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NIV Isaiah 11:10

On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.

Romans 15:12

And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”

The differences between the two are not just wordings. They are conceptually significant differences. How to explain this divergence in meanings?

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  • This is yet another of the thousands of instances where the LXX differs from the Masoretic text. Romans itself has dozens more.
    – Dottard
    Jul 25, 2021 at 21:54

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No Paul did not misquote. He quoted the Septuagint.

Isaiah 11:10 LXX

10And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall arise to rule over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust, and his rest shall be glorious.

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  • Yes - Paul uses the OT as reference to show the audiance he is not changing what came before to make himself more credible - but changes the meaning as he says often 'his gospel'. Another such quote: Roman 11:26: And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob. - Isaiah 59:20-21: “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the LORD.
    – another theory
    Jul 26, 2021 at 13:44
  • @another theory Don’t quite follow. KJV tracks pretty well. If you are struggling with the concept of repentance, may I suggest you go back and study OT repentance again. Here’s a suggestion to help you get started. faculty.gordon.edu/hu/bi/ted_hildebrandt/OTeSources/…
    – alb
    Jul 26, 2021 at 14:41
  • I'm saying Paul has quoted from OT but changed meanings for his own benefit - he has done this on many occasions. Not sure what repentance is about!
    – another theory
    Jul 26, 2021 at 15:03
  • Isaiah 11:10 has nothing to do with gentiles
    – another theory
    Jul 26, 2021 at 15:12
  • @anothertheory If you look at the KJV 20 "And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord", the only thing that "appears" to be different from your highlight "in Jacob who repent of their sins" is the idea of repentance. The paper I sent you talks about OT repentance and how Deuteronomy 30:6 carries forward to Acts; please look at the Hebrew 'shoob" and the idea of "turn/return". Interestingly, the KJV has the idea of turn/return in Romans 11: 26 "...and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob"
    – alb
    Jul 26, 2021 at 16:18
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In Rom 15:12, Paul alludes to the prophecy in Isa 11:10 in which the Hebrew reads:

On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.

However, in this case, as in most cases where NT prophets quote the OT, Paul quotes not the Hebrew but the LXX translation which says:

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall arise to rule over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust, and his rest shall be glorious.

Note how much closer this is to what Paul quotes including the fact that the root of Jesse will "rule over" the gentiles.

Now, why the LXX has this difference from the Masoretic text is another matter entirely.

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  • This appears again to be Paul using old scriptures but changing the meaning; such as Roman 11:26: And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob. Isaiah 59:20-21: “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the LORD.
    – another theory
    Jan 29, 2021 at 15:41
  • @Dottard Excellent point with regard to Christ who will "arise to rule over the Gentiles". Also, in Isaiah 5:26 God raises his banner to draw people from the distant nations to face His wrath.
    – Lesley
    Jan 29, 2021 at 17:48

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