Other Jewish Scriptures Translated into Greek
Greek translations of the Prophets and other Jewish books gradually joined the translated Torah.
Full Account
After the Torah, additional Hebrew and Aramaic books were translated into Greek. The surviving Greek collection includes the books of the Hebrew Bible and additional Jewish writings whose canonical status later differed among Jewish, Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox communities.
The Greek translations are valuable witnesses to ancient interpretation and sometimes to Hebrew readings older than surviving medieval Hebrew manuscripts. Their differences must be evaluated book by book rather than treated as evidence of one uniform Greek translation.
Historical Significance
The wider Septuagint transmitted Israel's Scriptures throughout the Greek-speaking world and deeply influenced early Christian vocabulary and biblical quotation.
People, Places and Sources
- Key people: Anonymous Jewish translators and scribes
- Key places: Alexandria; Egypt; Judea; Mediterranean Jewish communities
- Languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek