Septuagint vs. Vulgate — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 28, 2024
The Septuagint is an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, whereas the Vulgate is a Latin version of the Bible translated by Jerome.
Difference Between Septuagint and Vulgate
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The Septuagint, created before the birth of Christ, is the earliest Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, designed primarily for Greek-speaking Jews. On the other hand, the Vulgate, completed in the late 4th century AD by St. Jerome, is a Latin translation that became the Catholic Church's officially promulgated Latin version of the Bible.
While the Septuagint was translated by multiple scholars over time, resulting in variations in translation style and interpretation, the Vulgate was largely the work of a single individual, Jerome, who aimed to provide a more consistent and accurate Latin text by revising the Old Latin text with reference to the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts.
The Septuagint includes several books that are not found in the Hebrew Bible, recognized as Deuterocanonical books by the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, whereas the Vulgate, following Jerome's translation, includes these books, integrating them into the Old Testament.
One notable difference is in their usage: the Septuagint has been influential in Orthodox Christianity and was widely used in the early Christian Church, while the Vulgate became the standard Bible for the Western Latin-speaking Church from the Middle Ages until the 20th century.
The Septuagint’s translation into Greek from Hebrew sometimes reflects interpretative choices that differ from later translations, offering unique insights into early Jewish thought and exegesis. Conversely, the Vulgate's translation process aimed at greater fidelity to the Hebrew texts available at the time, though Jerome also consulted Greek texts, including the Septuagint, for the Old Testament.
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Comparison Chart
Date of Composition
3rd-2nd century BCE
Late 4th century AD
Language
Greek
Latin
Primary Translator(s)
Multiple Jewish scholars
St. Jerome
Inclusion of Deuterocanonical Books
Yes, as part of its translation
Yes, included by Jerome
Primary Audience
Greek-speaking Jews
Latin-speaking Christians
Use in Christianity
Influential in Eastern Orthodoxy and early Christianity
Standard in the Western Church until the 20th century
Translation Base
Hebrew Scriptures (and some Aramaic)
Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, revising the Old Latin text
Purpose
To make the Hebrew Bible accessible to Hellenistic Jews
To provide an authoritative Latin version of the Bible for the Catholic Church
Compare with Definitions
Septuagint
An ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.
Many early Christians quoted the Old Testament according to the Septuagint.
Vulgate
Contains the Deuterocanonical books.
Despite Jerome's reservations, the Vulgate includes the Deuterocanonical books within the Old Testament.
Septuagint
Includes the Deuterocanonical books.
The Septuagint’s inclusion of additional books offers a broader biblical canon for some Christian traditions.
Vulgate
Authorized by the Catholic Church.
The Council of Trent affirmed the Vulgate as the official Latin Bible of the Catholic Church.
Septuagint
Influential in early Christian writings.
The New Testament authors often referenced the Septuagint in their quotations of the Old Testament.
Vulgate
Aimed for fidelity to Hebrew and Greek texts.
Jerome consulted Hebrew texts to correct and translate the Old Latin Bible into the Vulgate.
Septuagint
Originated in Alexandria, Egypt.
The translation of the Septuagint began in the 3rd century BCE in Alexandria.
Vulgate
Became the definitive Latin version of the Christian Bible.
The Vulgate was used in liturgy and scholarship throughout the Western Church for centuries.
Septuagint
A collection of translations by various authors.
The Septuagint was not the work of a single translator but a collection of translations done over time.
Vulgate
St. Jerome’s Latin translation of the Bible.
The Vulgate became the Catholic Church’s standard Bible throughout the Middle Ages.
Septuagint
The Greek Old Testament, or Septuagint (, US also ; from the Latin: septuaginta, lit. 'seventy'; often abbreviated 70; in Roman numerals, LXX), is the earliest extant Greek translation of books from the Hebrew Bible. It includes several books beyond those contained in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible as canonically used in the tradition of mainstream Rabbinical Judaism.
Vulgate
The Vulgate (; also called Biblia Vulgata, Latin: [ˈbɪbli.a wʊlˈɡaːta]) is a late-4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. The Vulgate is largely the work of Jerome of Stridon who, in 382, had been commissioned by Pope Damasus I to revise the Vetus Latina Gospels used by the Roman Church.
Septuagint
A Greek version of the Hebrew Scriptures that dates from the 3rd century BC, containing both a translation of the Hebrew and additional and variant material, regarded as the standard form of the Old Testament in the early Christian Church and still canonical in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Vulgate
The common speech of a people; the vernacular.
Septuagint
A group of 70 people or a collection of 70 things.
Vulgate
A widely accepted text or version of a work.
Septuagint
A Greek version of the Old Testament; - so called because it was believed to be the work of seventy (or rather of seventy-two) translators.
Vulgate
Vulgate The Latin edition or translation of the Bible made by Saint Jerome at the end of the fourth century AD, now used in a revised form as the Roman Catholic authorized version.
Septuagint
The oldest Greek version of the Old Testament; said to have been translated from the Hebrew by Jewish scholars at the request of Ptolemy II
Vulgate
(archaic) Made common, published for common use, vulgarized.
Vulgate
In or pertaining to the common version or edition.
Vulgate
The vernacular language of a people.
Vulgate
A common version or edition.
Vulgate
To publish, spread, promulgate to the people.
Vulgate
An ancient Latin version of the Scripture, and the only version which the Roman Church admits to be authentic; - so called from its common use in the Latin Church.
Vulgate
Of or pertaining to the Vulgate, or the old Latin version of the Scriptures.
Vulgate
The Latin edition of the Bible translated from Hebrew and Greek mainly by St. Jerome at the end of the 4th century; as revised in 1592 it was adopted as the official text for the Roman Catholic Church
Common Curiosities
Who translated the Vulgate?
The Vulgate was translated by St. Jerome, a Christian priest, theologian, and historian, in the late 4th century AD.
What is the Septuagint?
The Septuagint is an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, including the Torah and other Jewish scriptures, completed by Jewish scholars.
How does the Vulgate differ from the Septuagint?
The Vulgate is a Latin translation of the Bible that sought to correct and standardize the text of the Scriptures, including the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, while the Septuagint is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.
Can the Septuagint and Vulgate be directly compared?
While they can be compared in terms of language, purpose, and influence, they serve different communities and periods in Christian history, making direct comparison complex.
What role does the Septuagint play in biblical scholarship?
The Septuagint is valuable for understanding the Jewish scriptures as they were interpreted and transmitted in the Hellenistic period, offering insights into early Jewish and Christian exegesis.
How did the early Church view the Septuagint?
The early Christian Church highly regarded the Septuagint as scripture, using it extensively in liturgy, theology, and evangelism, especially in communities outside Judea.
How did Jerome approach the translation of the Vulgate?
Jerome aimed for accuracy and consistency, consulting Hebrew and Greek texts, including the Septuagint, to revise the existing Old Latin translations of the Bible.
Which Christian traditions use the Septuagint?
The Septuagint is particularly influential in Eastern Orthodox Christianity and also holds significance in early Christian literature and some Protestant denominations.
Why was the Septuagint translated into Greek?
The Septuagint was translated to make the Hebrew scriptures accessible to Greek-speaking Jews in Hellenistic and Roman times.
Did the Vulgate replace the Septuagint?
In the Western Latin-speaking Church, the Vulgate became the standard version of the Bible, replacing earlier Latin translations and reducing the use of the Septuagint, which continued to be influential in Eastern Christianity and early Christian writings.
What is the significance of the Deuterocanonical books in these translations?
Both translations include the Deuterocanonical books, but their status varies: in the Septuagint, they are an integral part of the translation, while in the Vulgate, they are included following the tradition of the early Church, despite Jerome's initial hesitations based on Hebrew canon criteria.
Why is the Vulgate important in the history of Christianity?
The Vulgate's standardized Latin text provided a unified scriptural foundation for the Western Church, influencing theological development, liturgy, and scholarship for centuries.
Are there any significant translation differences between the Septuagint and the Hebrew Bible?
Yes, the Septuagint sometimes reflects different interpretations or variant readings of the Hebrew text, which can illuminate how Jewish scriptures were understood in the Hellenistic period.
Is the Septuagint still used today?
Yes, the Septuagint is still used in scholarly work, in some Christian liturgies, particularly within the Eastern Orthodox Church, and by those interested in the earliest translations of the Hebrew Bible.
What impact did the Vulgate have on the medieval Church?
The Vulgate was central to the medieval Church's theology, education, and liturgy, shaping Christian doctrine and practice in the Latin-speaking world.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
