The Septuagint—What is it?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Septuagint (often abbreviated LXX) is a collection of Greek writings, including a large part of the Old Testament. The Greek word “Septuagint” comes from the Latin word for “70,” based on the tradition that 70 Jewish scholars served as the translators of the work, though some sources say 72 scholars. It was first translated in the third to second centuries BC in Alexandria, Egypt, and was needed because Greek was widely used, and it is believed that most Jews no longer spoke Hebrew, but rather Aramaic and Greek.

The New Testament frequently quotes Old Testament passages in ways that align with the Greek translation, rather than the Hebrew wording. For example, Matthew’s reference to Isaiah 7:14 in Matthew 1:23; the writer of Hebrews’ use of Psalm 40:6–8 in Hebrews 10:5–7; James’s citation of Amos 9:11–12 in Acts 15:16–18; and Paul’s combination of Psalms and Isaiah in Romans 3:10–18. Peter also references Isaiah 53:9 in 1 Peter 2:22.

For modern readers, comparing the Septuagint with the Hebrew text provides insight into how ancient Jews understood their Scriptures and why the New Testament sometimes paraphrases Old Testament passages differently.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Septuagint is a collection of Greek works that includes most of the Hebrew Scriptures. It is traditionally linked to about 70 Jewish translators in Alexandria and was created between the third and second centuries BC to help Jews who no longer spoke Hebrew fluently but used Greek in daily life. Its contents were assembled and translated after the last Old Testament books were written, making them accessible to a wider community. In this way, it served as a bridge from the Hebrew text to Greek-speaking Jews.
• Because it was widely read before and during the time of Christ, the Septuagint provides us with a picture of the Old Testament as the New Testament audience experienced it. It was read in synagogues across the Mediterranean, used by diaspora Jews, and heard by Gentile God-fearers. Many of the Old Testament quotations in the New Testament match its wording, demonstrating its influence. For today’s readers, the Septuagint offers a window into how the Scriptures were known, studied, and understood in the centuries leading up to Jesus and the early church.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• By the time of Jesus and the apostles, Greek was the common language throughout the eastern Mediterranean, and many synagogues read from the Greek Scriptures. The New Testament writers often quoted Old Testament passages in Greek, demonstrating how familiar the Septuagint had become within Jewish and Christian communities across the Roman world.
• Matthew recorded the virgin birth of Jesus using the wording from the Greek version of Isaiah: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son” (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14 [LXX]). That translation emphasized the miraculous conception as the sign God promised, and Matthew used it to demonstrate to his readers—many of whom were familiar with the Greek Bible—that Jesus was Immanuel.
• The writer of Hebrews also referenced the Septuagint. Quoting Psalm 40 as “a body have you prepared for me” (Hebrews 10:5; Psalm 40:6–8 [LXX]), he explained that Christ came in the flesh to do the Father’s will and fulfill the sacrifices. The Greek translation supported the argument about the incarnation and Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice.
• At the Jerusalem council, James referenced the Septuagint version of Amos: the rebuilt tent of David would welcome “the remnant of mankind” (Acts 15:16–18; Amos 9:11–12 [LXX]). This wording clearly conveyed God’s plan to include the Gentiles and made it convincing to both Jewish and Gentile audiences.
• Paul also relied heavily on the Septuagint. In Romans 3:10–18, he combined a series of Greek citations from the Psalms and Isaiah to demonstrate universal sinfulness and the need for justification through faith. Since Paul’s mission primarily focused on the Gentile world, it makes sense that he relied on the Scriptures in their Greek form—the version his audience would most likely be familiar with.
• The Septuagint was ultimately God’s providential tool: it translated Israel’s Scriptures into the empire's language so that the gospel could be proclaimed from Moses and the prophets in words everyone understood. The apostles regarded it as a faithful witness to God’s Word and used it to point to Christ. Although the Septuagint itself was not inspired like the original Hebrew text, it demonstrates how God uses faithful translations to make His Word known—just as He continues to do through good translations today.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The Septuagint shows us that God’s Word has been preserved and faithfully passed down across languages and generations. Long before the time of Christ, Jewish communities translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, so people could understand them. Jesus and the apostles often quoted from this translation, demonstrating that God’s truth is not limited to one language. What mattered was that His Word was accurately conveyed and received as His authoritative voice.

That same reality should give you confidence when you open an English Bible today. Careful translation work, based on thousands of ancient manuscripts, means you can trust that what you read is truly God’s Word. While no translation is perfect in every detail, the message of salvation remains clear and consistent: God has revealed Himself, our sin has separated us from Him, and Jesus Christ has come to bring forgiveness and eternal life. You can read your Bible, knowing you are hearing the trustworthy Word of God.

UNDERSTAND

• The Septuagint was translated by Jewish scholars in Alexandria, so Greek-speaking Jews could understand Scripture.
• The Septuagint was the version most often quoted by Jesus’s followers and New Testament writers.
• The Septuagint demonstrates God’s care in preserving and communicating His Word across languages and generations.

REFLECT

• How does knowing that Jesus and the apostles used the Septuagint strengthen your trust in Scripture’s reliability?
• When you read your Bible, do you view it as part of God’s ongoing work to make His Word known in every language?
• How can you respond with gratitude for the ways God has made His truth accessible to you?

ENGAGE

• How did the Septuagint prepare the way for the gospel to reach the Greek-speaking world?
• What does the use of the Septuagint by New Testament writers reveal about how God communicates through translation?
• How can understanding the Septuagint help believers appreciate the unity between the Old and New Testaments?