Εἰσῆλθεν δὲ Νωε καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν κιβωτὸν διὰ τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ κατακλυσμοῦ (Genesis 7:7 LXX)
וַיָּ֣בֹא נֹ֗חַ וּ֠בָנָיו וְאִשְׁתֹּ֧ו וּנְשֵֽׁי־בָנָ֛יו אִתֹּ֖ו אֶל־הַתֵּבָ֑ה מִפְּנֵ֖י מֵ֥י הַמַּבּֽוּל׃
A Family in the Face of Judgment
Genesis 7:7 records the solemn moment when Noah and his household enter the ark ahead of the floodwaters. The Hebrew and Greek versions are remarkably parallel, yet subtle shifts in syntactic ordering, prepositional framing, and lexical selection reflect both fidelity and interpretive nuance in the LXX. This analysis explores how the Septuagint mirrors the familial structure and motivation for Noah’s entry while rephrasing the cause of entry with natural Greek expression.
Grammatical Focus: Word Order, Prepositions, and Motivation Clauses
The Hebrew uses a wayyiqtol chain with coordinated noun phrases and a prepositional cause phrase: מִפְּנֵ֖י מֵ֥י הַמַּבּוּל. The LXX maintains coordination but introduces a smoother Greek narrative by using εἰσῆλθεν + multiple subjects and shifting to διὰ τὸ ὕδωρ to express the reason for entering. The participial use of μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ in Greek subtly parallels the Hebrew אִתֹּ֖ו, showing continued fidelity to original structure.
Hebrew-Greek Morphological Comparison
| Hebrew Word | Greek Translation | Grammatical Notes | Translation Technique |
|---|---|---|---|
| וַיָּ֣בֹא נֹ֗חַ | εἰσῆλθεν δὲ Νωε | Wayyiqtol (3ms) → aorist indicative + coordinating δὲ | Narrative equivalence with mild connective |
| וּ֠בָנָיו | καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ | Coordinated noun with possessive suffix → article + noun + possessive | Expanded possessive structure |
| וְאִשְׁתֹּ֧ו | καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ | Conjunctive noun with suffix → article + noun + possessive | Formal Greek appositional structure |
| וּנְשֵֽׁי־בָנָ֛יו אִתֹּ֖ו | καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ | Construct chain + preposition → genitive possession + preposition phrase | Maintained parallelism with clearer phrase ordering |
| אֶל־הַתֵּבָ֑ה | εἰς τὴν κιβωτὸν | Preposition + article + noun → preposition + article + equivalent noun | Lexical match: תֵּבָה → κιβωτός |
| מִפְּנֵ֖י מֵ֥י הַמַּבּֽוּל | διὰ τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ κατακλυσμοῦ | Preposition (“from before”) + construct chain → preposition (“because of”) + genitive noun phrase | Idiomatic causative shift: מִפְּנֵי → διά + accusative |
Notable Theological and Syntactic Observations
- Lexical Fidelity: The word for “ark” remains equivalent (תֵּבָה → κιβωτός), preserving the sacred vessel imagery in both traditions.
- Cause and Protection: Hebrew מִפְּנֵי implies fearful avoidance or protection (“from the face of”), whereas Greek διὰ τὸ ὕδωρ states the cause plainly (“because of the water”), emphasizing factual motivation over emotional tone.
- Syntactic Smoothing: The Greek restructures the list of participants with fuller grammatical constructions (articles, genitives, prepositions), while the Hebrew uses asyndetic stacking for narrative rhythm.
- With Him / After Him: Both אִתֹּ֖ו and μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ express proximity, but Greek μετά could also imply processional unity, a theme often emphasized in Greek narrative structure.
Echoes of the Text
Genesis 7:7 in the Septuagint offers a faithful rendering of the Hebrew account, but its stylistic adjustments carry theological implications. The Greek grammar emphasizes orderly entrance, structured relationships, and rational cause. Where the Hebrew pulses with literary economy and divine immediacy, the LXX imposes syntactic formality—suggesting that even as judgment nears, the house of Noah enters with dignity, obedience, and divine protection. Here, grammar becomes grace.
