Hebrews 10:5–7 quotes Psalm 40 differently than the Hebrew text (“a body you prepared” vs. “my ears you have opened”); does this suggest an alteration of Scripture? 1. The Question and Key Texts Hebrews 10:5–7 reads in the Berean Standard Bible: “Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight. Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.’’” Psalm 40:6–8, which the author of Hebrews references, states: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but my ears You have opened. Burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require. Then I said, ‘Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll: I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.’” The apparent discrepancy arises from the Hebrew textual phrase “my ears You have opened” as opposed to Hebrews quoting, “a body You prepared for Me.” Some have suggested an “alteration” of Scripture. A closer look at translation history, context, and theology provides insight into why no genuine contradiction or tampering exists. 2. Background and Context Psalm 40 is attributed to David and emphasizes obedience rather than mere ritual offerings. The psalmist indicates that the ultimate desire of God is not sacrifice, but a heart ready to do His will. Exploring how the Book of Hebrews uses this psalm reveals how the New Testament interprets older covenant shadows as pointing to a greater reality, fulfilled in Christ. In first-century Judea and across the wider Greek-speaking Jewish diaspora, Scripture was not only read in Hebrew but also in the Greek translation called the Septuagint (LXX). This version frequently rendered Hebrew idioms and expressions in ways that captured the meaning for Greek readers. When Hebrews quotes Psalm 40, the phrasing follows the Greek (Septuagint) reading, “a body You have prepared for Me,” rather than the exact Hebrew wording, “my ears You have opened.” Understanding why this difference occurs requires looking at the Hebrew, how the LXX translators worked, and how the inspired New Testament authors under the Holy Spirit’s guidance applied those passages to the person and work of Christ. 3. The Hebrew Text of Psalm 40:6 In the Masoretic (traditional Hebrew) text underlying most modern Old Testament translations, Psalm 40:6 includes the phrase “my ears You have opened” (כָּרִיתָ לִּי אָזְנַיִם, literally “You have dug ears for me”). This figure of speech stresses that God fashioned the psalmist’s ears for obedient listening. The ear was a symbol for the entire posture of a person ready to heed God’s commands. In Semitic idioms, referencing the ear often implies the readiness and submission to obey. Thus, the Hebrew text highlights that true devotion surpasses ritual. The psalmist’s ears—and by extension his life—have been “opened” or “dug out” by God so that he may hear and follow divine instruction. 4. The Septuagint (LXX) Rendering The Greek translators who produced the Septuagint rendered Psalm 40:6 (which in LXX numbering often appears as Psalm 39:7) as “a body You prepared for me.” Rather than a literal translation word for word, the LXX sometimes used thought-for-thought conversions or interpretive paraphrases, especially with figurative Hebrew expressions. For the Greek-speaking audience, the idea of “ears you have opened” is effectively captured in “a body you prepared,” since a prepared body includes the capacity for obedience: a properly readied servant ready to do God’s will in its fullness. Another factor is that “ears” can represent part of the whole: if God shapes one’s ears to heed, then He has effectively shaped the entire person. The LXX translators recognized that the passage points to more than just hearing—it points to living obedience. By translating it as “a body,” they underscored the tangible, physical readiness of a servant dedicated to God. 5. New Testament Usage (Hebrews 10:5–7) The author of Hebrews deliberately uses the LXX phrasing to highlight the incarnation of Christ. The context in Hebrews 10 underscores that the old system of sacrifices never fully resolved humanity’s sin problem. The “body” of Christ, however, becomes the perfect sacrifice. Hence: • “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire” clarifies that the temporary atonement rituals of the old covenant were insufficient for true, lasting redemption. • “A body You prepared for Me” emphasizes the physical, incarnate obedience of the Messiah, who would do God’s will and bring about the ultimate salvation through His bodily sacrifice. Hebrews 10:5–7 is not merely citing Psalm 40 academically; it is applying the psalm’s theme of obedience to show that the Son of God took on flesh for the final, once-for-all offering of Himself. The goal is to reveal the new covenant’s superior reality: the incarnate Lord fulfilling the typology foreshadowed in the older sacrificial system. 6. Harmonizing the Variations The question arises: “Does this difference mean the New Testament author altered Scripture or introduced an inaccuracy?” Evidence points to a consistent and purposeful usage: • The Greek translation of the Old Testament was widely recognized. Hebrews commonly quotes the LXX, which was considered authoritative by many early Jewish believers. • The shift from “my ears you have opened” to “a body you have prepared” communicates a shared meaning—complete dedication to obeying God’s will. The ear, representing obedience, naturally extends to the entire body offered up in obedience. • The Holy Spirit, inspiring the writers of both the Old and New Testaments, preserved the core intent: the servant’s total consecration to God’s purpose. The form might differ, but the function remains the same. The psalmist originally captured obedience by citing the ears. The LXX translators expressed that by referencing the totality of the servant’s being. Hebrews employs the LXX’s emphasis on the full bodily offering to emphasize Christ’s incarnation. Both the Hebrew text and the LXX text converge on the theme of a life devoted to God’s will, culminating in the Messiah’s redemptive work. 7. Manuscript Evidence and Translation Techniques Ancient findings, including the Dead Sea Scrolls (e.g., scrolls containing Psalms at Qumran) and early Greek manuscripts, show that variations in rendering Hebrew idioms into Greek were known and accepted among ancient Jewish communities. The LXX often paraphrases Hebrew idioms when translating them into expressions more intelligible to Greek readers. Moreover, as the gospel spread throughout the Hellenistic world, the LXX was the daily Scripture of Greek-speaking Jews and Gentile converts. Early Christian writers, especially those who penned New Testament books, would regularly cite from this translation. Archaeological and textual discoveries align with the understanding that both the Hebrew text and the LXX interpret Psalm 40 with consistent theological themes, reflected differently in language but not in doctrinal content. 8. The Theological Significance When Hebrews uses “a body You prepared for Me,” it highlights the incarnational and sacrificial reality of the Messiah: • Incarnation: The statement underscores that Jesus took on genuine human flesh (John 1:14), signifying the fullness of His humanity and His obedience unto death (Philippians 2:8). • Perfect Obedience: The “ear” (symbol of obedience) is logically expanded to the entire form—Christ obeyed with His entire being. • Fulfillment of Scripture: This theme aligns with the larger New Testament portrayal that all the Law and the Prophets point forward to the Messiah’s redemptive work (Luke 24:44). • Final Sacrifice: That “prepared body” clarifies that Jesus’ offering would surpass any animal sacrifice, fulfilling God’s desire for a final, sufficient atonement. Instead of contradicting the original Hebrew, the author of Hebrews is instructing believers that the core idea of devotion—depicted by “ears … opened”—prophetically culminates in the Messiah’s embodiment and ultimate sacrifice. 9. Archaeological and Historical Corroboration Throughout centuries, numerous archaeological discoveries and historical evidences provide confidence in the reliability of Scripture, even in the face of textual variations: • The Dead Sea Scrolls contain extensive portions of the Old Testament, revealing remarkable consistency with the Hebrew text used today and confirming the care with which scribes transmitted these sacred texts. • Ancient synagogue inscriptions and papyri show that the Septuagint was widely referenced and accepted among dispersed Jewish populations. • Early Christian writers, such as those whose works have been preserved in the Apostolic Fathers’ writings, consistently quote the LXX as Scripture in Greek-speaking communities. These findings substantiate that first-century believers, including the author of Hebrews, drew from the reliable and recognized Greek translation without implying any corruption of the Hebrew original. 10. Conclusion Hebrews 10:5–7 does not suggest an alteration of Scripture. Rather, it reflects an accepted translation choice within the LXX rendering of Psalm 40, shifting the Hebrew idiom “my ears you have opened” to the fuller expression “a body You prepared for Me.” Both capture the same essential meaning: complete readiness to respond obediently to God’s will, ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah’s incarnation and perfect sacrifice. Far from calling the integrity of the biblical manuscripts into question, this passage highlights the remarkable coherence between the Old and New Testaments. Language and idiom might change across translations, yet the message remains uniquely unified, culminating in the redemptive work of Christ. |
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