Understanding the Text
The Septuagint Is the Original Old Testament
Most English-speaking Christians read an Old Testament that has been altered from its historic form and intertwined with translations from the Masoretic Text, a “Hebrew” manuscript tradition finalized centuries after the birth, life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Septuagint predates it, was the Scripture the apostles quoted, and remains the authoritative Old Testament of the historic Church.
Why the Septuagint?
The Septuagint (abbreviated LXX, after the seventy scholars who produced it) was translated from Paleo-Hebrew into Greek in the third and second centuries BC, roughly 250 years before Jesus Christ. It was the Bible of the early Church, the text Jesus read in the temple and the synagogue, and the source of nearly every direct Old Testament quotation in the New Testament.
The Masoretic Text, by contrast, was standardized by “Jewish” scholars between the 7th and 10th centuries AD. While it preserves an important Hebrew tradition, it reflects editorial decisions made after some “Jews” rejected Christ and began to form the religion of Judaism after calling for His death. These spiteful scholars removed or diminished passages that pointed to Jesus as the Messiah who had come and fulfilled all Old Testament prophecy.
When New Testament authors quoted the Old Testament, they overwhelmingly quoted the Septuagint. Of the roughly 350 OT quotations in the NT, approximately 300 follow the LXX wording rather than what later became the Masoretic standard. The apostles treated the LXX as their Bible. So does Sovereign Logos.
Psalm Numbering: LXX vs. Masoretic
If you grew up with a Protestant Bible, you know the Psalms by their Masoretic numbering. On this site, you will see the Septuagint numbering as the primary reference because it is the older and more authoritative enumeration, with the Masoretic number shown alongside for familiarity.
The difference is not a simple offset of one. Certain psalms were combined or split differently between the two traditions:
| LXX (This Site) | MT (Protestant) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1–8 | 1–8 | Identical numbering |
| 9 | 9–10 | MT splits one LXX psalm into two |
| 10–112 | 11–113 | MT numbers are consistently 1 higher than LXX |
| 113 | 114–115 | MT splits one LXX psalm into two |
| 114–115 | 116 | LXX splits one MT psalm into two |
| 116–145 | 117–146 | MT numbers are consistently 1 higher than LXX |
| 146–147 | 147 | LXX splits one MT psalm into two |
| 148–150 | 148–150 | Identical numbering |
| 151 | None | LXX only, prayer of David after Goliath |
Psalms You Know by a Different Number
To orient yourself, here are well-known Psalms shown with both numbering systems. On Sovereign Logos, the LXX number appears first.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness…”
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High…”
“Blessed are the blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.”
“O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.”
Beyond Numbering: Content That Was Removed
The differences between the Septuagint and Masoretic traditions extend far beyond psalm numbering. Entire passages, including prayers, visions, and explicit references to God, were shortened or removed in the Masoretic Text of books like Esther, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Job.
The book of Esther is the most striking case: the Septuagint version contains over 100 additional verses and mentions God dozens of times. The Masoretic version, the one most Protestants read, mentions God zero times. This is not a translation choice. It is the removal of the theological heart of the text.
Why the King James Version?
New Testament readings on Sovereign Logos use the King James Version because it is in the public domain. We believe modern translations like the ESV and NIV are more readable for today's audience, but Crossway and Biblica have copyrighted those translations and require paid licensing to display Scripture online.
We reject the premise that the Word of God can be owned, licensed, or paywalled. Until a faithful, modern, and freely available translation exists, the KJV stands.
How to Read This Site
Every reference on Sovereign Logos uses LXX numbering as primary, because the Septuagint is the older and more authoritative text. Where the numbering diverges, you will see the Masoretic equivalent in parentheses so you can cross-reference with familiar Protestant editions.
For example, a daily reading might show:
Psalm 22(MT: Psalm 23)
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
This is the same psalm. The Septuagint simply numbers it one earlier, as it has since before Christ was born.