1. Biblical Hebrew Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2

Author Archives: Hebraean / Hebraeon

About Hebraean / Hebraeon

Studying the Septuagint Greek translation is invaluable for understanding Biblical Hebrew because it offers a snapshot of how ancient Jewish translators—fluent in both languages—understood obscure or ambiguous Hebrew expressions. In many cases, the Septuagint preserves interpretive traditions that may predate the Masoretic Text, shedding light on earlier Hebrew readings or nuances that might otherwise be lost. It also helps trace the evolution of theological concepts, as Greek renderings sometimes reflect exegetical decisions that reveal how Second Temple Jewish communities interpreted their sacred texts. For scholars navigating difficult Hebrew terms or textual variants, the Septuagint can serve as a kind of ancient commentary encoded in translation.

“Twelve Stones, One Covenant”: How the LXX Shapes Israel’s Tribal Unity

Posted on April 24, 2024 by Hebraean / Hebraeon
Καὶ ἔγραψεν Μωυσῆς πάντα τὰ ῥήματα Κυρίου ὀρθρίσας δὲ Μωυσῆς τὸ πρωὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν θυσιαστήριον ὑπὸ τὸ ὄρος καὶ δώδεκα λίθους εἰς τὰς δώδεκα φυλὰς τοῦ Ισραηλ (Exodus 24:4 LXX) וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֵ֚ת כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֣ם בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וַיִּ֥בֶן מִזְבֵּ֖חַ תַּ֣חַת הָהָ֑ר וּשְׁתֵּ֤ים עֶשְׂרֵה֙ מַצֵּבָ֔ה לִשְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Written Word and Ritual Structure In Exodus 24:4, Moshe responds to divine revelation with action: he records the covenantal words, rises early, and constructs a sacred structure. The Hebrew presents this as a detailed narrative with sequential wayyiqtol verbs and construct chains.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Septuagint Studies | Tagged | Comments Off on “Twelve Stones, One Covenant”: How the LXX Shapes Israel’s Tribal Unity

“We Will Do and Hear”: Expansion and Emphasis in Israel’s Covenant Response

Posted on March 24, 2024 by Hebraean / Hebraeon
εἰσῆλθεν δὲ Μωυσῆς καὶ διηγήσατο τῷ λαῷ πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα ἀπεκρίθη δὲ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς φωνῇ μιᾷ λέγοντες πάντας τοὺς λόγους οὓς ἐλάλησεν Κύριος ποιήσομεν καὶ ἀκουσόμεθα (Exodus 24:3 LXX) וַיָּבֹ֣א מֹשֶׁ֗ה וַיְסַפֵּ֤ר לָעָם֙ אֵ֚ת כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֑ים וַיַּ֨עַן כָּל־הָעָ֜ם קֹ֤ול אֶחָד֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה נַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ Introduction: From Divine Speech to Human Response In this foundational verse, Moshe delivers YHWH’s covenantal revelation to the people, and they respond with united obedience. The Greek Septuagint faithfully reflects the Hebrew structure while adding a striking expansion: the people say not only “we will do” but also “and we will hear” (ποιήσομεν καὶ ἀκουσόμεθα).… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Septuagint Studies, Textual Criticism, Theology | Tagged | Comments Off on “We Will Do and Hear”: Expansion and Emphasis in Israel’s Covenant Response

“Blessing the Cursed”: How the Septuagint Reframes Balak’s Complaint

Posted on November 23, 2023 by Hebraean / Hebraeon
καὶ εἶπεν Βαλακ πρὸς Βαλααμ τί πεποίηκάς μοι εἰς κατάρασιν ἐχθρῶν μου κέκληκά σε καὶ ἰδοὺ εὐλόγηκας εὐλογίαν (Numbers 23:11 LXX) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם מֶ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתָ לִ֑י לָקֹ֤ב אֹיְבַי֙ לְקַחְתִּ֔יךָ וְהִנֵּ֖ה בֵּרַ֥כְתָּ בָרֵֽךְ׃ A Dialog of Disappointment: Structure and Surprise The confrontation between Balak and Balaam is filled with dramatic irony. Balak hired Balaam to curse his enemies, yet blessing pours forth instead. The Hebrew constructs this speech with participles, infinitives, and rhetorical interjection. The Greek Septuagint, while mostly literal, introduces amplifying structures and aspectual precision that shift the emotional tone and rhetorical pacing of Balak’s complaint.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Septuagint Studies | Tagged | Comments Off on “Blessing the Cursed”: How the Septuagint Reframes Balak’s Complaint

“Take Off the Gold”: Gender, Syntax, and Directive Clarity in the Golden Calf Prelude

Posted on July 23, 2023 by Hebraean / Hebraeon
καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς Ααρων περιέλεσθε τὰ ἐνώτια τὰ χρυσᾶ τὰ ἐν τοῖς ὠσὶν τῶν γυναικῶν ὑμῶν καὶ θυγατέρων καὶ ἐνέγκατε πρός με (Exodus 32:2 LXX) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ אַהֲרֹ֔ן פָּֽרְקוּ֙ נִזְמֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י נְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם בְּנֵיכֶ֖ם וּבְנֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וְהָבִ֖יאוּ אֵלָֽי׃ Commanding in Crisis When the people clamor for visible leadership, Aharon responds with a precise directive: bring the gold. This verse is not only pivotal in the narrative of the golden calf, but also rich in grammatical structures that the Septuagint translates with notable syntactic clarity.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Septuagint Studies | Tagged | Comments Off on “Take Off the Gold”: Gender, Syntax, and Directive Clarity in the Golden Calf Prelude

“Where Have You Come From?”: Grammar of Inquiry and Flight in the Hagar Encounter

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Hebraean / Hebraeon
Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου Αγαρ παιδίσκη Σαρας πόθεν ἔρχῃ καὶ ποῦ πορεύῃ καὶ εἶπεν ἀπὸ προσώπου Σαρας τῆς κυρίας μου ἐγὼ ἀποδιδράσκω (Genesis 16:8 LXX) וַיֹּאמַ֗ר הָגָ֞ר שִׁפְחַ֥ת שָׂרַ֛י אֵֽי־מִזֶּ֥ה בָ֖את וְאָ֣נָה תֵלֵ֑כִי וַתֹּ֕אמֶר מִפְּנֵי֙ שָׂרַ֣י גְּבִרְתִּ֔י אָנֹכִ֖י בֹּרַֽחַת׃ Divine Interrogation in the Wilderness This verse preserves one of the earliest theophanic dialogues with a woman in the Bible. The angel’s question to Hagar—both searching and compassionate—offers a glimpse into the grammar of inquiry and personal agency. In the Hebrew, the question is poetic and elliptical; in the Greek, it is expanded and formalized.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Septuagint Studies, Textual Criticism | Tagged | Comments Off on “Where Have You Come From?”: Grammar of Inquiry and Flight in the Hagar Encounter
  1. Biblical Hebrew Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2