Chronological timeline of texts tagged with Pre-Christian Septuagint Usage
About This Tag
Several Hellenistic-Jewish texts demonstrate reliance on the Septuagint (LXX) rather than the Hebrew Bible, indicating its widespread use within these Jewish communities centuries before the Christian era. Writings such as the Book of Wisdom, the works of Philo of Alexandria, and certain Dead Sea Scrolls fragments reflect linguistic and theological influences from the Greek translation, suggesting it was a well-established and authoritative text in the Hellenistic world. These sources show that the Septuagint was not uniquely Christian but played a significant role in Jewish thought and textual traditions before the emergence of Christianity.
Note: Dates shown in this timeline are approximate and based on scholarly estimates.
Back to TagGenesis 32:28 / LXX Genesis 32:29 / Wisdom of Solomon 10:12
750–400 BCE
Genesis 32:28
Hebrew Bible
26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” “I will not let you go,” Jacob replied, “unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” He answered, “Jacob.” 28 “No longer will your name be Jacob,” the man told him, “but Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked, “Please tell me your name.” “Why do you ask my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.
300–201 BCE
LXX Genesis 32:29
Septuagint
27 And he said to him, Let me go, for the day has dawned; but he said, I will not let you go, except you bless me. 28 And he said to him, What is your name? and he answered, Jacob. 29 And he said to him, Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name; for you have shown strength with God, and are mighty with men. 30 And Jacob asked and said, Tell me your name; and he said, Why do you ask after my name? and he blessed him there.
50 BCE – 50 CE
Wisdom of Solomon 10:12
Deuterocanon
11 When in their covetousness men dealt harshly with him, she stood by him and made him rich. 12 She guarded him from enemies, and she kept him safe from those who lay in wait. Over his severe conflict, she watched as judge, that he might know that godliness is more powerful than every one. 13 When a righteous man was sold, wisdom didn’t forsake him, but she delivered him from sin. She went down with him into a dungeon,
300–201 BCE
LXX Genesis 2:7
Septuagint
6 But there rose a fountain out of the earth, and watered the whole face of the earth. 7 And God formed the man of dust of the earth, and breathed upon his face the breath of life, and the man became a living soul. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and placed there the man whom he had formed.
50 BCE – 50 CE
Wisdom of Solomon 7:1
Deuterocanon
1 I myself am also mortal, like everyone else, and am a descendant of one formed first and born of the earth. 2 I was molded into flesh in the time of ten months in my mother’s womb, being compacted in blood from the seed of man and pleasure of marriage. 3 I also, when I was born, drew in the common air, and fell upon the kindred earth, uttering, like all, for my first voice, the same cry.
300–201 BCE
LXX Genesis 2:7
Septuagint
6 But there rose a fountain out of the earth, and watered the whole face of the earth. 7 And God formed the man of dust of the earth, and breathed upon his face the breath of life, and the man became a living soul. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and placed there the man whom he had formed.
20–50 CE
Philo, On the Creation
Classical
After this, Moses says that "God made man, having taken clay from the earth, and he breathed into his face the breath of life." By this expression he shows very clearly that there is a vast difference between man as he is generated now and the first man, who was made according to the image of God. For man as he is formed now is perceptible to the external senses; he partakes of qualities, consists of body and soul, is man or woman, and is mortal by nature. But man, made according to the image of God, was an idea, or a genus, or a seal, perceptible only by the intellect, incorporeal, neither male nor female, imperishable by nature. But he asserts that the formation of the individual man, who is perceptible by the external senses, is a composition of earthy substance and divine spirit. For the body was created when the Creator took a lump of clay and fashioned the human form out of it, but the soul proceeds from no created thing at all; it comes from the Father and Ruler of all things. For when he uses the expression, "he breathed into," etc., he means nothing other than the divine spirit proceeding from that happy and blessed nature, sent to make its home here on earth for the benefit of our race, so that, even if man is mortal in the part of him that is visible, he may at least be immortal in the part that is invisible. For this reason one may properly say that man stands on the boundary of a better and an immortal nature, partaking of each as far as he needs, and that he was born both mortal and immortal at the same time. He is mortal in his body, but immortal in his intellect.
300–201 BCE
LXX Genesis 41:45
Septuagint
44 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, I am Pharaoh; without you no one shall lift up his hand on all the land of Egypt. 45 And Pharaoh called the name of Joseph, Zaphenath-Paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of Heliopolis, as a wife. 46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went through all the land of Egypt.
100 CE
Joseph and Aseneth 1:5
Pseudepigrapha
4 And there was a certain man in that city named Pentephres, who was a priest of Heliopolis and a satrap of Pharaoh, and chief of all Pharaoh's satraps and princes; 5 and this man was very rich and very wise and gentle, and he was also a counsellor of Pharaoh, because he was prudent beyond all Pharaoh's princes. 6 And he had a virgin daughter, named Asenath, eighteen years old, tall and graceful, and more beautiful to look at than any virgin on the earth.
300–201 BCE
LXX Exodus 7:1
Septuagint
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Look, I have made you a god to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. 2 And you shall say to him all things that I charge you, and Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, that he should send forth the children of Israel out of his land. 3 And I will harden the heart of Pharaoh, and I will multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.
20–50 CE
Philo, On the Birth of Abel 1:9
Classical
8 There is also another proof that the mind is immortal, and it is this: there are some people whom God, advancing them to higher degrees of improvement, has enabled to soar above all species and genera, placing them near himself, as he says to Moses, 'But stand here with Me.' He departs to another abode, so that you may understand from this that God counts a wise man as worthy of equal honour with the world itself, since by the same word he both created the universe and raised the perfect man from the things of earth up to himself. 9 Yet when he gave him the use of all earthly things and allowed him to live among them, he did not assign him a power such as he might share with an earthly governor or monarch, by which he would forcibly rule over the passions of the soul; instead he appointed him to be a sort of god, making the whole body, and the mind that rules the body, his subjects and slaves; 'For I give you,' he says, 'as a god to Pharaoh.' But God admits no subtraction or addition, since he is complete and entirely equal to himself. 10 This is why it is said of Moses, 'That no one is said to know of his tomb;' for who could be competent to perceive the migration of a perfect soul to the living God? I do not even believe that the soul itself, while awaiting this event, was aware of its own improvement, since it was then gradually becoming divine; for when God is about to benefit people, he does not take the one who is to receive the benefit into his counsels, but rather tends to pour his benefits ungrudgingly on him before he has any anticipation of them. This is roughly what it means that God adds the creation of what is good to the perfect mind. And the good is holiness, whose name is Abel.
300–201 BCE
LXX Exodus 15:3
Septuagint
1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song to God, and spoke, saying, Let us sing to the Lord, for he is very greatly glorified: horse and rider he has thrown into the sea. 2 He was to me a helper and protector for salvation: this is my God and I will glorify him; my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3 The Lord crushing wars, the Lord is his name. 4 He has cast the chariots of Pharaoh and his host into the sea, the chosen mounted captains: they were swallowed up in the Red Sea. 5 He covered them with the sea: they sank to the depth like a stone.
100 BCE
Judith 9:7
Deuterocanon
5 For you did the things that were before those things, and those things, and such as come after; and you planned the things which are now, and the things which are to come. The things which you planned came to pass. 6 Yes, the things which you determined stood before you, and said, ‘Behold, we are here; for all your ways are prepared, and your judgment is with foreknowledge.’ 7 For, behold, the Assyrians are multiplied in their power. They are exalted with horse and rider. They were proud of the strength of their footmen. They have trusted in shield, spear, bow, and sling. They don’t know that you are the Lord who breaks the battles. ‘The Lord’ is your name. 8 Break their strength in your power, and bring down their force in your wrath; for they intend to profane your sanctuary, and to defile the tabernacle where your glorious name rests, and to destroy the horn of your altar with the sword. 9 Look at their pride, and send your wrath upon their heads. Give into my hand, which am a widow, the might that I have conceived.
300–201 BCE
LXX Exodus 15:3
Septuagint
1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song to God, and spoke, saying, Let us sing to the Lord, for he is very greatly glorified: horse and rider he has thrown into the sea. 2 He was to me a helper and protector for salvation: this is my God and I will glorify him; my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3 The Lord crushing wars, the Lord is his name. 4 He has cast the chariots of Pharaoh and his host into the sea, the chosen mounted captains: they were swallowed up in the Red Sea. 5 He covered them with the sea: they sank to the depth like a stone.
100 BCE
Judith 16:2
Deuterocanon
1 Judith said, “Begin a song to my God with timbrels. Sing to my Lord with cymbals. Make melody to him with psalm and praise. Exalt him, and call upon his name. 2 For the Lord is the God that crushes battles. For in his armies in the midst of the people, he delivered me out of the hand of those who persecuted me. 3 Asshur came out of the mountains from the north. He came with ten thousands of his army. Its multitude stopped the torrents. Their horsemen covered the hills. 4 He said that he would burn up my borders, kill my young men with the sword, throw my nursing children to the ground, give my infants up as prey, and make my virgins a plunder.
300–201 BCE
LXX Exodus 24:10
Septuagint
9 And Moses went up, and Aaron, and Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. 10 And they saw the place where the God of Israel stood; and under his feet was as it were a work of sapphire slabs, and as it were the appearance of the firmament of heaven in its purity. 11 And of the chosen ones of Israel there was not even one missing, and they appeared in the place of God, and ate and drank.
20–50 CE
Philo, On the Confusion of Tongues 1:96
Classical
95 But it is the distinctive mark of those who serve the living God neither to concern themselves with the work of cup-bearers, or bakers, or cooks, or any other earthly employments, nor to trouble themselves about arranging or adorning their bodies like bricks, but to mount up with their reason to the height of heaven, having chosen Moses, the type of the race which loves God, to be the guide of their path; 96 for then "they will see the place which is visible," on which the unchangeable and unalterable God stands; and the footstool beneath his feet, which is, as it were, a work of sapphire stone, and, as it were, a resemblance to the firmament of heaven, namely, the world perceptible by the outward senses, which he describes allegorically by these figures. 97 For it is very fitting for those who have formed a fellowship for learning to desire to see him; and, if they are unable to do that, at least to see his image, the most sacred word, and, next to that, the most perfect work of all the things perceptible by the outward senses, namely, the world? For to philosophise is nothing other than to desire to see things accurately.
300–201 BCE
LXX Numbers 11:7
Septuagint
5 We remember the fish, which we ate in Egypt freely; and the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our soul is dried up; our eyes turn to nothing but to the manna. 7 And the manna is as coriander seed, and the appearance of it the appearance of hoarfrost. 8 And the people went through the field, and gathered, and ground it in the mill, or pounded it in a mortar, and baked it in a pan, and made cakes of it; and the sweetness of it was as the taste of wafer made with oil. 9 And when the dew came upon the camp by night, the manna came down upon it.
50 BCE – 50 CE
Wisdom of Solomon 16:22
Deuterocanon
20 Instead of these things, you gave your people angels’ food to eat, and you provided ready-to-eat bread for them from heaven without toil, having the virtue of every pleasant flavor, and agreeable to every taste. 21 For your nature showed your sweetness toward your children, while that bread, serving the desire of the eater, changed itself according to every man’s choice. 22 But snow and ice endured fire, and didn’t melt, that people might know that fire was destroying the fruits of the enemies, burning in the hail and flashing in the rains; 23 and that this fire, again, in order that righteous people may be nourished, has even forgotten its own power. 24 For the creation, ministering to you, its maker, strains its force against the unrighteous for punishment and in kindness, slackens it on behalf of those who trust in you.
300–201 BCE
LXX Deuteronomy 33:3
Septuagint
2 And he said, The Lord has come from Sinai, and has appeared from Seir to us, and has hastened out of the mount of Paran, with the ten thousands of Kadesh; on his right hand were his angels with him. 3 And he spared his people, and all his sanctified ones are under your hands; and they are under you; and he received of his words 4 the law which Moses charged us, an inheritance to the assemblies of Jacob.
19–100 CE
4 Maccabees 17:19
Pseudepigrapha
18 and because of it they now stand beside the divine throne and live the life of the blessed age. 19 For Moses says, “All the saints are under your hands.” 20 These, then, who have been consecrated for God’s sake, are honored not only with this honor, but also because through them the enemy did not overpower our nation,
300–201 BCE
LXX Deuteronomy 33:4
Septuagint
2 And he said, The Lord has come from Sinai, and has appeared from Seir to us, and has hastened out of the mount of Paran, with the ten thousands of Kadesh; on his right hand were his angels with him. 3 And he spared his people, and all his sanctified ones are under your hands; and they are under you; and he received of his words 4 the law which Moses charged us, an inheritance to the assemblies of Jacob. 5 And he shall be prince with the beloved one, when the princes of the people are gathered together with the tribes of Israel. 6 Let Reuben live, and not die; and let him be many in number.
195–180 BCE
Sirach 24:23
Deuterocanon
22 He who obeys me will not be ashamed. Those who work with me will not sin.” 23 All these things are the book of the covenant of the Most High God, the law which Moses commanded us for an inheritance for the assemblies of Jacob. 25 It is he who makes wisdom abundant, as Pishon, and as Tigris in the days of first fruits. 26 He makes understanding full as the Euphrates, and as the Jordan in the days of harvest, 27 who makes instruction shine forth as the light, as Gihon in the days of vintage.
100–1 BCE
LXX Psalm 15:5
Septuagint
4 Their weaknesses have been multiplied; afterward they hastened. I will by no means assemble their bloody meetings, neither will I make mention of their names with my lips. 5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: you are he that restores my inheritance to me. 6 The lines have fallen to me in the best places, yes, I have a most excellent heritage.
50 BCE – 50 CE
Wisdom of Solomon 2:9
Deuterocanon
8 Let’s crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither. 9 Let none of us go without his share in our proud revelry. Let’s leave tokens of mirth everywhere, because this is our portion, and this is our lot. 10 Let’s oppress the righteous poor. Let’s not spare the widow, nor regard the gray hair of the old man.
100–1 BCE
LXX Psalm 77:25
Septuagint
23 Yet he commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, 24 and rained upon them manna to eat, and gave them the bread of heaven. 25 Man ate angels' bread; he sent them provision to the full. 26 He removed the south wind from heaven; and by his might he brought in the southwest wind. 27 And he rained upon them flesh like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the seas.
50 BCE – 50 CE
Wisdom of Solomon 16:20
Deuterocanon
18 For at one time the flame was restrained, that it might not burn up the creatures sent against the ungodly, but that these themselves as they looked might see that they were chased by the judgment of God. 19 At another time even in the midst of water it burns more intensely than fire, that it may destroy the produce of an unrighteous land. 20 Instead of these things, you gave your people angels’ food to eat, and you provided ready-to-eat bread for them from heaven without toil, having the virtue of every pleasant flavor, and agreeable to every taste. 21 For your nature showed your sweetness toward your children, while that bread, serving the desire of the eater, changed itself according to every man’s choice. 22 But snow and ice endured fire, and didn’t melt, that people might know that fire was destroying the fruits of the enemies, burning in the hail and flashing in the rains;
100–1 BCE
LXX Proverbs 3:15
Septuagint
13 Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence. 14 For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver. 15 And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value. 16 For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: 16a out of her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.
50 BCE – 50 CE
Wisdom of Solomon 6:12
Deuterocanon
10 For those who have kept the things that are holy in holiness will be made holy. Those who have been taught them will find what to say in defense. 11 Therefore set your desire on my words. Long for them, and you will be instructed. 12 Wisdom is radiant and doesn’t fade away; and is easily seen by those who love her, and found by those who seek her. 13 She anticipates those who desire her, making herself known. 14 He who rises up early to seek her won’t have difficulty, for he will find her sitting at his gates.
100–1 BCE
LXX Ecclesiastes 8:15
Septuagint
13 but it shall not be well with the ungodly, and he shall not prolong his days, which are as a shadow; since he does not fear before God. 14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there are righteous persons to whom it happens according to the doing of the ungodly; and there are ungodly men, to whom it happens according to the doing of the just: I said, This is also vanity. 15 Then I praised mirth, because there is no good for a man under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry: and this shall attend him in his labor all the days of his life, which God has given him under the sun. 16 Then I set my heart to know wisdom, and to perceive the trouble that was done upon the earth: for there is that neither by day nor night sees sleep with his eyes.
225–175 BCE
Tobit 7:10
Deuterocanon
8 and Edna his wife wept for him, and Sarah their daughter also wept. 9 And he killed a ram of the flock and received them gladly. And when they had bathed, and washed their hands and laid them down to dine, Tobias said to Raphael, Brother Azarias, speak to Raguel that he give me Sarah my sister. 10 And Raguel heard the word and said to the young man, Eat and drink, and make merry this night: for there is no man to whom it belongs to take Sarah my daughter except you, brother; and likewise, further, I have not power to give her to another man than you, because you are my nearest kin. Yes, truly, I will show you the truth, lad.
100–1 BCE
LXX Isaiah 3:10
Septuagint
8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judea has fallen, and their tongues have spoken with iniquity, disobedient as they are toward the Lord; therefore now their glory has been brought low. 9 And the shame of their face has withstood them, and they have proclaimed their sin as Sodom, and made it manifest. Woe to their soul, for they have devised an evil counsel against themselves, 10 saying, Let us bind the just, for he is burdensome to us: therefore they will eat the fruits of their works. 11 Woe to the transgressor! evils shall happen to him according to the works of his hands. 12 my people, your exactors strip you, and extortioners rule over you: my people, they that pronounce you blessed lead you astray, and pervert the path of your feet.
50 BCE – 50 CE
Wisdom of Solomon 2:12
Deuterocanon
10 Let’s oppress the righteous poor. Let’s not spare the widow, nor regard the gray hair of the old man. 11 But let our strength be a law of righteousness; for that which is weak is proven useless. 12 But let’s lie in wait for the righteous man, because he annoys us, is contrary to our works, reproaches us with sins against the law, and charges us with sins against our training. 13 He professes to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord. 14 He became to us a reproof of our thoughts.
100–1 BCE
LXX Isaiah 11:6
Septuagint
5 And he shall have his waist bound with righteousness, and his sides clothed with truth. 6 And the wolf shall feed with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the young calf and bull and lion shall feed together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 And the ox and bear shall feed together; and their young shall be together: and the lion and the ox shall eat straw together. 8 And an infant shall put his hand on the holes of asps, and on the nest of young asps. 9 And they shall not hurt, nor shall they at all be able to destroy any one on my holy mountain: for the whole world is filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as much water covers the seas. 10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall arise to rule over the Gentiles; the Gentiles will trust in him, and his rest shall be glorious.
150 BCE – 700 CE
Sibylline Oracles 3:788
Pseudepigrapha
786 joy in your age. And he will live in you; 787 and yours will be immortal and wolves 788 and lambs will feed on grass in the mountains 789 together, and leopards will graze with kids; 790 and bears will stay among the pasturing calves; 791 and the carnivorous lion will eat chaff 792 at the manger like the cow; and little children 793 will lead them in bonds; for he will make beasts 794 helpless on earth. With babies will fall asleep 795 serpents, along with asps, and do no harm; for the hand of God will be over them.
100–1 BCE
LXX Isaiah 28:16
Septuagint
14 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you afflicted men, and you princes of this people that is in Jerusalem. 15 Because you have said, We have made a covenant with Hades, and agreements with death; if the rushing storm should pass, it shall not come upon us: we have made falsehood our hope, and by falsehood we will be protected: 16 Therefore thus says the Lord, Look, I lay for the foundations of Zion a costly stone, a choice, a corner-stone, a precious stone, for its foundations; and he that believes on him shall by no means be ashamed. 17 And I will cause judgment to be for hope, and my compassion shall be for just measures, and you that trust vainly in falsehood: for the storm shall by no means pass by you, 18 except it also take away your covenant of death, and your trust in Hades shall by no means stand: if the rushing storm should come upon you, you shall be beaten down by it.
195–180 BCE
Sirach 24:22
Deuterocanon
21 Those who eat me will be hungry for more. Those who drink me will be thirsty for more. 22 He who obeys me will not be ashamed. Those who work with me will not sin.” 23 All these things are the book of the covenant of the Most High God, the law which Moses commanded us for an inheritance for the assemblies of Jacob. 25 It is he who makes wisdom abundant, as Pishon, and as Tigris in the days of first fruits. 26 He makes understanding full as the Euphrates, and as the Jordan in the days of harvest,
100–1 BCE
LXX Isaiah 43:2
Septuagint
1 And now thus says the Lord God that made you, Jacob, and formed you, Israel, Do not fear: for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are mine. 2 And if you pass through water, I am with you; and the rivers shall not overflow you: and if you go through fire, you shall not be burned; the flame shall not burn you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, that saves you: I have made Egypt and Ethiopia your ransom, and given Syene for you.
19–100 CE
4 Maccabees 18:14
Pseudepigrapha
13 He praised Daniel in the lions’ den and called him blessed. 14 He reminded you of the scripture of Isaiah that says, “Even if you pass through fire, the flame will not burn you.” 15 He sang to you the words of David the psalmist, who says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.”
100–1 BCE
LXX Zechariah 6:12
Septuagint
11 And you shall take silver and gold, and make crowns, and you shall put them upon the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak the high priest; 12 and you shall say to him, Thus says the Lord Almighty; Look at the man whose name is The Rising Sun; and he shall rise up from beneath him, and build the house of the Lord. 13 And he shall receive power, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and there shall be a priest on his right hand, and a peaceful counsel shall be between them both.
20–50 CE
Philo, On the Confusion of Tongues 1:62
Classical
61 Here is an example of the former kind: "And God planted a paradise in Eden, toward the East," not of terrestrial but of celestial plants, which the planter caused to spring up from the incorporeal light that exists around him, so as to be forever inextinguishable. 62 I have also heard of one of the companions of Moses saying something like this: "Here is a man whose name is the East!" A very novel name indeed, if you take it as spoken of a man composed of body and soul; but if you regard it as applied to that incorporeal being who in no way differs from the divine image, you will agree that the name of the east has been given to him very aptly. 63 For the Father of the universe has caused him to spring up as the eldest son, whom, in another passage, he calls the firstborn; and the one born in this way, imitating the ways of his father, has formed various species by looking to his archetypal patterns.