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Recent Articles
- Do Not Mourn as Others Do: Restraint and Reverence in the Aftermath of Fire
- The Blast and the Camp: Exploring Hebrew Commands and Movement in Numbers 10:5
- If You Refuse: The Threat of the Locusts in Translation
- Trumpet Blasts and Assembly Syntax in Numbers 10:3
- Right and Left: A Beginner’s Guide to Hebrew Word Order in Ecclesiastes 10:2
- A Call to Listen: A Beginner’s Guide to Hebrew Grammar in Jeremiah 10:1
- “Even If I Wash with Snow”: Job’s Cry of Purity and Futility in Hebrew
- Your People and Your Inheritance: Strength and Arm Between Hebrew and Greek
- Who is Abimelek? Political Defiance in Hebrew Speech
- May God Enlarge Japheth: Syntax, Blessing, and Subordination in Genesis 9:27
- The Plea of the Prophet: Syntax, Intercession, and Covenant Echoes in Deuteronomy 9:26
- The Swift Flight of Life: Syntax and Poetic Motion in Job 9:25
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Category Archives: Septuagint Studies
Do Not Mourn as Others Do: Restraint and Reverence in the Aftermath of Fire
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֣ה אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֡ן וּלְאֶלְעָזָר֩ וּלְאִֽיתָמָ֨ר בָּנָ֜יו רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֥ם אַל־תִּפְרָ֣עוּ וּבִגְדֵיכֶ֤ם לֹֽא־תִפְרֹ֨מוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א תָמֻ֔תוּ וְעַ֥ל כָּל־הָעֵדָ֖ה יִקְצֹ֑ף וַאֲחֵיכֶם֙ כָּל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יִבְכּוּ֙ אֶת־הַשְּׂרֵפָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר שָׂרַ֥ף יְהוָֽה׃
(Leviticus 10:6)
Καὶ εἶπεν Μωυσῆς πρὸς Ααρων καὶ Ελεαζαρ καὶ Ιθαμαρ τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ τοὺς καταλελειμμένους τὴν κεφαλὴν ὑμῶν οὐκ ἀποκιδαρώσετε καὶ τὰ ἱμάτια ὑμῶν οὐ διαρρήξετε ἵνα μὴ ἀποθάνητε καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν συναγωγὴν ἔσται θυμός οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ὑμῶν πᾶς ὁ οἶκος Ισραηλ κλαύσονται τὸν ἐμπυρισμόν ὃν ἐνεπυρίσθησαν ὑπὸ Κυρίου (Leviticus 10:6 LXX)
The Context of Commanded Restraint
Leviticus 10:6 stands at a moment of unspeakable loss.… Learn Hebrew
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If You Refuse: The Threat of the Locusts in Translation
כִּ֛י אִם־מָאֵ֥ן אַתָּ֖ה לְשַׁלֵּ֣חַ אֶת־עַמִּ֑י הִנְנִ֨י מֵבִ֥יא מָחָ֛ר אַרְבֶּ֖ה בִּגְבֻלֶֽךָ׃
(Exodus 10:4)
Ἐὰν δὲ μὴ θέλῃς σὺ ἐξαποστεῖλαι τὸν λαόν μου ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐπάγω ταύτην τὴν ὥραν αὔριον ἀκρίδα πολλὴν ἐπὶ πάντα τὰ ὅριά σου (Exodus 10:4 LXX)
Setting the Stage: The Language of Warning
This verse captures a climactic warning to Parʿo (Pharaoh) as the plagues of Mitsrayim (Egypt) escalate. The Hebrew text and the Greek translation both preserve the tone of divine confrontation, yet their syntax and vocabulary reveal subtle differences in how each language frames divine intent and urgency.… Learn Hebrew
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Your People and Your Inheritance: Strength and Arm Between Hebrew and Greek
וְהֵ֥ם עַמְּךָ֖ וְנַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֹוצֵ֨אתָ֙ בְּכֹחֲךָ֣ הַגָּדֹ֔ל וּבִֽזְרֹעֲךָ֖ הַנְּטוּיָֽה׃ (Deuteronomy 9:29)
Καὶ οὗτοι λαός σου καὶ κλῆρός σου οὓς ἐξήγαγες ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου ἐν τῇ ἰσχύι σου τῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ ἐν τῷ βραχίονί σου τῷ ὑψηλῷ (Deuteronomy 9:29 LXX)
Israel as God’s People and Inheritance
The Hebrew verse declares: וְהֵם עַמְּךָ וְנַחֲלָתֶךָ (“And they are Your people and Your inheritance”). The expression emphasizes covenantal belonging. Israel is not only God’s people but also His inheritance, the portion He has chosen. The LXX preserves this dual identity with καὶ οὗτοι λαός σου καὶ κλῆρός σου (“and these are Your people and Your inheritance/lot”).… Learn Hebrew
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From Ashes to Dust: The Golden Calf in Hebrew Fire and Greek Fragmentation
וְֽאֶת־חַטַּאתְכֶ֞ם אֲשֶׁר־עֲשִׂיתֶ֣ם אֶת־הָעֵ֗גֶל לָקַחְתִּי֮ וָאֶשְׂרֹ֣ף אֹתֹ֣ו בָּאֵשׁ֒ וָאֶכֹּ֨ת אֹתֹ֤ו טָחֹון֙ הֵיטֵ֔ב עַ֥ד אֲשֶׁר־דַּ֖ק לְעָפָ֑ר וָֽאַשְׁלִךְ֙ אֶת־עֲפָרֹ֔ו אֶל־הַנַּ֖חַל הַיֹּרֵ֥ד מִן־הָהָֽר׃
(Deuteronomy 9:21)
Καὶ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ὑμῶν ἣν ἐποιήσατε τὸν μόσχον ἔλαβον αὐτὸν καὶ κατέκαυσα αὐτὸν ἐν πυρὶ καὶ συνέκοψα αὐτὸν καταλέσας σφόδρα ἕως οὗ ἐγένετο λεπτόν καὶ ἐγενήθη ὡσεὶ κονιορτός καὶ ἔρριψα τὸν κονιορτὸν εἰς τὸν χειμάρρουν τὸν καταβαίνοντα ἐκ τοῦ ὄρους (Deuteronomy 9:21 LXX)
Historical and Literary Context
This verse is part of Moshe’s recounting of Israel’s rebellion with the golden calf.… Learn Hebrew
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Fear and Obedience: How Hebrew “הֵנִיס” Becomes Greek “συνήγαγεν”
הַיָּרֵא֙ אֶת־דְּבַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה מֵֽעַבְדֵ֖י פַּרְעֹ֑ה הֵנִ֛יס אֶת־עֲבָדָ֥יו וְאֶת־מִקְנֵ֖הוּ אֶל־הַבָּתִּֽים׃
(Exodus 9:20)
Ὁ φοβούμενος τὸ ῥῆμα Κυρίου τῶν θεραπόντων Φαραω συνήγαγεν τὰ κτήνη αὐτοῦ εἰς τοὺς οἴκους (Exodus 9:20 LXX)
Narrative Frame
This verse sits within the account of the seventh plague — hail descending upon Mitsrayim. The text highlights a distinction within Pharaoh’s servants: some feared the word of YHWH and acted to protect their lives and livestock. What is striking is how the Hebrew and the Greek frame the action of obedience.… Learn Hebrew
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From Dispersion to Destiny: Hebrew “נָפְצָה” and Greek “διεσπάρησαν” in Dialogue
שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵי־נֹ֑חַ וּמֵאֵ֖לֶּה נָֽפְצָ֥ה כָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
(Genesis 9:19)
Τρεῖς οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ υἱοὶ Νωε ἀπὸ τούτων διεσπάρησαν ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν(Genesis 9:19 LXX)
Setting the Stage
This verse functions as a genealogical hinge in Genesis. After the Flood narrative, the world begins again with the three sons of Noah. Both the Masoretic Hebrew and the Septuagint Greek versions present the fact that from these three sons, the entire earth was populated. Yet, the way they describe this populating reveals nuanced grammatical and theological differences.… Learn Hebrew
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Wisdom Above Weapons: The Fragility of Goodness in Hebrew and Greek
טֹובָ֥ה חָכְמָ֖ה מִכְּלֵ֣י קְרָ֑ב וְחֹוטֶ֣א אֶחָ֔ד יְאַבֵּ֥ד טֹובָ֥ה הַרְבֵּֽה׃
(Ecclesiastes 9:18)
Ἀγαθὴ σοφία ὑπὲρ σκεύη πολέμου καὶ ἁμαρτάνων εἷς ἀπολέσει ἀγαθωσύνην πολλήν (Ecclesiastes 9:18 LXX)
Wisdom and Weapons: Competing Sources of Power
The Hebrew text declares: טֹובָה חָכְמָה מִכְּלֵי קְרָב (“Wisdom is better than weapons of war”). This short but profound statement frames wisdom as superior to military might. The use of כְּלֵי קְרָב (“instruments of battle, weapons of war”) points to the concrete implements of violence — swords, spears, or other tools of conflict.… Learn Hebrew
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Between Offering and Altar: The Grain Sacrifice in Hebrew and Greek
Καὶ προσήνεγκεν τὴν θυσίαν καὶ ἔπλησεν τὰς χεῖρας ἀπ᾽ αὐτῆς καὶ ἐπέθηκεν ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον χωρὶς τοῦ ὁλοκαυτώματος τοῦ πρωινοῦ (Leviticus 9:17 LXX)
וַיַּקְרֵב֮ אֶת־הַמִּנְחָה֒ וַיְמַלֵּ֤א כַפֹּו֙ מִמֶּ֔נָּה וַיַּקְטֵ֖ר עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ מִלְּבַ֖ד עֹלַ֥ת הַבֹּֽקֶר׃
The Central Role of the Grain Offering
This verse, drawn from the priestly legislation of Leviticus, describes the presentation of the grain offering (מִנְחָה) alongside the burnt offering of the morning. The Hebrew text uses the technical cultic verb וַיַּקְרֵב (“he brought near”), underscoring the priest’s role in formally presenting an offering before YHWH.… Learn Hebrew
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A Stiff-Necked People: Translation Nuances in Hebrew and Greek
Καὶ εἶπεν Κύριος πρός με λελάληκα πρὸς σὲ ἅπαξ καὶ δὶς λέγων ἑώρακα τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον καὶ ἰδοὺ λαὸς σκληροτράχηλός ἐστιν (Deuteronomy 9:13 LXX)
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֣י לֵאמֹ֑ר רָאִ֨יתִי֙ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה עַם־קְשֵׁה־עֹ֖רֶף הֽוּא׃
Framing the Divine Speech
In the Masoretic Text, the verse begins with the direct introduction: וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֵלַי (“And YHWH said to me”), followed by לֵאמֹר (“saying”), the standard Hebrew formula for divine communication. The phrase is formulaic, marking prophetic reception of God’s word, and it emphasizes immediacy: YHWH is speaking directly to Moses in the present narrative.… Learn Hebrew
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The Everlasting Sign: Covenant Language Between Hebrew and Greek
Καὶ εἶπεν Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς πρὸς Νωε· τοῦτο τὸ σημεῖον τῆς διαθήκης ὃ ἐγὼ δίδωμι ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ ὑμῶν καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον πάσης ψυχῆς ζώσης ἥ ἐστιν μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν εἰς γενεὰς αἰωνίους (Genesis 9:12 LXX)
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים זֹ֤את אֹֽות־הַבְּרִית֙ אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֣י נֹתֵ֗ן בֵּינִי֙ וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵ֛ין כָּל־נֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתְּכֶ֑ם לְדֹרֹ֖ת עֹולָֽם׃
The Framing of Covenant in Hebrew and Greek
This verse, situated within the covenant narrative after the flood, is pivotal for understanding how Scripture frames divine-human agreements linguistically. In Hebrew, the language emphasizes God’s act of giving a tangible sign — אֹות־הַבְּרִית (“the sign of the covenant”) — which He places “between Me and you and every living creature with you.”… Learn Hebrew
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