A fresh translation of the Septuagint.
The Lexham English Septuagint (LES) is a new translation of the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament writings used during New Testament times and in the early church. Beautifully typeset in a comfortable, single-column format, the LES provides a literal, readable, and transparent English edition of the Septuagint for modern readers. Retaining the familiar forms of personal names and places, the LES gives readers the ability to read it alongside their favored English Bible. Translated directly from Swete's edition of the Septuagint, the LES maintains the meaning of the original text, making the Septuagint accessible to readers today.
Familiarity with the Septuagint is vital for any interaction with both the New Testament authors and the Ancient Church, for by and large this was their Old Testament. There is then a need to have a good translation of the Septuagint, and this one, the second edition of the Lexham English Septuagint, fits the bill to a T. It is by far the best on the market in terms of both its reliable textual basis and its faithful,consistent, readable translation. I am thrilled to see this new edition out and honored to endorse it. ―Michael A.G. Haykin, FRHistS, Chair and professor of Church History The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky
In the field of Septuagint studies that has been blossoming over the past decade or so, Lexham makes a very important contribution: an up-to-date and methodologically-sound English translation of the Greek Old Testament (and Apocrypha). The LES makes significant steps forward in translation philosophy, accuracy, and readability. Its layout is visually attractive, and it helpfully provides variant readings from the major critical editions of the Greek text without becoming cumbersome. It will prove tremendously valuable to those studying both Old and New Testaments (and the relationship between them), particularly by providing a clearer window on the specific wording of the Septuagint.
-- ―Gregory R. Lanier, Associate Professor of New Testament, RTS-Orlando, Co-editor, Septuaginta: A Reader’s Edition (2 vols; Hendrickson, 2018)
St. Jerome did not reject or disdain the Hebrew text of the Old Testament, and we should not either. Nonetheless, for students of Christian tradition who want to know what the Fathers read when they read their Old Testament, access to the Septuagint is essential. Orthodox Christians, for whom the Fathers occupy a special and authoritative role in their approach to the Scriptures, must be especially interested in the Septuagint. Fortunately for us all, Lexham Press has published a scholarly and readable English version of the Greek Septuagint. This is an indispensable tool for a broader and historical interpretation of the Old Testament Scriptures. ―Archpriest Lawrence Farley, Pastor, St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church (OCA), Langley B.C., Canada
This is a very welcome addition to the translations of the Septuagint. It is sure to be an indispensable resource for scholars and general readers alike.
-- ?Fr. John Behr, Dean of St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary and Professor of Patristics and Metropolitan Kallistos Chair in Orthodox Theology at Vrije Universiteit
About the Author
Ken Penner (PhD, McMaster University) is professor of religious studies at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. He is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, the National Association of Professors of Hebrew, and the International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies.
1304 pages
