The literary Greek of Septuagint Isaiah

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to show that in LXX-Isaiah there are features of language that justify classifying it as “literary” Greek. Thackeray’s placing of Isaiah in his classification of the LXX books is first discussed. Refined criteria of classification are suggested, namely: 1/ “translation method”; 2/ “style”; and 3/ “level of Greek. The translation method and style of Isaiah are considered briefy, then the level of Greek. Features of “literary” Greek in LXX-Isaiah are presented to prove the case, including forms of expression, vocabulary, particles, and syntax. There are consequences for our view of the Isaiah translator and his method. His command of literary Greek indicates a Greek education to an advanced level. The portraits of the translator proposed by van der Kooij and Troxel are discussed in the light of this.