Here is New Testament passage that shows that the Septuagint was the version of the Scriptures used by the early church and the Holy Spirit. 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).
NT Quote |
LXX |
MT |
Comment |
|
17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.” Matthew 2:17–18 (NKJV) |
15 This is what the Lord said: “A voice of lamentation and weeping and mourning was heard in Ramah. Rachel, weeping over her sons, was unwilling to desist, because they were no more.” Jeremiah 38:15 (LES2) |
15 Thus says the LORD: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.” Jeremiah 31:15 (NKJV) |
The first thing we note is that the LXX chapter of Jeremiah is different from the MT. I will cover when I take a longer look at Jeremiah. The quote begins by following the wording of the MT. The Greek words Matthew uses match those of the LXX, except in the last part, where the LXX says Rachel was unwilling to stop weeping, but Matthew and the MT says she refused to be comforted. This is not a big deal, but it does not match the quote. This one goes to the MT, but nothing in it contradicts the LXX. This is unlike some cases when the MT says something quite opposite from what the NT quotes from the LXX. Apparently Matthew was using documents that were written in block style Hebrew, which was then being developed, instead of referring to the LXX. Matthew and the Holy Spirit saw fit to use it. |
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