Why is the Orthodox Study Bible your second English bible for the Old Testament?

In an earlier post, I suggested the top three bibles in my mind: English Standard Version (ESV), New King James Version (NKJV), and Orthodox Study Bible (OSB). As promised, here’s more discussion of the OSB.

I keep the OSB handy for its Old Testament (OT) translation. I do love to struggle with the Greek, but a solid English translation is invaluable. The OSB provides me a solid English translation of the Greek OT.

Now, you’ll be asking, isn’t the OT written in Hebrew and Aramaic? Yes, it is. But, the Old Testament is also available to us in an ancient translation into Greek, which predates the time of Christ by a few hundred years. The Septuagint (LXX) is that Greek translation. The LXX is useful for us in understanding the use of language between Hebrew/Aramaic and a non-native tongue to clearly communicate the word of God.

Our ESV is exclusively translated from the Hebrew/Aramaic OT and the Greek New Testament. The OSB provides us a single volume translated from the Greek OT and the Greek NT. In fact, the NT translation is the NKJV without alteration. The OT translation is a fresh translation of the LXX into English from 2008. The Orthodox churches in the US instead about accomplishing this task because the LXX is the version of the OT used in the Orthodox Church.

It seems as though St. Paul, the Apostles, the Evangelists, and Jesus quote from the LXX into the NT. So, it stands to reason that it is worthwhile for us to familiarize ourselves with some of that text also. Here are a few examples.

“‘Behold, the Virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means God with us).” Matthew 1:23 (ESV) Matthew quotes Isaiah 7:14, which reads: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (ESV). Or, from the LXX: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, the Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (OSB)

These are quite similar in English. This is a key point for our confidence in our English translations. The Hebrew is not 100% clear in the Hebrew that a “virgin shall conceive.” But, the Hebrews who translated Isaiah into Greek used a Greek word , which makes it much more certain that “virgin” is the correct translation.

In another case, we find Matthew quoting Isaiah again. “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, ‘the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord; Make his paths straight.’” Matthew 3:3 (ESV) Isaiah reads: “A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 5:3 (ESV) But, in the LXX, we find: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight the paths of our God.” Isaiah 5:3 (OSB)

The LXX in this case more closely resembles what we find in the New Testament. That should not make us question the Hebrew by any means. But rather, it should give us greater confidence that the ideas being communicated in translation are accurate.

The study notes in the OSB are a mixed bag. We differ theologically from our brothers and sisters in the Orthodox Church on a few significant points like chrismation and prayer to the saints. But, the translation is excellent.

The introduction to this version does a reasonable job of explaining some variations in chapter and verse numbers you’ll encounter. The OSB also contains the apocrypha as it is translated from the LXX, which does too. There are quite a few useful study options opened up by our possession of an OSB. Also, the collection of Christian art (icons) in the OSB is beautiful.

Here are sources for the top three translations in my opinion.
The Lutheran Study Bible (ESV)
The Orthodox Study Bible (OSB)
The New King James Version (NKJV)

“So shall my word be, whatever proceeds from my mouth. It shall not return until it accomplishes whatever I will do, and I shall prosper your ways and my commandments. – Isaiah 55:11 (OSB)

Rev. Jason M. Kaspar
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church & Preschool
La Grange, TX