There were many Hebrew translations of Scripture circulating in Palestine of the first century. Some were advocated by different sects of Judaism. After the fall of Jerusalem and the temple to Titus in A.D. 70, the only sect to survive was the Pharisees (see Special Topic: Pharisees).
The original Hebrew texts were all CONSONANTS. The appropriate VOWELS were understood by contemporary readers. But, as the centuries passed, these VOWELS were forgotten and often confused, which changed the meaning of the trilateral Hebrew root.
In an attempt to
a family of Pharisaic scribes (the Masoretes) took on the task of adding
to Rabbi Aquiba's consonantal Hebrew text, written about A.D. 100. This textual form is what is found in the Mishnah and Talmud. It was the text used in the Aramaic Targums, Peshitta (Syriac), and Vulgate (Latin) translations.
The final form of the MT was finished in A.D. 900. This is the standard text for all modern translations. However, the MT is not the original Hebrew text, but one of several available through the centuries (i.e., the variety of OT quotes in the NT). Its accuracy has been established by the 29' leather scroll of Isaiah found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.
For a good discussion of the textual issues involving the text of the MT, see NIDOTTE, vol. 1, B. pp. 52-62.
Special Topic: Hebrew GrammarCopyright © 2023 Bible Lessons International