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 |
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To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. 1 How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death; 4 Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”; Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved. Psalm 13:title–4 (NKJV) |
1 FOR THE END, A PSALM OF DAVID. 2 How long, O Lord, will you forget me completely? How long will you turn away your face from me? 3 How long will I set counsels in my soul, which are like griefs in my heart for days? How long will my enemy be raised up over me? 4 Look! Give ear to me, O Lord, my God! Illuminate my eyes, lest I fall asleep into death, 5 lest my enemy say, “I was strong against him,” lest the ones who are afflicting me rejoice exceedingly if I am shaken. Psalm 12:1–5 (LES2) |
This passage shows agreement between the MT and LXX. The numbering is different for two reasons. First, the MT divided Psalm 9 into two psalms, 9 and 10, making all successive psalms out of order until Psalm 148. Secondly, the LXX includes the title in the numbering as the first verse. |
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5 But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. 6 I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:5–6 (NKJV) |
6 But I placed my hope in your mercy. My heart will rejoice exceedingly in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, the one who has done well to me, and I will sing psalms to the name of the Lord Most High. Psalm 12:6 (LES2) |
In case you were thinking that we here have a psalm where there is total agreement between the MT and LXX, you were wrong! The MT divides verse 5/6 in the LXX into two verses, 5 and 6. In addition, it omits the last phrase of verse 5/6 that is found in the LXX. |
Summary: Even when there are no Christological issues at stake, we see differences in the text. One must ask why the Masoretes found it necessary to make these changes, except, perhaps, to make it more difficult to cross-reference with the LXX or maybe just to be different. Since the Christians were using the LXX to demonstrate that Jesus is the Messiah, it stands to reason that they would change it in multiple ways. Even now, if a believer in Christ in the West wants to start using the LXX as his or her “go to” version of the Old Testament, it is quite challenging to cross reference with those using Masoretic Text-based Bibles. I may not live to see a mainstream publisher produce a parallel Old Testament with an English translation of the MT side-by-side with a good English translation of the LXX, but it would be a terrific help. In my own small way, I am attempting to provide something of the sort.
