Project LXX

Welcome to the LXX-MET (LXX-Modern English Translation) project, a dedicated effort to deliver a literal, modern English translation of the Septuagint—the Greek rendition of the Hebrew Scriptures—exclusively crafted for the e-Sword Bible software. This project faithfully renders the ancient Greek text with precision, utilizing Alfred Rahlfs’ Septuaginta: Second Revised Edition as the primary source. My method emphasizes applying the available graces of linguistic fidelity and theological depth to bring the Septuagint’s richness to today’s readers.

This work will be released free of charge under the following copyright:

Copyright: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

License Summary: Attribution—You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made (but not in a way that suggests endorsement). NonCommercial—You may not use the material for commercial purposes. NoDerivatives—You may not distribute modified material. No additional restrictions apply. 

This work is being released freely for the following reason:

1 Corinthians 4:7 "What do you have that you did not receive?" Matthew 10:8 "Freely you have received; freely give." 

My approach to the LXX-MET is grounded in a literal translation philosophy, allowing the Greek text to speak for itself while ensuring clarity in modern English. I strive to preserve the original meaning and grammatical structure, translating word-for-word where possible, even if it challenges contemporary idioms. Special care is taken with Greek adjectives and pronouns, retaining gender references unless confusing, and geographical terms like "Cush" are expanded to "Cush-Ethiopia" for context. Theological terms such as ἁγιάζω (hagiázō), meaning ’to make holy’ or ’to set apart,’ are elaborated (e.g., ’set it apart and made it holy’) to aid readers unfamiliar with such language.

I avoid interpretive paraphrasing, preserving ambiguities in the Greek for readers to explore. While I aim to minimize theological bias—acknowledging my own as a human translator—readers are encouraged, like the Bereans in Acts, to study diligently and discern truth.

This translation applies a rigorous, text-driven process, blending theological insight with linguistic analysis. I leverage AI tools like Grok and ChatGPT for lexical studies and cross-referencing, but every decision reflects my years of Scripture study and understanding of Greek grammar—verb forms, subjects, modifiers, and syntactical relationships—despite not being fluent. This ensures theological integrity, rooted in a deep knowledge of God’s Word, shaped by multiple readings of the Bible across various translations, including English LXX versions. 

The notes accompanying the LXX-MET apply linguistic precision and contextual insight, formatted consistently with theological commentary and cross-references to illuminate Scripture’s connections. My text-driven analysis prioritizes Greek meanings and phrases, challenging traditional interpretations when they conflict with the text or broader scriptural evidence. For instance, Genesis 1:2’s ἦν ἀόρατος καὶ ἀκατασκεύαστος is clarified as "invisible and unformed," avoiding unsupported terms like "chaotic." These notes equip readers with tools to engage the original language, letting Scripture interpret itself. 

Through this meticulous methodology and detailed notes, the LXX-MET applies the graces of linguistic and theological depth to the Septuagint, making it a reliable resource for e-Sword users. This balance of fidelity and accessibility invites modern readers to explore the Septuagint’s profound context.