The MT has the reading “Arphaxad fathered Shelah” in verse 24 of Genesis chapter 10. On the other hand, the Greek Septuagint (LXX) has “Arphaxad fathered Cainan, and Cainan fathered Sala [Shelah]” in verse 24 of Genesis chapter 10. ... Continue Reading →
OTTC GENESIS 9:10: Is the second “all the beasts of the earth” the original reading of the Hebrew text?
The BHS/MT has the reading “to all the beasts of the earth” in verse 10 of chapter 9. On the other hand, the Greek Septuagint (LXX) does not include “to all the beasts of the earth” in verse 10 of chapter 9. The verbal repetition in the Hebrew test is obviously for emphasis. The Septuagint continues to be very much important today and is used by textual scholars to help uncover copyists’ errors ...
OTTC GENESIS 5:22, 24: “pleased God” or “walked with God”
The BHS/MT has the reading “walked with God” in both verses 22 and 24 of chapter 5. On the other hand, we have a variant in the Greek Septuagint (LXX) that reads “Enoch was pleasing to God” in both verses 22 and 24 of chapter 5. The metaphor “walked with God” would have been deemed ...
OTTC GENESIS 4:15: “Therefore whoever kills Cain” or “Not so! Whoever kills Cain”
Some have argued that it was the versions that changed the reading from “Therefore whoever kills Cain.” so that it reads “Not so! Whoever kills Cain” in order to make a stronger contrast to Cain’s words in verse 14.
OTTC GENESIS 4:8: “Let us go out into the field”?
The bracketed clause “let us go over into the field” is not found in the Codex Leningrad B 19A and the Aleppo Codex, nor is it found in the QT Qumran Texts (Dead Sea Scrolls; Scroll 4Q2). However, the reading is included in older Septuagint manuscripts and in SP, SYR, and VG.
Evaluation of the Hebrew Old Testament Texts and Ancient Versions as to Their Usefulness for Textual Criticism
We are quoting extensively from the Old Testament textual scholars Ellis R. Brotzman and Eric J. Tully in their OLD TESTAMENT TEXTUAL CRITICISM: A Practical Introduction from Baker Publishing Group. However, there are a number of paragraphs that were written by Edward D. Andrews. Christian Publishing House will be beginning a free online Old Testament... Continue Reading →
How Well Has the Old Testament Text Been Preserved?
Discover the journey of the Old Testament texts through history. Explore the evidence behind their preservation.
How Were the Inspired Books of the Hebrew Old Testament Preserved from Moses Down to Ezra?
Discover the journey of sacred texts through centuries: how they were kept intact from ancient times.
How Are We to Explain the Scribal Errors in the Hebrew Manuscripts?
Explore the reasons behind variations in Hebrew Old Testament texts and their impact on scripture.
HEBREW TEXT: Earliest Translated Versions
Versions are translations of the Bible from Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek into other languages (or Hebrew into Greek). Translation work has made the Word of God accessible to billions of persons, who are incapable of understanding the original Biblical languages. The early versions of the Scriptures were handwritten and were, therefore, in the form of... Continue Reading →

