LXX Gen 12:1–3: the call and “you will be blessed”

Says Swete’s numbering in Genesis 12 matches the English and the MT. At 12:1 Ἔξελθε ἐκ τῆς γῆς σου (ἐξέρχομαι, “to go, or come out of”) renders לֶךְ־לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ with one imperative and nothing for לְךָ; καὶ ἐκ τῆς συγγενείας σου (συγγένεια, “kinsfolk, kindred”) renders וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ. The Bodleian Genesis adds καὶ δεῦρο (δεῦρο, “here! come!”) before εἰς τὴν γῆν.

Says At 12:2 ἔθνος μέγα (ἔθνος, “a nation, people”) renders לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל, and μεγαλυνῶ τὸ ὄνομά σου (μεγαλύνω, “to make great”) renders וַאֲגַדְּלָה שְׁמֶךָ. Where the MT has the imperative וֶהְיֵה בְּרָכָה, “and be a blessing,” Swete has καὶ ἔσῃ εὐλογητός, a future with an adjective, “and you will be blessed”; Abbott-Smith glosses εὐλογητός “blessed” and cites this verse in Codex Alexandrinus.

Says At 12:3 τοὺς καταρωμένους σε (καταράομαι, “to curse”) is plural for the singular וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ. εὐλογηθήσονται ἐν σοὶ, a future passive, renders וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ, and πᾶσαι αἱ φυλαὶ τῆς γῆς (φυλή, “a body of men united by kinship or habitation, a clan or tribe”) renders כֹּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה. The Bodleian Genesis has ἐνευλογηθήσονται (ἐνευλογέω, “to bless”), which Swete also gives for the Cotton Genesis from the silence of its collation.

Uncertain The Greek passive shows how the translator took וְנִבְרְכוּ, but it does not settle whether the Hebrew means “will be blessed” or “will bless themselves.” No lean is taken.