Following the conquests of Alexander’s army, Greek language and culture became popular in all the lands bordering the eastern
Many of the people involved in trade and speaking Greek were Jews. By 200 BC,
The Jews of Alexandria were fluent in Greek but not in Hebrew. They wanted a translation of Jewish Scripture into their own language. The Septuagint was the result.
The name, “Septuagint,” comes from the Latin title of the book, versio septuaginta interpretum, which means “the version of the seventy interpreters.” That name is based on the story of how the Septuagint came to be written. According to tradition, seventy Jewish scholars spent seventy days making the translation. The translation was made at the fabled library of
The Septuagint was the version of Jewish Scripture read and quoted by Paul the Apostle and other early Christians. It remains the basis of the Old Testament used today by Orthodox Christian churches.
Copyright © 2012 by Steven Farsaci. All rights reserved. Fair use encouraged.