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 32:28 / Wisdom of Solomon 10:12
5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition)
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.
3rd Century B.C.E.
LXX Genesis 32:28
Septuagint
26 And he said to him, “Send me away, for the dawn has come up.” But he said, “I will not send you away, unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Iakob.” 28 Then he said to him, “Your name shall no longer be called Iakob, but Israel shall be your name, because you have been strong with god, and with humans you are powerful.” 29 Then Iakob asked and said, “Tell me your name.” And he said, “Why do you ask this, my name?” And there he blessed him.
100-50 B.C.E.
Wisdom of Solomon 10:12
Deuterocanon
11 When his oppressors were greedy, she stood by him and made him rich. 12 She protected Jacob from his enemies, and kept him safe from those who lay in wait for him; in his arduous contest she gave him the victory, so that he might learn that godliness is more powerful than anything else. 13 When a righteous man was sold, wisdom did not desert him, but delivered him from sin. She descended with him into the dungeon,
3rd Century B.C.E.
LXX Genesis 2:7
Septuagint
6 yet a spring would rise from the earth and water the whole face of the earth. 7 And God formed man, dust from the earth, and breathed into his face a breath of life, and the man became a living being. 8 And the Lord God planted an orchard in Edem toward the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
100-50 B.C.E.
Wisdom of Solomon 7:1
Deuterocanon
1 I also am mortal, like everyone else, a descendant of the first-formed child of earth; and in the womb of a mother I was molded into flesh, 2 within the period of ten months, compacted with blood, from the seed of a man and the pleasure of marriage. 3 And when I was born, I began to breathe the common air, and fell upon the kindred earth; my first sound was a cry, as is true of all.
3rd Century B.C.E.
LXX Genesis 2:7
Septuagint
6 yet a spring would rise from the earth and water the whole face of the earth. 7 And God formed man, dust from the earth, and breathed into his face a breath of life, and the man became a living being. 8 And the Lord God planted an orchard in Edem toward the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
20-50 C.E.
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." And by this expression he shows most clearly that there is a vast difference between man as generated now, and the first man who was made according to the image of God. For man as formed now is perceptible to the external senses, partaking of qualities, consisting of body and soul, man or woman, by nature mortal. 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, perceptible by the external senses is a composition of earthy substance, and divine spirit. For that the body was created by the Creator taking a lump of clay, and fashioning the human form out of it; but that the soul proceeds from no created thing at all, but from the Father and Ruler of all things. For when he uses the expression, "he breathed into," etc., he means nothing else than the divine spirit proceeding form that happy and blessed nature, sent to take up its habitation here on earth, for the advantage of our race, in order that, even if man is mortal according to that portion of him which is visible, he may at all events be immortal according to that portion which is invisible; and for this reason, one may properly say that man is on the boundaries of a better and an immortal nature, partaking of each as far as it is necessary for him; and that he was born at the same time, both mortal and the immortal. Mortal as to his body, but immortal as to his intellect.
3rd Century B.C.E.
LXX Genesis 41:45
Septuagint
44 And Pharao said to Ioseph, “I am Pharao; without you no one shall lift up a hand in reference to all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharao called Ioseph’s name Psonthomphanech, and he gave him Asenneth daughter of Petephres, priest of Heliopolis, as a wife for him. 46 Now Ioseph was thirty years of age when he stood before Pharao king of Egypt. And Ioseph went out from the presence of Pharao and went through all the land of Egypt.
100 C.E.
Joseph and Aseneth 1:5
Pseudepigrapha
4 Now there was in that city a man, a satrap of Pharaoh; and this man was the chief of all Pharaoh’s satraps and lords. 5 And he was very rich, and wise, and generous, and he was Pharaoh’s counsellor, and his name was Pentephres; and he was the priest of Heliopolis. 6 And Pentephres had a virgin daughter of about eighteen years of age, tall and beautiful and graceful, more beautiful than any other virgin in the land.
3rd Century B.C.E.
LXX Exodus 7:1
Septuagint
1 The Lord responded to Moses, saying, “Look, I have made you like a god to Pharaoh, and Aaron, your brother, will be your prophet. 2 And you yourself will tell him all the things I have commanded you. And Aaron, your brother, will talk to Pharaoh, so that he sends the sons of Israel out of his land. 3 I myself will harden the heart of Pharaoh and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
20-50 C.E.
Philo On the Birth of Abel 1:9
Classical
8 There is also another proof that the mind is immortal, which is of this nature:--There are some persons whom God, advancing to higher degrees of improvement, has enabled to soar above all species and genera, having placed them near himself; as he says to Moses, 'But stand thou here with Me.' He departs to another abode, that you may understand from this that God accounts a wise man as entitled to equal honour with the world itself, having both created the universe, and raised the perfect man from the things of earth up to himself by the same word. 9 Not but what, when he gave him the use of all earthly things and suffered him to dwell among them, he assigned to him not such a power as he might exercise in common with an earthly governor or monarch, by which he should forcibly rule over the passions of the soul, but he appointed him to be a sort of god, making the whole of the body, and the mind, which is the ruler of the body, subjects and slaves to him; 'For I give thee,' says he, 'as a god to Pharaoh.' But God is not susceptible of any subtraction or addition, inasmuch as he is complete and entirely equal to himself. 10 In reference to which 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? Nor do I even believe that the soul itself while awaiting this event was conscious of its own improvement, inasmuch as it was at that time becoming gradually divine; for God, in the case of those persons whom he is about to benefit, does not take him who is to receive the advantage into his counsels, but is accustomed rather to pour his benefits ungrudgingly upon him without his having any previous anticipation of them. This is something like the meaning of God's adding the creation of what is good to the perfect mind. But the good is holiness, the name of which is Abel.
3rd Century B.C.E.
LXX Exodus 15:3
Septuagint
1 Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to God and they said, saying, “Let us sing to the Lord, for he is gloriously glorified; horse and rider he has cast into the sea.” 2 He has become a helper and protector to me for salvation; this is my God, and I will honor him, God of my father, and I will exalt him. 3 The Lord who shatters wars, the Lord is his name 4 The chariots of Pharaoh and his forces he has cast into the sea. Select riders, officers standing on the chariots, were swallowed up in the Red Sea. 5 In the open sea he covered them; they sank into the deep like a stone.
150-100 B.C.E.
Judith 9:7
Deuterocanon
5 "For you have done these things and those that went before and those that followed. You have designed the things that are now, and those that are to come. What you had in mind has happened; 6 the things you decided on presented themselves and said, "Here we are!' For all your ways are prepared in advance, and your judgment is with foreknowledge. 7 "Here now are the Assyrians, a greatly increased force, priding themselves in their horses and riders, boasting in the strength of their foot soldiers, and trusting in shield and spear, in bow and sling. They do not know that you are the Lord who shatters wars; the Lord is your name. 8 Break their strength by your might, and bring down their power in your anger; for they intend to defile your sanctuary, and to pollute the tabernacle where your glorious name resides, and to break off the horns of your altar with the sword. 9 Look at their pride, and send your wrath upon their heads. Give to me, a widow, the strong hand to do what I plan.
3rd Century B.C.E.
LXX Exodus 15:3
Septuagint
1 Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to God and they said, saying, “Let us sing to the Lord, for he is gloriously glorified; horse and rider he has cast into the sea.” 2 He has become a helper and protector to me for salvation; this is my God, and I will honor him, God of my father, and I will exalt him. 3 The Lord who shatters wars, the Lord is his name 4 The chariots of Pharaoh and his forces he has cast into the sea. Select riders, officers standing on the chariots, were swallowed up in the Red Sea. 5 In the open sea he covered them; they sank into the deep like a stone.
150-100 B.C.E.
Judith 16:2
Deuterocanon
1 And Judith said, Begin a song to my God with tambourines, sing to my Lord with cymbals. Raise to him a new psalm; exalt him, and call upon his name. 2 For the Lord is a God who shatters wars; he sets up his camp among his people; he delivered me from the hands of my pursuers. 3 The Assyrian came down from the mountains of the north; he came with myriads of his warriors; their numbers blocked up the wadis, and their cavalry covered the hills. 4 He boasted that he would burn up my territory, and kill my young men with the sword, and dash my infants to the ground, and seize my children as booty, and take my virgins as spoil.
3rd Century B.C.E.
LXX Exodus 24:10
Septuagint
9 And Moses and Aaron and Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel went up. 10 And they saw the place where the God of Israel stood and what was under his feet just like brickwork of lapis lazuli, and like the appearance of the firmament of the heavens in purity. 11 And not even one of the chosen leaders of Israel was missing, and they appeared in the place of God, and they ate and drank.
20-50 C.E.
Philo On the Confusion of Tongues 1:96
Classical
95 But it is a peculiar property of those who serve the living God neither to regard 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 elected 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 suitable for those who have made an association for the purpose of 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 else but to desire to see things accurately.
3rd Century B.C.E.
LXX Numbers 11:7
Septuagint
5 We remember the fish that we used to eat in Egypt without cost and the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic. 6 But now our soul is parched; our eyes are nothing but into the manna.” 7 Now the manna is like coriander seed, and its appearance is the appearance of hoarfrost. 8 And the people would go through and gather it and would grind it between the millstones and crush it in the mortar and would boil it in the earthen pot and form it into loafs, and the taste of it was like the taste of a wafer with olive oil. 9 And whenever the dew descended on the encampment during the night, the manna would come down on it.
100-50 B.C.E.
Wisdom of Solomon 16:22
Deuterocanon
20 Instead of these things you gave your people food of angels, and without their toil you supplied them from heaven with bread ready to eat, providing every pleasure and suited to every taste. 21 For your sustenance manifested your sweetness toward your children; and the bread, ministering to the desire of the one who took it, was changed to suit everyone's liking. 22 Snow and ice withstood fire without melting, so that they might know that the crops of their enemies were being destroyed by the fire that blazed in the hail and flashed in the showers of rain; 23 whereas the fire, in order that the righteous might be fed, even forgot its native power. 24 For creation, serving you who made it, exerts itself to punish the unrighteous, and in kindness relaxes on behalf of those who trust in you.
3rd Century B.C.E.
LXX Deuteronomy 33:3
Septuagint
2 And he said: “The Lord came from Sinai and displayed himself to us from Seir and made haste from Mount Paran together with myriads from Kadesh; from his right, angels were with him. 3 And he spared his people, and all those who have been sanctified beneath your hands, even these who are beneath you, and it received of his words 4 a law, which Moses commanded you, an inheritance of the congregations of Jacob.
50-100 C.E.
4 Maccabees 17:19
Pseudepigrapha
18 because of which they now stand before the divine throne and live the life of eternal blessedness. 19 For Moses says, "All who are consecrated are under your hands." 20 These, then, who have been consecrated for the sake of God, are honored, not only with this honor, but also by the fact that because of them our enemies did not rule over our nation,
3rd Century B.C.E.
LXX Deuteronomy 33:4
Septuagint
2 And he said: “The Lord came from Sinai and displayed himself to us from Seir and made haste from Mount Paran together with myriads from Kadesh; from his right, angels were with him. 3 And he spared his people, and all those who have been sanctified beneath your hands, even these who are beneath you, and it received of his words 4 a law, which Moses commanded you, an inheritance of the congregations of Jacob. 5 And he shall be a ruler with the beloved one; rulers of people have been gathered with the tribes of Israel. 6 Let Reuben live and not die; he also shall be many in number.”
195-175 B.C.E.
Sirach 24:23
Deuterocanon
22 Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame, and those who work with me will not sin." 23 All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God, the law that Moses commanded us as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob. 25 It overflows, like the Pishon, with wisdom, and like the Tigris at the time of the first fruits. 26 It runs over, like the Euphrates, with understanding, and like the Jordan at harvest time. 27 It pours forth instruction like the Nile, like the Gihon at the time of vintage.
1st Century B.C.E.
LXX Psalm 15:5
Septuagint
4 Their weaknesses were increased. After these things, they were quickened. I will not gather their gatherings from murders, nor will I ever remember their names through my lips. 5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup. You are the one who restores my inheritance to me. 6 The measured portions fell upon me in the best ways. For my inheritance is also best for me.
100-50 B.C.E.
Wisdom of Solomon 2:9
Deuterocanon
8 Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither. 9 Let none of us fail to share in our revelry; everywhere let us leave signs of enjoyment, because this is our portion, and this is our lot. 10 Let us oppress the righteous poor man; let us not spare the widow or regard the gray hairs of the aged.
1st Century B.C.E.
LXX Psalm 77:25
Septuagint
23 And he commanded the clouds from above, and he opened the doors of the heavens. 24 And he rained for them manna to eat, and he gave bread of the heavens for them. 25 A person ate bread of angels. He sent provision for them in excess. 26 And he lifted up the south wind from the heavens, and he brought the southwest wind in his power. 27 And he rained meat upon them as the dust and winged birds as sand of the seas.
100-50 B.C.E.
Wisdom of Solomon 16:20
Deuterocanon
18 At one time the flame was restrained, so that it might not consume the creatures sent against the ungodly, but that seeing this they might know that they were being pursued by the judgment of God; 19 and at another time even in the midst of water it burned more intensely than fire, to destroy the crops of the unrighteous land. 20 Instead of these things you gave your people food of angels, and without their toil you supplied them from heaven with bread ready to eat, providing every pleasure and suited to every taste. 21 For your sustenance manifested your sweetness toward your children; and the bread, ministering to the desire of the one who took it, was changed to suit everyone's liking. 22 Snow and ice withstood fire without melting, so that they might know that the crops of their enemies were being destroyed by the fire that blazed in the hail and flashed in the showers of rain;
1st Century B.C.E.
LXX Proverbs 3:15
Septuagint
13 Happy is the person who finds wisdom, and the mortal who sees insight, 14 for it is better to trade for it than for treasures of gold and silver. 15 She is more precious also than costly stones; nothing evil shall resist her. She is well known to all who approach her, and all that is precious is not worth as much as she. 16 For length of life and years of life are in her right hand, and wealth and glory are in her left hand; 16 a from her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy on her tongue.
100-50 B.C.E.
Wisdom of Solomon 6:12
Deuterocanon
10 For they will be made holy who observe holy things in holiness, and those who have been taught them will find a defense. 11 Therefore set your desire on my words; long for them, and you will be instructed. 12 Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. 13 She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. 14 One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for she will be found sitting at the gate.
1st Century B.C.E.
LXX Ecclesiastes 8:15
Septuagint
13 And there is nothing good for the ungodly, and he will not prolong his days in shadow who is not fearful before God’s face. 14 There is a futility that has been done on the earth, that there are righteous people that it happens upon them as the action of the wicked; and there are the ungodly that it happens to them as the action of the righteous. I said that even also this is futility. 15 And I praised, together, merriment, as there is nothing good for humanity under the sun except to eat and drink and make merry; and it shall be there with him in his labor of the days of his life, for as many as God gave him under the sun. The One Fate of the Righteous and the Wicked 16 Among which things I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the distraction that has been done on the earth, for also in the day and the night there is no one who sees sleep for his eyes;
225-175 B.C.E.
Tobit 7:10
Deuterocanon
8 His wife Edna also wept for him, and their daughter Sarah likewise wept. 9 Then Raguel slaughtered a ram from the flock and received them very warmly. When they had bathed and washed themselves and had reclined to dine, Tobias said to Raphael, "Brother Azariah, ask Raguel to give me my kinswoman Sarah." 10 But Raguel overheard it and said to the lad, "Eat and drink, and be merry tonight. For no one except you, brother, has the right to marry my daughter Sarah. Likewise I am not at liberty to give her to any other man than yourself, because you are my nearest relative. But let me explain to you the true situation more fully, my child.
1st Century B.C.E.
LXX Isaiah 3:10
Septuagint
8 because Ierousalem has been abandoned and Judea has fallen and their tongues are joined with lawlessness, being disobedient toward the things of the Lord; now therefore their glory has been brought low. 9 And the shame of their face has risen up against them; they have proclaimed their sin like that of Sodoma, and they have made it plain. Woe to their soul! Because they have given evil counsel against themselves, 10 saying, “Let us bind the just, for he is a nuisance to us.” Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their works. 11 Woe to the lawless one! Evil things will happen to him according to the works of his hands. 12 O my people, your exactors strip you clean, and your creditors lord it over you. O my people, those who congratulate you mislead you and confuse the path of your feet.
100-50 B.C.E.
Wisdom of Solomon 2:12
Deuterocanon
10 Let us oppress the righteous poor man; let us not spare the widow or regard the gray hairs of the aged. 11 But let our might be our law of right, for what is weak proves itself to be useless. 12 "Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of 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;
1st Century B.C.E.
LXX Isaiah 11:6
Septuagint
5 He shall be girded with righteousness around the waist and bound with truth around the sides. 6 And the wolf shall graze with the lamb, and the leopard shall rest with the kid, and the calf and the bull and the lion shall graze together, and a little child shall lead them. 7 And the ox and the bear shall graze together, and their young shall be together, and together shall the lion and the ox eat husks. 8 And the young child shall put its hand over the hole of asps and on the lair of the offspring of asps. 9 And they will not hurt or be able to destroy anyone on my holy mountain, because the whole eartha has been filled to know the Lord like much water to cover seas. 10 And there shall be on that day the root of Iessai, even the one who stands up to rule nations; nations shall hope in him, and his rest shall be honor.
150 B.C.E. - 100 C.E.
Sibylline Oracles 3:980
Pseudepigrapha
978 Joy in your age. And he will dwell in you; 979 And yours shall be immortal and wolves 980 And lambs shall in the mountains feed on grass 981 Together, and with kids shall leopards graze; 982 And bears shall lodge among the pasturing calves; 983 And the carnivorous lion shall eat chaff 984 At the manger like the cow; and little children 985 In bonds shall lead them; for he will make beasts 986 Helpless on earth. With babes shall fall asleep 987 Serpents, along with asps, and do no harm; 988 For over them shall be the hand of God.
1st Century B.C.E.
LXX Isaiah 28:16
Septuagint
14 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you afflicted men and rulers of this people that is in Ierousalem. 15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with Hades and agreements with death, if a rushing storm passes through, it will not come to us; we have made falsehood our hope, and in falsehood we will be sheltered”; 16 therefore thus says the Lord, See, I will lay for the foundations of Sion a precious, choice stone, a highly valued cornerstone for its foundations, and the one who believes in him will not be put to shame. 17 And I will turn judgment into hope, and my mercy will become weight balances, and as for you who trust vainly in falsehood, I tell you that the tempest will not pass you by, 18 lest it also take away your covenant of death. And your hope regarding Hades will not remain; if a rushing storm comes, you will be trampled down by it.
195-175 B.C.E.
Sirach 24:22
Deuterocanon
21 Those who eat of me will hunger for more, and those who drink of me will thirst for more. 22 Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame, and those who work with me will not sin." 23 All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God, the law that Moses commanded us as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob. 25 It overflows, like the Pishon, with wisdom, and like the Tigris at the time of the first fruits. 26 It runs over, like the Euphrates, with understanding, and like the Jordan at harvest time.
1st Century B.C.E.
LXX Isaiah 43:2
Septuagint
1 But now thus says the Lord God, he who made you, O Iakob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. 2 And if you should pass through water, I am with you, and rivers shall not overwhelm you, and if you should go through fire, you shall by no means be burned; the flame shall not consume you, 3 because I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, who saves you. aI have made Egypt and Ethiopia and Soene your exchange on your behalf.
50-100 C.E.
4 Maccabees 18:14
Pseudepigrapha
13 He praised Daniel in the den of the lions and blessed him. 14 He reminded you of the scripture of Isaiah, which says, "Even though you go through the fire, the flame shall not consume you.' 15 He sang to you songs of the psalmist David, who said, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous.'
1st Century B.C.E.
LXX Zechariah 6:12
Septuagint
11 And you will take silver and gold, and you will make crowns and place them upon the head of the great priest Joshua, the son of Jehozadak. 12 And you will say to him, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Behold, a man; Anatolea is his name, and from beneath him he will rise up and build the house of the Lord. 13 And he will receive virtue, and he will sit and rule upon his throne, and the priest will be out of his right, and there will be a peaceful plan between both.
20-50 C.E.
Philo On the Confusion of Tongues 1:62
Classical
61 Now, the following 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 which exists around him, in such a way as to be for ever inextinguishable. 62 I have also heard of one of the companions of Moses having uttered such a speech as this: "Behold, a man whose name is the East!" A very novel appellation indeed, if you consider it as spoken of a man who is compounded of body and soul; but if you look upon it as applied to that incorporeal being who in no respect differs from the divine image, you will then agree that the name of the east has been given to him with great felicity. 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 he who is thus born, imitating the ways of his father, has formed such and such species, looking to his archetypal patterns.