The Septuagint (LXX) was the accepted version of the Old Testament at the time of Christ and during the early church period. It was much later that the Masoretic Text (MT) became the basis for our English translations, which continues to this day in the Western church. The Eastern Orthodox Church stayed with the LXX. Conventional wisdom is that there were various textual versions of the paleo-Hebrew that were passed down, the LXX using one of them, perhaps the earliest. The MT is supposed to be based on alternate sources and to be superior. This claim is made without offering any sort of proof, however, and creates doubt regarding the preservation of the original inspired text.
It seems to me that God has already given us the answer. 70 – 80 % of the quotes from the Old Testament that are found in the New Testament come directly from the Septuagint, which is a divine affirmation of that version.
A very significant factor in making a decision regarding which version is better is that the MT sometimes omits or obscures references to Christ that are quoted from the LXX in the New Testament.
This makes one question the integrity and motives of the translators of the MT.
After perusing the MT alongside the LXX, I have discovered numerous textual differences, not just a few, but not all of them, or even the majority of them, have theological or Christological significance. My own “gut” feeling is that the LXX better. It seems more “literal” and believable. The conversations seem natural, and, perhaps most importantly, almost always the LXX provides the clearest references to Christ.
You can read about some of my insights after comparing numerous sections of scripture by clicking here. In this series on the LXX, I have done my best to compare and contrast significant passages. Here is an another example. The Septuagint version I am using is the Lexham English Septuagint 2nd Edition, which I like the best. It is available in print or through Logos Bible Software. Another favorite English version is that translated by Brenton, which uses an older style of English.
| Masoretic Text | Septuagint | Significance |
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1 O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! Psalm 8:1 (NKJV) |
2 O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is your name in all the earth, because your magnificence was lifted up far above the heavens. Psalm 8:2 (LES2) |
No appreciable difference. |
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2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger. Psalm 8:2 (NKJV) |
3 From the mouth of infants and nursing babies you created praise, on account of your enemies, to destroy the enemy and the avenger. Psalm 8:3 (LES2) |
The LXX is quoted in Matthew 21:16. 16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?” Matthew 21:16 (NKJV) This is further evidence that the MT is not the inspired word of God, at least in cases where it changes the LXX to hide clear references to Christ or quotes in the New Testament. The same Greek verb is used in both the LXX and New Testament – katartizo, which can be translated in various ways, as can be seen. In this instance it is translated “created” in the LXX and “perfected” in the New Testament. The MT says God did this to silence the enemy, but the LXX goes further to say it is to destroy him. Jesus quoted this psalm when he was receiving praise at the Messiah. His mission, in summary, according to John, was to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), which agrees with the LXX. |
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3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8:3–5 (NKJV) |
4 Because I will see the heavens, the works of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you laid down. 5 What is a man that you remember him? Or a son of a man that you observe him? 6 You made him somewhat less than angels; you crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8:4–6 (LES2) |
Verses 3/4-4/5 have slight differences, but verse 5/6 has a major discrepancy. The MT says we were made a little lower than “elohim,” which should be translated “God,” as does the NASB. The NKJV chose to go with the LXX here by translating elohim as “angels.” The New Testament quotes this verse in Hebrews 2:7, where it uses the Greek word for “angels,” thus corroborating the accuracy of the LXX and justifying the NKJV translators’ choice. This is the second place in this short psalm where the MT translators chose to tamper with an LXX text that is quoted in the New Testament. This cannot possibly be a coincidence. When we catch someone in a lie, why trust them thereafter? Personally I have very little confidence in the MT’s accuracy, except where it agrees with the LXX. |
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6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen— Even the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:6–9 (NKJV) |
7 And you appointed him over the works of your hands. You arranged all things under his feet, 8 all sheep and oxen, and even still the livestock of the plains, 9 the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, the creatures that go through the paths of the seas. 10 O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is your name in all the earth. Psalm 8:7–10 (LES2) |
There are no significant differences here. |
| The only significant differences between the MT and LXX are where the New Testament quotes the LXX. This is not an accident. |
Conclusion
If you want to know more about why Christians should prefer the Septuagint to the MT, click on this link.
