What is the name of the main source for Old Testament translations besides the Septuagint?

The other primary textual basis for Old Testament translations is the Masoretic Text (MT). The Septuagint is an ancient Greek translation, whereas the Masoretic Text preserves the Hebrew text of Scripture, upon which most modern translations are based.

When a Bible description notes that the Old Testament is translated "from the Septuagint," it refers to a translation from the ancient Greek version, known as the LXX ("the seventy"). Far more often, however, modern translators work primarily from the Hebrew text, known as the Masoretic Text. These are not two different Old Testaments, nor is there any reason to pit them against each other; they are vital witnesses to the ancient biblical text that help us convey God's Word with greater accuracy.

What is the Masoretic Text?

The Masoretic Text is the traditionally preserved Hebrew text of the Old Testament books. It is abbreviated as MT, from the English term Masoretic Text. Ancient Hebrew script recorded mostly consonants. This meant that someone unfamiliar with the language and its established reading tradition might pronounce certain words differently.

Roughly between the 6th and 10th centuries AD, Jewish scribes known as the Masoretes meticulously standardized the textual tradition. They added vowel pointings, accents, textual divisions, and specialized notes. Their goal was not to create a new text, but to preserve as accurately as possible the inherited text and the way it was read.

Particularly renowned are the manuscripts associated with the Ben Asher and Ben Naphtali families. Ancient codices, notably the Aleppo Codex and the Leningrad Codex, are essential for modern translations. Scholarly editions of the Hebrew Bible are compiled based on these manuscripts.

How the Masoretic Text differs from the Septuagint

The Septuagint, or LXX, is a translation of the Old Testament into ancient Greek, which began several centuries before the birth of Christ. It was especially significant for the Greek-speaking Jews of the Diaspora and, later, for the early Christian Church.

The Masoretic Text, on the other hand, is written predominantly in Hebrew, with small portions in Aramaic. Therefore, when people speak of translating the Old Testament "from the original," they most often mean translating from the Hebrew Masoretic Text, although a conscientious translator will also compare other ancient witnesses.

The apostle Paul reminds us that the revelations of God were entrusted to the Jewish people:

“Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.” Rom 3:2

This passage is not a technical dissertation on manuscripts, but it illustrates an important biblical principle: God acted in history and entrusted His Word to specific people who were called to safeguard and transmit it.

Why differences sometimes exist between texts

In the vast majority of cases, the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint convey the very same meaning. Occasionally, however, there are differences in phrasing, word order, numbers, proper names, or even the length of particular passages. The reasons for this can vary. A Greek translator might have translated more dynamically, clarified the meaning for the reader, or used a Hebrew manuscript that differed slightly from the textual tradition that later became the Masoretic Text.

The Qumran manuscripts, or Dead Sea Scrolls, have proven immensely valuable to scholars. Dating primarily from the centuries before Christ and the first century AD, they have confirmed the extraordinary fidelity of the Masoretic tradition, while also showing that some textual variations existed in antiquity. In addition, scholars consult the Samaritan Pentateuch, Aramaic Targums, the Syriac Peshitta, the Latin Vulgate, and other ancient versions.

Thus, the words "translated from the Septuagint" do not imply that a translation is less reliable, nor do the words "translated from the Masoretic Text" imply that translators disregarded the ancient Greek tradition. A high-quality translation considers all available evidence while transparently stating which text has been taken as its primary foundation.

How this relates to the New Testament

The New Testament authors frequently quoted the Old Testament in a Greek form close to the Septuagint. This was natural, as they wrote in Greek to the wider world of the Roman Empire. At the same time, they did not teach that God's truth hinges on a single translation's phrasing. Their message demonstrates that all Scripture points to Christ.

Jesus Himself affirmed the enduring authority of God's Word:

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Matt 24:35

Seventh-day Adventists uphold the Bible as the supreme rule of faith and practice. Therefore, questions of textual criticism can be approached with calm confidence, without fear or sensationalism. The presence of varied manuscripts and translations does not undermine our trust in Scripture; on the contrary, the abundance of sources allows us to examine the text with care and see God's providential care in preserving it.

Conclusion and practical application

The answer to the question is simple: the other primary "source text" alongside the Septuagint is called the Masoretic Text. The Septuagint is an ancient Greek translation; the Masoretic Text is the primary Hebrew textual tradition of the Old Testament. Alongside these, translators take into account the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Samaritan Pentateuch, and ancient translations.

Practically speaking, it is helpful to read the Bible in a reliable modern translation, consult the footnotes at the bottom of the page, and, whenever possible, compare multiple translations. Most important of all, however, is not merely knowing which text the words were translated from, but allowing God's Word to shape our character, our faith, and our everyday decisions.

“All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.” Ps 119:160