarding one phrase. The MT says: “…like a lion, my hands and my feet…” This was such an egregious corruption of a clear reference to Christ’s crucifixion that the translators of our MT-based English Old Testaments, who were normally faithful to the MT, felt obliged to go with the LXX in this case. Sadly, however, other omissions and obfuscations are tolerated and promoted as being the best versions of the ancient Paleo-Hebrew original texts available. The church in the West has implicitly trusted the rabbinical Jews, who hate Christ and Christianity, to have been faithful custodians of Old Testament truth. However, a verse-by-verse comparison reveals quite the opposite.
5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared [Greek – katartidzo] for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come [Greek – heko] — In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’ ” 8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:5–10 (NKJV)	6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. 7 Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. 8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:6–8 (NKJV)	7 You did not want sacrifice and offering, but you restored [Greek – katartidzo] a body to me. You did not ask for whole burnt offering and an offering concerning sin. 8 Then I said, “Look, I have arrived [Greek – heko]. In the scroll of the document it has been written concerning me. 9 I wish to do your will, O my God, and your law is in the middle of my heart.” Psalm 39:7–9 (LES2)	This is a notable example of the MT’s removing a clear reference to Christ that is quoted from the LXX in the New Testament. As with many of the Psalms, the numbering of the LXX differs from the MT. This is because the MT divides Psalm 9 into two psalms with the result that this difference in numeration continues all the way to Psalm 147. The LXX says in verse 7 that God restored (Greek: katartidzo, which can mean restored, established, or furnished) a body to me. This is the same verb used in the quote in Hebrews, where it is translated “prepared.” This is a reference to the Incarnation of Christ, if “furnished” is used, and, quite possibly, to his resurrection, if “restore” is used. The author of Hebrews quotes this text in his argument for Christ’s supremacy. It is necessary for a body to have been prepared for him in order for our Lord to offer himself as the Lamb of God for our sins.
23 “Behold, the virgin [Greek – parthenos] shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23 (NKJV)	14 Because of this, the Lord himself will give you a sign: Look, the virgin [Greek – parthenos] will conceive in the womb and will bear a son, and you will call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (LES2)	14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin [Hebrew – almah] shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV)	The LXX uses the Greek word parthenos for “virgin.” The Hebrew word in the MT is almah, which normally means young woman. The translators of the NKJV chose to go with the LXX’s parthenos or virgin, since it matches the New Testament quote, which definitely is the inspired Word of God.
17 So that the rest [Greek – kataloipos] of mankind [anthropos] may seek [ekzeteo] the LORD, Even all the Gentiles [ethnos] who are called [epikaleo] by My name, Says the LORD who does [poieo] all these things.’ Acts 15:17 (NKJV)	12 so that the remnant [Greek – kataloipos] of the people [anthropos], and all the nations [ethnos] upon whom my name was invoked [epikaleo] upon them, will search [ekzeteo] for me,” says the Lord who is making [poieo] these things. Amos 9:12 (LES2)	12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,” Says the LORD who does this thing. Amos 9:12 (NKJV)	This was a case when the translators of Amos 9:12 went with the MT, but Luke quoted the LXX. There is a huge difference between the nations seeking for the Lord and Israel possessing the nations. The LXX points to Christ, but the MT elevates Israel unduly. Jesus warned us that the the Jews would kill him and try to take the vineyard for themselves, which they are still attempting to do. In addition, they want us to believe that the Old Testament authorizes them to do just that.
	5 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS Jeremiah 23:5–6 (NKJV)	5 “Look, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “and I will raise up a righteous rising [Greek – anatole] for David, and a king will reign and understand and perform justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days both Judah will be delivered, and Israel will encamp confidently, and this is his name, which the Lord will call him: “Jozadak.” Jeremiah 23:5–6 (LES2)	Here is an example of why I have an issue with the Masoretic Text. The passage in the MT, in this instance, is a much beloved Scripture that gives us one of the “compound names of God,” which, it turns out does not even exist, if we accept the LXX as being more reliable. It appears that the Masoretes, in their effort to remove a passage that clearly refers to Christ, have given us something that sounds great and is often quoted by Christians as referring to Christ, but is not what was written in the ancient Septuagint, the version of the Old Testament that the early church used to prove that Christ is the Messiah. In verse 5, the MT says, “I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness.” Branch is used in more than one place in the MT, but never shows up in the LXX. It is a mysterious word that would be more literally translated as a “sprouting of growth.” The LXX records Jeremiah saying, “I will raise up a righteous rising [Greek – anatole] for David.” This Greek word for rising is used to describe the sun rising in the east, and we shall see that it is is a clear foreshadowing of Christ’s resurrection. (John 5:39, Luke 24:25-27) Jesus is the the king who fulfilled the rest of the prophecy in verse 5. The next huge difference is the name by which Jeremiah says this coming king will be called. The MT says, “The Lord our righteousness.” This agrees with Paul’s teaching about Jesus who is our righteousness, if we put our faith and allegiance in him. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:30–31 (NKJV) So my issue with the MT is not that it contradicts the New Testament’s teaching about Jesus, but that changed what God spoke through Jeremiah. The LXX calls his name, “Jozadak,” a name that is not nearly as inspiring as “the Lord our righteousness” until we discover its significance. Jeremiah prophesied about a future high priest named Jozadak, who would have a son named Joshua (Jesus in Greek). Here is what Zechariah prophesied about him. 11 And you will take silver and gold, and you will make crowns and place them upon the head of the great priest Joshua, the son of Jehozadak. [another way of rendering Jozadak] 12 And you will say to him, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Behold, a man; Anatole is his name, and from beneath him he will rise up and build the house of the Lord. 13 And he will receive virtue, and he will sit and rule upon his throne... ” Zechariah 6:11–13a (LES2) Notice that Jozadak (Jehozadak) will have a son named Jesus who will be crowned and rule upon his throne. Also, notice in verse 12 the mention of the word “Anatole” as another name for him, which cross references to Jeremiah 23:5, where he said that God would raise up a righteous Anatole for David! I do not think it would be going too far to translate “Anatole” as Risen One. This one rises from “beneath,” which we know is a reference to the lower parts of the earth. (Ephesians 4:9) If we compare the MT version of Zechariah 6:11-13, we will see that the Masoretes were careful to change Zechariah to match Jeremiah. 11 Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the LORD; 13 Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” ’ Zechariah 6:11–13 (NKJV) Instead of calling him the Risen One, Anatole, who rises up, he is called the branch who branches out. The MT took an amazing prophecy about Christ and converted it into something that sounds good but shrouded in mystery. The Holy Spirit meant for us to see Christ clearly in this passage.