Author: 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.

Comparing MT to the Septuagint (LXX): Psalm 91:1-7

Septuagint

When we are programmed as children what to believe, later, as adults, we will have a difficult time accepting anything different. In the case of our Old Testament scriptures, we in the West have been fed the Masoretic Text (MT) since Jerome chose it to use it as the basis for his Latin Vulgate Bible Old Testament. When confronted with the historical facts that the Septuagint (LXX) is a much older translation than the MT (285 BC compared to hundreds of years after Christ), was used and quoted by the New Testament writers, and was translated directly from the paleo-Hebrew before any animosity toward Christ could influence it, it is quite difficult for many to accept it as a more trustworthy version. Sadly for us, the MT has robbed us of several Christological texts and changed the general wording regularly, thus changing the meaning over and over again, either in highly significant ways or small ways. Either is bad. Doing a side by side comparison of the LXX and the MT makes this obvious. I am doing a series of articles to illustrate this as a I work my way through the Old Testament.

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.

Septuagint MT Significance

1 The one dwelling in the support of the Most High, in the protection of the God of the heavens, that one will find lodging. 2 That one will say to God, “You are my helper and my refuge, my God, I will hope upon him,” Psalm 90:1–2 (LES2) 

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91:1–2 (NKJV) 

 The main difference in this passage is that the LXX emphasizes that God is our helper. The MT highlights that he is our fortress or protection. Certainly, the Lord is both, but the idea of God’s being our helper is an emphasis of the NT. The Holy Spirit is specifically identified that way. (John 14:26)

3 because he will rescue from the trap of hunters and from a terrifying word. 4 With his shoulders he will overshadow you, and under his wings you will have hope; with a shield his truth will surround you. Psalm 90:3–4 (LES2) 

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. Psalm 91:3–4 (NKJV) 

The LXX in verse 3 says that God will deliver us from a “terrifying word,” but the MT replaces that with “perilous pestilence.” The Hebrew can mean engulfing ruin. The LXX says God’s “shoulders” or “back” will overshadow us, but the MT extends the wings metaphor to translate it as “feathers.” The result of this protection will be our having “hope” according to the LXX, but the MT says God will be our refuge instead. The LXX says God’s truth will surround us. The MT gives the idea that the protection is only in front, as from a shield.

5 That one will not be afraid from fear by night, from the arrow flying by day, 6 from the deed carried out in darkness, from mishap and demon at midday. 7 A thousand will fall from your side, and ten thousand from your right side. But they will not come near to you. Psalm 90:5–7 (LES2) 

5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Psalm 91:5–7 (NKJV) 

The LXX says that we will be protected from the “deed” done in darkness; whereas, the MT uses the world “pestilence.” Next the LXX says that protection will include what might happen to us by “mishap” or by demonic attack. The MT rather innocuously gives us “the destruction that lays waste at noonday.”

The MT is more “poetic,” but the LXX sounds more authentic and specific. 

Conclusion

If you want to know more about why Christians should prefer the Septuagint to the MT, click on this link.The Eastern Orthodox Church had the wisdom to retain the LXX for its Old Testament scriptures. As for me, I now rely on the LXX. It was Paul’s standard for Old Covenant truth and is quoted in the New Testament. That makes it good enough for me.

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Comparing MT to the Septuagint (LXX): Psalm 90:1-10

Septuagint

When we are programmed as children what to believe, later, as adults, we will have a difficult time accepting anything different. In the case of our Old Testament scriptures, we in the West have been fed the Masoretic Text (MT) since Jerome chose it to use it as the basis for his Latin Vulgate Bible Old Testament. When confronted with the historical facts that the Septuagint (LXX) is a much older translation than the MT (285 BC compared to hundreds of years after Christ), was used and quoted by the New Testament writers, and was translated directly from the paleo-Hebrew before any animosity toward Christ could influence it, it is quite difficult for many to accept it as a more trustworthy version. Sadly for us, the MT has robbed us of several Christological texts and changed the general wording regularly, thus changing the meaning over and over again, either in highly significant ways or small ways. Either is bad. Doing a side by side comparison of the LXX and the MT makes this obvious. I am doing a series of articles to illustrate this as a I work my way through the Old Testament.

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.

Septuagint MT Significance

1 Lord, you were a place of refuge for us from generation to generation. 2 Before mountains were made and the earth and the inhabited world formed, and from eternity until eternity you are. Psalm 89:1–2 (LES2) 

1 LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Psalm 90:1–2 (NKJV) 

 The LXX uses “place of refuge” rather than the MT’s less descriptive “dwelling place.” The LXX adds “inhabited” to world and emphasizes God’s existence – “you are.” This seems to be the intended meaning of the tetragrammaton.

3 Do not turn back humanity to lowliness. But you said, “Return, O sons of humans.” 4 For a thousand years in your eyes are as the day of yesterday that passed by and as a watch at night. 5 Their contempt will be years. In the morning may they pass by like grass. 6 In the morning may it blossom and pass away. In the evening may it fall away, be hardened and dried up. 7 For we came to an end at your anger, and at your wrath we were troubled. 8 You placed our lawlessnesses before you. Our eternity is in the illumination of your face. 9 For all our days came to an end, and at your anger we came to an end. Our years were meditated on like a spider’s web. Psalm 89:3–9 (LES2) 

3 You turn man to destruction, And say, “Return, O children of men.” 4 For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night. 5 You carry them away like a flood; They are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up: 6 In the morning it flourishes and grows up; In the evening it is cut down and withers. 7 For we have been consumed by Your anger, And by Your wrath we are terrified. 8 You have set our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance. 9 For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; We finish our years like a sigh. Psalm 90:3–9 (NKJV) 

The LXX asks God not to return us to lowliness, humiliation, or spiritual abasement – Greek: tapeinosis. The MT uses the Hebrew word, dakka, which means contrite or crushed. The NASB translates that as “dust,” and the NKJV as “destruction.” The LXX prays that God NOT do this; whereas, the MT says that God does this.

The LXX uses the phrase, “Their contempt will be years,” which is hard to understand. The MT continues the thought of the previous verse by using, “You carry them away like a flood. They are like sleep.” The MT sounds better, but the LXX is perhaps more authentic. It seems to me that the MT sometimes (often?) renders difficult passages in a way that makes them sound “better,” but in fact is unfaithful to the original text. I cannot prove this, but it appears that may be the case to me.

The LXX says about the grass “May it,” but the MT uses the indicative, “It is…” 

Verse 8 has a tremendous variance. “Our eternity is in the illumination of your face” is nothing like “our secret sins in the light of your countenance.”  The LXX gives insight into the psalmist’s view of eternity, the MT of judgment. Likewise, “Our years were meditated on like a spider’s web” is light years away from “We finish our years like a sigh.” Both emphasize life’s fragility and brevity, but “sigh” and “spider’s web” are so different. We have been programmed to think the MT is superior, but I do not accept that, since the LXX is the one the Holy Spirit chose to quote in the NT.

10 The days of our years, in years are seventy years. But if in power they might be eighty years. Then even the majority of them are work and toil, because humility has come upon us, and we will be disciplined. Psalm 89:10 (LES2) 

10 The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Psalm 90:10 (NKJV) 

This verse is completely different. The LXX emphasizes the curse God placed upon humanity after the Fall – toil, and gives its purpose, to develop humility and discipline in our lives. The MT replaces that insight with our being “cut off” and “flying away.” One is not faithful to the original paleo-Hebrew. 

My personal experience in reading the LXX for the first time is that I feel as if I am getting to know King David and how he thought better, which is very refreshing.

Conclusion

If you want to know more about why Christians should prefer the Septuagint to the MT, click on this link.The Eastern Orthodox Church had the wisdom to retain the LXX for its Old Testament scriptures. As for me, I now rely on the LXX. It was Paul’s standard for Old Covenant truth and is quoted in the New Testament. That makes it good enough for me.

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Comparing MT to the Septuagint (LXX): Psalm 71:20-21

Septuagint

When we are programmed as children what to believe, later, as adults, we will have a difficult time accepting anything different. In the case of our Old Testament scriptures, we in the West have been fed the Masoretic Text (MT) since Jerome chose it to use it as the basis for his Latin Vulgate Bible Old Testament. When confronted with the historical facts that the Septuagint (LXX) is a much older translation than the MT (285 BC compared to hundreds of years after Christ), was used and quoted by the New Testament writers, and was translated directly from the paleo-Hebrew before any animosity toward Christ could influence it, it is quite difficult for many to accept it as a more trustworthy version. Sadly for us, the MT has robbed us of several Christological texts and changed the general wording regularly, thus changing the meaning over and over again, either in highly significant ways or small ways. Either is bad. Doing a side by side comparison of the LXX and the MT makes this obvious. I am doing a series of articles to illustrate this as a I work my way through the Old Testament.

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.

Septuagint MT Significance

20 For you showed to me great and evil afflictions, but you returned, you made me alive, and from the depths of the earth again you raised me up. 21 You multiplied your righteousness, and you returned. You comforted me, and from the depths again you raised me up. Psalm 70:20–21 (LES2) 

20 You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, Shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 21 You shall increase my greatness, And comfort me on every side. Psalm 71:20–21 (NKJV) 

The comparison of these two passages serves to accentuate the differences and the similarities between the MT and LXX. The LXX uses the aorist past tense to signify a one-time event when God “made me alive.” and “raised me up.” The MT uses “shall revive me again,” but it can also mean “restore to life again.” Why it chose the future tense is unknown. Either the LXX or the MT is incorrect in that regard. However, in another sense, they are both correct. God calls those things in the historical future as already having been accomplished. (Romans 4:17 NKJV). However, one is not faithful to the original paleo-Hebrew.

The LXX says, “You multiplied my righeousness,” but the MT says, “You shall increase my greatness.” There is quite a difference between the two in meaning and grammar, but both are true about our Lord Jesus. God multiplied his righteousness by justifying many. (Romans 4:16) God increased his greatness by declaring him Lord of Lords by his resurrection. (Romans 1:4) Once again, however, one is not faithful to the paleo-Hebrew. 

The LXX repeats the affirmation that God “raised me up.” We know that, when God repeats something, it firmly establishes what is said. (2 Corinthians 13:1)

One can say that there are no big theological issues at stake between the MT and LXX when it comes to this passage, but when I read the LXX, the verses seemed to jump off the page as a reference to Christ, which, I believe, is what the Holy Spirit intended. As I mentioned elsewhere, since the LXX is the version used by the early church and quoted in the NT, I am going with it.

Conclusion

If you want to know more about why Christians should prefer the Septuagint to the MT, click on this link.The Eastern Orthodox Church had the wisdom to retain the LXX for its Old Testament scriptures. As for me, I now rely on the LXX. It was Paul’s standard for Old Covenant truth and is quoted in the New Testament. That makes it good enough for me.

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Comparing MT to the Septuagint (LXX): Psalm 68:18

Septuagint

When we are programmed as children what to believe, later, as adults, we will have a difficult time accepting anything different. In the case of our Old Testament scriptures, we in the West have been fed the Masoretic Text (MT) since Jerome chose it to use it as the basis for his Latin Vulgate Bible Old Testament. When confronted with the historical facts that the Septuagint (LXX) is a much older translation than the MT (285 BC compared to hundreds of years after Christ), was used and quoted by the New Testament writers, and was translated directly from the paleo-Hebrew before any animosity toward Christ could influence it, it is quite difficult for many to accept it as a more trustworthy version. Sadly for us, the MT has robbed us of several Christological texts and changed the general wording regularly, thus changing the meaning over and over again, either in highly significant ways or small ways. Either is bad. Doing a side by side comparison of the LXX and the MT makes this obvious. I am doing a series of articles to illustrate this as a I work my way through the Old Testament.

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.

Septuagint MT Significance

19 Having gone up to the high place [Greek – hysos], you took as prisoners a body of captives. You received [Greek – lambano] gifts in a person, yes indeed, those resisting, to cause them to dwell there. Psalm 67:19 (LES2) 

18 You have ascended on high [Hebrew – marom], You have led captivity captive; You have received [Hebrew – laqach] gifts among men, Even from the rebellious, That the LORD God might dwell there. Psalm 68:18 (NKJV) 

Paul quoted this verse in Ephesians 4:8.

8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high [Greek – hypsos], He led captivity captive, And gave [Greek – didomi] gifts to men.” Ephesians 4:8 (NKJV) 

The way Paul quoted the OT verse shows that the Septuagint was his source. Both the Greek hypsos and the Hebrew marom mean height. However, the Greek verb lambano can mean either give or receive; whereas, the Hebrew verb laqach can only mean receive or capture. When Paul replaced lambano with didomai, which means to give, in his quote, it shows he understood lambano to mean give, an option not available to him if he had been using the MT as his source.

Conclusion

If you want to know more about why Christians should prefer the Septuagint to the MT, click on this link.The Eastern Orthodox Church had the wisdom to retain the LXX for its Old Testament scriptures. As for me, I now rely on the LXX. It was Paul’s standard for Old Covenant truth and is quoted in the New Testament. That makes it good enough for me.

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What Is the Proper Pronunciation of God’s Name?

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Today there is a debate regarding how to properly pronounce God’s name as was revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14-15. Those involved believe that knowing this is important. The central verse is what follows.

14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” Exodus 3:14 (NASB95)

14 And God said to Moses, saying “I am the One who exists.” And he said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The One who exists has sent me to you.’ ” Exodus 3:14 (LES2)

nameThe first quote from the NASB is translated into English from the Hebrew Masoretic text (MT), which is written in modern Hebrew block script derived from Aramaic. This new written form of Hebrew was completed somewhere between 500-1000 AD. The second reference is from the Lexham English Septuagint (LXX), an English translation of the Greek Old Testament in use at the time of Christ, which was translated from the now dead paleo-Hebrew Phoenician script. The MT translates the tetragrammaton, YHVH, as “I am who I am.” The LXX translated the same into the Greek language in 285 BC as “Ego eimi ho on,” which literally means, “I am the Being.”

Scholars believe that when God revealed his name as YHVH he meant to communicate his preexistence, unchangeableness, eternity, and his identity as the Creator. Some even think it was a promise God gave to Moses that he would be with him in the future.

12 And God spoke to Moses, saying, “I will be with you...” Exodus 3:12a (LES2)

God’s promised presence was certainly a major motivation for Moses to trust and obey him. It is for us as well.

16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16–17 (NKJV) 

When God revealed his name to Moses, the purpose seemed to be related more to what it communicated about God rather than its being simply a proper name.

This became more obvious during the ministry of our Lord Jesus. 

The Old Covenant scriptures all pointed to Jesus (John 5:39), who came from God’s very presence in heaven (John 1:1 and 1:14), who knows him intimately (John 1:18),  and is the exact representation or revelation of God (Hebrews 1:3).

What Jesus revealed to us about God interprets and completes everything that came before. 

It is highly significant that he did not teach us to use the tetragrammaton when speaking about or addressing God. He never even mentioned any proper name for God at all. Instead, he told us to call him “Abba Father,” Abba being Aramaic for “Daddy” or “Papa.” If the one who knows the most about God, who came from God, and is the exact representation of God told us only to call him Father, to go beyond that is tantamount to trying to resurrect the now defunct Old Covenant, which was set aside at the inauguration of the New.

18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. Hebrews 7:18–19 (NKJV) 

Jesus warned us that it is impossible to put the “new wine” of the freedom of the Holy Spirit released in the New Covenant back into the “old wine skin” of Judaism.

37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. Luke 5:37–38 (NKJV)

The Old Covenant was unable to contain the spiritual explosion that happened on Pentecost when the risen and ascended Lord poured out his Spirit. Shortly thereafter, the enormity of what God had done became apparent when the Gentile Roman centurion and his family were baptized in the Spirit while listening to Peter preach the gospel. The Jewish disciples of Christ could scarcely take it in that God now includes the Gentiles in his great worldwide salvation. The Apostle Paul seemed to be the one who understood it best. He, the former Jewish Pharisee and the persecutor of Christians, ardently defended the New Covenant “mystery” that the Gentiles are now part of God’s kingdom through faith in Christ.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:14–18 (NKJV) 

This expansion of God’s grace beyond those biologically descended from Abraham has drawn millions into God’s family from every ethnic group all over the world. 

Not surprisingly, Satan has done his level best to hinder what God is doing. Those called Judaizers hounded new converts during the days of the apostles in an effort to lure new Gentile Christians into forsaking their freedom and becoming Jews who follow the law of Moses. 

The effort to stuff the Spirit of God and the New Covenant back into the old wine skin of the Law is doomed to failure, but, sadly, many fall for the deception and voluntarily walk back into bondage thinking it is a purer form of Christianity.

Rather than looking backward to how God revealed himself to Moses, as Judaizers say we must, the New Covenant teaches us focus on Jesus and what the New Testament teaches us.

Jesus completely fulfilled the Law and is the highest revelation of God. (Romans 10:4 and John 14:9)

Jesus told us over and over that he is the manifestation of the “I Am” who revealed himself to Moses. His most direct statement was made to the Pharisees who attacked him viciously for claiming to be God’s Son.

Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” John 8:58 (NKJV) 

In several other places he made “I am” claims as well, each time revealing some aspect of God’s character and power. Each represents how God satisfies our deepest needs and desires.

48 I am the bread of life. John 6:48 (NKJV) 

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NKJV) 

7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. John 10:7 (NKJV) 

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:11 (NKJV) 

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. John 11:25 (NKJV) 

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 (NKJV) 

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. John 15:1 (NKJV) 

These seven “I am” statements are New Testament revelations of who God is, showing us that God’s Old Testament revelation of his name to Moses should be received that way.

Peter preached that Jesus is the only name we need to know in order to be saved.

12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NKJV)

It seems to me that trying to figure out how to pronounce the name God revealed to Moses is taking giant step backward. If it were important for us to know a proper name for our Father in heaven, it is reasonable to assume that Jesus would have told us, but he did not. Therefore, since he did not, there is no reason to be concerned at all about having a proper pronunciation of YHVH. 

Why is it that when we are given an opportunity to partake of the freedom and life found in Christ alone that we are so often drawn to go back to the Law and the Old Covenant? Why are we so eager to trade our freedom for bondage?

1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Galatians 3:1–9 (NKJV) 

It is important to keep in mind what Paul wrote so long ago.

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 4:28–5:1 (NKJV) 

The Jewish Kabbalah, an occult mystical perversion of God’s truth, is quite concerned about proper pronunciations of the names of God in its pursuit of esoteric magical power. It teaches that such power is released when a person says the divine names accurately. Some Kabbalistic traditions hold that Moses parted the Red Sea by pronouncing the 72-letter name of God, something which is decidedly occult. 

Therefore, a case can be made that placing an emphasis on properly pronouncing God’s Old Covenant proper name  is more related to the Kabbalah than to the New Covenant.

Since neither Jesus nor the New Testament give us any name for God besides Abba Father, there is absolutely no reason to pursue this matter.

The name of Jesus, which is given to us in the New Testament, is written in Greek and is pronounced very much like English or Spanish. We do not need to go back to the Hebrew to get his name right. If that were so, the New Testament would have given us the Hebrew version, but it did not. Once again, we are being seduced into thinking that there is some deeper truth associated with going back to Hebrew and Judaism. There is not. It is an attempt to re-enslave us. Paul warned us to “be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.”

The Jews, except for the beloved remnant who have been born again through faith in Christ, continue to reject Jesus as the Messiah and Lord, which makes them against or “anti-Christ” in the simple definition of the word. Our Lord Jesus taught that the kingdom of God was taken from the Jews and given to another people who would bear fruit. (Matthew 21:43) The new people to whom Jesus referred includes both Jew and Gentile who have become part of the what Paul called the “one new man” in Christ through the new birth. (Ephesians 2:15) This group also is called “the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16),” the “bride of Christ,” and the church. I have written several articles on this very important topic. You can click here to see them.

God will be glorified for all eternity through the church, not through those descended from Abraham who refuse to acknowledge Christ. 

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20–21 (NKJV)

We are not to reject any teaching that advocates a return to or reliance upon the Old Covenant or Old Testament for acquiring “deeper” knowledge about God and salvation beyond what is revealed in the New Testament. We are not to trust in any name but that of Jesus our Lord.

Therefore, the proper pronunciation of the only name under heaven whereby we can be saved, who is the exact representation of God, is – JESUS! If we believe on that name, we will be saved.

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Finding Courage to Be a Truth Speaker

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The pursuit of truth can be a lonely journey along a difficult path that may take us to places we would not ordinarily choose to visit. Jesus ended up at the cross. The Apostle Peter also was taken where he did not wish to go, as Jesus warned him would happen.

18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” John 21:18 (NKJV)

This has certainly been my experience for the last few years. In reference to God’s commanding Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, a wise person once told me that God sometimes saves the most difficult tests for our latter years. I can think of a few cases in the Bible when this proved true. In addition to Abraham, Moses, and Elijah come to mind. Can you think of others?

Rather than choose the narrow gate and difficult path, a lot of us opt for going along to get along, which might include an avoidance of “rocking the boat” by accepting a manufactured consensus rather than ferreting out and standing for truth.

The more deceived we are, the more alien the truth will seem.

Jesus, the embodiment of truth, summed it up.

43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. John 8:43–45 (NKJV) 

People who are not born again by the Holy Spirit still belong to the devil and cannot hear or receive God’s truth.

Sadly, many Christians have severe difficulty with hearing and receiving truth, too, because many of us do not believe some parts of the Bible.

Most Christians I know approach the Bible like we are in a cafeteria line. We believe what suits us and reject that with which we disagree.

We fail to grasp that when we reject even a portion of God’s truth, it opens the door to deception and increases the likelihood that we may believe other lies. Few of us take seriously Jesus’ declaration that the devil is currently deceiving the whole world. (Revelation 12:9) As a result, we fail to comprehend the magnitude and depth of the deception all around us in a similar way that we are unaware usually of the air we breathe. We might think perhaps Satan has deceived some people who follow false religions and some heretics, but not the whole world, and certainly not me!

In a day when mass media talking heads routinely parrot approved talking points, and all the major players in the process of manufacturing an approved consensus are walking in lock step, it takes great courage to go against the grain by holding a divergent opinion.

truth

I discovered this during the COVID crisis when I was disparaged as an ignorant “science denier” for refusing to take the the experimental mRNA injection and encouraging others to make a similar stand. Surprising to me, many Christians do not seem to understand that the rationale behind that injection was the assumption that our immune systems were not sufficiently “evolved” to fend of the corona virus and needed and needed to be altered by our brilliant scientists. Not many seemed to consider that God created us with a perfect defense and that to think we have the competence to “improve” it is sheer arrogance. As a result millions of people, as lemmings plunging to destruction, lined up to voluntarily receive what turned out to be extremely harmful to many, without there being demonstrable benefits. This is what happens when people stop asking questions and put more faith in science and consensus than in God’s Word and our own common sense. This is what happens when fear replaces faith, and the government becomes a tyrant.

One of the big lies in our culture is that consensus equates to truth, especially when so-called experts are involved.

The global warming hoax is a perfect example; which apparently does not matter at all any longer as more and more data centers consume vast amounts of natural resources and energy. Those who refuse to bow down to the consensus are labeled as conspiracy theorists, science deniers, nut jobs, and worse. Being coerced into accepting what most people think is true is democracy at its worst.

truth The more a lie is entrenched in the culture, the more hate will be leveled at anyone who challenges it.

Jesus is the perfect example. His presence and teachings threatened the power and prestige enjoyed by the high ranking Jews in Jerusalem. They convinced themselves that it was to the advantage of the entire nation for Jesus to be eliminated (John 11:49-50). Throughout history martyrs lost their lives for challenging the satanic world system through the preaching of biblical truth. One of my wife’s distant ancestors, William Tyndale, was burned at the stake for translating the Bible into English. What a price he paid to open the door for all of us to have access to truth!

Most of us are rather easily deceived, which is why we must rely upon God’s Word and the Holy Spirit.

King David was astonished and alarmed when he discovered just how rampant is deception in our world. When he shared with others what he believed, he suffered the consequences and was brought very low by the resistance and pressure he encountered. He came to the alarming conclusion that all men are liars who hate the truth . 

1 I trusted [Greek - believed]; therefore I spoke. But I was made low very much. 2 I said in my entrancement [Greek - ekstasis: displacement, alarm, dismay, astonishment], “Every person is a liar.” Psalm 115:1–2 (LES2) [The text above is from the Septuagint, the Greek OT that the early church used. The Masoretic Text number is Psalm 116:10-11 if you wish to compare and contrast.]

Liars tell lies, believe lies, and hate the truth.

19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. John 3:19–20 (NKJV) 

When God reveals the truth of his Word to us, the first thing required of us is to turn from believing lies and embrace God’s truth instead. To repent means to change our mind. Once we do that, the next step is for us to share the truth with others. Jesus taught that we are to be lamps set on a lamp stand to provide light for all to see, not hidden away somewhere for our own protection. (Matthew 5:14-16) If we choose to do that, we many every well join King David in saying, “Every person is a liar, including you and me.”

We only find out how much people hate God’s truth when we make a public stand for it. If we choose to go against the grain by becoming truth speakers, the world system will see to it that we suffer for it.

That is why most of us keep our mouths shut and simply go along to get along. That is why most Christians only share their faith within the walls of the echo chamber called the church building. That is why Satan has been able to pull a shroud of deception over the entire world for so long. God is waiting for us to join him in fearlessly proclaiming his truth to a world in desperate need of it.

The gateway to the path leading to truth is guarded by formidable sentries who threaten anyone who attempts to pass by them. I call these sentries “guardian lies,” which is a term I borrowed from Ed Smith, who developed something he called Theophostic Ministry.

A guardian lie tries to intimidate and block people from pursuing and speaking the truth. 

Anyone who awakens to truth and begins to speak out likely will be smacked down immediately. It takes courage to stand back up and continue on the journey despite the cost. According to Jesus, if we stay on the path, the truth will set us free. (John 8:31-32) 

I already shared the guardian lies that confronted me when I stood against the COVID injection. I was accused of being a conspiracy theorist and an ignorant science denier, two pejoratives designed to dehumanize and discredit. Later when I challenged the beliefs of Christian Zionism and showed how the Bible clearly contradicts Dispensationalism, I was accused of being antisemitic. A few years ago when people challenged Marxist Wokeism, they were labeled racists. Think about how frequently these harmful labels are placed upon people! You can imagine how upset the body of Christ became when I dared to say that I believe Genesis Chapter One is a true and reliable account of creation and the cosmos! The monstrous lie guarding the path toward understanding biblical cosmology is “Science has the authority to determine how we interpret the Bible.” What a bizarre world! Christians attacking Christians for believing God’s Word! But that is where we live.

There are plenty more guardian lies out there. How about, “It would be impossible to pull off a lie that big!”? Those who adhere to this example of faulty common wisdom willingly close their eyes to how successfully modern “experts” have convinced most of the world that we got here without being created. Propagandists understand that big deceptions are more readily received than small ones because we have convinced ourselves that people are too clever to fall for big lies. 

It requires great courage to be a truth seeker and even more to be a truth speaker.

But that is what is required with being a follower of Christ. Let us embrace our calling and ask the Lord for courage and strength.

13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13–14 (NKJV) 
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Why We Deny Plain Evidence of the Truth

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It is easy, perhaps inevitable, that we will deny plain evidence of the truth, if we have previously rejected the truth of God’s Word. God designed us to trust him and his words implicitly. We were not given the natural ability to navigate in a world of deception, any more than a squirrel has an innate ability to safely cross a heavily trafficked road. When Satan introduced his initial lie in the Garden, which plainly contradicted God’s Word, and Eve believed the lie, followed by Adam’s transgression, all descendants of those two find themselves embroiled in deception upon deception, while having an inherited propensity to believe a lie.

God has given us two trustworthy guides through this maze of falsehood – the Bible and the Holy Spirit. If we reject either of them, we are in trouble unless God’s helps us to repent.

Jesus gave an account of a rich man and a poor beggar named Lazarus. After each of them died, they went to their respective rewards. Lazarus was taken to a place called “Abraham’s Bosom,” which many believe was a safe “holding place” where the godly dead resided until Christ’s resurrection. The rich man went to a place of torment from where he could see Lazarus enjoying God’s blessings. He had a conversation with Abraham, which the Lord relayed to us, in which Lazarus asked Abraham to go warn his brothers to repent so they would not likewise be condemned. Here is the salient part of that exchange.

“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ” Luke 16:27–31 (NKJV)

The principle is that once we deny and reject the truth of the Word of God, no amount of proof will suffice to pull us out of the quicksand of deception.

This is not true only of spiritual matters. It affects every area of life from cosmology to eschatology. Once we buy into a lie that contradicts God’s Word, we will remain trapped until we repent and turn again to the Word of God as the ultimate arbiter of truth. Only the Holy Spirit is able to accomplish this.

Consider this. Have I in any area accepted something as true that contradicts God’s Word? If so, you may wish to pray something as follows.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, please forgive me for believing a lie. I ask you to help me judge all things by your Word. Holy Spirit, I depend on you to point out anywhere I am deceived and lead me into all truth. Amen.

13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth... John 16:13 (NKJV) 

 

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Comparing MT to the Septuagint (LXX): Deuteronomy 32:8

Septuagint

When we are programmed as children what to believe, later, as adults, we will have a difficult time accepting anything different. In the case of our Old Testament scriptures, we in the West have been fed the Masoretic Text (MT) since Jerome chose it to use it as the basis for his Latin Vulgate Bible Old Testament. When confronted with the historical facts that the Septuagint (LXX) is a much older translation than the MT (285 BC compared to hundreds of years after Christ), was used and quoted by the New Testament writers, and was translated directly from the paleo-Hebrew before any animosity toward Christ could influence it, it is quite difficult for many to accept it as a more trustworthy version. Sadly for us, the MT has robbed us of several Christological texts and changed the general wording regularly, thus changing the meaning over and over again, either in highly significant ways or small ways. Either is bad. Doing a side by side comparison of the LXX and the MT makes this obvious. I am doing a series of articles to illustrate this as a I work my way through the Old Testament.

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.

Septuagint Masoretic Text Significance

8 When the Most High distributed nations as he scattered the sons of Adam, he set up boundaries for the nations according to the number of the angels of God. 9 And his people Jacob became the portion of the Lord, Israel an allotment of his inheritance. Deuteronomy 32:8–9 (LES2) 

8 When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, When He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the children of Israel. 9 For the LORD’s portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance. Deuteronomy 32:8–9 (NKJV) 

The MT replaces “angels” with “children of Israel,” making Israel the focus and determiner of all the boundaries of the nations of the earth. This fits well with the Zionist belief that the modern nation state of Israel is the focus of God’s plan and is destined to rule the world, something not found in the New Testament. Christ will be glorified through the church throughout all eternity, not the nation state of Israel. (Ephesians 3:21)

Conclusion

If you want to know more about why Christians should prefer the Septuagint to the MT, click on this link.The Eastern Orthodox Church had the wisdom to retain the LXX for its Old Testament scriptures. As for me, I now rely on the LXX. It was Paul’s standard for Old Covenant truth and is quoted in the New Testament. That makes it good enough for me.

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Comparing MT to the Septuagint (LXX): New Testament Quotes

Septuagint

The authors of the New Testament used the Septuagint as their version of the Old Testament because paleo-Hebrew was a dead language, and the modern Hebrew script had not yet been perfected or was in wide use. The LXX was relied upon for centuries and used throughout the Greek speaking world. Here are a few quotes from the LXX found in the New Testament, which show that it was what the Jews of Jesus’ day and the early church used. By comparing the LXX to the MT, it will be obvious that deliberate alterations were made, leaving us with a choice. Shall we rely upon what Jesus, Paul, and the early church regarded as the Word of God, or shall we accept in its place the MT, which was published after Christianity had begun to flourish, much to the consternation of the Jewish rabbis who rejected Christ?

When we are programmed as children what to believe, later, as adults, we will have a difficult time accepting anything different. In the case of our Old Testament scriptures, we in the West have been fed the Masoretic Text (MT) since Jerome chose it to use it as the basis for his Latin Vulgate Bible Old Testament. When confronted with the historical facts that the Septuagint (LXX) is a much older translation than the MT (285 BC compared to hundreds of years after Christ), was used and quoted by the New Testament writers, and was translated directly from the paleo-Hebrew before any animosity toward Christ could influence it, it is quite difficult for many to accept it as a more trustworthy version. Sadly for us, the MT has robbed us of several Christological texts and changed the general wording regularly, thus changing the meaning over and over again, either in highy significant ways or small ways. Either is bad. Doing a side by side comparison of the LXX and the MT makes this obvious. I am doing a series of articles to illustrate this as a I work my way through the Old Testament.

The Septuagint version I am using is the Lexham English Septuagint 2nd Edition, which I like the best. It is available in print or as part of Logos Bible Software.

NT Quote
LXX
MT
Comment

23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23 (NKJV)

14 Because of this, the Lord himself will give you a sign: Look, the virgin [Greek – parthenos] will conceive in the womb and will bear a son, and you will call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (LES2) 

14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin [Hebrew – almah] shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV)

 In the LXX, the Greek word parthenos is used for virgin. It has only that meaning. In the MT, the Hebrew word almah is used, the normal meaning of which is young girl, but it can mean virgin. The translators perhaps employed a bit of eisegesis here by choosing the word “virgin” to agree with the quote in Matthew 1:23. There is no reason to choose which word to use when quoting the LXX, which agrees 100% with the NT quote.

36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, Luke 3:36 (NKJV) 

10 And these are the generations of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old when he fathered Arpachshad during the second year after the flood. 11 And Shem lived for five hundred years after he fathered Arpachshad, and he fathered sons and daughters, and he died. 12 And Arpachshad lived one hundred and thirty-five years and fathered Kenan. 13 And Arpachshad lived after he fathered Kenan for four hundred and thirty years, and he fathered sons and daughters, and he died. And Kenan lived one hundred and thirty years, and he fathered Shelah, and Kenan lived after he fathered Shelah for three hundred and thirty years, and he fathered sons and daughters, and he died. 14 And Shelah lived one hundred and thirty years and fathered Eber. Genesis 11:10–14 (LES2)

10 This is the genealogy of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old, and begot Arphaxad two years after the flood. 11 After he begot Arphaxad, Shem lived five hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. 12 Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begot Salah. 13 After he begot Salah, Arphaxad lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters. 14 Salah lived thirty years, and begot Eber. Genesis 11:10–14 (NKJV)

 As I mentioned in a previous article, the MT omits 1300 hundred years from the genealogies in Genesis 5 and 11, it also omits Kenan’s name, which is written as Cainan in the NT.

18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; Luke 4:18 (NKJV) 

1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, on account of which he has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to heal those who are crushed in heart, to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, Isaiah 61:1 (LES2) 

1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; Isaiah 61:1 (NKJV)

Jesus was well-known for opening blind eyes (e.g. John 9), which Isaiah 61:1 says is one of the major signs of the Messiah. The MT leaves out this reference to Christ’s ministry, which is specifically quoted from the LXX in the NT. Once again, one thinks that this was a deliberate attempt to undermine the validity of the NT and the church’s claim that Jesus is the Messiah.

Jesus specifically referenced this sign to John the Baptist’s disciples.

4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” Matthew 11:4–6 (NKJV) 

14 Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people. Acts 7:14 (NKJV)

25 These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, who bore these for Jacob, all seven souls. 26 All souls who entered with Jacob into Egypt, who came out from his thighs, except for the wives of the sons of Jacob, all sixty-six souls. 27 The sons of Joseph who were born to him in the land of Egypt: nine souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob who entered into Egypt: seventy-five. Genesis 46:25–27 (LES2) 

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who entered Egypt together with Jacob, their father; each one entered with their whole household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5 Joseph was already in Egypt. And all the souls from Jacob were seventy-five. Exodus 1:1–5 (LES2) 

25 These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and she bore these to Jacob: seven persons in all. 26 All the persons who went with Jacob to Egypt, who came from his body, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, were sixty-six persons in all. 27 And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two persons. All the persons of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt were seventy. Genesis 46:25–27 (NKJV) 

1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; 4 Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5 All those who were descendants of Jacob were seventy persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already). Exodus 1:1–5 (NKJV) 

 This quote by Stephen in his speech before the Jews who afterward stoned him to death is directly from the LXX. It can only be surmised why the MT translators changed the number, but one cannot rule out their trying to contradict Stephen. The Holy Spirit’s summary judgment of the Jewish leaders, given by Stephen and recorded in Acts, is that they always resist the Holy Spirit. (Acts 7:51) Paul later corroborated these words by saying that they are contrary to all men and do not please God. (1 Thessalonians 2:15) The Talmud says that Jesus [Yeshu] is boiling in excrement for all eternity for contradicting the wisdom of the Jewish sages (Gittin 56b–57a). It seems reasonable that such a powerful group as the Jewish rabbis, which was and is so decidedly “antichrist,” would do everything in their power to discredit the gospel, which they consider to be pure heresy. If the changes in the MT were pure accident, one would think some of them would be positive regarding Christianity, but all I have observed go against Christ and the gospel.

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, Philippians 2:9 (NKJV) 

2 I will worship at your holy temple, and I will give thanks to your name, for your mercy and your truthfulness, because you magnified your holy one above every name. Psalm 137:2 (LES2) 

2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. Psalm 138:2 (NKJV) 

Paul by revelation from the Holy Spirit was able to see references to Christ throughout the Old Testament. He understood that the verse from the psalms on the left is a reference to Christ, which he quoted in Philippians 2:9. The MT gives us an incomprehensible substitute, which claims that God has magnified his word above his name. We know from John 1:14 that Jesus is the Word of God in human form. Jesus is not above himself or  his heavenly Father. The MT is a fabrication.

6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” Hebrews 1:6 (NKJV) 

 43 Delight, O heavens, with him and worship him, you sons of God. Delight, O nations, with his people and prevail with him, all you angels of God. For he will avenge the blood of his sons, and he will avenge and he will repay the enemies with vengeance, and he will repay those who hate, and the Lord will cleanse out the land of his people.’ ” Deuteronomy 32:43 (LES2)  43 “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people.” Deuteronomy 32:43 (NKJV) 

The Holy Spirit inspired the author of Hebrews to abbreviate this quote from the LXX. In this case, the phrase “sons (Greek – huios) of God” through context is understood to be angels by the author of Hebrews. This seems to be confirmed later in the LXX verse when Moses wrote, “all you angels (Greek – angelos) of God.” The MT eliminates this reference to Christ’s being worshiped by angels altogether.

But see how much the MT erases from what is contained in the LXX. One important phrase is “he will avenge the blood of his sons” which the MT replaced with “servants.” One of the defining elements of the New Covenant is that all born-again believers are sons of God and children of Abraham. (Galatians 3:26-29) Jesus also told us that as sons we will abide in God’s house forever, unlike the temporary place occupied by servants. (John 8:35) Because the Jews did not accept Jesus as their Messiah, the kingdom of God was stripped from them and given to the church, the other “nation” to which Jesus referred. (Matthew 21:43 and 1 Peter 2:9) Jesus clearly taught that the Jews who did not accept him were not even considered children of Abraham. (John 8:44) The New Covenant requires a new birth, as Jesus told Nicodemus. (John 3:7) It is the only basis for inclusion in the greater covenant Jesus inaugurated through his blood. The promise in Deuteronomy 32:43 is that God will avenge the blood of his sons who are martyred for their faith, something the Jews actively did at the time of the writing of the New Testament.

Instead of promising to provide atonement for his people, the promise is that the land will be cleansed, which happened in 70 AD. Those Jews who refused to acknowledge Jesus is Lord and Messiah were destroyed and the land was cleansed from a Jewish presence, except for those who had put their faith in Jesus and become part of the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:16)

7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. Hebrews 2:7 (NKJV) 

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 (Greek – angelos); you crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8:5–6 (LES2) 

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 (Hebrew – elohim), And You have crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8:4–5 (NKJV) 

 The quote comes directly from the LXX, which uses the Greek word for angels. The translators of the NKJV practiced some eisegesis by translating “elohim” into angels, when it is a common name for God in the MT. The NASB displays more integrity by properly rendering it as “God.” 

5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared (Greek – katartidzo) for Me. Hebrews 10:5 (NKJV) 

7 You did not want sacrifice and offering, but you restored (Greek – katartidzo) a body to me. You did not ask for whole burnt offering and an offering concerning sin. Psalm 39:7 (LES2) 

6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Psalm 40:6 (NKJV) 

 Don’t let the numbering of the Psalm confuse you. The LXX uses a different numbering system in some cases. The quote in Hebrews 10:5 is a direct quote of the LXX. The Greek word katartidzo is the same in both the LXX and the NT, but is translated differently into English as “prepared” and “restored.” Since this verse was used by Christians to prove that Jesus is the Christ, it seems that the translators of the MT conveniently removed it to cast suspicion on the reliability of the NT’s use of the LXX. If the Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the NT to quote the LXX, it confirms that the LXX is God’s Word.

 

Conclusion

If you want to know more about why Christians should prefer the Septuagint to the MT, click on this link.The Eastern Orthodox Church had the wisdom to retain the LXX for its Old Testament scriptures. As for me, I now rely on the LXX. It was Paul’s standard for Old Covenant truth and is quoted in the New Testament. That makes it good enough for me.

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Comparing MT to the Septuagint (LXX): Genesis 17

Septuagint

When we are programmed as children what to believe, later, as adults, we will have a difficult time accepting anything different. In the case of our Old Testament scriptures, we in the West have been fed the Masoretic Text (MT) since Jerome chose it to use it as the basis for his Latin Vulgate Bible Old Testament. When confronted with the historical facts that the Septuagint (LXX) is a much older translation than the MT (285 BC compared to hundreds of years after Christ), was used and quoted by the New Testament writers, and was translated directly from the paleo-Hebrew before any animosity toward Christ could influence it, it is quite difficult for many to accept it as a more trustworthy version. Sadly for us, the MT has robbed us of several Christological texts and changed the general wording regularly, thus changing the meaning over and over again, either in highy significant ways or small ways. Either is bad. Doing a side by side comparison of the LXX and the MT makes this obvious. I am doing a series of articles to illustrate this as a I work my way through the Old Testament.

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 as part of Logos Bible Software.

Septuagint MT Significance

1 Abram became ninety-nine years old, and the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am your God. Be pleasing in my presence and be blameless, 2 and I will establish my covenant between me and you, and I will increase you very much.” 3 And Abram fell on his face, and God spoke to him, saying, 4 “And as for me, look, my covenant is with you, and you will be a father of many nations. 5 And your name will no longer be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, because I have made you a father of many nations. 6 And I will increase you very much, and I will make you into nations, and kings will come from you. 7 And I will set up my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you, for their generations, as an ongoing covenant, to be your God and your offspring’s God after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land that you inhabit, all the land of Canaan, as an ongoing possession, and I will be their God.” Genesis 17:1–8 (LES2)

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” Genesis 17:1–8 (NKJV)

In verse one, the MT uses YHVH, the tetragrammaton, for “Lord;” whereas, the LXX sticks with the Greek kurios or Lord. Then the MT uses El Shaddai, translated as Almighty God, but the LXX simply uses theos, God. In the Kabbalah, El Shaddai has various meanings, primarily being that this “being” said, “Enough,” limiting God with respect to mankind, which is not able to understand Ein Sof, the transcendent God. It is a name associated with breasts, which brings up a suspicious connection with Baphomet, a transgender “god” which is highly regarded by Satanists. I find it highly instructive that Jesus, the one closest to God the Father, gave us no other name than Abba Father. It seems like he should know. What do you think? Do you think he wants us debating the proper pronunciation of YHVH, like so many do, as if that is even important. The devil is trying to draw people into Kabbalistic magical thinking in which saying names correctly unleashes occult power.

Modern Hebrew was created well after the Torah was given to Moses, who wrote it in paleo-Hebrew, a pictograph script similar to Phoenician. While in Babylon, the Rabbis began to assimilate aspects of Babylonian mysticism and paganism, as evidenced in the Babylonian Talmud and the Kabbalah. By the time of Christ, Jesus’ judgment of Talmudic rabbinic Judaism was that its leaders were children of the devil (John 8:44) who were leading the people astray from God (Luke 11:52, Matthew 23:15). Modern rabbinic Judaism uses three primary books, which are, in order of importance to them, the Talmud, the Kabbalah, and the Torah. It is a far cry from what Moses and the early Israelites believed and practiced.

Since the oldest translation of the ancient Hebrew scriptures is the LXX, and it contains no references to the tetragrammaton and other Hebrew names of God, we should be very wary of Kabbalistic influences in the MT. To support this assertion, Jesus gave us no other name for God than the Greek words theos (God) and kurios (Lord) and Abba (Father). Of course, being trinitarian, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are included, too. It is my contention that anything beyond this is not from God. The modern fad of trying to ascertain the proper translation of YHVH is a Kabbalistic lure. There is nothing magical about that name.

In the rest of this passage, the LXX and MT essentially agree. Again, it is important to understand that the word translated as “offspring” and “descendants” is the Greek word sperma, which is singular, as is the Hebrew zera in the MT. In Galatians 3:16, Paul taught that the “seed” is Christ. A New Testament understanding of this truth is that the generation of descendants to whom this promise was made are those born again through faith who are in Christ through the New Covenant.

9 And God said to Abraham, “You will maintain my covenant, you and your offspring after you, for their generations. 10 And this is the covenant that you will maintain between me and you and your offspring after you for their generations: Every male of yours will be circumcised, 11 and you will be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and you. Genesis 17:9–11 (LES2) 

9 And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; 11 and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. Genesis 17:9–11 (NKJV) 

The LXX and MT essentially agree, except that the MT uses yet another name for God, elohim, which is a plural. When I thought the MT was our best Old Testament source translated directly from the original paleo-Hebrew, not something concocted centuries later, I thought this was a veiled allusion to the Trinity. Now I am suspicious. The Kabbalah teaches that elohim, which is associated with God’s judgment, limits or conceals God’s (Ein Sof’s) infinite light. 

The LXX sticks with theos – God. How refreshing, especially in light of the New Testament.

12 And a young boy of eight days will be circumcised by you, every male for your generations, the home-born servant of your house and the one purchased from any son of a foreigner who is not of your offspring. 13 The home-born servant of your house and the one purchased will be circumcised with a circumcision, and my covenant will be upon your flesh as an ongoing covenant. 14 And an uncircumcised male who does not have the flesh of his foreskin circumcised on the eighth day, that soul will be utterly destroyed from his family because he has rejected my covenant.” Genesis 17:12–14 (LES2)

12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. 13 He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.” Genesis 17:12–14 (NKJV) 

 I see very little difference here.

15 God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai, your wife, her name will be called not Sarai, but her name will be Sarah. 16 I will bless her, and I will give you a child from her, and I will bless him, and he will give rise to nations, and there will be kings of nations from him.” 17 And Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said in his mind, saying, “Will a son really be born to someone a hundred years old, and how will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Let this Ishmael live before you.” 19 God said to Abraham, “Yes, look, Sarah, your wife, will bring forth a son for you, and you shall call his name Isaac, and I will set up my covenant with him as an ongoing covenant, and for his offspring after him. Genesis 17:15–19 (LES2) 

15 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” 19 Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. Genesis 17:15–19 (NKJV) 

The most significant difference is that the LXX, in verse 16, says “I will bless him;” whereas, the MT says, “I will bless her.”  See bold text. 

Once again, keep in my that “offspring” and “descendants” are plurals, but the original word is singular – seed, referring to Christ. (Galatians 3:16)

20 Regarding Ishmael, look, I have listened to you, and I have blessed him, and I will make him increase, and I will multiply him very much. He will bring forth twelve nations, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bring forth for you at this time, in another full year.” 22 He finished speaking to him, and God went up from Abraham. Genesis 17:20–22 (LES2)

20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” 22 Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham. Genesis 17:20–22 (NKJV) 

The LXX says that Ishmael will beget twelve nations. The MT says 12 princes. 

I think it is quite interesting, in light of biblical cosmology, that God went “up” from Abraham after speaking to him. 

The MT uses elohim for God, but the LXX sticks with theos.

23 And Abraham took Ishmael, his son, and all his servants and all the ones purchased with silver and every male of the men who were in the house of Abraham, and he circumcised their foreskins at the appointed time of that day, just as God told him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he circumcised the flesh of his foreskin; 25 Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 At the appointed time of that day Abraham was circumcised, and Ishmael his son; 27 and as for all the men of his house and the servants and those bought with silver from foreign nations, he circumcised them. Genesis 17:23–27 (LES2) 

23 So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very same day Abraham was circumcised, and his son Ishmael; 27 and all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him. Genesis 17:23–27 (NKJV) 

 The only thing to point out here is the MT use of elohim for God again.

Conclusion

If you want to know more about why Christians should prefer the Septuagint to the MT, click on this link.The Eastern Orthodox Church had the wisdom to retain the LXX for its Old Testament scriptures. As for me, I now rely on the LXX. It was Paul’s standard for Old Covenant truth and is quoted in the New Testament. That makes it good enough for me.

More articles on the Septuagint
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