Who Is This For?
Best For:
Biblical scholarship, NT studies, Orthodox Christians, understanding early church interpretation.
Not Ideal For:
General Bible reading, those unfamiliar with Septuagint's significance, or devotional use.
Strengths & Limitations
✓ Strengths of the LXX
- Essential for understanding NT use of OT
- Access to early Christian Scripture
- Includes deuterocanonical books
- Important for textual comparison
- Orthodox Christian authoritative text
✗ Limitations to Consider
- Differs from Hebrew-based translations
- Can confuse readers expecting familiar text
- Academic/scholarly focus
- Less suitable for devotional reading
- Requires understanding of its role
Overview
This English translation of the Septuagint provides access to the ancient Greek Old Testament that was Scripture for the early Christian church. The Septuagint differs from the Hebrew Bible in significant places and is essential for understanding New Testament quotations.
Want to read the LXX Bible online? Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, or start reading from Genesis.
Notable Features of the LXX
- Access to early church's Old Testament
- Essential for NT quotation study
- Includes deuterocanonical books
- Important for Orthodox Christianity
- Shows LXX-Hebrew differences
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the English Septuagint?
This English translation of the Septuagint provides access to the ancient Greek Old Testament that was Scripture for the early Christian church. The Septuagint differs from the Hebrew Bible in significant places and is essential for understanding New Testament quotations.
How can I read the LXX Bible online?
You can read and search the English Septuagint online for free at Acts1 Family. Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, chapter, or keyword in the LXX translation.
When was the LXX Bible published?
The English Septuagint was first published in 2000. It is classified as a Formal Equivalence translation with a 11th Grade reading level.
Who should use the LXX Bible?
Biblical scholarship, NT studies, Orthodox Christians, understanding early church interpretation.
How does the LXX compare to other Bible translations?
The English Septuagint (LXX) 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 LXX Online
Search any verse, compare with other translations, or start reading from Genesis.
Start ReadingHistory
Complete History of the LXX Translation
The Septuagint (from the Latin for 'seventy,' abbreviated LXX) is the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures produced in Alexandria, Egypt, beginning in the 3rd century BC. Legend says it was translated by 70 (or 72) Jewish scholars.
The Septuagint was the primary Scripture for Greek-speaking Jews and for the early Christian church. When New Testament writers quote the Old Testament, they usually follow the Septuagint rather than the Hebrew. The Septuagint includes books not found in the Hebrew Bible (the deuterocanonical books) and sometimes has different readings or arrangements.
For Orthodox Christians, the Septuagint remains the authoritative Old Testament text.
Translators
Meet the 1 Key Translators and Contributors
Various modern scholars
Translation team
Modern translations of the Septuagint are produced by teams of scholars specializing in Greek and biblical studies.
Textual Basis
Manuscript Sources and Translation Methodology
Translated from critical editions of the Greek Septuagint text.
Reception
Scholarly Praise
"The Septuagint was the Bible of the early Church and is quoted extensively in the New Testament. This English translation provides access to the Greek Old Testament read by the apostles."
— eBible.org, English Septuagint (2024) [source]
Scholarly Concerns
English Septuagint translations face the challenge of rendering a translation of a translation, potentially compounding interpretive layers between the reader and the original Hebrew.
— Textual Scholars, Septuagint Studies (2024) [source]
Revision History
View 1 Major Revisions and Updates
- Various Multiple English Septuagint translations have appeared, with varying approaches and quality.
Compare Translations
See how the LXX compares to other English Bible translations.
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