Who Is This For?
Best For:
Septuagint study, understanding NT OT quotations, Orthodox Christians, Apocrypha study.
Not Ideal For:
General Bible reading, those wanting Hebrew-based OT, NT reading.
Strengths & Limitations
✓ Strengths of the UBES
- Accessible Septuagint translation
- Modern English
- Based on reliable source
- Includes Apocrypha
- Public domain
✗ Limitations to Consider
- Old Testament only
- Based on 19th-century work
- Not a fresh translation from Greek
- Some may prefer original Brenton
Overview
The Updated Brenton English Septuagint is a modernization of Sir Lancelot Brenton's 1851 translation of the Greek Septuagint. It updates archaic language while preserving the translation's faithfulness to the Greek Old Testament text.
Want to read the UBES Bible online? Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, or start reading from Genesis.
Notable Features of the UBES
- Modernized Brenton Septuagint
- Greek Old Testament
- Includes deuterocanonical books
- Public domain
- Updated vocabulary
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Updated Brenton English Septuagint?
The Updated Brenton English Septuagint is a modernization of Sir Lancelot Brenton's 1851 translation of the Greek Septuagint. It updates archaic language while preserving the translation's faithfulness to the Greek Old Testament text.
How can I read the UBES Bible online?
You can read and search the Updated Brenton English Septuagint online for free at Acts1 Family. Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, chapter, or keyword in the UBES translation.
When was the UBES Bible published?
The Updated Brenton English Septuagint was first published in 2012. It is classified as a Formal Equivalence translation with a 10th Grade reading level.
Who should use the UBES Bible?
Septuagint study, understanding NT OT quotations, Orthodox Christians, Apocrypha study.
How does the UBES compare to other Bible translations?
The Updated Brenton English Septuagint (UBES) is a Formal Equivalence translation. Compare it with other versions like the KJV, ASV, or NIV using our Bible comparison tools to find the best translation for your needs.
Read the UBES Online
Search any verse, compare with other translations, or start reading from Genesis.
Start ReadingHistory
Complete History of the UBES Translation
The Updated Brenton Septuagint takes Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic 1851 English translation of the Greek Septuagint and modernizes its language for contemporary readers. Brenton's original work was the standard English Septuagint for over 150 years, but its Victorian English became increasingly difficult for modern readers.
The update retains Brenton's translation choices while modernizing archaic vocabulary, verb forms, and sentence structures. This makes the Greek Old Testament—important for understanding how New Testament authors read Scripture—more accessible to today's readers.
Translators
Meet the 1 Key Translators and Contributors
Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton
Original Translator (1851)
English scholar (1807-1862) who produced the most widely used English translation of the Septuagint until 2007.
Textual Basis
Manuscript Sources and Translation Methodology
Based on the Greek Septuagint, primarily following Codex Vaticanus as the source text.
Reception
Scholarly Praise
"This updated edition modernizes Brenton's archaic English while preserving his careful translation of the Septuagint, making it more accessible to contemporary readers."
— eBible.org, Updated Brenton English Septuagint (2024) [source]
Scholarly Concerns
Updates to Brenton's translation must balance modernization with fidelity to his original work; for scholarly purposes, NETS (2007) remains the preferred modern translation.
— Septuagint Scholars, Brenton Updates (2024) [source]
Revision History
View 2 Major Revisions and Updates
- 1851 Original Brenton translation published.
- 2012 Updated English version produced.
Compare Translations
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