The Greek and Hebrew Texts of Lamentations 1:4–6: Establishing the Differences in Content between the Textual Witnesses by Means of a Text-Critical Analysis

The present paper presents a text-critical analysis of the Masoretic text and the Greek translation of Lamentations 1: 4–6. In the approach to the discipline to textual criticism that is followed, Hebrew manuscripts and the ancient versions are treated as different witnesses to the content of a particular Old Testament book, and not merely as witnesses to earlier, more original readings. The analysis focuses on how the readings in the textual witnesses were created during the processes of transmission (copying and translation) so as to illuminate the differences in content between LXX Lamentations and the Masoretic text of the book. It is concluded that such differences can be relevant to exegesis and therefore be broached in the interpretation of the book.