SEPTUAGINT (LXX) NUMBERING OF PSALMS – The Orthodox Church uses primarily translations from the Greek version of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint rather than translations from the Hebrew editions. The Septuagint (also known as the LXX) is the version of the Old Testament used in the many quotations of the Old Testament found in the New Testament. The numbering of the Psalms in the Septuagint differs from that found in Psalters and Bibles translated from the Hebrew.
Here is a table of the differences:
| Greek (LXX) Numbering and Latin Vulgate (V) Numbering |
Hebrew Numbering most English Numbering |
| 1-8 | 1-8 |
| 9 | 9 and 10 |
| 10-112 | 11-113 |
| 113 | 114 and 115 |
| 114 | 116:1-9 |
| 115 | 116:10-19 |
| 116-145 | 117-146 |
| 146 | 147:1-11 |
| 147 | 147:12-20 |
| 148-150 | 148-150 |
For the most part, Protestant and Jewish translations and recent Catholic translations like the NAB, follow the numbering in the Hebrew (the Masoretic Text). In this system, Psalm 23 is the shepherd psalm (“The LORD is my shepherd.”).
Older Catholic translations and some recent Catholic translations follow the numbering in the Septuagint (and Vulgate). In this system, Psalm 22 is the shepherd psalm (“The LORD is my shepherd.”). .
You can easily find out which system a translation uses by determining whether the shepherd psalm is Psalm 23 or Psalm 22.
Here is a table of the differences from Hebrew to Greek numbering:
Septuagint (LXX) Numbering of the Psalms
The Orthodox Church primarily uses the Greek translation of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint, commonly abbreviated LXX. The Septuagint was widely used by the early Christians and is the Old Testament text reflected in many of the quotations found in the New Testament.
One important difference between the Septuagint and most modern English Bibles is the numbering of the Psalms. The Septuagint follows a different arrangement from the Hebrew Masoretic Text, which is the numbering generally used in Protestant and most modern English translations.
The differences occur because some Psalms that are separate in the Hebrew tradition are combined in the Septuagint, while others are divided differently.
| Greek (LXX) / Latin Vulgate | Hebrew / Most English Bibles |
|---|---|
| Psalms 1–8 | Psalms 1–8 |
| Psalm 9 | Psalms 9–10 |
| Psalms 10–112 | Psalms 11–113 |
| Psalm 113 | Psalms 114–115 |
| Psalm 114 | Psalm 116:1–9 |
| Psalm 115 | Psalm 116:10–19 |
| Psalms 116–145 | Psalms 117–146 |
| Psalm 146 | Psalm 147:1–11 |
| Psalm 147 | Psalm 147:12–20 |
| Psalms 148–150 | Psalms 148–150 |
The Shepherd Psalm
One of the easiest ways to determine which numbering system a Bible or Psalter uses is to look for the famous Shepherd Psalm, beginning:
“The Lord is my shepherd…”
In the Hebrew numbering used by most English Bibles, this is Psalm 23.
In the Septuagint numbering used in the Orthodox tradition, it is Psalm 22.
Thus:
- Psalm 23 (Hebrew/Masoretic numbering) = Psalm 22 (LXX numbering)
- “The Lord is my shepherd” is therefore referred to as Psalm 22 in Orthodox liturgical usage.
Hebrew-to-Greek Numbering
The following table gives the same relationship from the perspective of the Hebrew numbering:
| Hebrew / Most English Bibles | Greek (LXX) / Latin Vulgate |
| Psalms 1–8 | Psalms 1–8 |
| Psalm 9 | Psalm 9:1–20 |
| Psalm 10 | Psalm 9:21–38 |
| Psalms 11–113 | Psalms 10–112 |
| Psalm 114 | Psalm 113:1–8 |
| Psalm 115 | Psalm 113:9–26 |
| Psalm 116 | Psalms 114–115 |
| Psalms 117–146 | Psalms 116–145 |
| Psalm 147 | Psalms 146–147 |
| Psalms 148–150 | Psalms 148–150 |
These differences are particularly important when using Orthodox liturgical books, prayer books, or commentaries, because references to the Psalms may use the LXX numbering rather than the numbering found in most contemporary English Bibles.
For example, when an Orthodox service refers to Psalm 50, it corresponds to Psalm 51 in most English Bibles. This is the famous penitential Psalm beginning, “Have mercy on me, O God.” Likewise, the Orthodox Psalm 22 is the familiar Psalm 23 in most English translations.
| Hebrew Numbering most English Numbering |
Greek (LXX) Numbering and Latin Vulgate (V) Numbering |
| 1-8 | 1-8 |
| 9 | 9:1-20 |
| 10 | 9:21-38 |
| 11-113 | 10-112 |
| 114 | 113:1-8 |
| 115 | 113:9-26 |
| 116 | 114,115 |
| 117-146 | 116-145 |
| 147 | 146 and 147 |
| 148-150 | 148-150 |