The “Original” Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls
Can the scrolls help expose the original Bible language within the Masoretic Text and Septuagint?
The Song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32:8) in the Masoretic Text describes the Most High dividing the nations according to number of “the sons [children?] of Israel.” This Dead Sea Scroll fragment (4QDeutj) and the third-century B.C.E. translation of the Hebrew Pentateuch into Greek (the Septuagint [LXX]), however, say the nations were divided according to the “sons of Elohim” (God). What did the original Bible text say? Photo: IAA.
Which is the “original” Bible? How do we decide which of these two ancient texts is more authoritative? In “Searching for the ‘Original’ Bible” in the July/August 2014 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, Hebrew University of Jerusalem scholar and long-time editor-in-chief of the Dead Sea Scrolls publication team Emanuel Tov suggests we turn to the Dead Sea Scrolls to help us compare the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint.
Some of the Dead Sea Scrolls actually have more in common with the Greek Septuagint than the traditional Hebrew Masoretic Text. This suggests that the Greek translators must have been translating from Hebrew texts that resembled the Dead Sea Scrolls. Are the Dead Sea Scroll texts as trustworthy as these other two sources? Are they as close to the text of the original Bible?
The Great Isaiah Scroll is one of the most iconic of the Dead Sea Scrolls, yet it does not reflect the original language of the Bible. Tov calls it “a classroom example of what an inferior text looks like, with its manifold contextual changes, harmonizations, grammatical adaptions, etc.” Photo: John C. Trevor, Ph.D. Digital Image: James E. Trevor.
Some turn to the Dead Sea Scrolls simply because they are older: 2,000-year-old texts were less likely to be subjected to scribal corruption; they should reflect a more original Bible language. Tov supplements this chronological reasoning with a logical—and admittedly subjective—approach: He examines which text makes the most sense in a given context. Tov examines a number of textual discrepancies between Bible versions (Did God finish work on the sixth or seventh day before resting on the seventh day? How were the nations divided according to the number of the sons of God?) in his search for the original Bible.
The Dead Sea Scrolls have been called the greatest manuscript find of all time. Explore the BAS Dead Sea Scrolls page for dozens of articles on the scrolls’ significance, discovery and scholarship.
As an example, Tov asks: Did Hannah bring one bull or three bulls as an offering at Shiloh? (1 Samuel 1:24):
When the infant Samuel had been weaned and his mother, Hannah, finally came to Shiloh with her son, she also brought with her an offering for the Lord that is described in two ways in our textual sources. According to the Masoretic Text, she brought “three bulls,” but according to the Septuagint and a Qumran scroll (4QSama from 50–25 B.C.E.) she brought one “three-year-old bull.”
I believe that Hannah probably offered only a single bull (as in the Septuagint and 4QSama); supporting this choice is the next verse in the Masoretic Text which speaks about “the bull.” I believe the Masoretic Text was textually corrupted when the continuous writing (without spaces between words) of the original words prm/shlshh (literally: “bulls three”) underlying the Septuagint was divided wrongly to pr mshlsh (“three-year-old bull”).*
The evidence of the Septuagint, being in Greek, always depends on a reconstruction into Hebrew, and consequently the Qumran scroll here helps us decide between the various options. Incidentally an offering of a “three-year-old bull” is mentioned in Genesis 15:9. It shows that a Hebrew text underlying the Septuagint once existed in which Hannah brought only one three-year-old bull.
Tov uses the Dead Sea Scrolls to elucidate the original language of the Bible not only because they are the oldest Bible manuscripts, but also because they provide additional logical clues. He concludes: “In finding our way in the labyrinth of textual sources of the Bible, we must slowly accumulate experience and intuition. When maneuvering among the sources, we will find much help in the Dead Sea Scrolls. But they must be used judiciously.”
Notes
* Many thanks to Joseph Lauer for a careful reading of the text, and to Emanuel Tov for clarification. The text:
“…of the original words prm/shlshh (literally: ‘bulls three’) underlying the Septuagint was divided wrongly to pr mshlsh (‘three-year-old bull’)”
Should read:
“…of the original words pr mshlsh (‘three-year-old bull’) underlying the Septuagint was divided wrongly to prm/shlshh (literally: ‘bulls three’)”
Subscribers: Continue on the search for the “original” Bible as Emanuel Tov explores different versions of important Biblical passages. Read the full article “Searching for the ‘Original’ Bible” by Emanuel Tov as it appeared in the July/August 2014 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.
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This Bible History Daily article was originally published on June 27, 2014.
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My friends just believe that Jesus Christ who died on Calvary shed his blood for you, and that by shedding his blood he covered your sins and obey the 10 Commandments. My Jewish friends “Your Savior” has already come and he is coming again! God is a supernatural God and will lift the veil from your eyes if you earnestly prey for truth. Although it is next to impossible to obey “the commandments” at all times in your walk through life, God sent you a redeemer. Christ is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Rejoice for the Angels are Rejoicing in Heaven that the time is near for our Savoir is soon to return “again”. May he open all hearts to this Truth….. Amen!
The word of God would have been written in the language of the original writer! Copies would have been made through time and written in other languages!! The originals most likely, wouldn’t have survived time!! What did survive are copies and so we have something to think and argue about! The word of God still hold’s it’s value as being absolutely the truth!! In the bigger picture of things, are you ready to meet the almighty God !! I just hope to hear him say well done my good and faithful servant, and I hope that along the way I have made the difference in someone life that they hear those same words as well !! GOD bless you all !!
Who are the Isrealites?
Interesting history of course. However, so much competing/conflicting dogma to slog through which is why I posit this: I sit by a tree and sense if, feel it, recognize the tree as, ‘tree.’ Why then would I dwell on dogma of ‘tree,’ instead of simply, sitting with the tree? No dogma. Just, tree as she is, created by a seeding decades ago. Dogma kills the poetry. Humans eat metaphor like hungry jackals and never sit by a tree. This is why, scriptures of any kind, fail. The words of men, lowly men ne’re a deity. Or for that matter, a tree. Peace.
Amen
And oh btw, I just have to remind us all, this is Hebrew hero tale. It is a huge planet with about a million OTHER Hero tales that have nothing to do w/ Jesus. Read the other JC (Joseph Campbell) and learn of heros. Jesus’ life story, myth, PR, historical truths and hyperbole are sacred and worthwhile. But ultimate reality of our origins? No. Walk with ALL the heros. One creator force brought us all into being. But to believe in only one story, is egocentric and ignorant. The real truth, I suspect, is far more incredible than one man dying on a cross. Far more, mind blowing and far too complicated for us humans to fathom. Yet, the death and resurrection motif is so powerful an icon, it alone serves to draw us into a deeper inward journey.
YEP, ALL BIBLES ARE WRONG
Yeah agree
I would love books translated straight from hebrew to english. There is so much kept fron us, but Yahuah is being restored as well as the saving power through his name Yahushua, chip away to reveal what has been hidden from us. Truth seeker
Why change our messiah’s name? Names donot change, westernizing or transliterating his name is blasphemy. Yahushua was not greek or latin or greek
Who inserted the vowels points in this name you suggest is the Messiah’s? Original Hebrew was comprised of a 22-letter alphabet. The name you suggest comes from the Masoretic Text. Before that, the Hebrew scriptures had no vowels. Such as YHVH!! Are you sure the name you offer is spelled with the right vowels?
Indeed, I agree. Additionally, I read recently that the two sounds made by the the ‘YH-VH’ spoken syllables are similar to action of ‘inhale-exhale’. Vis-a-vis every breath speaks His name.
Thoughts ? Does this seem accurate ? (A query to those linguistically more well versed than I)
Thanks
Is our Lord, Savior and soon comng King an idea, fable or the most authentic vessel of truth and clarity to man’s existence? Are the Holy Scriptures just a conglomoration of contaminated writings or the history and future accurately narrated of our LORD’S journey from Creator in creation; to the Babe hiding in Egypt; to the Lamb slain on the cross and finally the conquering King who shall return to judge this world? What about the recorded truths concerning Israel and “those who call themselves jews and are not”? Translations? I’m not going to get distracted by minor differences, what is important is that I know the truth and how it is going to climax and those arguments/differences have no bearing on my eternal salvation. Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Debates , confusion , translation of words and verses , please , we can’t debate the greatest commandment of them all which needs no interpretation no special language . To have LOVE amongst yourselves , to LOVE your enemy. Discussions are great , but some discussions lead to frustration and anger . If we can all master this commandment our world would be a better place for us all .