Principle
There are (at least) three key differences in the Psalms between Old Testament text families.
Explanation
We have established that there are multiple textual families of the Old Testament Scriptures.
Most English Bibles are translated from a Hebrew text family known as the Masoretic Text (MT). The oldest and most accurate complete Old Testament text family, however, is the Greek Septuagint (LXX).
Some of the most significant and striking differences between the MT and LXX texts are found in the Psalms.
From a macro viewpoint, these differences may be grouped into three categories:
- Introductory titles of certain psalms
- Textual variances
- Numbering of the psalms
Introductory Title Variances
Many, if not most, modern Bibles contain chapter and section header comments. These comments are added by men and are not part of the original source texts from which the translators worked.
Psalms includes introductory comments for each psalm. However, unlike most “books” of the Bible, the psalms’ introductions are in the source text.
Sometimes, these introductory variances are insignificant. Take Psalm 102 for example.
The Hebrew MT introduction of Psalm 102 reads:
A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the Lord.
Psalm 102 introduction NKJV
The Greek LXX introduction reads:
1 A prayer by a poor man, when he was depressed and poured out his supplication before the Lord.
Psalm 101 [102]:1 OSB
However, in the LXX, many of the psalms include an interesting and curious phrase.
For the End
In the LXX, beginning with Psalm 4, the introductions to many of the psalms begin with the phrase, “For the End …” and then continue with some detail about the psalm.
This phrase, “For the End,” is not found in the psalm introductions in the Hebrew MT.
Take the aforementioned Psalm 4, for example. The Septuagint introduction says:
1 For the End; in psalms; an ode by David.
Psalm 4:1 OSB
But the Hebrew Masoretic Text reads:
For the music director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
Psalm 4 introduction NASB
The phrase “the end” is mentioned multiple times in Scripture, including in the New Testament writings, such as Peter writing, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” (1 Peter 4:7 NKJV)
Whatever its purpose, the frequency with which the LXX mentions the phrase in the Psalms is striking, as is the phrase’s absence in the Hebrew MT.
Textual Variances
The Psalms contain some of the most significant textual variances between the LXX and MT. While many of these are arguably not significant, some of the differences completely change the text’s meaning.
Perhaps my favorite illustration of this point is found in Psalm 40. In Hebrews 10, the writer quoted from Psalm 40:6-8:
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
Hebrews 10:5 NIV
but a body you prepared for me;
The LXX reads as follows:
7 Sacrifice and offering You did not will;
Psalm 39 [40]:7 OSB
But a body You prepared for me;
A whole burnt offering and a sin offering You did not require.”
The LXX reads virtually word-for-word consistently with what the Hebrews writer quoted.
But when we look up the Hebrew MT passage, it says:
6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
Psalm 40:6 NKJV
My ears You have opened.
Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
The MT version of Psalm 40:6 says nothing about a body being prepared for the speaker (a prophecy of Jesus)! It simply says that ears were opened. That is a totally different meaning!
Dozens, if not over a hundred such variances exist in the Psalms between the MT and LXX. (And almost always, the New Testament writers’ quotation aligns with the LXX reading.)
Numbering of the Psalms
Although the order is not changed, the numbering of many of the Psalms does vary between the LXX and MT.
Whereas the MT has Psalm 9 and 10, the LXX combines the contents of those two psalms (as divided in the Hebrew MT) into Psalm 9.
Later, the LXX splits what the MT lists as Psalm 147 into two parts, with the LXX’s Psalm 146 being the MT’s Psalm 147:1-11, and the LXX’s Psalm 147 being the MT’s Psalm 147:12-20.
Lastly, in this regard, the LXX includes a Psalm 151, of David’s victory over Goliath, which it says was not included in the numbering of the Psalter.
In short, the numbering of the Psalms in the MT and LXX is as follows:
- MT Psalms 1-8: LXX aligns.
- MT Psalm 9-10: LXX combines into Psalm 9.
- MT Psalm 11-146: LXX becomes “n-1” (ex: Psalm 12 in MT is Psalm 11 in LXX).
- MT Psalm 147: LXX splits into Psalm 146-147.
- MT Psalm 148-150: LXX aligns.
- LXX Psalm 151: MT does not contain.
Leave a Reply