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[German Version] I. Translations into Ancient Languages – II. Christian Translations into European Languages since the Middle Ages– III. Translations into Non-European Languages in Modern Times I. Translations into Ancient Languages 1. Translations of the Old Testament into Greek a. The first written translation of the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint (LXX), owes its name to the circumstance that the Letter of Aristeas refers to 72 elders who had come to Alexandria from Jerusalem in order to translate the Torah of the Jews into…

Part of 13–17 Five Scrolls - 13–17.1 Primary Translations - 13–17.1.1 Septuagint13–17.1.1.2.1 BackgroundAccepted into the canon of Jewish Scriptures at a late date owing to its allegorical interpretation, this secular love dialogue still attested in the popular Jewish feasts of the time was classified among those Hebrew books that defile the hands (1.1.2.1.4), i.e. among the Megilloth.1 In the Greek Bible, this book concludes the Solomonic trilogy, following Proverbs and Qohelet.13–17.1.1.2.2 Original FormIt is generally agreed that the Greek translation of Canticle…

Part of 13–17 Five Scrolls - 13–17.1 Primary Translations - 13–17.1.1 Septuagint13–17.1.1.1.1 BackgroundThe book of Ruth recounts the story of a young foreign woman from Moab who would become the ancestor of David, the second king of Israel. In the Hebrew Bible, the book of Ruth is included among the Writings (Ketuvim) and – detached from any historical context – forms part of the five liturgical scrolls or Megilloth (Ruth, Canticles, Qohelet, Lamentations, and Esther). In the Greek Bible, this historical n…

Part of 13–17 Five Scrolls - 13–17.1 Primary Translations - 13–17.1.1 Septuagint13–17.1.1.3.1 BackgroundἘκκλησιάστης “Ecclesiast” is derived from ἐκκλησία “assembly.” This translation of the original Hebrew name Qohelet (Qoh 1:1), itself a word of uncertain origin, is thought to designate a member of the assembly or, more likely, the one who speaks publicly, and whom Jerome refers to as the contionator, i.e., the “preacher.” Consisting of “sayings” (ῥήματα), this peculiar book expounds the teaching of the Ecclesiast, the result of a somewhat disillusion…

Part of 13–17 Five Scrolls - 13–17.1 Primary Translations - 13–17.1.1 Septuagint13–17.1.1.4.1 BackgroundIn lxx, Lamentations is attached to the prophetic book of Jeremiah (7.3) along with Baruch (ii.2.1.2) and the Letter of Jeremiah (ii.2.4.2), whereas the Hebrew Bible includes it among the Writings (Ketuvim), as one of the five Megilloth read during the five major Jewish festivals. The preamble, which is found solely in the Greek text, is indeed explicit in assigning the authorship of this lamentation over the destruction of J…

Part of 4 Judges 4.3.1 BackgroundIn lxx, the book of Judges follows upon Joshua as the second of the historical books that are known as the Former Prophets in Jewish tradition. In Greek, an important addendum of fifteen lines at the end of Joshua 24 is taken as evidence of an older version of the Hebrew text which, according to Rofé,1 would mark a close link between these two books, notably between Josh 24:33 and Judg 3:12; in mt-Judg (4.2.2), the first two chapters are believed to have been added as a historical-philosophical introduction to the book. The Damascus Document (cd v:1–5) attests …