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The Hebrew version of Zephaniah uses creative langauge for the name Gaza by calling the city abandoned, two words that sound similar. The Greek Septuagint tried to keep the similar sound but ended up changing the meaning to do so.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Zephaniah 2:4
Hebrew Bible
3 Seek the Lord’s favor, all you humble people of the land who have obeyed his commands! Strive to do what is right! Strive to be humble! Maybe you will be protected on the day of the Lord’s angry judgment. 4 Indeed, Gaza will be deserted and Ashkelon will become a heap of ruins. Invaders will drive away the people of Ashdod by noon, and Ekron will be overthrown. 5 Beware, you who live by the sea, the people who came from Crete. The Lord’s message is against you, Canaan, land of the Philistines:“I will destroy everyone who lives there!”
LXX Zephaniah 2:4
Septuagint
3 Seek the Lord, all you low ones of the land; perform judgment, and seek righteousness, and answer the things, in order that you may be covered on the day of the Lord’s anger. 4 Because Gaza will be plundered, and Ashkelon will be for extermination, and Ashdod will be spread abroad at noon, and Ekron will be rooted out. 5 Woe to those dwelling in the allotment by the sea, sojourners of the Cherethites; a word of the Lord is upon you, O Canaan, land of foreigners, and I will destroy you from a settlement.
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Notes and References
... Otherwise, the verse does not pose any exegetical difficulties. All versions translate literally except for the Septuagint, which creates a different paronomasia when retroverted into the Hebrew: instead of the Masoretic Text 'Gaza (shall be) abandoned,' it reads 'Gaza (shall be) spoiled.' Targum captures the paronomasia only in regards to Ekron. ...
* 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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