Why the Greek Old Testament Doesn’t Match the Hebrew (The Septuagint)

The Septuagint is the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, produced primarily between the 3rd century BCE and the 1st century CE. It often differs from the Hebrew Masoretic Text (MT) due to variations in source texts, translation choices, and editorial decisions. These differences are not always errors but reflect distinct textual traditions and interpretive approaches.

Below are 10 examples of significant differences between the Septuagint (LXX) and the Masoretic Text (MT), illustrating why the Greek Old Testament does not always match the Hebrew:

Book & Verse	Masoretic Text (Hebrew)	Septuagint (Greek)	Key Difference
Genesis 5:3	Adam was 130 years old when Seth was born.	Adam was 230 years old when Seth was born.	Chronological discrepancy: LXX adds 100 years to Adam’s age.
Genesis 11:10	Shem was 100 years old when Arphaxad was born.	Shem was 135 years old when Arphaxad was born.	Genealogical variation: LXX adds 35 years to Shem’s age.
Exodus 1:11	“They built Pithom and Raamses as store cities.”	“They built Rameses as a store city.”	Omission: LXX omits “Pithom” and refers to only one city.
Numbers 13:22	“And they came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were.”	“And they came to Hebron, where the sons of Anak were.”	Simplification: LXX removes specific names of Anakim.
1 Samuel 10:27	“But the son of the prophet said, ‘How can this man save us?'”	“But the son of the prophet said, ‘How can this man save us? He is not even from the tribe of Benjamin.'”	Added detail: LXX clarifies the speaker’s concern about lineage.
2 Samuel 11:17	“And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and some of the servants of David fell.”	“And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and the servants of David were defeated.”	Tone shift: LXX emphasizes defeat, while MT is more neutral.
1 Kings 1:39	“And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon.”	“And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil and anointed Solomon with it.”	Minor addition: LXX adds “with it” for clarity.
Isaiah 7:14	“Behold, a young woman (‘almāh) shall conceive and bear a son.”	“Behold, a virgin (parthenos) shall conceive and bear a son.”	Theological significance: LXX uses “virgin” instead of “young woman,” influencing Christian interpretation.
Jeremiah 36:32	“And he took the scroll and read it in the hearing of the people.”	“And he took the scroll and read it in the hearing of the people, and they were all afraid.”	Added emotional response: LXX includes the people’s fear.
Daniel 3:25	“I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire.”	“I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”	Theophany: LXX adds divine imagery, emphasizing the presence of a heavenly figure.

These examples show that differences arise from variant Hebrew sources, translation idioms, theological emphasis, and textual expansion or contraction. While some variations are minor, others reflect deeper interpretive or doctrinal choices, especially in how the Septuagint was used by early Christians to support messianic claims.

The Septuagint remains a crucial witness to the ancient biblical text, offering insight into the diversity of early Jewish and Christian scriptural traditions.

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