The Theory and Practice of Textual Criticism of the Septuagint
Abstract
This chapter discusses the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, and the problem of reaching its oldest attainable text. The text of the Septuagint has been preserved on a number of manuscripts of varying age and provenance. The original or oldest attainable text of the translation needs to be established word by word using text-critical methods. A special aspect in textual criticism of the Septuagint is the need to take the corresponding Hebrew text into account. This requires reconstructing the readings of the Hebrew base text, knowledge of translation technique, and the habits of the copyists and revisers of the Septuagint. The chapter includes several practical examples of the skills required.
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Cites
An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek
Swete, H. B. (2010) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511706776 · Cited by 249 · see citing works
A Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint
Hugo, P. (2010) · Biblische Zeitschrift · doi:10.1163/25890468-054-02-90000025 · Cited by 181 · see citing works
The Septuagint and Modern Study
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A Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint
Vervenne, M. (1993) · Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses · doi:10.2143/etl.69.1.542182 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
A Grammar of the Old Testament in Greek According to the Septuagint
Thackeray, H. S. J. (1987) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Faculty of Classics, U. O. C., & Diggle, J. (2021) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781139050043 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Origen, O., & Field, F. (1964) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 66 · see citing works
What Can We Know about the Hebrew Vorlage of the Septuagint?
Aejmelaeus, A. (1987) · Zeitschrift für die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft · doi:10.1515/zatw.1987.99.1.58 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Collins, N. L. (2004) · Journal of Semitic Studies · doi:10.1093/jss/49.1.167 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Die Infinitive in der Septuaginta
Shenkel, J. D., & Soisalon-Soininen, I. (1966) · Journal of Biblical Literature · doi:10.2307/3265150 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
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Salvesen, A. G. (2016) · BRILL eBooks · doi:10.1163/9789004335028_013 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
The Legacy of Soisalon-Soininen: Towards a Syntax of Septuagint Greek
Kauhanen, T., & Vanonen, H. (2020) · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Self-citationAlfred Rahlfs (1865-1935) und die kritische Edition der Septuaginta
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The History of Septuagint Studies
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Research works printed but not linked: 13
- 1963, Les devanciers d’Aquila: Première publication intégrale du texte des fragments du Dodécaprophéton
- 1996, The Recensions of the Septuagint Version of I Samuel
- 1913, Notes on the Hebrew Text and the Topography of the Book of Samuel
- 1897, Concordance to the Septuagint
- Probability Theories and Decision-Making in Textual Studies.
- 1863, Anmerkungen zur griechischen Übersetzung der Proverbien
- 1843, Greek-English Lexicon
- 1981, Manuscripts of the Greek Bible: An Introduction to Palaeography
- 2001, A Hebrew/Aramaic Index to the Septuagint
- 2016, A Syntax of Septuagint Greek
- 1914, Verzeichnis der griechischen Handschriften des Alten Testaments
- 2006, Septuaginta. Id est Vetus Testamentum iuxta LXX interpretes
- 1966, An Index to Aquila
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- Authors
- Kauhanen, T.
- Affiliations
- Research Council of Finland (FI)
- Corresponding author
- Kauhanen, Tuukka
- ORCID
- Kauhanen, Tuukka
- Venue
- The Oxford Handbook of Textual Criticism of the Bible
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Published
- 2025-10-22
- Pages
- 324-339
- OpenAlex
- W4415449729
- Cited by
- 0
- References
- 16
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- book chapter
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Oxford University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Biblical Studies and Interpretation
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › Classical Studies and Philology
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Historical and Linguistic Studies
- Keywords
- Septuagint, textual criticism, Greek Bible, Hebrew Bible, Septuagint manuscripts, translation strategies, Bible translation
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