The Translation of the Septuagint

The Septuagint is a Greek translation of the Bible Hébraïque — afficher la définition INF012 (Old Testament) made in the 3rd century BC (270 BC), mainly for Greek-speaking Jews in Egypt.

At that time, many Jews lived outside Palestine and spoke Greek as their everyday language.

The translation was carried out by groups of translators who worked in Alexandria. They translated the Hebrew texts into Greek, thus creating a version accessible to a wider audience.

This translation was widely used by the first Christians and influenced the Latin Vulgate — afficher la définition INF068 and other later translations

The Septuagint is a Greek translation of the Old Testament made between the 3rd and the 2nd century BC. Here are the main documents that were translated:

The Pentateuque — afficher la définition INF032: The first five books of the Bible hébraïque — afficher la définition INF012 (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).

The Historical Books: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, 1 and 2 Esdras, Esther, Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees.

The Poetic Books: Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach).

The Prophetic Books: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

In addition to these books, the Septuagint also includes a few apocryphal books that are not found in the Hebrew canon.

Apocryphal books — show definition INF029

The texts translated for the Septuagint were mainly taken from the Hebrew manuscripts available at the time. Here are some details about their origin:

Hebrew Manuscripts: The translators of the Septuagint used Hebrew manuscripts, which were the oldest and most reliable versions available. These manuscripts were often kept in Jewish libraries and centers of learning.

Alexandria: The translation took place in Alexandria, a city where a large Greek-speaking Jewish community lived. The translators had access to a rich collection of Hebrew texts thanks to the Library of Alexandria.

Royal Request: According to the tradition reported in the Letter of Aristeas, the translation was initiated by King Ptolemy II Philadelphus, who asked the Jewish sages to translate the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek for his library.

Jewish Scholars: 72 Jewish scholars, six from each tribe of Israel, were chosen to carry out this translation. They worked independently, but their translations proved to be identical when compared.

The Letter of Aristeas — show definition INF028

These elements show that the translators of the Septuagint worked with very reliable sources and followed rigorous procedures to guarantee the faithfulness of their translation.

We may, however, express some reservations about the idea that Jewish scholars translated these Hebrew texts separately and obtained the same results. It seems more likely that collaborative work, combining the knowledge of these scholars, led to a translation as reliable as possible.

Moreover, it is essential to recognize that these Jewish scholars regarded the texts they were translating as sacred. This prompted them to work with extreme rigor and respect.

The translation of the Septuagint exerted a significant influence not only at the time of its publication, but also throughout the history of the transmission of the Bible.

1. Accessibility and Dissemination

Common Language: The Septuagint made the Hebrew texts accessible to the Jews of the diaspora who spoke Greek as their everyday language. In the Hellenistic period, Greek was the lingua franca, thus facilitating the spread of the Jewish Scriptures across the Mediterranean basin.
First Canon: It served as the first canonical form of the Bible for the early Christian communities, long before the fixing of the canon hébraïque — afficher la définition INF045.

2. Influence on Christianity

Quotations in the New Testament: The Septuagint was widely used by the authors of the New Testament. Many quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament are taken from the Septuagint rather than from the Hebrew text.
Christian Theology: Christian theology has often relied on the wording of the Septuagint, thus influencing the doctrinal development of Christianity.

3. Literary and Textual Contribution

Preservation of Texts: The Septuagint helped preserve certain biblical texts whose original Hebrew manuscripts no longer exist or are fragmentary.
Textual criticism : It offers a parallel version that allows scholars to compare the Hebrew and Greek texts in order to better understand textual variations and traditions.

4. Cultural Impact
Hellenistic Influence: By bringing the Hebrew Scriptures into the Greek world, the Septuagint fostered a cultural and intellectual exchange between the Jewish and Greek traditions.
Liturgy and Religious Practices: It shaped the liturgy and religious practices of the Hellenistic Jewish communities and of the early Christian communities.

5. Historical Testimony

Historical Context: The Septuagint offers a valuable glimpse into Hellenistic Judaism and the living conditions of the Jewish communities in the diaspora in Alexandria.
Evolution of the Canon: It documents the evolution of the biblical canon and the various books that were included or excluded at different periods.

The Septuagint is much more than a simple translation; it is a cultural and religious bridge that enabled the spread of the biblical texts, profoundly influencing Judaism and Christianity. Its value lies not only in its textual content but also in its historical and theological role.

The Septuagint is an essential resource for scholars, allowing them to compare the Greek and Hebrew versions of the biblical texts, and thus to offer insights into textual variations and manuscript traditions.

The authors of the New Testament frequently quoted the Septuagint. Consequently, understanding this version is indispensable for grasping the context and the scriptural references used by the first Christians.

It also played a decisive role in the development of the Christian canon of the Old Testament, as the early Christian Churches adopted the Septuagint as their main scriptural text.

Finally, modern translations of the Bible often take the Septuagint into account in order to grasp the nuances and interpretations of the ancient texts.