[B-Greek] Why does the Greek New Testament sometimes quote from the LXX and not from the proto-MT where the two texts differ?

Philip Engmann phil-eng at ighmail.com
Thu Mar 11 08:46:51 EST 2004


Dear B-Greekers,
 
Why does the Greek New Testament sometimes quote from the LXX and not
from the proto-MT where the two texts differ?
 
For example, in the following verses:[1]
 
1.    Hebrews 1.6/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spDt32-43.html> Deuteronomy 32.43

"Let all God's angels worship him." NT/LXX
The MT omits this quotation             MT
 
2. Hebrews 2.6-8/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spPs8-4.html> Psalm 8.4-6 
"Thou didst make him a little lower than the angels" NT/LXX
"thou hast made him a little less than God"                   MT
  
3. Hebrews 2.13/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spIs8-17.html> Isaiah 8.17 
"I will put my trust in him." NT/LXX
"I will hope in him"                 MT
 
4. Hebrews 3.15/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spPs95-7.html> Psalm 95.7-8 
"Today, when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the
rebellion."                NT/LXX
"O that today you would hearken to his voice! Harden not your hearts, as
at Meribah"      MT
 
5. Hebrews 8.8-12/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spJr31-31.html> Jeremiah. 31.31-34 
"for they did not continue in my covenant, and so I paid no heed to
them, says the Lord"   NT/LXX
"my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the
LORD"                    MT
 
6. Hebrews 10.5-7/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spPs40-6.html> Psalm 40.6-8
 "Sacrifices and offerings thou hast not desired; but a body hast thou
prepared for me"      NT/LXX
"Sacrifice and offering thou dost not desire; but thou hast given me an
open ear"               MT    
 
7. Hebrews 10.37-38/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spHab2-3.html> Habakkuk 2.3-4 
"and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."
NT/LXX
"Behold, he whose soul is not upright in him shall fail [Hebrews. - is
puffed up]"       MT
 
8. Hebrews 11.21/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spGen47-31.html> Genesis 47.31
"By faith Jacob ... bowing in worship over the head of his staff."
NT/LXX
"Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed"
MT
 
9. Hebrews 12.5-6/
<http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/users/f298c9bb/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOW
S/My%20Documents/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/Mcuments/Philip's%20Files/Mcumen
ts/Philip's%20Files/My%20Documents/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDO
WS/Desktop/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/spPr3-11.html> Proverbs 3.11-12 
"For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son
whom he receives."  NT/LXX
"for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he
delights"        MT
 
 

  _____  

[1] The first phrase shows the New Testament and the LXX wording, and
the second phrase has the wording from the Hebrew Old Testament. In each
case, the New Testament author is true to the Septuagint. The difference
between the Hebrew MT and the Greek LXX is highlighted. 
 



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