LXX: More John Owen

John Owen comments on Hebrews 11:6 and the LXX (Septuagint).

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

“Many of the antients, as Epiphanius, Theodoret, Euthymius, Procopius, and Anselm, conceive the words to be cited from Deut. 32. 42. where they expressly occur in the Translation of the LXX. Εὐφράνθητε, οὐρανοί ἅμα αὐτῷ, καὶ προσκυνησάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες ἄγγελοι Θεοῦ· Rejoyce ye Heavens with him, and let all the Angels of God worship him. But there are two considerations that put it beyond all pretentions that the words are not taken from this place of the LXX. 

“1. Because indeed there are no such words in the Original Text; nor any thing spoken that might give occasion to the sense expressed in them; but the whole Verse is inserted in the Greek version quite besides the scope of the place. Now though it may perhaps be safely granted, that the Apostles in citing the Scripture of the Old Testament, did sometimes use the words of the Greek translation then in use, yea, though not exact according to the Original, whilst the sense and meaning of the Holy Ghost was retained in them; yet to cite that from the Scripture as the word, and testimony of God, which indeed is not therein, nor was ever spoken by god, but by humane failure and corruption crept into the Greek Version, is not to be imputed unto them. And indeed I no way question, but that this addition to the Greek Text in that place, was made after the apostle had used this testimony. For it is not unlikely, but that some considering of it, and not considering from whence it was taken, because the words occur not absolutely and exactly in the Greek any where, inserted it into that place of Moses, amidst other words of an alike found, and somewhat an alike importance; such as immediately precede and follow the clause inserted.

“2. The Holy Ghost is not treating in that place about the Introduction of the Firstborn into the world, but quite another matter, as is evidently not taken from this place; nor would, nor could the Apostle make use of a testimony liable unto such just exceptions.

Later expositors generally agree, that the words are taken out of Psal. 97. v. 7. where the Original is rendred by the LXX, προσκυνήσατε αὐτῷ πάντες ἄγγελοι αὐτοῦ; which with a very small variation in the words, and none at all in the sense, is here expressed by the Apostle, And let all the Angels of God worship him... 

“But the matter of the Psalm it self makes it manifest that the Holy Ghost treateth in it about God’s bringing in the first-born into the world, and the setting up of his Kingdom in him. A Kingdom is described, wherein God would reign, which should destroy Idolatry and false-worship; a Kingdom wherein the Isles of the Gentiles should rejoyce, being called to an interest therein; a Kingdom that was to be preached, proclaimed, to the encrease of Light and Holiness in the world, with the manifestation of the glory of God unto the ends of the earth. Every part whereof declareth the Kingdom of Christ to be intended in the Psalm, and consequently that it is a Prophesie of the bringing in of the first-begotten into the world.” Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews, John Owen, 1668, pp. 94-95.

• And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
• ὅταν δὲ πάλιν εἰσαγάγῃ τὸν πρωτότοκον εἰς τὴν οἰκουμένην λέγει και προσκυνησάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες ἄγγελοι θεοῦ
• Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
• Let all that worship graven images be ashamed, who boast of their idols; worship him, all ye his angels.
• αἰσχυνθήτωσαν πάντες οἱ προσκυνοῦντες τοῖς γλυπτοῖς, οἱ ἐγκαυχώμενοι ἐν τοῖς εἰδώλοις αὐτῶν· προσκυνήσατε αὐτῷ, πάντες οἱ ἄγγελοι αὐτοῦ.

A modern revised and abridged version of the comments of Owen:

“Many of the ancients conceive the words to be cited from Deut. xxxii. 42. where they expressly occur in the Sept. translation: but there are no such words in the original text; nor any thing spoken that might give occasion to the sense expressed in them; but the whole verse is inserted in the Greek version quite besides the scope of the place. And indeed I no way question, but that this addition to the Greek text was made after the apostle had used this testimony. For some officious person, not considering from whence it was taken, because the words do not occur exactly in the Greek, it is not unlikely inserted it there amidst other words of an alike sound. But later expositors generally agree, that the words are taken out of Psalm xcvii. 7. where the original is rendered by the Sept. with a very small variation in the words, and none at all in the sense. And the matter of the Psalm makes it manifest, that the Holy Ghost treats in it about God’s ‘bringing in the first-begotten into the world,’ and the setting up of his kingdom by him. A kingdom is described wherein God would reign, which should destroy idolatry and false worship; a kingdom wherein the isles of the Gentiles should rejoice, being called to an interest therein; a kingdom that was to be preached, proclaimed, to the increase of light and holiness in the world, with the manifestation of the glory of God to the ends of the earth. Each part declares the kingdom of Christ to be intended in the Psalm, and consequently that it is a prophecy of the ‘bringing in of the first-begotten into the world.’”