Masoretic Text

The Masoretic Text ( MT ) is the authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible regarded almost universally as the official version of the Tanakh . It defines not just the books of the Jewish canon , but also the precise letter-text of the biblical books in Judaism , as well as their vocalization and accentuation known as the Masorah. The MT is also widely used as the basis for translations of the Old Testament in Protestant Bibles , and in recent years (since 1943) also for some Catholic Bibles. In modern times the Dead Sea Scrolls have shown the MT to be nearly identical to some texts of the Tanakh dating from 200 B.C.E. but different from others. The MT was primarily copied, edited and distributed by a group of Jews known as the Masoretes between the seventh and tenth centuries CE. Though the consonants differ little from the text generally accepted in the early second century (and also differ little from some Qumran texts that are even older), it has numerous differences of both greater and lesser significance when compared to (extant 4th century) manuscripts of the Septuagint , a Greek translation (made in the 3rd to 2nd centuries BCE) of the Hebrew Scriptures that was in popular use in Egypt and Palestine and that is believed by scholars to be the source often quoted in the New Testament . The Hebrew word mesorah ( מסורה , alt. מסורת ) refers to the transmission of a tradition. In a very broad sense it can refer to the entire chain of Jewish tradition (see Oral law ), but in reference to the Masoretic Text the word mesorah has a very specific meaning: the diacritic markings of the text of the Hebrew Bible and concise marginal notes in manuscripts (and later printings) of the Hebrew Bible which note textual details, usually about the precise spelling of words. The oldest extant manuscripts of the Masoretic Text date from approximately the ninth century AD, and the Aleppo Codex (once the oldest complete copy of the Masoretic Text, but now missing its Torah section) dates from the tenth century. The Nash Papyrus (2nd century BC) contains a portion of a pre-Masoretic Text, specifically the Ten Commandments and the Shema Yisrael prayer. Pope Pius XII on 3 September 1943 decreed the Divino Afflante Spiritu which allowed Catholic translations based on other versions than just the Latin Vulgate , notably in English the New American Bible . A seventh century fragment containing the Song of the Sea (Exodus 13:19-16:1) is one of the few surviving texts from the "silent era" of Hebrew biblical texts between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Aleppo Codex . See "Rare scroll fragment to be unveiled," Jerusalem Post, May 21, 2007 .

The Masoretic Text ( MT , 𝕸, or M {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {M}}} ) is the authoritative Hebrew and Aramaic text of the Tanakh for Rabbinic Judaism . However, contemporary scholars seeking to understand the history of the Hebrew Bible ’s text use a range of other sources. These include Greek and Syriac translations, quotations from rabbinic manuscripts, the Samaritan Pentateuch and others such as the Dead Sea Scrolls . Many of these are older than the Masoretic text and often contradict it. While the Masoretic Text defines the books of the Jewish canon , it also defines the precise letter-text of these biblical books, with their vocalization and accentuation known as the Masorah . The MT is widely used as the basis for translations of the Old Testament in Protestant Bibles , and in recent years ( since 1943 ) also for some Catholic Bibles, although the Eastern Orthodox churches continue to use the Septuagint , as they hold it to be divinely inspired. In modern times the Dead Sea Scrolls have shown the MT to be nearly identical to some texts of the Tanakh dating from 200 BCE but different from others. The MT was primarily copied, edited and distributed by a group of Jews known as the Masoretes between the 7th and 10th centuries CE . Though the consonants differ little from the text generally accepted in the early 2nd century (and also differ little from some Qumran texts that are even older), it has numerous differences of both greater and lesser significance when compared to (extant 4th century) manuscripts of the Septuagint , a Greek translation (made in the 3rd to 2nd centuries BCE) of the Hebrew Scriptures that was in popular use in Egypt and Israel (and that is often quoted in the New Testament , especially by Apostle Paul ). The Hebrew word mesorah ( מסורה , alt. מסורת ) refers to the transmission of a tradition. In a very broad sense it can refer to the entire chain of Jewish tradition (see Oral law ), but in reference to the Masoretic Text the word mesorah has a very specific meaning: the diacritic markings of the text of the Hebrew Bible and concise marginal notes in manuscripts (and later printings) of the Hebrew Bible which note textual details, usually about the precise spelling of words. The oldest extant manuscripts of the Masoretic Text date from approximately the 9th century CE, and the Aleppo Codex (once the oldest complete copy of the Masoretic Text, but now missing its Torah section) dates from the 10th century. The Nash Papyrus (2nd century BCE) contains a portion of a pre-Masoretic Text, specifically the Ten Commandments and the Shema Yisrael prayer. Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible . Pentiuc, Jesus the Messiah in the Hebrew Bible, Paulist Press, Mahwah, NJ, USA. 2006. pxvi A 7th century fragment containing the Song of the Sea (Exodus 13:19–16:1) is one of the few surviving texts from the "silent era" of Hebrew biblical texts between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Aleppo Codex . See "Rare scroll fragment to be unveiled," Jerusalem Post, May 21, 2007 .

The Nash Papyrus (2nd century BCE) contains a portion of a pre-Masoretic Text, specifically the Ten Commandments and the Shema Yisrael prayer. The Masoretic Text ( MT or 𝕸 ) (נוסח המסורה) is the authoritative Hebrew and Aramaic text of the 24 books of Tanakh in Rabbinic Judaism . The Masoretic Text defines the Jewish canon and its precise letter-text, with its vocalization and accentuation known as the Masorah. It was primarily copied, edited and distributed by a group of Jews known as the Masoretes between the 7th and 10th centuries of the Common Era (CE). The oldest extant manuscripts date from around the 9th century. The Aleppo Codex (once the oldest-known complete copy but since 1947 missing the Torah ) dates from the 10th century. The ancient Hebrew word mesorah ( מסורה , alt. מסורת ) broadly refers to the whole chain of Jewish tradition (see Oral law ), which is claimed (by Orthodox Judaism) to be unchanged and infallible. Referring to the Masoretic Text, mesorah specifically means the diacritic markings of the text of the Hebrew Scriptures and the concise marginal notes in manuscripts (and later printings) of the Tanakh which note textual details, usually about the precise spelling of words. Modern scholars seeking to understand the history of the Old Testament use a range of sources other than the Masoretic Text. These include early Greek ( Septuagint ) and Syriac ( Peshitta ) translations, the Samaritan Pentateuch , the Dead Sea Scrolls and quotations from rabbinic manuscripts. Most of these are older than the oldest surviving Masoretic text and occasionally present notable differentiations. Which of the three commonly known versions (Septuagint, Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch) is closest to the theoretical Urtext is disputed. The text of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Peshitta reads somewhat in-between the Masoretic Text and the old Greek. Although the consonants of the Masoretic Text differ little from some Qumran texts of the early 2nd century, it has many differences of both great and lesser significance when compared to the manuscripts of the Septuagint, a Greek translation (about 1000 years older than the MT made in the 3rd to 2nd centuries BCE) of a more ancient Hebrew Scriptures that was in popular use by Jews in Egypt and the Holy Land (and matches the quotations in the New Testament of Christianity, especially by Paul the Apostle ). A recent finding of a short Leviticus fragment, recovered from the ancient En-Gedi Scroll , carbon-dated to the 3rd or 4th century CE, is completely identical with the Masoretic Text. The Masoretic Text was used as the basis for translations of the Old Testament in Protestant Bibles such as the King James Version and American Standard Version and ( after 1943 ) for some versions of Catholic Bibles , replacing the Vulgate translation, although the Vulgate had itself already been revised in light of the Masoretic text in the 1500s. There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ). The Times of Israel . Understanding the Dead Sea Scrolls (1st ed.). Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible . Jesus the Messiah in the Hebrew Bible .

Authoritative text of the Tanakh in Rabbinic Judaism Carpet page from the Leningrad Codex , the oldest complete manuscript of the Masoretic Text. Interpretation Hermeneutics Pesher Midrash Pardes Allegorical interpretation Historical-grammatical method Inspiration Literalism Alcohol Conspiracy theory Ethics Capital punishment Homosexuality Humor Incest Muhammad Prophecy Rape Serpents Sex Slavery Violence Warfare Women Perspectives Gnostic Islamic Quranic Inerrancy Infallibility Criticism of the Bible Biblical authority Outline of Bible-related topics Bible portal v t e The Masoretic Text ( MT or 𝕸; , lit. 'Text of the Tradition') is the authoritative Hebrew and Aramaic text of the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible ( Tanakh ) in Rabbinic Judaism . The Masoretic Text defines the Jewish canon and its precise letter-text, with its vocalization and accentuation known as the mas'sora . Referring to the Masoretic Text, masorah specifically means the diacritic markings of the text of the Jewish scriptures and the concise marginal notes in manuscripts (and later printings) of the Tanakh which note textual details, usually about the precise spelling of words. It was primarily copied, edited, and distributed by a group of Jews known as the Masoretes between the 7th and 10th centuries of the Common Era (CE). The oldest known complete copy, the Leningrad Codex , dates from the early 11th century CE. The differences attested to in the Dead Sea Scrolls indicate that multiple versions of the Hebrew scriptures already existed by the end of the Second Temple period . Which is closest to a theoretical Urtext is disputed, as is whether such a singular text ever existed. The Dead Sea Scrolls, dating to as early as the 3rd century BCE, contain versions of the text which have some differences with today's Hebrew Bible. The Septuagint (a Koine Greek translation made in the third and second centuries BCE) and the Peshitta (a Syriac translation made in the second century CE) occasionally present notable differences from the Masoretic Text, as does the Samaritan Pentateuch , the text of the Torah preserved by the Samaritans in Samaritan Hebrew . Fragments of an ancient manuscript of the Book of Leviticus found near an ancient synagogue's Torah ark in Ein Gedi have identical wording to the Masoretic Text. The Masoretic Text is the basis for most Protestant translations of the Old Testament such as the King James Version , English Standard Version , New American Standard Bible , and New International Version . After 1943 , it has also been used for some Catholic Bibles , such as the New American Bible and the New Jerusalem Bible . Some Christian denominations instead prefer translations of the Septuagint as it matches quotations in the New Testament . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ). Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible . Understanding the Dead Sea Scrolls (1st ed.). "Piece of coal deciphered as ancient biblical text" . 5 October 2016. The Times of Israel . Jesus the Messiah in the Hebrew Bible .

Authoritative text of the Tanakh in Rabbinic Judaism Carpet page from the Leningrad Codex , the oldest complete manuscript of the Masoretic Text Interpretation Hermeneutics Pesher Midrash Pardes Allegorical interpretation Historical-grammatical method Inspiration Literalism Alcohol Conspiracy theory Ethics Capital punishment Homosexuality Humor Incest Muhammad Prophecy Rape Serpents Sex Slavery Violence Warfare Women Perspectives Gnostic Islamic Quranic Inerrancy Infallibility Criticism of the Bible Biblical authority Outline of Bible-related topics Bible portal v t e The Masoretic Text ( MT or 𝕸; Hebrew : נֻסָּח הַמָּסוֹרָה , romanized : Nussāḥ ham-Māsorā , lit. ' Text of the Tradition ' ) is the authoritative Hebrew and Aramaic text of the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible ( Tanakh ) in Rabbinic Judaism . The Masoretic Text defines the Jewish canon and its precise letter-text, with its vocalization and accentuation known as the masora . Referring to the Masoretic Text, masora specifically means the diacritic markings of the text of the Jewish scriptures and the concise marginal notes in manuscripts (and later printings) of the Tanakh which note textual details, usually about the precise spelling of words. It was primarily copied, edited, and distributed by a group of Jews known as the Masoretes between the 7th and 10th centuries of the Common Era (CE). The oldest known complete copy, the Leningrad Codex , dates to 1009 CE and is recognized as the most complete source of biblical books in the Ben Asher tradition. It has served as the base text for critical editions such as Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and Adi. The differences attested to in the Dead Sea Scrolls indicate that multiple versions of the Hebrew scriptures already existed by the end of the Second Temple period . Which is closest to a theoretical Urtext is disputed, as is whether such a singular text ever existed. The Dead Sea Scrolls, dating to as early as the 3rd century BCE, contain versions of the text which have some differences with today's Hebrew Bible. The Septuagint (a compilation of Koine Greek translations made in the third and second centuries BCE) and the Peshitta (a Syriac translation made in the second century CE) occasionally present notable differences from the Masoretic Text, as does the Samaritan Pentateuch , the text of the Torah preserved by the Samaritans in Samaritan Hebrew . Fragments of an ancient 2nd–3rd-century manuscript of the Book of Leviticus found near an ancient synagogue's Torah ark in Ein Gedi have identical wording to the Masoretic Text. The Masoretic Text is the basis for most Protestant translations of the Old Testament such as the King James Version , English Standard Version , New American Standard Bible , and New International Version . After 1943 , it has also been used for some Catholic Bibles , such as the New American Bible and the New Jerusalem Bible . Some Christian denominations instead prefer translations of the Septuagint as it matches quotations in the New Testament . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ). Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible (2nd Revised ed.). Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible . Understanding the Dead Sea Scrolls (1st ed.). "Piece of coal deciphered as ancient biblical text" . 5 October 2016. The Times of Israel . PMID 27679821 . : CS1 maint: article number as page number ( link ) "Preface to the English Standard Version" . The ESV [Old Testament] is based on the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible as found in Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (5th ed., 1997) ... The currently renewed respect among Old Testament scholars for the Masoretic text is reflected in the ESV's attempt, wherever possible, to translate difficult Hebrew passages as they stand in the Masoretic text rather than resorting to emendations or to finding an alternative reading in the ancient versions. In exceptional, difficult cases, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Septuagint, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Syriac Peshitta, the Latin Vulgate, and other sources were consulted to shed possible light on the text, or, if necessary, to support a divergence from the Masoretic text. Also the LXX, DSS, the Targums, and other ancient versions when pertinent. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain biblical texts that represent an earlier stage of the transmission of the Hebrew text. They have been consulted, as have been the Samaritan Pentateuch and the ancient scribal traditions concerning deliberate textual changes. The translators also consulted the more important early versions—the Greek Septuagint, Aquila, Symmachus and Theodotion, the Latin Vulgate, the Syriac Peshitta, the Aramaic Targums, and for the Psalms, the Juxta Hebraica of Jerome. Jesus the Messiah in the Hebrew Bible .