Who translated the Septuagint and why?

The Septuagint, often abbreviated as LXX, is a critical text in biblical studies and represents the earliest known Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. Its creation is steeped in historical, cultural, and religious significance, providing a fascinating glimpse into the ancient world and the interplay between Jewish and Hellenistic cultures.

The translation of the Septuagint is traditionally attributed to a group of seventy or seventy-two Jewish scholars. This narrative is documented in the Letter of Aristeas, an ancient text that provides an account of the translation process. According to this letter, the translation project was initiated by Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the Greek ruler of Egypt in the early third century BCE. Ptolemy sought to enhance the library of Alexandria, the most significant repository of knowledge in the ancient world, by including a copy of the Jewish scriptures. To achieve this, he commissioned Jewish scholars from Jerusalem to translate the Hebrew scriptures into Greek.

The number of translators—seventy or seventy-two—varies slightly depending on the source, but the term "Septuagint" itself is derived from the Latin word for seventy, reflecting this tradition. The translation process is said to have taken place on the island of Pharos, near Alexandria, and was completed in a remarkably short period, which some accounts suggest was seventy-two days.

The reasons behind the translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek are multifaceted. One primary reason was the linguistic shift among the Jewish diaspora in Egypt. By the third century BCE, many Jews living outside of Israel, particularly in Hellenistic regions like Egypt, spoke Greek as their primary language. Hebrew was no longer as widely understood among these communities, necessitating a translation to maintain religious and cultural continuity.

Moreover, the translation served to integrate Jewish religious texts into the broader Hellenistic cultural milieu. By translating the Hebrew scriptures into Greek, the Jewish community could engage more effectively with the surrounding Greek-speaking world, facilitating dialogue and understanding between different cultures and religious traditions.

The Septuagint also played a vital role in the early Christian church. As the most accessible version of the Hebrew scriptures for Greek-speaking Jews and early Christians, the Septuagint became the Old Testament of the early Christian Bible. New Testament writers frequently quoted from the Septuagint, and its language and interpretations influenced early Christian theology. For instance, the Septuagint's rendering of Isaiah 7:14, which uses the Greek word "parthenos" meaning "virgin," played a crucial role in the Christian understanding of the prophecy concerning the virgin birth of Jesus.

The translation process of the Septuagint was not merely a linguistic exercise but also involved interpretative decisions that reflected the translators' theological perspectives. This is evident in the differences between the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text, the authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible. These differences sometimes reveal variations in textual tradition and theological emphasis, providing valuable insights into the religious thought of the period.

The Septuagint's influence extended beyond the Jewish and Christian communities. It also impacted the philosophical and literary circles of the Hellenistic world. The translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek allowed Greek philosophers and scholars to engage with Jewish thought, contributing to the broader discourse on religion and ethics in the ancient world.

Despite its significance, the Septuagint was not without controversy. As the Jewish community in the land of Israel continued to use Hebrew and Aramaic, the Greek translation was viewed with suspicion by some, especially as Christianity began to emerge as a distinct religious tradition. The use of the Septuagint by Christians in theological debates with Jews led to a decline in its use among Jewish communities, who preferred the Hebrew text.

In summary, the translation of the Septuagint was a monumental scholarly endeavor undertaken by Jewish scholars in response to the linguistic and cultural needs of the Jewish diaspora in the Hellenistic world. Commissioned by Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the project aimed to make the Hebrew scriptures accessible to Greek-speaking Jews and to incorporate Jewish religious texts into the rich tapestry of Hellenistic culture. Its impact on Jewish, Christian, and broader philosophical thought underscores its enduring significance in the history of religious and cultural exchange. The Septuagint remains a testament to the dynamic interplay of language, culture, and faith in the ancient world, continuing to be a subject of scholarly interest and theological reflection to this day.