New Testament Quotations From the Old Testament
October 1, 2026
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061
866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
We do not believe that the New Testament writers, when citing the Old Testament, cite from the Septuagint or Greek translation.
Consider the example of Matthew citing Isaiah 9:1-2 in Matthew 4:13-16.
"The land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up” (Mt. 4:15-16).
“Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Hebrew, Isa. 9:1-2).
“Act quickly, O land of Zabulon, land of Nephthalim, and the rest inhabiting the sea-coast, and the land beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. O people walking in darkness, behold a great light: ye that dwell in the region and shadow of death, a light shall shine upon you” (Septuagint Greek, Isa. 9:1-2).
As is often the case in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit, the Author of Scripture, selectively quotes from and modifies the prophecy for His own purpose in the New Testament context. He is not quoting from the Greek.
When Matthew or Paul or Peter quote a passage from Moses or David or Isaiah, “it is like a person quoting and altering his own words, which he had spoken a long time before, and under very different circumstances.” This was explained was follows by Eldridge Hatcher in his book The Young Professor:
“The Old Testament words were inspired, but the new words which the apostles used were also inspired. If God could inspire David to express a certain truth in certain words to the old Hebrews, could not God also inspire the apostles to take this same thought which David had uttered to the Hebrews, and express it in other words to people living hundreds of years afterwards? Cannot God express a truth in but one way? You and I cannot change the words of the Old Testament, because we might not use the right words in making the change, but God could inspire us to use a different set of words. ... You see that when Paul quotes a passage from David, and alters David’s words, it is not like a person altering another person’s words, but it is like a person quoting and altering his own words, which he had spoken a long time before, and under very different circumstances. The Holy Spirit was the one author of the entire Bible. In one book He spoke through Moses, in another through Peter, and in another through John, and so when in Acts the Spirit through the apostles quoted from David it is simply the Spirit quoting from Himself” (Hatcher, The Young Professor, chapter 39 “Alteration of Old Testament Words by New Testament Writers,” 1901).
Consider the example of Matthew citing Isaiah 9:1-2 in Matthew 4:13-16.
"The land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up” (Mt. 4:15-16).
“Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Hebrew, Isa. 9:1-2).
“Act quickly, O land of Zabulon, land of Nephthalim, and the rest inhabiting the sea-coast, and the land beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. O people walking in darkness, behold a great light: ye that dwell in the region and shadow of death, a light shall shine upon you” (Septuagint Greek, Isa. 9:1-2).
As is often the case in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit, the Author of Scripture, selectively quotes from and modifies the prophecy for His own purpose in the New Testament context. He is not quoting from the Greek.
When Matthew or Paul or Peter quote a passage from Moses or David or Isaiah, “it is like a person quoting and altering his own words, which he had spoken a long time before, and under very different circumstances.” This was explained was follows by Eldridge Hatcher in his book The Young Professor:
“The Old Testament words were inspired, but the new words which the apostles used were also inspired. If God could inspire David to express a certain truth in certain words to the old Hebrews, could not God also inspire the apostles to take this same thought which David had uttered to the Hebrews, and express it in other words to people living hundreds of years afterwards? Cannot God express a truth in but one way? You and I cannot change the words of the Old Testament, because we might not use the right words in making the change, but God could inspire us to use a different set of words. ... You see that when Paul quotes a passage from David, and alters David’s words, it is not like a person altering another person’s words, but it is like a person quoting and altering his own words, which he had spoken a long time before, and under very different circumstances. The Holy Spirit was the one author of the entire Bible. In one book He spoke through Moses, in another through Peter, and in another through John, and so when in Acts the Spirit through the apostles quoted from David it is simply the Spirit quoting from Himself” (Hatcher, The Young Professor, chapter 39 “Alteration of Old Testament Words by New Testament Writers,” 1901).
