OT Textual Criticism AmateurMar 30
I read a chapter about #HebrewBible #TextualCriticism in the 19th C, and now I better understand the background between the separation of textual criticism starting where literary criticism ends, which I see in the work e.g. of Tov, but I still think the division is artificial and misleading.
Show threadOT Textual Criticism AmateurMar 16
Actually it turns out that he vs. heth is the most common letter confusion in #Samaritan #Genesis. That surprises me, but I've found twenty such confusions among proper names. I suspect the lack of pronunciation difference helps.
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#HebrewBible #TextualCriticism #SamaritanPentateuch
Show threadOT Textual Criticism AmateurMar 14

I wonder if especially the yods are in the right place, or have moved, & if they represent vowels different from the #MasoreticText.

The final letter being he or heth is also a very easy confusion in Hebrew square script, but much harder in Samaritan or Paleo-Hebrew. I don't have an idea what that difference might indicate.
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#HebrewBiible #TextualCriticism

Show threadOT Textual Criticism AmateurMar 9

Is it a bad sign when Baden's very first example of a contradiction that requires a document source difference (the name of Moses's father-in-law) I think is more probably resolved by challenging a few Masoretic dots? I'm not opposed to a documentary hypothesis! But the text is ancient, so first establish the text with #TextualCriticism.

#HebrewBible

Show threadOT Textual Criticism AmateurFeb 13
Pesh nearly agrees, only rounding up Lamech's age at procreation to a round 200 (why?). But SamP and LXX are more interesting. Until Lamech they are always 100 years apart, with the LXX having more years. MT(=Pesh=Vulg) agrees with SamP except for Jared, when it agrees with LXX, and Methuselah, where it disagrees with both. Because LXX and SamP are exacty 100 years apart on Methuselah, that suggests MT is secondary.
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#HebrewBible #TextualCriticism
OT Textual Criticism AmateurNov 23

I think it is very odd that in Psalm 51:14b (MT) = OG Psalm 50:14b = English Psalm 51:12b, the spirit is described as:
MT נְדִיבָ֣ה ("willing")
OG ἡγεμονικῷ ("masterly")
Pesh ܡܫܒܚܬܐ ("glorified")
Vulg potenti ("powerful")

No idea why...

#Psalms #HebrewBible #TextualCriticism

J. David StarkMay 9, 2025
Once you understand @INTF_MS’s system, you can call up any manuscript in the database. https://www.jdavidstark.com/what-you-need-to-know-to-use-intfs-document-id-system/ #textualcriticism @Bibel_Aktuell @eerdmansbooks
What You Need to Know to Use INTF’s Document ID System | J. David Stark

Once you understand INTF's system, you can call up any manuscript in the database. For Greek New Testament witnesses, the document ID is a 5-digit sequence.

J. David Stark | Hone Your Craft as a Biblical Scholar
J. David StarkFeb 15, 2025
A modern Greek New Testament's critical apparatus holds a wealth of information. But when you're uncertain what it means, consult the MSS. https://www.jdavidstark.com/what-do-you-do-when-your-critical-apparatus-is-confusing/ @INTF_MS #textualcriticism @CSLewis @eerdmansbooks
What Do You Do When Your Critical Apparatus Is Confusing? | J. David Stark

A modern Greek New Testament's critical apparatus holds a wealth of information. When you're uncertain what the apparatus means, consult the manuscripts.

J. David Stark | Hone Your Craft as a Biblical Scholar
J. David StarkFeb 11, 2025
Is #textualcriticism important for #spiritualformation? Irenaeus thought so, e.g., in his treatment of the variation between 616 and 666 in Rev 13. https://www.jdavidstark.com/irenaeus-on-666-and-616/
Irenaeus on 666 and 616 | J. David Stark

In his Against Heresies, Irenaeus argues that 666 is a particularly "fitting" number for the name of the beast in Rev 13:18: since he sums up in his own person all the commixture of wickedness which took place previous to the deluge, due to the apostasy of the angels. For Noah was six hundred years

J. David Stark | Hone Your Craft as a Biblical Scholar
J. David StarkJan 31, 2025
.@CSLewis wasn’t talking about #textualcriticism. But his thoughts on the value of reading old books definitely apply. https://www.jdavidstark.com/what-do-you-do-when-your-critical-apparatus-is-confusing/ @INTF_MS @eerdmansbooks
What Do You Do When Your Critical Apparatus Is Confusing? | J. David Stark

A modern Greek New Testament's critical apparatus holds a wealth of information. When you're uncertain what the apparatus means, consult the manuscripts.

J. David Stark | Hone Your Craft as a Biblical Scholar