Paul’s OT Quotes – Antioch

Old Testament quotations in the New Testament frustrated me terribly as I began to study the Bible.  When I turned back to the passages listed in the footnotes and read the actual text, it was often significantly different.  How could Paul and even Jesus quote the Old Testament so poorly and inaccurately?  It was difficult for me to see how they arrived at the understanding they presented.  And it was even more difficult for me to believe that they were correct.

A table follows with quotations from Paul’s sermon at Pisidian Antioch, the NET translation of the Old Testament passage he quoted, and the New American Bible translation of the same passage.  (I was told that the New American Bible was better regarding this issue.)

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Paul (NET/NAB)

New English Translation

New American Bible

1

I have found David

Acts 13:22 (NET) Table

I have discovered David, my servant.

Psalm 89:20a (NET)

I have chosen David, my servant…

Psalm 89:21a (NAB)

2

…to be a man after my heart…

Acts 13:22 (NET)

The Lord has sought out for himself a man who is loyal to him…

1 Samuel 13:14 (NET)

The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart…

1 Samuel 13:14 (NAB)

3

You are my Son; today I have fathered you. [NAB: this day I have begotten you]

Acts 13:33 (NET)

You are my son!  This very day I have become your father!

Psalm 2:7 (NET)

You are my son; today I am your father.

Psalm 2:7 (NAB)

4

I will give you the holy and trustworthy promises made to David.

Acts 13:34 (NET) Table

I shall give you the   benefits assured to David.

Acts 13:34 (NAB)

Then I will make an unconditional covenantal promise to you, just like the reliable covenantal promises I made to David.

Isaiah 55:3 (NET) Table

I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David.

Isaiah 55:3 (NAB)

5

You will not permit your Holy One to experience decay.

Acts 13:35 (NET) Table

You will not suffer your holy one to see corruption.

Acts 13:35 (NAB)

You will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful follower to see the Pit.

Psalm 16:10 (NET) Table

For you will not abandon me to Sheol, nor let your faithful servant see the pit.

Psalm 16:10 (NAB)

6

Look, you scoffers; be amazed and perish!  For I am doing a work in your days, a work you would never believe, even if someone tells you.

Acts 13:41 (NET) Table

Look on, you scoffers, be amazed and disappear.  For I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe even if someone tells you.

Acts 13:41 (NAB)

Look at the nations and pay attention!  You will be shocked and amazed!  For I will do something in your lifetime that you will not believe even though you are forewarned.

Habakkuk 1:5 (NET)

Look over the nations and see, and be utterly amazed!  For a work is being done in your days that you would not have believed, were it told.

Habakkuk 1:5 (NAB)

Items #1-3 are not too bad in either translation.  I’d give the advantage to the New American Bible for Item #2, a man after his own heart.  The trouble begins in Items #4 and #5.  Again I’d give the advantage to the New American Bible on Item #4.  In the NET translation I’m not sure whether God will give the Messiah the same promises made to David or others like them.  And in Item #5 all hell breaks loose, literally.  Paul spoke about the Lord’s Holy One not experiencing decay or corruption, but both Bible translations are about Sheol and the Pit.

Here is the context for Paul’s usage of these Old Testament texts (Acts 13:32-39 NET).

And we proclaim to you the good news about the promise to our ancestors, that this promise God has fulfilled to us, their children, by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son; today I have fathered you.’  But regarding the fact that he has raised Jesus from the dead, never again to be in a state of decay (διαφθοράν, a form of διαφθορά), God has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and trustworthy promises made to David (Table).’  Therefore he also says in another psalm, ‘You will not permit your Holy One to experience decay (διαφθοράν) [Table].’  For David, after he had served God’s purpose in his own generation, died, was buried with his ancestors, and experienced decay (διαφθοράν) [Table], but the one whom God raised up did not experience decay (διαφθοράν).  Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through this one forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by this one everyone who believes is justified from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify you (Table).

This was a rather important doctrine to be based on such inaccurate quotation of Old Testament Scripture.  I was surprised that no one stood up in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch to correct Paul’s misquotes.  While Item #6 is not too awful, apparently the words you scoffers and any mention of perishing or disappearing wasn’t in the original text.  So I was left with the impression that Paul added the pejorative and threatening language.

Later, I learned that Paul had quoted from the Septuagint (LXX), a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scripture completed in Alexandria about 200 years before the birth of Jesus.  Below is a table with Paul’s quotation from the NET and New American Bibles, the Old Testament text in Greek from the Septuagint, and the parallel Greek text used by the translators of the NET.  Both the Septuagint and the parallel Greek text used by the NET translators are available online.

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Paul (NET/NAB)

Blue Letter Bible (Septuagint)

NET   Bible (Greek parallel text)

1

I have found David…

Acts 13:22 (NET)

εὗρον Δαυιδ

Psalm 89:20a

ευρον δαυιδ

Acts 13:22

2

…to be a man after my heart…

Acts 13:22 (NET)

ἄνθρωπον κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ

1 Samuel 13:14

[ανδρα] κατα την καρδιαν μου

Acts 13:22

3

You are my Son; today I have fathered you. [NAB: this day I have begotten you]

Acts 13:33 (NET)

υἱός μου εἶ σύ ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε

Psalm 2:7

υιος μου ει συ εγω σημερον γεγεννηκα   σε

Acts 13:33

4

I will give you the holy and trustworthy promises made to David.

Acts 13:34 (NET)

I shall give you the benefits assured to David.

Acts 13:34 (NAB)

διαθήσομαι ὑμῖν διαθήκην αἰώνιον τὰ ὅσια Δαυιδ τὰ πιστά

Isaiah 55:3

δωσω υμιν τα οσια δαυιδ τα πιστα

Acts 13:34

5

You will not permit your Holy One to experience decay.

Acts 13:35 (NET)

You will not suffer your holy one to see corruption.

Acts 13:35 (NAB)

οὐδὲ δώσεις τὸν ὅσιόν σου ἰδεῖν διαφθοράν

Psalm 16:10

ου δωσεις τον οσιον σου ιδειν διαφθοραν

Acts 13:35

6

Look, you scoffers; be amazed and perish!  For I am doing a work in your days, a work you would never believe, even if someone tells you.

Acts 13:41 (NET)

Look on, you scoffers, be amazed and disappear.  For I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe even if someone tells you.

Acts 13:41 (NAB)

ἴδετε οἱ καταφρονηταί καὶ ἐπιβλέψατε καὶ θαυμάσατε θαυμάσια καὶ ἀφανίσθητε διότι ἔργον ἐγὼ ἐργάζομαι ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ὑμῶν ὃ οὐ μὴ πιστεύσητε ἐάν τις ἐκδιηγῆται

Habakkuk 1:5

ιδετε οι καταφρονηται και θαυμασατε και αφανισθητε οτι εργον εργαζομαι εγω εν ταις ημεραις υμων εργον ο ου μη πιστευσητε εαν τις εκδιηγηται υμιν

Acts 13:41

Except for accent marks Item #1 is identical in both the Septuagint and the parallel Greek text.  In Item #2 the phrase began with ἄνθρωπος in the Septuagint and ἀνδρα (a form of ἀνήρ) in the parallel Greek text.  Both may be translated man.  The phrase in the Septuagint ended with a form of αὐτός (self) and with μοῦ (I, me, my, mine) in the parallel Greek text.  The rest, except for accent marks, are identical, and a form of καρδία (heart) is clearly in both.  And finally, except for accent marks Item #3 is identical in Psalm 2:7 in the Septuagint and Acts 13:33 in the parallel Greek text.

In Hebrews 8:10 NET διαθηκη ην διαθησομαι is translated is the covenant that I will establish; διαθηκη = is the covenant; διαθησομαι = I will establish.  So I am guessing that the beginning of Item #4, διαθήσομαι ὑμῖν διαθήκην αἰώνιον from Isaiah 55:3 in the Septuagint means something like I will establish with you this covenant eternal as opposed to simply δωσω υμιν (I give you) in the parallel Greek text of Acts 13:34.  After that except for accent marks both are identical.

Item #5 begins with two different forms of negation, but after that except for accent marks both are identical.  The final word in both the Septuagint and the parallel Greek text is διαφθορά (decay, corruption) not βόθυνος (cistern, ditch, pit), nor ἄβυσσος (depthless, abyss, deep, bottomless, pit), nor φρέαρ (cistern, well, abyss, prison, pit), nor ταρταρόω (abyss, incarcerate, hell) [Addendum: 8/8/2022 τάρταρος], nor τάφος (grave, sepulchre, tomb), nor ληνός (trough, vat, winepress), nor χάσμα (chasm, gulf), nor γέεννα (valley of the son of Hinnom, hell).

Item #6 displays some significant differences between the Septuagint and the parallel Greek text.  The phrase καὶ ἐπιβλέψατε in Habakkuk 1:5 was not repeated in Acts 13:41.  The word καὶ is a conjunction, probably and in this case.  The closest I could find to ἐπιβλέψατε was επιβλεψητε in James 2:3 (NET), which was translated do you pay attention.  So I assume the text of Habakkuk contained not only the word look (ἴδετε) but followed with and pay attention (καὶ ἐπιβλέψατε).  [Addendum 08/30/2019: ἐπιβλέψατε is the Aorist Active Imperative 2nd Person Plural form of ἐπιβλέπω]  Next, where the parallel Greek text reads και θαυμασατε the Septuagint had καὶ θαυμάσατε θαυμάσια.  I found θαυμασια in Matthew 21:15 (NET) translated the wonderful.  So my assumption is that θαυμασια modifies θαυμάσατε.  Paul said and be amazed (και θαυμασατε) where the Septuagint said something like and be wonderfully amazed (καὶ θαυμάσατε θαυμάσια) or perhaps, and be amazed by miracles.

The second clause was joined by διότι (on the very account that, or inasmuch as) in the Septuagint and οτι (because, translated for) in the parallel Greek text.  (I suspect it has something to do with language construction since εργον (a work) was repeated at the beginning of the next clause in the parallel Greek text and not in the Septuagint.)  In the Septuagint ἔργον ἐγὼ ἐργάζομαι (a work I am doing) follows the conjunction διότι.  In the parallel Greek text εργον εργαζομαι εγω (a work am doing I) follows the conjunction οτι.  The latter is clumsy in English but I don’t think word order has the same significance in Greek.  Finally the parallel Greek text ended with a more definitive εκδιηγηται υμιν (tells you) while the Septuagint ended ἐκδιηγῆται (probably something like, tells of it).

Compared to the other quotations I’ve looked at these differences are significant (and I can’t explain them) but not substantial.  What is important to me is that οἱ καταφρονηταί (you scoffers) and καὶ ἀφανίσθητε (and perish or and disappear) occur in both.  Paul was not as bad at quoting Old Testament scripture as I at first thought.  In fact, this whole exercise leads me to believe that the Septuagint is like a snapshot of at least Diaspora Jewish thinking on the Bible when their Messianic hopes were still vital.

I suspect that no one interrupted or corrected Paul in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch because they all used the Septuagint, or had not yet gotten word from the religious authorities that the Hebrew language no longer meant what it meant when the Septuagint was translated.  Bible scholars and translators today (and apparently since Jerome in the fifth century) prefer the Hebrew text.  I doubt a tradition with that longevity is going to change any time soon.  But as I said before all of these resources are online.  I don’t know Greek either, but with a concordance and a little comparison and contrast among texts one can begin to see through the fog.

 

Addendum (6/19/2015): Jim Searcy has published that the Septuagint is a hoax written by Origen and Eusebius 200 hundred years or so after Christ.  “In fact, the Septuagint ‘quotes’ from the New Testament and not vice versa…”  His contention is that the “King James Version is the infallible Word of God.”  So, I’ll re-examine the quotations above with the KJV.

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Paul (KJV)

King James Version

New American Bible

1

I have found David…

Acts 13:22 (KJV)

I have found David my servant…

Psalm 89:20a (KJV)

I have chosen David, my servant…

Psalm 89:21a (NAB)

2

…a man after mine own heart…

Acts 13:22 (KJV)

the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart…

1 Samuel 13:14 (KJV)

The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart…

1 Samuel 13:14 (NAB)

3

Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

Acts 13:33 (KJV)

Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Psalm 2:7 (KJV)

You are my son; today I am your father.

Psalm 2:7 (NAB)

4

I will give you the sure mercies of David.

Acts 13:34 (KJV)

 

I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Isaiah 55:3 (KJV)

I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David.

Isaiah 55:3 (NAB)

5

Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Acts 13:35 (KJV)

 

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psalm 16:10 (KJV)

For you will not abandon me to Sheol, nor let your faithful servant see the pit.

Psalm 16:10 (NAB)

6

Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

Acts 13:41 (KJV)

 

Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

Habakkuk 1:5 (KJV)

Look over the nations and see, and be utterly amazed!  For a work is being done in your days that you would not have believed, were it told.

Habakkuk 1:5 (NAB)

Items #1 – #5 correspond excellently between Old Testament and Paul’s quotations in his sermon at Antioch.  Item #6 indicates that Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) altered a text addressed to the heathen, applied it to the Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, called them despisers, and threatened them (perish).  Later Origen copied this text into his false Greek text which became the Septuagint, if Mr. Searcy is correct.

The alternative here would be that the despisers could no longer bear to hear this word in the Hebrew text and assumed it was meant for the heathen, after the Greek text of the original Hebrew was firmly established.  Paul did seem to indicate that his words were what was spoken of in the prophets (τὸ εἰρημένον ἐν τοῖς προφήταις).

 

Addendum: August 30, 2019
Tables comparing Psalm 89:20; 1 Samuel 13:14; Psalm 2:7 and Habakkuk 1:5 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing in the Tanakh and NET, and tables comparing Psalm 89:20 (89:21); 1 Samuel (Kings, Reigns) 13:14; Psalm 2:7 and Habakkuk 1:5 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Psalm 89:20 (Tanakh)

Psalm 89:20 (KJV)

Psalm 89:20 (NET)

I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: I have discovered David, my servant.  With my holy oil I have anointed him as king.

Psalm 89:20 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 88:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εὗρον Δαυιδ τὸν δοῦλόν μου ἐν ἐλαίῳ ἁγίῳ μου ἔχρισα αὐτόν εὗρον Δαυΐδ τὸν δοῦλόν μου, ἐν ἐλέει ἁγίῳ μου ἔχρισα αὐτόν

Psalm 88:21 (NETS)

Psalm 88:21 (English Elpenor)

I found Dauid my slave; with my holy oil I anointed him. I have found David my servant; I have anointed him by [my] holy mercy.

1 Samuel 13:14 (Tanakh)

1 Samuel 13:14 (KJV)

1 Samuel 13:14 (NET)

But now thy kingdom shall not continue; HaShem hath sought him a man after His own heart, and HaShem hath appointed him to be prince over His people, because thou hast not kept that which HaShem commanded thee.’ But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. But now your kingdom will not continue.  The Lord has sought out for himself a man who is loyal to him, and the Lord has appointed him to be leader over his people, for you have not obeyed what the Lord commanded you.”

1 Samuel 13:14 (Septuagint BLB)

1 Kings 13:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ νῦν ἡ βασιλεία σου οὐ στήσεται καὶ ζητήσει κύριος ἑαυτῷ ἄνθρωπον κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐντελεῗται κύριος αὐτῷ εἰς ἄρχοντα ἐπὶ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὐκ ἐφύλαξας ὅσα ἐνετείλατό σοι κύριος καὶ νῦν ἡ βασιλεία σου οὐ στήσεταί σοι, καὶ ζητήσει Κύριος ἑαυτῷ ἄνθρωπον κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐντελεῖται Κύριος αὐτῷ εἰς ἄρχοντα ἐπὶ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ ἐφύλαξας ὅσα ἐνετείλατό σοι Κύριος

1 Reigns 13:14 (NETS)

1 Kings 13:14 (English Elpenor)

also now your kingdom will not stand, and the Lord will seek for himself a person after his heart, and the Lord will command him to rule over his people, because you did not keep what the Lord commanded you.” But now thy kingdom shall not stand to thee, and the Lord shall seek for himself a man after his own heart; and the Lord shall appoint him to be a ruler over his people, because thou hast not kept all that the Lord commanded thee.

Psalm 2:7 (Tanakh)

Psalm 2:7 (KJV)

Psalm 2:7 (NET)

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. The king says, “I will announce the Lord’s decree.  He said to me: ‘You are my son.  This very day I have become your father.

Psalm 2:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 2:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

διαγγέλλων τὸ πρόσταγμα κυρίου κύριος εἶπεν πρός με υἱός μου εἶ σύ ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε διαγγέλλων τὸ πρόσταγμα Κυρίου. Κύριος εἶπε πρός με· υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε

Psalm 2:7 (NETS)

Psalm 2:7 (English Elpenor)

By proclaiming the Lord’s ordinance: The Lord said to me, ‘My son you are; today I have begotten you. declaring the ordinance of the Lord: the Lord said to me, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee.

Habakkuk 1:5 (Tanakh)

Habakkuk 1:5 (KJV)

Habakkuk 1:5 (NET)

Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you. Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. “Look at the nations and pay attention! You will be shocked and amazed! For I will do something in your lifetime that you will not believe even though you are forewarned.

Habakkuk 1:5 (Septuagint BLB)

Habakkuk 1:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἴδετε οἱ καταφρονηταί καὶ ἐπιβλέψατε καὶ θαυμάσατε θαυμάσια καὶ ἀφανίσθητε διότι ἔργον ἐγὼ ἐργάζομαι ἐν ταῗς ἡμέραις ὑμῶν ὃ οὐ μὴ πιστεύσητε ἐάν τις ἐκδιηγῆται ἴδετε, οἱ καταφρονηταί, καὶ ἐπιβλέψατε καὶ θαυμάσατε θαυμάσια καὶ ἀφανίσθητε, διότι ἔργον ἐγὼ ἐργάζομαι ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ὑμῶν, ὃ οὐ μὴ πιστεύσητε, ἐάν τις ἐκδιηγῆται.

Habakkuk 1:5 (NETS)

Habakkuk 1:5 (English Elpenor)

Look, you despisers, and watch!  And marvel at marvelous things, and be annihilated!  For I am working a work in your days that you would not believe if someone should tell it. Behold, ye despisers, and look, and wonder marvelously, and vanish: for I work a work in your days, which ye will in no wise believe, though a man declare [it to you].