Texts in Conversation
Deuteronomy 23 forbids ritual prostitution, with the Greek Septuagint translation adding language referring to Greek mystery cults, showing how the translator reshaped the Hebrew text to fit with later cultural and religious settings.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Deuteronomy 23:17
Hebrew Bible
15 You must not return an escaped slave to his master when he has run away to you. 16 Indeed, he may live among you in any place he chooses, in whichever of your villages he prefers; you must not oppress him. 17 There must never be a sacred prostitute among the young women of Israel nor a sacred male prostitute among the young men of Israel. 18 You must never bring the pay of a female prostitute or the wage of a dog30, a male prostitute, into the temple of the Lord your God in fulfillment of any vow, for both of these are abhorrent to the Lord your God. 19 You must not charge interest on a loan to your fellow Israelite, whether on money, food, or anything else that has been loaned with interest.
Date: 750–400 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
LXX Deuteronomy 23:18
Septuagint
16 You shall not deliver a servant to his master, who coming from his master attaches himself to you. 17 He shall dwell with you, he shall dwell among you where he shall please; you shall not afflict him. 18 There shall not be a harlot of the daughters of Israel, and there shall not be a fornicator of the sons of Israel; there shall not be a performer of mystery rites of the daughters of Israel, and there shall not be an initiated person of the sons of Israel. 19 You shall not bring the hire of a harlot, nor the price of a dog into the house of the Lord your God, for any vow; because even both are an abomination to the Lord your God. 20 You shall not lend to your brother on interest of silver, or interest of food, or interest of any thing which you may lend out.
Date: 300–201 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... The translator here is more aware of context, bringing different passages into line with each other. He is concerned with halakic matters (that is, with the correct observance of the law). Sometimes he appears to 'update' his translation. In 23:18, for instance, he apparently adds initiation into the Greek mysteries to the list of forbidden practices. He, too, translates rather literally and his Greek is less polished and innovative than that, say, of the Genesis or Exodus translators. Other interesting passages include 6.4, where the Shema is preceded by an echo of 4:45 (perhaps associating 6:4 with the Decalogue), and 32:43 (the end of the Song of Moses). This has expansions similar to 4Q31 ..."
Jennifer M. Dines, The Septuagint (London: T&T Clark, 2004), 15.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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