Textual variants in the Hebrew Bible manuscripts arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to the text that is being reproduced. Textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament) has included study of its textual variants.
Although the Masoretic Text (MT) counts as the authoritative form of the Hebrew Bible according to Rabbinic Judaism, modern scholars seeking to understand the history of the Hebrew Bible use a range of sources. These include the Greek Septuagint (LXX), the Syriac language Peshitta translation, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Dead Sea Scrolls collection, and quotations from rabbinic manuscripts. These sources may be older than the Masoretic Text in some cases, and often differ from it. These differences have given rise to the theory that yet another text, an Urtext of the Hebrew Bible, once existed and is the source of the versions extant today. However, such an Urtext has never been found, and which of the three commonly known versions (Septuagint, Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch) is closest to the Urtext is debated.
Legend
List
This list provides examples of known textual variants, and contains the following parameters: Hebrew texts written right to left, the Hebrew text romanised left to right, an approximate English translation, and which Hebrew manuscripts or critical editions of the Hebrew Bible this textual variant can be found in. Greek (Septuagint) and Latin (Vulgate) texts are written left to right, and not romanised. Sometimes additional translation or interpretation notes are added, with references to similar verses elsewhere, or in-depth articles on the topic in question.
Book of Genesis
Book of Exodus
Book of Leviticus
Book of Numbers
Book of Deuteronomy
Book of Joshua
Joshua 1
Joshua 1:1
– WLC
– LXX LXX Brenton
– ABP
– Vg
Book of Judges
Books of Samuel
2 Samuel 8
2 Samuel 8:12
– WLC AC
– LXX LXX Brenton
– ABP
– Vg
2 Samuel 8:12
– WLC
– LXX LXX Brenton ABP
– Vg
Compare 1 Kings 16:15.
2 Samuel 8:13
– WLC
– LXX LXX Brenton ABP
– Vg
2 Samuel 8:13
– WLC
– LXX Brenton ABP
– LXX
– Vg
2 Samuel 8:18
– WLC. This noun is the origin of the surname Cohen. – LXX LXX Brenton ABP. This noun is a compound of αὐλή ("court(yard)" or "hall/chamber/house") and ἀρχή ("authority"), related to archon ("ruler" or "chief magistrate"). – Vg. Origin of the modern term sacerdotalism.
Books of Kings
1 Kings 16
1 Kings 16:15
– WLC
– LXX
– LXX Brenton
– ABP
– Vg
1 Kings 16:15
– WLC
– LXX
– LXX
– Brenton
– ABP
– Vg
1 Kings 16:15
– WLC
– LXX LXX Brenton ABP
– Vg
1 Kings 16:15
– WLC
– LXX. τῶν ἀλλοφύλων literally means 'of the [people] of another tribe'. – LXX Brenton ABP – Vg
1 Kings 16:16
– WLC
– LXX LXX Brenton ABP
– Vg
1 Kings 16:16
– WLC
– LXX
– LXX
– Brenton
– ABP
– Vg
1 Kings 16:16
– WLC
– LXX
– LXX
– Brenton
– ABP
– Vg
1 Kings 16:16
– WLC
– LXX
– LXX Brenton ABP
– Vg
1 Kings 16:17
– WLC
– LXX
– LXX Brenton
– ABP
– Vg
1 Kings 16:18
– WLC
– LXX
– LXX ABP
– Brenton
– Vg
1 Kings 16:19
– K
– Q
– LXX LXX Brenton ABP
– Vg
1 Kings 16:19
– WLC
– ABP
– Vg
omitted – LXX LXX Brenton
1 Kings 16:20
– WLC
– LXX LXX Brenton ABP
– Vg
1 Kings 16:21
– WLC
– LXX
– LXX
– Brenton
– ABP
– Vg
1 Kings 16:21
– WLC
– LXX
– LXX
– Brenton
– ABP
– Vg
1 Kings 16:22
– WLC
– LXX. ἡττάομαι is an Attic variation of the verb ἡσσάομαι ("to be less/weaker than, to be defeated") – LXX Brenton – ABP – Vg
1 Kings 16:22
– WLC
– LXX
– LXX
– Brenton
– ABP
– Vg
1 Kings 16:28
– WLC
– LXX
– LXX
– Brenton
– ABP
– Vg
A long addition is found in the Septuagint of Codex Vaticanus following 1 Kings 16:28 (numbered as verses 28a–28h).