Rediscovering the Septuagint (LXX): Jeremiah 32

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.

Masoretic Text Septuagint Significance

26 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? Jeremiah 32:26–27 (NKJV) 

26 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 27 “I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; nothing will be hidden from me. Jeremiah 39:26–27 (LES2) 

Another favorite OT verse from the MT goes down the drain. I hate the thought that I formerly put confidence in false words; although, there is nothing incorrect about the MT statement. It is just that apparently Jeremiah did not say it.

28 Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it. 29 And the Chaldeans who fight against this city shall come and set fire to this city and burn it, with the houses on whose roofs they have offered incense to Baal and poured out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke Me to anger; 30 because the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done only evil before Me from their youth. For the children of Israel have provoked Me only to anger with the work of their hands,’ says the LORD. 31 ‘For this city has been to Me a provocation of My anger and My fury from the day that they built it, even to this day; so I will remove it from before My face 32 because of all the evil of the children of Israel and the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke Me to anger—they, their kings, their princes, their priests, their prophets, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 33 And they have turned to Me the back, and not the face; though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not listened to receive instruction. 34 But they set their abominations in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. 35 And they built the high places of Baal which are in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I did not command them, nor did it come into My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.’ Jeremiah 32:28–35 (NKJV)

28 Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel said: ‘When it has been given, this city will be given over to the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will receive it. 29 And the Chaldeans will come making war upon this city; and they will burn this city with fire, and they will burn the houses in which they burned incense to Baal on their housetops and poured out drink offerings to other gods to provoke me, 30 because the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah were alone in doing evil before my eyes since their youth, 31 because this city was against my anger and for my rage, from the day they built it and until this day, to remove it from my face, 32 because of all the evils of the sons of Israel and of Judah that they did to provoke me, they and their kings and their rulers and their priests and their prophets, men of Judah and those who dwell in Jerusalem. 33 And they turned their back to me and not their face, and I have taught them in the morning, and I have taught, and they have heard no longer to receive discipline. 34 And they put their defilement in the house in which my name is invoked upon it, by their uncleannesses. 35 And they built altars to Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to offer their sons and their daughters to King Molech, which I did not command; and it did not go up upon my heart for them to do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.’ ” Jeremiah 39:28–35 (LES2)

This is an incredible passage that states that God was angry with Jerusalem since it was first built! There was never a time in Israel’s history when the people were not participating in idolatry. Stephen was right when he told the Jews who stoned him to death: “You always resist the Holy Spirit. As you fathers did, so do you.” (Acts 7:51)

This passage, except for the added words in the MT, are basically in agreement.

36 “Now therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, ‘It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: 37 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath; I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. 38 They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39 then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. 41 Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.’ Jeremiah 32:36–41 (NKJV) 

36 And now this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, said against the city of which you say, “It will be handed over into the hands of the king of Babylon by the sword and famine and dispatch”: 37 “Look, I am gathering them from every land where I scattered them in my wrath and my anger and great irritation, and I will return them to this place, and I will settle them in security. 38 And they will become a people for me, and I will become a God for them. 39 And I will give them another way and another heart, to fear me every day, and for good for them and their children after them. 40 And I will establish an everlasting covenant with them, which I shall not turn away from them, and I will put my fear into their heart in order that they do not depart from me. 41 And I will visit them to do good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness and with all my heart and with all my soul. Jeremiah 39:36–41 (LES2)

In verse 36, the MT says God will destroy the city with pestilence, but the LXX says with “dispatch” or sending away. 

In verse 39, the MT says that the new covenant will provide God’s people with “one heart,” but the LXX says God will give us “another heart,” which agrees with Ezekiel’s prophecy.

26 And I shall give you a new heart and establish a new spirit in you and remove the heart made of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 (LES2)

To be in unity is great, but what is needed is a recreated heart, which the New Covenant provides. As Paul put it, we become new creations in Christ.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

Only the indwelling Holy Spirit can maintain in us a  faithful devotion to God.

42 “For thus says the LORD: ‘Just as I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will bring on them all the good that I have promised them. 43 And fields will be bought in this land of which you say, “It is desolate, without man or beast; it has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans.” 44 Men will buy fields for money, sign deeds and seal them, and take witnesses, in the land of Benjamin, in the places around Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the South; for I will cause their captives to return,’ says the LORD.” Jeremiah 32:42–44 (NKJV)

42 Because this is what the Lord said: ‘Just as I have brought all these great calamities upon this people, so I myself will bring upon them all the good things that I have spoken upon them. 43 And fields will again be bought in the land about which you say, “It will be untraveled by humans and animal, and they were handed over to the hands of the Chaldeans.” 44 And they will buy fields with silver; and you will write a document, and you will seal it and affirm it by witnesses in the land of Benjamin and around Jerusalem and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountain of the Shephelah and in the cities of the Negeb, because I will turn back their exile.’ ” Jeremiah 39:42–44 (LES2)

Except for a minor variance in verse 43 where the MT says will be “without” man or beast and the LXX says “untraveled,” these verses are mostly in agreement. Is it not fascinating that when Jeremiah’s prophecies favor Israel the MT agrees with the LXX?

 

petebeck3

Pete Beck III ministered as a pastor and Bible teacher in Burlington for over 35 years. He is married to Martha, with whom he has four children, ten beautiful grandchildren, and five amazing great grandchildren. He has written several books, including two that are available on Amazon - Seeing God's Smile and Promise of the Father - as well as a wide variety of Bible-related articles.

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