EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 140 books. Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).
Major Critical Texts and Manuscript Abbreviations of the Old Testament
AC: Aleppo Codex AT: Aramaic Targum(s), paraphrases ATJ Jerusalem Targum I (Pseudo-Jonathan) and Jerusalem Targum II (Fragmentary Targum). ATO Targum of Onkelos (Babylonian Targum), Pentateuch. ATP Palestinian Targum, Vatican City, Rome, Pentateuch. B.C.E.: Before Common Era BHS: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Edited by Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph. Stuttgart, 1984. B 19A: Codex Leningrad c.: Circa, about, approximately DSS: The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible; The Lexham Dead Sea Scrolls Hebrew-English Interlinear Bible LXX: The Greek Septuagint (Greek Jewish OT Scriptures in general and specifically used during of Jesus and the apostles) OG: Original Greek (Oldest recoverable form of the Greek OT (280-150 B.C.E.) SOPHERIM: Copyists of the Hebrew OT text from the time of Era to the time of Jesus. CT: Consonantal Text is the OT Hebrew manuscripts that became fixed in form between the first and second centuries C.E., even though manuscripts with variant readings continued to circulate for some time. Alterations of the previous period by the Sopherim were no longer made. Very similar to the MT. MT: The Masoretic Text encompasses the Hebrew OT manuscripts from the second half of the first millennium C.E. QT: Qumran Texts (Dead Sea Scrolls) SP: Samaritan Pentateuch SYR: Syriac Peshitta TH: Greek translation of Hebrew Scriptures by Theodotion, second cent. C.E. VG: Latin Vulgate by Jerome, c. 400 C.E. VGc Latin Vulgate, Clementine recension (S. Bagster & Sons, London, 1977). VGs Latin Vulgate, Sixtine recension, 1590.
Genesis 4:8 Updated American Standard Version (UASV) 8 Cain said to Abel his brother. “Let us go out into the field.”[1] And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
[1] Likely Genesis 4:8 originally included two consecutive clauses that end with the expression “in(to) the field” (bassadeh). It is most likely that the scribe’s eye skipped over the earlier expression ending with the expression “into the field” to the same word in the second instance; therefore, accidentally omitting the quotation. Clearly, the LXX, as well as the SP, SYR, and the VG have been useful in identifying this error in the Hebrew text. The odds are increased greatly that “let us go over into the field” was in the original because of it being found in such a wide number of versions, especially with the Septuagint being one of those versions.
ATO LXX SYR VG “cord” MT “cords” Some cords made from several twisted strands of string were sometimes used as pieces of attire. Judah, it would seem carried his signet ring on a “cord.” (Heb., פָּתִיל pathil [Ge 38:18, 25])
The primary weight of external evidence generally goes to the original language manuscripts. The Codex Leningrad B 19A and the Aleppo Codex are almost always preferred. In Old Testament Textual Criticism, the Masoretic text is our starting point and should only be abandoned as a last resort. While it is true that the Masoretic Text is not perfect, there needs to be a heavy burden of proof in we are to go with an alternative reading. All of the evidence needs to be examined before we conclude that a reading in the Masoretic Text is a corruption. The Septuagint continues to be very much important today and is used by textual scholars to help uncover copyists’ errors that might have crept into the Hebrew manuscripts either intentionally or unintentionally. However, it cannot do it alone without the support of other sources. Genesis 38:25 would be one of those times to abandon the Hebrew text. You have the internal evidence of 38:18 and the weighty eternal evidence of Targums, the Greek Septuagint, the Syriac, and the Vulgate all supporting the rendering “cord” with the Masoretic Text alone reading “cords.”
While the Septuagint is the second most important tool after the original language texts for ascertaining the original words of the original Hebrew text, it is also true that the LXX translators took liberties at times, embellishing the text, deliberate changes, harmonizations, and completing of details. Even so, it should be noted that the Septuagint manuscript of Aquila (Codex X), Symmachus (also Codex X), and Theodotion also read “according to the number of the sons of Israel.”
Genesis 38:18 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” And she said, “Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and had relations with her, and she conceived by him.
Genesis 38:18 Updated American Standard Version (UASV) 18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.
Genesis 38:25 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 25 It was while she was being brought out that she sent word to her father-in-law, saying, “I am pregnant by the man to whom these things belong.” She also said, “Please examine and see, whose signet ring and cords and staff are these?”
Genesis 38:25 Updated American Standard Version (UASV) 25 As she was being brought out, she sent to her father-in-law saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please examine to whom these are, the signet and the cord[2]and the staff.” [See also, ESV, LEB, CSB]
[2]ATO LXX SYR VG “cord” MT “cords” Some cords made from several twisted strands of string were sometimes used as pieces of attire. Judah, it would seem carried his signet ring on a “cord.” (Heb., פָּתִיל pathil [Ge 38:18, 25])
The Masoretic Text (MT) is or primary text and should be abandoned only when the weightiest evidence stands against it. Genesis 38:25 would be an example of this. Why the 2020 New American Standard Bible ignored the evidence is beyond this author.
Other Examples
Genesis 4:8 Updated American Standard Version (UASV) 8 Cain said to Abel his brother. “Let us go out into the field.”[3] And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
[3] Likely Genesis 4:8 originally included two consecutive clauses that end with the expression “in(to) the field” (bassadeh). It is most likely that the scribe’s eye skipped over the earlier expression ending with the expression “into the field” to the same word in the second instance; therefore, accidentally omitting the quotation. Clearly, the LXX, as well as the SP, SYR, and the VG have been useful in identifying this error in the Hebrew text. The odds are increased greatly that “let us go over into the field” was in the original because of it being found in such a wide number of versions, especially with the Septuagint being one of those versions.
Genesis 4:15 Updated American Standard Version (UASV) 15 So Jehovah said to him, “Not so![4] Whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” And Jehovah put a mark on Cain so that no one finding him would slay him.
[4] The BHS/MT, along with the KJV, ASV, NASB, and the LEB has the reading “Therefore whoever kills Cain.” This reading would suggest that God is agreeing with Cain that his punishment is too severe (vv. 13–14). On the other hand, we have a variant in the LXX, SYR, and VG, along with the ESV, NIV, NRSV, REB, and the UASV that reads “Not so! Whoever kills Cain.” In this reading, God is correcting Cain’s fearful rant in his response, not dealing with his being expelled, telling him that his punishment is not too severe. The external evidence is found in such a wide number of versions (SYR, VG), especially with the Septuagint being one of those versions.
Genesis 38:25 (ESV) As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.” So, what are you saying? I’d love to understand.
I chose a verse that really is simple “cord” or “cords” You will notice that the ESV you cite has “cord” instead of what the Masoretic Hebrew text has, “cords.” The Aramaic Targums, Gree Septuagint, Syriac and the Vulgate all have “cord” and only the Masoretic Text has “cords.” Moreover, Genesis 38:18, where the incident first starts, the Hebrew text has “cord.” How much evidence must mount before you abandone the Masoretic Text. This was not enough for the NASB 2020 edition.
Genesis 38:25 (ESV) As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.” So, what are you saying? I’d love to understand.
I chose a verse that really is simple “cord” or “cords” You will notice that the ESV you cite has “cord” instead of what the Masoretic Hebrew text has, “cords.” The Aramaic Targums, Gree Septuagint, Syriac and the Vulgate all have “cord” and only the Masoretic Text has “cords.” Moreover, Genesis 38:18, where the incident first starts, the Hebrew text has “cord.” How much evidence must mount before you abandone the Masoretic Text. This was not enough for the NASB 2020 edition.