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Hebrew Bible
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The Masoretic Text (MT)
The Masoretic Text represents the standardized Hebrew tradition, meticulously preserved and transmitted by the Masoretes between the 7th and 10th centuries CE in Tiberias. Their primary contribution was the addition of vowel points (vocalization) and cantillation marks to the consonantal text, ensuring the correct pronunciation and liturgical reading of the sacred scrolls for future generations. The precision of their work is mathematically impressive; the Masoretes are reputed to have counted every letter, word, and verse in the entire colle… -
Hebrew Script
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Niqqud (Vowel Points)
Vowels are optionally indicated through a system of dots and dashes placed above, below, or within the main consonantal letters, known as niqqud (literally, "pricking" or "dotting"). The primary system in use today is the Tiberian vocalization, developed by the Masoretes in Tiberias during the early medieval period 3.
The complexity of niqqud stems from its inherent ambiguity. For instance, the vowel qamatz ($\text{ָ}$) and the vowel patah ($\text{ַ}$) are visually distinct but often represent the same phoneme in m… -
Old Testament
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Textual Basis and Transmission
The textual history of the Old Testament is complex, involving multiple major textual families. The primary textual basis for most modern Protestant Bibles is the Masoretic Text (MT), codified by the Masoretes between the 7th and 10th centuries CE. The MT provides the consonantal text along with vocalization (vocalization) and cantillation (accentuation) marks, which standardized the reading tradition of the Hebrew Bible.
However, the Septuagint (LXX), a Greek translation dating from… -
Septuagint
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Textual Characteristics and Variants
The relationship between the $\text{LXX}$ and the later standardized $\text{MT}$ is complex. While the $\text{LXX}$ generally reflects a Hebrew Vorlage (source text) similar to that later utilized by the Masoretes, significant textual differences exist, particularly in the books of Jeremiah and Job.
The Case of Jeremiah