Preservation of Scripture in the Hebrew Text
The preservation of the Hebrew text of Scripture is a concept rooted in the belief that God intended to perpetuate His revealed will through an infallible written record [4]. From ancient times, the sacred writings were typically recorded on skins, rolled into volumes similar to modern synagogue scrolls [1]. The original character of the text has largely been preserved, with only minor changes to four letters [1].
The act of preserving written documents is attested in the Old Testament. For instance, Jeremiah 32:14 describes Jeremiah being commanded to take both a sealed and an open book of possession and place them in an earthen vessel "that they may continue a long time" [2]. This method ensured the documents would not be damaged by moisture and would remain secure until a future time [6]. Similarly, the prophet Moses was instrumental in preserving God's word, with Hosea 12:13 stating that Israel was "preserved" or "kept" by a prophet, alluding to God's care for His people through His word [8].
The concept of "Scripture" in the New Testament invariably refers to the Old Testament, understood as a divinely inspired collection of books [4]. The ongoing relevance and authority of these ancient texts are emphasized in passages like Hebrews 3:7-8, which cites Psalm 95:7-8, urging readers not to harden their hearts "today" [5, 3]. This indicates that scriptural instructions and exhortations hold perpetual use and significance for contemporary audiences [9].
The meticulous transmission of the text was a significant concern. The Hebrew verb shanan, often translated as "repeat" in Deuteronomy 6:7, can also suggest "engraving" a text into a medium that cannot be obliterated. This implies a method of imparting the teaching indelibly through constant repetition, ensuring it would not be forgotten [11]. Jewish tradition, as seen in Abraham Ibn Ezra's commentary on Deuteronomy 33:9, emphasizes that the contents of God's revelation were preserved to be taught to Israel [10]. While the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) sometimes varies from the Hebrew text, the New Testament authors, such as Paul, demonstrate an independent handling of the Old Testament, presenting divine truth in various aspects, sometimes aligning with the Septuagint and sometimes with the Hebrew [7].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Old Testament — I. TEXT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.-- + History of the text. -A history of the text of the Old Testament should properly commence from the date of the completion of the canon. As regards the form in which the sacred writings were little doubt that the text was ordinarily were preserved, there can be written on skins, rolled up into volumes, like the modern synagogue rolls. (Psalms 40:7; Jeremiah 36:14; Ezekiel 2:9; Zechariah 5:1) The original character in which the text was expressed is that still preserved to us, with the exception of four letters, on the M”
- Jeremiah “Jeremiah 32:14 (Geneva1599) — Thus saith the Lord of hostes, the God of Israel, Take the writings, euen this booke of the possession, both that is sealed, and this booke that is open, and put them in an earthen vessell, that they may continue a long time.”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Hebrews 3:8 cross-references: Exodus 8:15, Exodus 17:7, Numbers 14:11, Numbers 14:22, Deuteronomy 6:16, Deuteronomy 9:22, 1 Samuel 6:6, 2 Kings 17:14, 2 Chronicles 30:8, 2 Chronicles 36:13, Nehemiah 9:16, Job 9:4, Psalms 78:18, Psalms 78:56, Psalms 106:14, Proverbs 28:14, Proverbs 29:1, Jeremiah 7:26, Ezekiel 3:7, Daniel 5:20, Zechariah 7:11, Matthew 13:15, Acts 19:9, Romans 2:5, 1 Corinthians 10:9, Hebrews 3:12”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Scripture — Invariably in the New Testament denotes that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God, which we usually call the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15, 16; John 20:9; Gal. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:20). It was God's purpose thus to perpetuate his revealed will. From time to time he raised up men to commit to writing in an infallible record the revelation he gave. The "Scripture," or collection of sacred writings, was thus enlarged from time to time as God saw necessary. We have now a completed "Scripture," consisting of the Old and New Testa”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Hebrews 3:7 cross-references: 2 Samuel 23:2, Psalms 81:11, Psalms 81:13, Psalms 95:7, Proverbs 27:1, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Isaiah 55:3, Isaiah 55:6, Matthew 17:5, Matthew 22:43, Mark 12:36, John 5:25, John 10:3, John 10:16, John 10:27, Acts 1:16, Acts 28:25, 2 Corinthians 6:1, Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 3:15, Hebrews 4:7, Hebrews 9:8, James 4:13, 2 Peter 1:21, Revelation 3:20”
- Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 32:14: in an earthen vessel--that the documents might not be injured by the moisture of the surrounding earth; at the same time, being buried, they could not be stolen, but would remain as a pledge of the Jews' deliverance until God's time should come.”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 1:12: vesture--Greek, "an enwrapping cloak." fold them up--So the Septuagint, Psa 102:26; but the Hebrew, "change them." The Spirit, by Paul, treats the Hebrew of the Old Testament, with independence of handling, presenting the divine truth in various aspects; sometimes as here sanctioning the Septuagint (compare Isa 34:4; Rev 6:14); sometimes the Hebrew; sometimes varying from both. changed--as one lays aside a garment to put on another. thou art the same-- (Isa 46:4; Mal 3:6). The same in nature, therefore in covenant faithfulness to Thy people. s”
- Hosea (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hosea 12:13: by a prophet--Moses (Num 12:6-8; Deu 18:15, Deu 18:18). preserved--Translate, "kept"; there is an allusion to the same Hebrew word in Hos 12:12, "kept sheep"; Israel was kept by God as His flock, even as Jacob kept sheep (Psa 80:1; Isa 63:11).”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 3:15: While it is said today,.... Exhort one another, and hold fast Christ and his Gospel, and faith and confidence therein; what follows is a repetition of the citation in Heb 3:7 in order to make a further improvement of it; which shows, that the words belong to the present times of the Gospel, and contain in them matter of moment, and great concern; and that Scripture instructions and exhortations are of perpetual use. in order to make a further improvement of it; which shows, that the words belong to the present times of the Gospel, and contain in them matter of momen”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 33:9: THY WORD, AND KEEP THY COVENANT. Compare, They kept (shameru) His testimonies , 111 They preserved the contents of God’s revelation in order to teach it to Israel. See I.E. on Ps. 99:7. and the statue that He gave them (Ps. 99:7) so that they would teach them to Israel. Some say that the reference 112 Of They have observed Thy word… is to Whoso is on the Lord’s side, let him come unto me (Ex. 32:26).”
- Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 6:7: 6:7 Repeat them: The Hebrew verb (shanan) might suggest “engraving” a text into a medium that cannot be obliterated, or it might simply mean “repeat.” Either way, the teaching of the Shema was to be indelibly imparted to children by constant repetition so that it would never be forgotten.”