Comparing the Septuagint and the Masoretic Using Matthew 4-5 (Full Script)

Too lazy to read?  Watch the video!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUV7X6mi6LY

Septuagint or Masoretic – Matthew 4-5

Post-Apostolic Church

INTRO

Happy Septuagint Day!  Let’s continue comparing the Hebrew Masoretic with the Greek Septuagint by going through the New Testament and seeing which manuscript family the writers used when quoting from the Old Testament.  In this video, we will be looking at Matthew chapters 4 to 5.  The running count of verses will continue from the last video.  But this time, we will add a category for when a New Testament quotation agrees with both the Masoretic and the Septuagint.

MATTHEW 4:4

Matthew 4:4 is about Jesus’ response to Satan’s temptations.  It reads,

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.  (Matt 4:4 (ASV))

This is a quotation from Deuteronomy 8:3.  The Masoretic reads,

Man does not live by bread only, but by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of Jehovah.  (Deut 8:3 (ASV))

The Masoretic says “everything” instead of “every word,” but this is OK, because both “word” and “thing” are implied by the Hebrew.  Remember that Jehovah, Yahweh, and the LORD are all different ways to say the same thing in the Hebrew.  However, Matthew said “God” and not any of these.

The Septuagint reads,

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.  (Deut 8:3 (Brenton))

Notice that the Septuagint explicitly includes “word” here.  [Greek is rhema which is not “word” (logos), but means utterance which is more general than “words.”]  But the thing to take note of is that it says “God” instead of Jehovah, Yahweh, or the LORD.  Matthew more closely follows the Septuagint there.  In both the Hebrew and Greek, Matthew switches around the order of the words.  But other than that, his words are the exact same in the Septuagint.
[Verses: 7.  Both: 0.  LXX: 3.  MT: 2.]

MATTHEW 4:6

Matthew 4:6 is about when Satan quoted Scripture in order to tempt Jesus.  It reads,

He shall give his angels charge concerning you.  And, on their hands they shall bear you up, lest you happen to dash your foot against a stone.  (Matt 4:6 (ASV))

This is a quotation from Psalms 91:11-12.  The Masoretic reads,

He will give his angels charge over you.  They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.  (Ps 91:11-12 (ASV))

The Masoretic reads nearly identical to Matthew’s reading.  The only difference is that the Masoretic did not include “happen.”

Because the Septuagint numbers the Psalms differently, this is a quotation from Psalms 90:11-12, and it reads,

He shall give his angels charge concerning you.  They shall bear you up on their hands, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone.  (Ps 90:11-12 (Brenton))

In the Septuagint, it includes “at any time” which is the exact same Greek word Matthew used which the ASV translated as “happen.”  Because this word is missing in the Masoretic and because Matthew’s quotation is identical to the Septuagint, he follows the Septuagint’s reading.

[Verses: 8.  Both: 0.  LXX: 4.  MT: 2.]

MATTHEW 4:7

Matthew 4:7 is about Jesus’ response to Satan’s temptation.  It reads,

You shall not make trial of the Lord your God.  (Matt 4:7 (ASV))

This is a quotation from Deuteronomy 6:16.  The Masoretic reads,

You shall not tempt Jehovah your God.  (Deut 6:16 (ASV))

The Septuagint reads,

You shall not tempt the Lord your God.  (Deut 6:16  (Brenton))

The ASV translated the word “trial” instead of “tempt,” but these are the same words.  Since all three passages agree, Matthew’s reading follows the Septuagint and the Masoretic.

[Verses: 9.  Both: 1.  LXX: 4.  MT: 2.]

MATTHEW 4:10

Matthew 4:10 is about what Jesus said to Satan when being tempted.  It reads,

You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.  (Matt 4:10 (ASV))

This is a quotation from Deuteronomy 6:13.  The Masoretic reads,

You shall fear Jehovah your God; and him shall you serve.  (Deut 6:13 (ASV))

The second half in the Masoretic says nothing about serving God ONLY.

The Septuagint reads,

You will fear the Lord your God, and him only will you serve.  (Deut 6:13 (Brenton))

Interestingly, though Brenton translated “only” in this verse, it is not there in the Septuagint either.  Both the Masoretic and the Septuagint say to fear God; however, Matthew said to worship God.  For some reason, Jesus said “worship” instead of quoting “fear” from the Old Testament passage, probably because worship is what Satan asked for in the previous verse.  So in this case, the Masoretic and the Septuagint agree with each other, but they are not the same as Matthew’s quotation.  This is because I believe Jesus’ words are intentionally different, He is loosely following both the Septuagint and the Masoretic.

 [Verses: 10.  Both: 2.  LXX: 4.  MT: 2.]

MATTHEW 4:15-16

Matthew 4:15-16 are about when Jesus moved from Nazareth to Capernaum.  It reads,

The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people that sat in darkness saw a great light, and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, to them did light spring up.  (Matt 4:15-16 (ASV))

This is a quotation from Isaiah 9:1-2.  The Masoretic reads,

The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time has he made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.  The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.  They that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined.  (Is 9:1-2 (ASV))

The Septuagint reads,

O land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, and the rest inhabiting the sea-coast, and the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.  O people walking in darkness, behold a great light!  You that dwell in the region and shadow of death, a light shall shine upon you.  (Is 9:1-2 (Brenton))

The Septuagint says the people are walking in darkness while Matthew says the people are sitting in darkness.  Also, the phrase following Zebulun and Naphtali and preceding the Jordan is different between them all.  Which reading is Matthew following?  In some ways neither and in some ways both.  Let’s say that Matthew is following both, pulling from both Old Testament manuscript families.

[Verses: 11.  Both: 3.  LXX: 4.  MT: 2.]

MATTHEW 5:21

Matthew 5:21 is part of the Sermon on the Mount.  In His teaching on murder and anger, Jesus quotes the Old Testament.  He said,

You have heard that it was said to them of old time, “You shall not kill;” and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.  (Matt 5:1 (ASV))

This is a quotation from Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17.  The Masoretic reads,

You shall not kill.  (Ex 20:13, Deut 5:17 (ASV))

The Septuagint reads,

You shall not kill.  (Ex 20:13, Deut 5:17 (Brenton))

Of course, being such a short verse and part of the Ten Commandments, also called Decalogue, we should expect that all manuscripts of Scripture would keep this commandment unchanged through all the centuries and millennia and copyists.  All manuscripts are in agreement.

[Verses: 12.  Both: 4.  LXX: 4.  MT: 2.]

MATTHEW 5:27

Matthew 5:27 is in the very same situation.  In Jesus’ teaching on adultery and lust, He said,

You have heard it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.”  (Matt 5:27 (ASV))

This is a quotation from Exodus 20:14.  The Masoretic reads,

You shall not commit adultery.  (Ex 20:14 (ASV))

Both Exodus 20:14 and Deuteronomy 5:18 in the Septuagint read,

You shall not commit adultery.  (Ex 20:14, Deut 5:18 (Brenton))

Jesus’ quotation of Exodus 20:14 agrees in all manuscripts.

[Verses: 13.  Both: 5.  LXX: 4.  MT: 2.]

The reason why Deut 5:18 doesn’t appear here like it did with “You shall not kill” is because Deut 5:18 is different in the Masoretic.  The ASV and KJV show the different.  There, there is the small mark of difference which the ASV and KJV translate as, “Neither shall you commit adultery.”  In short, Ex 20:14-17 is SLIGHTLY different from Deut 5:18-21 in the Masoretic.  In the Septuagint, they are the same.  This makes no difference in this video because Ex 20 is a sufficient place to find Jesus’ quotation.

MATTHEW 5:31, 5:33

Matthew 5:31 and 5:33 look like quotations from the Law.  However, Jesus doesn’t quote them directly, but refers to them by condensing them into fewer words without changing the meaning.  Matthew 5:31 is a condensation of Deuteronomy 24:1.  Matthew 5:33 is a condensation of Exodus 19:12, Numbers 30:2, and Deuteronomy 23:21.  These verses do not help us compare the Septuagint and the Masoretic because they are not direct quotations.  We will skip them.

Matthew 5:31 is in the same context and begins Jesus’ teachings on divorce.  He said,

It was said also, “Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement.”  (Matt 5:31 (ASV))

This is a reference, not quotation from Deuteronomy 24:1.  Jesus doesn’t specifically quote it.  The Hebrew Masoretic and the Greek Septuagint read the same way in Deuteronomy 24:1 with one exception.  The Hebrew says the man and woman get married.  The Greek says the man and woman live together.  This is inconsequential because I believe the meaning is the exact same, though the words are different.

Jesus is condensing Deuteronomy 24:1 into fewer words and without changing the meaning.  Since Jesus isn’t quoting this verse, it will not be counted.

Matthew 5:33 is about keeping your word and your promises.  Jesus said,

Again, you have heard that it was said to them of old time, “You shall not forswear yourself, but shall perform unto the Lord your oaths.”  (Matt 5:33 (ASV))

Same as above.  Jesus condenses Exodus 19:12, Numbers 30:2, and Deuteronomy 23:21.

MATTHEW 5:38

Matthew 5:38 is quotation which begins Jesus’ teaching on non-resistance.  He said,

You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye” and “a tooth for a tooth.”  (Matt 5:38 (ASV))

This is a quotation from Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, and Deuteronomy 19:21.  Just like with the previous verses from the Ten Commandments, there is no difference between any manuscript.  The only exception is that Jesus adds the word “and,” which does not appear in Hebrew nor Greek.  But this has very little significance.  For example, Jesus could be quoting two separate statements, as it is shown here denoted by the quotation marks.  In the end, all manuscripts agree.

[Verses: 14.  Both: 6.  LXX: 4.  MT: 2.]

MATTHEW 5:43

Matthew 5:43 is Jesus’ last quotation in His Sermon on the Mount.  As He begins to teach about loving your enemies, He said,

You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor” and hate your enemy.  (Matt 5:43 (ASV))

This is a quotation from Leviticus 19:18.  The Masoretic reads,

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  (Lev 19:18 (ASV))

The Septuagint reads,

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  (Lev 19:18 (Brenton))

Jesus just quotes a very small portion of the verse.  And all manuscripts are in agreement.

[Verses: 15.  Both: 7.  LXX: 4.  MT: 2.]

CREDITS

That is enough for now.  But we will continue looking at New Testament quotations from the Old Testament next year.  The next time Matthew quotes from the Old Testament is in chapter 8.

Blessings and so forth.