Judaism · Texts & transmission
Jewish scholars translate the Torah into Greek
3rd century BCE
Jewish scholars in Alexandria translated the Torah into Greek, making it available in a widely used Mediterranean language. Translations of additional biblical books followed. This collection, conventionally called the Septuagint, later became important to Christian writers and worship as well.
Why it matters
Translation connects Jewish diaspora life with Christian biblical history and helps explain why biblical quotations and book collections differ between religious traditions.
About the date
Century range for the Greek Torah; other books followed over time.
Alexandria
City associated with the Greek Torah translation, not a later manuscript repository.
city orientation
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