A Lexical Study of the Septuagint Version of the Pentateuch

This study is also offered as a contribution to LXX lexi­
cography. The detailed examination of individual words and uses
will, it is intended, form part of the preliminary study for the
much-needed LXX lexicon. In addition there are certain general
points to be noticed.
It has been clearly shown that lexical study of the LXX
cannot afford to neglect the evidence of contemporary Greek,
in particular the evidence of the Egyptian papyri. The LXX
vocabulary must not be studied in isolation from its linguistic
context. This is not to say that it will always be found to
agree with the Greek of the time. Undoubtedly the opposite will
be the case in many instances. But it must not be assumed,
before the evidence is thoroughly investigated, that LXX usage
in a given instance is independent of current usage.
It has been shown that the evidence of the papyri does
contribute to the understanding of LXX usage. We have seen
instances in which it throws considerable light on the meaning
2
of a word in the LXX. Indeed in some cases the meaning could
hardly be understood correctly without the knowledge of con-
3
temporary usage.
Furthermore, there are clearly many discoveries yet to be
made about the LXX vocabulary. The treatment of it in the
existing lexicons is seldom satisfactory and must not be relied
on. Much investigation is needed before a satisfactory lexical
treatment of LXX word can be given.
It may be added that in the present study I have given
most attention to the evidence of papyri and little to that of
inscriptions, the editions of which are poorly indexed. But it
is certain that the latter, if thoroughly investigated, would
4
have much relevant information to offer.
2. E.g. άποτρέχω (125ff.), ένοχλέω (66), παράδεισος (53ff.)>
προσπορεύομαι (89 ff.).
3. E.g. αποσκευή (lOlff.), τοπάρχης (98), χρυσούς (63ff.).
4. Cf. the attestation provided by the inscriptions in the case
of έκδανείζω (93), κόκκινος (Ulf.), σανιδωτός (112), and
other words noticed on p,45.
The evidence for βλέπω and όράω (pp.l35ff.) in iii-i B.C.
could, I feel sure, be supplemented from this source.