Miscellanies 1.22.148
Summary: The Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek under Ptolemy I or II, with Demetrius of Phalerum managing the work, for the library at Alexandria.
Greek text · Stählin 2:92
Καὶ τὰ μὲν περὶ τῶν χρόνων διαφόρως πολλοῖς ἱστορηθέντα καὶ πρὸς ἡμῶν ἐκτεθέντα ὧδε ἐχέτω, ἑρμηνευθῆναι δὲ τὰς γραφὰς τάς τε τοῦ νόμου καὶ τὰς προφητικὰς ἐκ τῆς τῶν Ἑβραίων διαλέκτου εἰς τὴν Ἑλλάδα γλῶττάν φασιν ἐπὶ βασιλέως Πτολεμαίου τοῦ Λάγου ἢ ὥς τινες ἐπὶ τοῦ Φιλαδέλφου ἐπικληθέντος, τὴν μεγίστην φιλοτιμίαν εἰς τοῦτο προσενεγκαμένου, Δημητρίου τοῦ Φαληρέως καὶ τὰ περὶ τὴν ἑρμηνείαν ἀκριβῶς πραγματευσαμένου· ἔτι γὰρ Μακεδόνων τὴν Ἀσίαν κατεχόντων φιλοτιμούμενος ὁ βασιλεὺς τὴν ἐν Ἀλεξανδρείᾳ πρὸς αὐτοῦ γενομένην βιβλιοθήκην πάσαις κατακοσμῆσαι γραφαῖς ἠξίωσε καὶ τοὺς Ἱεροσολυμίτας τὰς παρʼ αὐτοῖς προφητείας εἰς τὴν Ἑλλάδα διάλεκτον ἑρμηνεῦσαι.
English · Claude translation
Let what has been recorded by many differently about the dates and set out by us stand thus. They say that the Scriptures, both of the law and the prophets, were translated from the language of the Hebrews into the Greek tongue under King Ptolemy son of Lagus, or, as some say, under the one surnamed Philadelphus, who brought the greatest zeal to this, Demetrius of Phalerum also carefully managing the work of translation. For while the Macedonians still held Asia, the king, ambitious to adorn with all writings the library he had founded at Alexandria, asked the people of Jerusalem too to translate their prophecies into the Greek language.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The account follows the Letter of Aristeas.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 1.22.148 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/1/22/148/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 1.22.148 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/1/22/148/).
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