What is the Septuagint?
The Septuagint (often abbreviated LXX) is the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, made roughly 250–100 BC — the Bible Jesus’ Greek-speaking world read, and the version many New Testament writers quote.
Greek had become the common language across the Mediterranean. Jewish scholars in Alexandria translated the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek so it could be read in the diaspora.
Most Old Testament quotations in the New Testament follow the Septuagint, not the Hebrew text — telling us this Greek version was familiar and authoritative in the apostles’ circles.
It also gives us valuable witnesses to the Old Testament text earlier than the medieval Hebrew manuscripts. Theologically and historically, the Septuagint matters.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.