Knowing Your Bible Lesson 1.3. OT Textual Criticism OT Textual Criticism • The OT has been handed down in various forms: − Hebrew Masoretic Text (AD 1009) − Greek Septuagint (3rd-1st cent. BC) − Aramaic Targums (445 BC; DSS) − The Dead Sea Scrolls (250 BC to AD 135) − Syriac Peshitta (2nd-8th cent. AD) − Latin Vulgate (AD 390-405) OT Textual Criticism
• Scholars on the strength of the MT:
The currently renewed respect . . . for the Masoretic text is reflected in the ESV’s attempt, wherever possible, to translate difficult Hebrew passages as they stand . . . . In exceptional, difficult cases, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Septuagint, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Syriac Peshitta, the Latin Vulgate, and other sources were consulted to shed possible light on the text, or . . . to support a divergence. (ESV Preface) OT Textual Criticism
• What do we do when ancient witnesses disagree?
• Textual criticism: “the attempt to restore the Biblical authors’ original words by comparing and contrasting the various copies and translations of the Bible.”
• Criticism: “not ‘finding fault with’ but ‘evaluating’ the existing copies of the text” (NIV 1151). OT Textual Criticism
• The MT “is overall the best witness we have to the original text of the [OT]” (NIV 1254).
• Footnote variants present in 2+ texts
• Follow the LXX when (1) it is assumed in the NT or (2) supported by other MT mss or DSS
• Follow other variants when (1) present in 3+ texts and (2) that outweigh the MT support The Book of Jeremiah
• LXX lacks 2,700 words of MT (NIV 1240)
• LXX is 1/8 shorter than MT (~7/8 chs.)
• LXX adds 100 words to MT
• Location of the Oracles − MT: chs. 46-51 − LXX: b/t 25:13 and 25:15 and omitting verse 14 The Book of Jeremiah
• LXX lacks 2,700 words of MT (NIV 1240)
• LXX is 1/8 shorter than MT (~7/8 chs.)
• LXX adds 100 words to MT
• Location of the Oracles
• Sequence of the Oracles The Book of Jeremiah
• MT • LXX − Egypt − Elam − Philistia − Egypt − Moab − Babylon − Ammon − Philistia − Edom − Edom − Damascus − Ammon − Kedar − Kedar − Damascus − Elam − Moab − Babylon The Book of Jeremiah
• MT • LXX − Egypt − Elam − Philistia − Egypt − Moab − Babylon − Ammon − Philistia − Edom − Edom − Damascus − Ammon − Kedar − Kedar − Damascus − Elam − Moab − Babylon The Book of Jeremiah
“And I will make you cross over with your enemies Into a land which you do not know; For a fire is kindled in My anger, Which shall burn upon you.” – Jer 15:14 NKJV
Following MT and Vulgate; LXX, Syriac, and Targum read cause you to serve (compare 17:4).
Variant is stronger; used by NASB and ESV. The Book of Jeremiah
“I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back and not the face In the day of their calamity.” – Jer 18:17
Following LXX, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; MT reads look them in.
Variant is stronger; used by NASB and ESV. The Book of Jeremiah
“In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, “Thus says the LORD to me…” – Jer 27:1-2 LXX omits verse 1. Following MT, Targum, and Vulgate; some Hebrew mss, Arabic, and Syriac read Zedekiah (compare 27:3, 12; 28:1). Hebrew variant is strongest; used by NASB and ESV. The Book of Jeremiah
“…not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD.” – Jer 31:32
Following MT, Targum, and Vulgate; LXX and Syriac read and I turned away from them. (See Heb 8:8-12)
LXX is preferred due to NT usage. The Book of Jeremiah
“I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt, and he shall burn them and carry them away captive. . . .” – Jer 43:12
Following MT and Targum; LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate read He. (See 48:31)
Variant is stronger; used by NASB and ESV. OT Textual Criticism
• The MT, “is overall the best witness we have to the original text of the [OT]” (NIV 1254).
• Footnote variants present in 2+ texts
• Follow the LXX when (1) assumed in the NT or (2) supported by other MT mss or DSS
• Follow other variants when (1) present in 3+ texts (2) that outweigh the MT support Works Cited
Lightfoot, Neil R. How We Got the Bible. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003.
NIV Archaeological Study Bible. Ed. Walter C. Kaiser Jr. & Duane Garrett. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005. Print.