Quotes in 2 Timothy
2 Timothy quotes from the Old Testament twice.
2 Timothy 2:19 quoting Numbers 16:5 or Nahum 1:7
2 Timothy 2:19
‘…knows who are His.’
Numbers 16:5
Greek Septuagint (our translation):
‘God has visited us, and He knows who are His […].’
✅ Match
Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):
‘In the morning the LORD will show who are His […].’
❌ Differs
Nahum 1:7
Greek Septuagint (our translation):
‘[…] And He knows all those who respect Him. […]‘
❌ Differs
Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):
‘[…] And He knoweth them that take refuge in Him. […]‘
❌ Differs
Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):
‘…He said to Korah and to … ‘…is holy, and will cause him to come near to him. Even him whom he shall choose, …’’ — Scroll 4Q27 Numbers B
❓ Unknown
‘…he knows those who take refuge in him.’ — Scroll 4Q82 Minor Prophets G
❌ Differs
‘Yahweh is good, … and he knows those who take refuge in him.’ — Scroll Wadi Murabba'at Minor Prophets
❌ Differs
Our comments:
The Greek Septuagint version of Numbers 16:5 matches exactly. The Hebrew Masoretic Text of Numbers 16:5 is not a match, saying that God will ‘show’ who is His in the morning, instead of saying that he ‘knows’, but the overall idea is the same.
The Nahum 1:7 verse, in both Greek and Hebrew, differ significantly in meaning, saying God knows who respects him or who takes refuge in him, instead of knowing who are His. People generally suggest that Nahum is being quoted instead of Numbers simply because Paul’s quote only matches the Septuagint.
2 Timothy 2:19 quoting Joel 2:32
2 Timothy 2:19
‘Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be rescued.’
Joel 2:32
Greek Septuagint (our translation):
‘Then, all who call on the name of the Lord
Will be the ones who are saved […]‘
✅ Match
Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):
‘[…] whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered; […]‘
✅ Match
Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):
‘…will call on … name …’ — Scroll: Wadi Murabba'at Minor Prophets
❓ Unknown
Our comments:
The Septuagint and Masoretic Text match well, but the Dead Sea Scroll fragment is too incomplete to compare.
Note: We believe that Joel 2:32 may be one of the verses in which, in Hebrew, God’s Name was restored incorrectly.
Quotes Index
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