What is the difference between the Septuagint and the Masoretic text?
The Septuagint (LXX) is a Greek translation of the OT made in the 3rd–2nd century BC. The Masoretic Text (MT) is the Hebrew text preserved and standardized by Jewish scribes between the 6th and 10th centuries AD. Both are valuable; they sometimes differ on small details.
Many NT quotations of the OT follow the LXX wording — the apostles wrote in Greek for a Greek-speaking world.
The MT is the basis for modern Hebrew Old Testaments and most Protestant English translations (KJV, NIV, ESV, NASB, BSB). It is remarkably consistent — the Dead Sea Scrolls confirm its accuracy.
Differences are usually minor: spelling variants, occasional verses in different order. In a few places — Psalm quotations especially — the LXX preserves an older reading. Scholars compare both to recover the best text.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.