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 |
|
6 And in this mountain The LORD of hosts will make for all people A feast of choice pieces, A feast of wines on the lees, Of fat things full of marrow, Of well-refined wines on the lees. Isaiah 25:6 (NKJV) |
6 And the Lord Sabaoth will act for all the nations on this mountain; they will drink cheer; they will drink wine; Isaiah 25:6 (LES2) |
This is how subtle deception is. Here we have an example of how the MT deftly hides a reference to Christ. By focusing and elaborating on the feast, it omits the crucial point found in the LXX: “God will act for all the nations on this mountain.” By giving us a very spiritual sounding, “He will destroy…the veil that is spread over all the nations,” it robs us of, “On this mountain he will give all these things to the nations…” I have quoted the MT phrase many times, thinking it refers to Christ’s resurrection and the promise of eternal life in the gospel, but it seems to have been contrived out of thin air by the Masoretes. The final way deception works is to bring us to the point of wondering which version is true. I have made my decision. I am going with the LXX which was used by the early church and all synagogues during Christ’s itinerant ministry. Getting back to the text, this brings up the question, what is “this mountain.” From the point of view of the New Covenant, it refers to the supreme act of our Lord in offering himself on the cross, fulfilling the foreshadowing that God gave us when Abraham prepared to offer Isaac on Mt. Moriah. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place “The Lord Saw,” so that they say today, “The Lord appeared on the mountain.” 15 And an angel of the Lord called Abraham a second time from the heavens, saying, 16 “ ‘By myself I swear,’ says the Lord, “ ‘because you did this thing and you did not spare your beloved son on my account, 17 I will indeed surely bless you, and, I will surely increase your offspring like the stars of the heavens and like the sand from the seashore, and your offspring will inherit the cities of their enemies. 18 And in your offspring (literally “seed,” singular) all the nations will be blessed because you obeyed my voice.” Genesis 22:14–18 (LES2) The New Testament identifies Christ as that promised “seed,” through whom all the nations are blessed. (Galatians 3:16) What God did through Christ’s death and resurrection was for his chosen ones, which includes people from all nations, both Jew and Gentile. (Ephesians 1:4) The author of Hebrews wrote: 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 12:22–24 (NKJV) The drinking of wine may refer to the Lord’s Supper, which Christ instituted the night before he died and which is to be done in remembrance of him. (1 Corinthians 11:24) |
|
7 And He will destroy on this mountain The surface of the covering cast over all people, And the veil that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 25:7–8 (NKJV) |
7 they will anoint themselves with perfume. On this mountain deliver all these things to the nations, for this plan is against all the nations. 8 Death, having power, swallowed; and again the Lord God took away every tear from every face; he took away the reproach of the people from all the land, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Isaiah 25:7–8 (LES2) |
Perhaps this was an extremely difficult passage to translate from Paleo-Hebrew, which could account for the divergence in the translations. Going with the LXX, verse 7 continues the thought from verse six that because of what God did for the nations, they will anoint themselves with perfume as part of their rejoicing. The next part of verse 7 has been poorly translated by the Lexham version of the LXX, in my opinion, because it does not “flow” with what is said before and after. It would better say that “this plan is for all the nations.” Brenton translated it in such a way. The announcement of this plan, which was fulfilled through Christ, is called the gospel. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, death has been “swallowed up,” as Paul confirmed by referencing this passage. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 1 Corinthians 15:54 (NASB95)
God removed sorrow and sadness, “every tear from every face.” This is in the aorist tense, indicating a completed past action that will one day be fulfilled completely. When Christ said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), he had done everything necessary for our complete salvation, but the working out of those things will happen over time, culminating at the Second Coming. This is true for the individual, the nations, and the entire earth-heaven complex. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. Revelation 21:4–6 (NKJV) Lastly, God promised through Isaiah that he will remove reproach or shame from the people of the entire earth. This refers to his people, the elect, who trust in Christ’s finished work. He bore our shame so that we can appear before God without reproach (Colossians 1:22). 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:27–29 (NASB95) We who believe are clothed with his righteousness. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Romans 10:11–13 (NKJV) |
|
9 And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isaiah 25:9 (NKJV) |
9 And on that day they will say, “Look! Our God on whom we had been hoping! Indeed, he will save us. This is the Lord; we waited for him, and we kept rejoicing; we will also delight over our salvation.” Isaiah 25:9 (LES2) |
Again, going with the LXX, those who wait for the salvation that comes through Christ keep rejoicing in hope, which is defined as the confident expectation that God will do what he promised. This can refer to his first coming and his second. Simeon was an example of those who awaited in the hope of his first appearing. 29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” Luke 2:29–32 (NKJV) All those who have trusted in Christ and are still alive are among those who wait for his Second Coming. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philippians 3:20–21 (NKJV) We now rejoice in our great salvation as we await Christ’s appearing, which will be the completion of what God began. 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13 (NASB95) |
Summary: This short passage from Isaiah illustrates how deception works. All the Masoretes had to do to make these scriptures less clearly point to Christ was to remove one little sentence in verse 6 and add some spiritual sounding phrases. As a result, the MT does not destroy our ability to see Christ in the passage, but it makes it more challenging. The LXX, on the other hand, having been translated centuries before Christ, had no animosity toward Christ or reason to obfuscate. This is another example of why Christians should prefer the LXX to the MT.
