septuagint: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, academic, theological
Quick answer
What does “septuagint” mean?
The ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), traditionally said to have been produced by seventy or seventy-two Jewish scholars.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), traditionally said to have been produced by seventy or seventy-two Jewish scholars.
The term specifically refers to the collection of Jewish scriptures translated into Koine Greek in the third to second centuries BCE. It is often abbreviated as LXX (the Roman numeral for seventy). In extended, less formal use, it can refer to the text of that translation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both regions use the term identically within academic and theological contexts.
Connotations
Scholarly, historical, specialised. Carries the same connotation of ancient religious scholarship in both dialects.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse, but stable and identical in frequency within relevant specialised fields (biblical studies, ancient history, theology) in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “septuagint” in a Sentence
the Septuagint + verb (e.g., 'contains', 'translates', 'differs')verb + the Septuagint (e.g., 'consult', 'cite', 'analyse')adjective + Septuagint (e.g., 'original Septuagint', 'so-called Septuagint')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “septuagint” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Septuagintal readings
- a Septuagintal phraseology
American English
- Septuagintal manuscripts
- Septuagintal influence
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Primary context. Used in theology, religious studies, classical studies, and ancient history departments. Example: 'The dissertation examines textual variants between the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text.'
Everyday
Virtually never used. An everyday speaker would say 'the Greek translation of the Old Testament' if needed.
Technical
Core technical term in the field of textual criticism of the Bible and in studies of Second Temple Judaism.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “septuagint”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “septuagint”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “septuagint”
- Misspelling: 'septuagent', 'septuagant'.
- Mispronunciation: placing stress on the first syllable (*/ˈsɛptjuədʒɪnt/). Correct stress is on the third syllable.
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a septuagint'). It is a proper noun and usually capitalized.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The name comes from the Latin 'septuaginta', meaning 'seventy', based on the legend recorded in the 'Letter of Aristeas' that seventy-two Jewish scholars translated the Torah into Greek.
Yes, primarily in academic study and by the Eastern Orthodox Church, which considers the Septuagint the canonical text of the Old Testament.
It is commonly abbreviated as LXX, the Roman numeral for seventy.
It contains additional books (the Deuterocanonical books) not found in the traditional Hebrew canon, and there are numerous textual variations and differences in translation philosophy for the books they share.
The ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), traditionally said to have been produced by seventy or seventy-two Jewish scholars.
Septuagint is usually formal, academic, theological in register.
Septuagint: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɛptjʊəˈdʒɪnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɛptʃuəˈdʒɪnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SEVenTY' scholars made it – the word starts with 'sept' (like September, originally the 7th month) and contains the sound of 'seventy' (uagint ~ a hint at 'aginta', Latin for decades). SEVENty scholars for the SEPTuagint.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable. The term is a specific historical reference, not conceptual.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'Septuagint' specifically refer to?