The Greek Old Testament
What Is the Septuagint?
The Septuagint (LXX) is the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures — the Bible of the Apostles, the Church Fathers, and the Orthodox Church.
The Short Answer
The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Old Testament made in Alexandria in the centuries before Christ. Abbreviated LXX (Latin for "seventy"), it was the Scripture the Apostles preached from, the Church Fathers commented on, and the Orthodox Church still reads in her services today. Because it includes the books known as the deuterocanonical writings, it is longer than the Hebrew Masoretic Text used by most Protestant Bibles.
What Does "Septuagint" Mean?
The word Septuagint comes from the Latin septuaginta, meaning "seventy." Ancient tradition says that seventy (or seventy-two) Jewish scholars were invited to Egypt by Ptolemy II to translate the Torah into Greek for the great library of Alexandria. The work began in the 3rd century BC and continued for more than a century, eventually covering the Prophets and the Writings as well.
Today, LXX is the standard shorthand for the Septuagint, and the name has become synonymous with the Greek Old Testament itself.
Why Do Orthodox Christians Use the Septuagint?
The Orthodox Church did not choose the Septuagint after the fact — she kept reading the text she had always received. The Septuagint was the Bible of Greek-speaking Judaism at the time of Christ, and it became the Old Testament of the early Church.
- The Apostles quoted it. Most Old Testament quotations in the New Testament follow the wording of the Septuagint rather than the later Hebrew Masoretic Text.
- The Fathers taught from it. Church Fathers from St. Justin Martyr to St. John Chrysostom used the Septuagint as their primary Old Testament.
- The services are shaped by it. The Psalter, the Old Testament readings, and the hymns of the Orthodox liturgy draw their language from the Septuagint.
Books of the Septuagint
The Septuagint contains the books later counted as the Orthodox Old Testament, along with additional texts preserved in Greek manuscripts. Groupings follow the ancient Greek order rather than the modern Hebrew order.
The Law (Pentateuch)
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
History
- Joshua
- Judges
- Ruth
- 1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel)
- 2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel)
- 3 Kingdoms (1 Kings)
- 4 Kingdoms (2 Kings)
- 1 Chronicles
- 2 Chronicles
- 1 Esdras
- 2 Esdras (Ezra–Nehemiah)
- Esther (with additions)
- Judith
- Tobit
- 1 Maccabees
- 2 Maccabees
- 3 Maccabees
- 4 Maccabees (appendix in Greek tradition)
Poetry & Wisdom
- Psalms (with Psalm 151)
- Job
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Song of Songs
- Wisdom of Solomon
- Wisdom of Sirach
- Prayer of Manasseh
Prophets
- Hosea
- Amos
- Micah
- Joel
- Obadiah
- Jonah
- Nahum
- Habakkuk
- Zephaniah
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- Malachi
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Baruch
- Lamentations
- Epistle of Jeremiah
- Ezekiel
- Daniel (with additions)
Septuagint vs. Masoretic Text
| Feature | Septuagint (LXX) | Masoretic Text |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Greek translation of Hebrew Scriptures | Hebrew text standardized by Jewish scholars c. 7th–10th centuries AD |
| Book count | Includes deuterocanonical books (Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Maccabees, etc.) | Excludes deuterocanonical books |
| Use in the New Testament | Most Old Testament quotations in the New Testament follow the Septuagint | Quotations matching the Masoretic Text are fewer |
| Use in the Church | The Old Testament of the Orthodox Church | Basis of most Protestant Old Testaments |
Did Jesus Use the Septuagint?
The Gospels were written in Greek, and when they quote the Old Testament they most often follow the Septuagint. For example, the Virgin Birth prophecy in Matthew 1:23 ("Behold, the virgin shall conceive") matches the Septuagint of Isaiah 7:14, where the Greek word parthenos means "virgin." This is one reason the Septuagint has always been treasured in the Christian tradition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Septuagint?
The Septuagint (abbreviated LXX) is the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, produced in Alexandria beginning in the 3rd century BC. It was the Bible of Greek-speaking Jews and became the Old Testament of the early Christian Church.
Why is it called the Septuagint?
The name comes from the Latin word for "seventy" (septuaginta). Tradition holds that seventy (or seventy-two) Jewish scholars translated the Torah into Greek for the library of Alexandria. The Roman numerals LXX (70) are often used as shorthand.
Did Jesus and the Apostles use the Septuagint?
Most scholars agree that the Septuagint was the Bible Jesus and the Apostles knew and quoted. The majority of Old Testament quotations in the New Testament match the wording of the Septuagint rather than the Hebrew Masoretic Text.
Why do Orthodox Christians use the Septuagint?
The Orthodox Church uses the Septuagint because it is the Old Testament text received from the Apostles, quoted by the Church Fathers, and read in the Church's liturgical services. The hymns, readings, and commentaries of Orthodoxy are woven from its language.
How many books are in the Septuagint?
The Septuagint contains the books later counted as the 49-book Orthodox Old Testament, plus texts such as 3–4 Maccabees and the Prayer of Manasseh that appear in some manuscripts or as appendices. Exact counts vary because ancient manuscripts grouped books differently.
What is the difference between the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text?
The Septuagint is a Greek translation made before the time of Christ; the Masoretic Text is a medieval Hebrew text that became standard in Jewish tradition after Christianity split from Judaism. They differ in wording, order, and included books.
Is the Septuagint still used today?
Yes. It remains the canonical Old Testament of the Eastern Orthodox Church and is used in Orthodox worship, study, and translation. It is also consulted by biblical scholars of every tradition.
Read the Scriptures day by day
The Daily Chapel gives you today's appointed Septuagint-based readings, the saint of the day, and the fast — then test what you've learned with the daily quiz.