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Normally speaking, we refer to the book of Jeremiah. However the book actually comes to us in two different versions: one in Hebrew and one in Greek. They differ not only in language, but also in content. The Greek text is about one eighth shorter than the Hebrew. Since these differences are not just incidental, I view them as two different books. I will refer to the Hebrew as MTJer, and the Greek as LXXJer.

See 1:1 opposite
The very first words of each book gives us a clue about how they differ, as the texts opposite show.

The differences in the superscriptions are not accidental, but reflect an important difference in the viewpoint of the two book. As the superscriptions suggest, the figure of Jeremiah is more significant in the MT than in the LXX.


See 39:11-12 opposite
A good example is MTJer 39:4-13. These verses are not found in LXXJer. Note the verses opposite.

The effect of these verses is to highlight the standing of Jeremiah. In MTJer his release happens at the direct order of the Babylonian king, who offers him extremely favourable treatment. LXXJer has no mention of Nebuchadnezzar's involvement. Instead Jeremiah is released by the leaders of the Babylonian army, soldiers of far less standing than the Babylonian emperor.



See 36:32 opposite
Another text which elevates Jeremiah's role is MTJer chap. 36 (chap. 43 LXXJer), the narrative about the destruction of the scroll by king Jehoiakim. After the king had burned the scroll, a new and enlarged scroll is written. According to 43:22 (LXX), this is done at the initiative of Baruch, but 36:32 (MTJer) highlights the role of Jeremiah.

An emphasis on the importance of Jeremiah is also found in MT's placement of chap. 45, which portrays Baruch as the carrier of the prophetic word. In the LXX this is chap. 51. It contains the last references to Jeremiah and Baruch, and is followed by chap. 52, the book's conclusion. In the corresponding place in the MT, we have 51:59-64, which concludes with the words: "Thus far are the words of Jeremiah" (51:64). These words are not found in the LXX. For the MT, Jeremiah is given standing well above that of Baruch.

MTJer 1:1
**Mynhkh-Nm whyqlx-Nb whymry yrbd

LXXJer 1:1
to r(hma tou qeou o$ e0geneto e0pi Ieremian...

Jer 39:11-12 (NRSV)
King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon gave command concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard,saying, ‘Take him, look after him well and do him no harm, but deal with him as he may ask you.

MTJer 36:32
trx) hlgm xql whymryw
rpsh whyrn-Nb Kwrb-l) hntyw
hyl( btkyw
rpsh yrbd-lk t) whymry ypm

LXXJer 43:32
kai e}laben Baroux xartion e#teron
kai e}grayen ep au)tw a)po stomatov Ieremiou a)pantav touv lo&gouv tou bibliou ou{ kate/kausen Iwakim kai etiprosete/qhsan au)tw lo&goi pleionev
w(v ou{toi

For further detail about the differences between the Greek and Hebrew recensions of the book see:

John Hill, “The Book of Jeremiah (MT) and Its Early Second Temple Background.” In Uprooting and Planting: Essays on Jeremiah for Leslie Allen, edited by John Goldingay, ( LHBOTS 459, T & T Clark, 2007) 154-72.

Marvin A. Sweeney, “The Masoretic and Septuagint Versions of the Book of Jeremiah in Synchronic and Diachronic Perspective,” in Form and Intertextuality in Prophetic and Apocalyptic Literature, (München: Mohr Siebeck, 2005), 65-77.