Introductions to the Septuagint (LXX)
For a review of these introductions to the LXX, see my article
'Introducing the Septuagint', originally published in Bulletin of Judaeo-Greek Studies 34 (2004), 20-26.
Buy Books on the Septuagint
Recommended for the beginner
- DINES J.D. (2004), The Septuagint. London: T&T Clark International. [A clear and up-to-date survey of many issues] Buy in UK
- JOBES K.H. & M. SILVA (2000), Invitation to the Septuagint. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic; Carlisle: Paternoster Press. [Helpful introduction to theLXX, aimed at students or those new to the field] Buy in UK
- MCLAY T.R. (2003), The Use of the Septuagint in New Testament Research. Grand Rapids/Cambridge: Eerdmans. [Although focussed on NT, much relevant to the LXX in general] Buy in UK
Advanced studies
- BOTTE B. & P.-M. BOGAERT (1993), ‘Septante et versions grecques’, in J. Briend & E. Cothenet, Dictionnaire de la Bible, Suppl. XII, fasc. 68. Paris: Letouzey et Ané, cols. 538–691.
- CIMOSA Mario (1995), Guida allo studio della bibbia greca (LXX). Storia – lingua – testi. Roma: Società Biblica Brittanica & Forestièra.
- CONYBEARE F.C. & St. George STOCK (1905), Selections from the Septuagint (College series of Greek authors). Boston: Ginn & company.
- DORIVAL G., M. HARL, & O. MUNNICH (1988), La Bible grecque des Septante. du judaïsme hellénistique au christianisme ancien (Initiations au christianisme ancien). Paris: Editions du Cerf / Editions du CNRS. [The most up-to-date scholarly introduction and discussion of all issues – sadly, already out of print, but see online resources].
- FERNÁNDEZ-MARCOS N. (1979), Introducción a las versiones griegas de la Biblia (Textos y estudios «Cardinal Cisneros», 23). Madrid: Instituto de Filologi´a del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.
- FERNÁNDEZ-MARCOS N. (1998), Introducción a las versiones griegas de la Biblia, 2nd edition (Textos y estudios «Cardinal Cisneros», 64). Madrid: Instituto de Filologi´a del CSIC. [English translation: Septuagint in Context: Introduction to the Greek Versions of the Bible. Leiden: Brill, 2000.]
- HENGEL M. & A.M. SCHWEMER, (1994), Die Septuaginta zwischen Judentum und Christentum (WUNT, 72). Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr. [cf. the essays in M. Hengel, The Septuagint as Christian Scripture: Its prehistory and the problem of its canon. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 2002. - On the early Christian use]
- HONIGMAN Sylvie (2003), The Septuagint and Homeric Scholarship in Alexandria: A Study in the Narrative of the Letter of Aristeas. London: Routledge.
- JELLICOE S. (1968), The Septuagint and Modern Study. Oxford: Clarendon, 1968. [An updating of the information in Swete (below), but too dense for the beginner to read]
- MONDÉSERT Claude, ed. (1984), Le monde grec ancien et la Bible. Paris: Beauchesne. English Translation: The Bible in Greek Christian antiquity, edited and translated by P.M. Blowers. Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press, 1997.]
- OLOFSSON Staffan (1990), The LXX Version: A Guide to the Translation Technique of the Septuagint (Coniectanea biblica. Old Testament series, 30). Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell International.
- SIEGERT Folker (2001), Zwischen hebräischer Bibel und Altem Testament: eine Einführung in die Septuaginta (Münsteraner Judaistische Studien, 9). Münster: Lit.
- SWETE H.B. (1900), An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek. Cambridge: University Press. [Revised by R.R. Ottley, with an appendix containing the Letter of Aristeas edited by H. St J. Thackeray. Cambridge 1914] ) [The classic essay on the Septuagint by H.B. Swete, one of the significant critical scholars of the LXX text]
- THACKERAY H. St John (1909), A Grammar of the Old Testament in Greek according to the Septuagint. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- TOV E. (1987), ‘Die griechischen Bibelübersetzungen’, in Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt II, 20/1, 121–89.
- TOV E. (1988), ‘The Septuagint’, in M.J. Mulder & H. Sysling (eds.), Mikra. Text, Translation, Reading and Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity (Compendia Rerum Iudaicarum ad Novum Testamentum, II/1). Assen/Maastricht: Van Gorcum; Philadelphia, PA: Fortress press, 161–88.
- TOV E. (21997), The Text-Critical Use of the Septuagint in Biblical Research. Revised and Enlarged Edition (Jerusalem Biblical Studies, 8). Jerusalem: Simor. [1st edition, 1981].
Bibliographies
- DOGNIEZ Cécile (1995), Bibliographie de la Septante. (1970-1993) (Vetus Testamentum. Supplements, 60). Leiden: Brill.
- BROCK S.P., C.T. FRITSCH & S. JELLICOE (1977), A Classified Bibliography of the Septuagint. Leiden: Brill. Buy in UK
Translations
- Albert Pietersma, translator. A New English Translation of the Septuagint and the Other Greek Translations Traditionally Included under that Title: The Psalms. New York/Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2000. [The first translation of a new series currently in progress, aiming to reproduce a translation of the LXX in accordance with the NRSV. Commenatries on the translation will follow in the future]
- Brenton, Lancelot Charles Lee 1844. The Septuagint Version of the Old Testament, According to the Vatican Text, Translated into English: with the Principal Various Readings of the Alexandrine Coy, and A Table of Comparative Chronology. 2 vols. London: Bagster. [The only complete translation still in print, now in 1 volume]
Commentaries
- Harl, M. (general editor), La Bible d’Alexandrie: traduction du texte grec de la Septante (Paris: Cerf, 1986). [Excellent commentary series in French, still in progress but so far covering: v. 1. La Genese / intr. et notes par Marguerite Harl [et al.] -- v. 2. L’Exode / intr. et notes par Alain Le Boulluec et Pierre Sandevoir -- v. 3. Le Levitique / intr. et notes par Paul Harle et Didier Pralon -- v. 4. Les Nombres / intr. et notes par Gilles Dorival [et al.] -- v. 5. Le Deuteronome / intr. et notes par Cecile Dogniez et Marguerite Harl -- v. 6: Jesus (Josue)/ par Jacqueline Moatti-Fine -- v.7: Les Juges/ par Paul Harle -- v. 9: Premier Livre des Regnes/ par Bernard Grillet et Michel Lestienne -- v. 17: Les Proverbes/ par David-Marc d'Hamonville -- v. 23.: Les Douze Prophetes, 4-9/ par Marguerite Harl et al.]
Links
- Greek Bible Project: Many links for the Greek Bible
- Biblical Studies on the Web: Links to online Journals
- Translation of the Septuagint Brenton's 1844 version (NB allow to load before following links)
Resources: contents
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