SEPTUAGINT

The Septuagint is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. It dates from the third century before Christ. The "Letter of Aristeas" (cir. 100 B.C.) suggests that this version was translated in Egypt for the purpose of providing Greek-speaking Jews with access to the Hebrew Scriptures. Tradition (questionable) has it that the Septuagint was translated by seventy-two men. The version thus is commonly referred to as the LXX (rounded-off Roman numeral for the seventy-two). Some sections adhere closely to the Hebrew text; other areas are considerably "looser." Nonetheless, because this was the common Bible of the Greek-speaking world in the first century, Jesus and the N.T. writers frequently quoted from this version. See also VERSIONS.