Question

Why was the Old Testament first translated to Greek?

A) To preserve it from decay
B) To make it more accessible to non-Hebrew speakers
C) To correct errors in the Hebrew text
D) To make it more poetic

Answer 1

The Old Testament was translated to Greek to make it accessible to non-Hebrew speakers, broadening the reach of Jewish tradition in the Greek-speaking world.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Old Testament was first translated into Greek to make it more accessible to non-Hebrew speakers. This translation, known as the Septuagint, was important because Greek was not only the everyday language for many people in the eastern part of the Empire, but also the official language of state and the language of the church. Hence, translating the religious texts into Greek allowed the growing number of Greek-speaking Jews and Christians to access the scriptures. Furthermore, this period saw a melding of cultures and languages, with Greek intellectualism remaining very influential, and a Jewish intellectual legacy that provided accurate translations from Hebrew and Aramaic to Greek. This ensured that Greek-speaking Christians had access to a reliable version of the Old Testament.

This translation effort was not about correcting errors in the Hebrew text, preserving it from decay, or making the text more poetic, but rather about ensuring the survival and spread of Jewish traditions and beliefs to a broader audience. It also contributed to the 'mobile tradition' of Judaism, allowing Jews to maintain their distinct cultural and religious identity even when dispersed across different regions.