Codex Marchalianus
Encyclopedia
Codex Marchalianus designated by siglum Q is a 6th-century Greek
manuscript copy of the Greek
version of the Hebrew Bible
(Tanakh
or Old Testament
) known as the Septuagint. The text was written on vellum
in uncial letters. Palaeographically
it has been assigned to the 6th century.
Its name was derived from a former owner, Rene Marchal.
or Codex Rossanensis. It contains text of the Twelve Prophets
, Book of Isaiah
, Book of Jeremiah
with Baruch, Lamentations, Epistle, Book of Ezekiel
, Book of Daniel
, with Susanna and Bel. The order of the 12 Prophets
is unusual: Hosea, Amos, Micah, Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The order of books is the same as in Codex Vaticanus
.
The Book of Daniel represents the Theodotion version.
Actually the manuscript consists of 416 parchment leaves, but the first twelve contain patristic matter, and did not form a part of the original manuscript. The leaves measure 11 x 7 inches (29 x 18 cm). The writing is in one column per page, 29 lines per column, and 24-30 letters in line.
It is written in bold uncial of the so-called Coptic style.
In the first half of the 19th century it had the reputation of being one of the oldest manuscript of Septuagint.
It is generally agreed that Codex Marchalianus belongs, to a well-defined textual family with Hesychian characteristics, and its text is a result of the Hesychian recension (along with the manuscripts A
, 26, 86, 106, 198, 233).
In Book of Isaiah 45:18 where the Greek translator of Septuaginta used εγω ειμι to render "I am YHWH", it was corrected by a later hand to "I am Lord".
The manuscript is used in discussion about the Tetragrammaton
.
About seventy items of an onomasticon stand in the margins of Ezekiel and Lamentations.
The codex was known for Bernard de Montfaucon
and Giuseppe Bianchini
. The text of the codex was used by J. Morius, Wettstein
, an Montfaucon
. It was collated for James Parsons, and edited by Tischendorf
in the fourth volume of his Nova Collectio 4 (1869), pp. 225–296, and in the ninth volume of his Nova Collectio 9 (1870), pp. 227–248. Giuseppe Cozza-Luzi
edited its text in 1890.
It was suggested by Ceriani in 1890 that the text of the codex represents Hesychian recension; but Hexapla
ric signs have been freely added, and the margins supply copious extracts from Aquila, Symmachus
, Theodotion
, and the Septuaginta of the Hexapla
.
The codex is housed in the Vatican Library
(Vat. gr. 2125).
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
manuscript copy of the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
version of the Hebrew Bible
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
(Tanakh
Tanakh
The Tanakh is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible. The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra. The name is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the Masoretic Text's three traditional subdivisions: The Torah , Nevi'im and Ketuvim —hence...
or Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
) known as the Septuagint. The text was written on vellum
Vellum
Vellum is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices or books. It is generally smooth and durable, although there are great variations depending on preparation, the quality of the skin and the type of animal used...
in uncial letters. Palaeographically
Palaeography
Palaeography, also spelt paleography is the study of ancient writing. Included in the discipline is the practice of deciphering, reading, and dating historical manuscripts, and the cultural context of writing, including the methods with which writing and books were produced, and the history of...
it has been assigned to the 6th century.
Its name was derived from a former owner, Rene Marchal.
Description
The manuscript is in quarto volume, arranged in quires of five sheets or ten leaves each, like Codex VaticanusCodex Vaticanus
The Codex Vaticanus , is one of the oldest extant manuscripts of the Greek Bible , one of the four great uncial codices. The Codex is named for the residence in the Vatican Library, where it has been stored since at least the 15th century...
or Codex Rossanensis. It contains text of the Twelve Prophets
Minor prophet
Minor prophets is a book of the Hebrew Bible, so named because it contains twelve shorter prophetic works. In Christian Bibles the twelve are presented as individual books...
, Book of Isaiah
Book of Isaiah
The Book of Isaiah is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, preceding the books of Ezekiel, Jeremiah and the Book of the Twelve...
, Book of Jeremiah
Book of Jeremiah
The Book of Jeremiah is the second of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, following the book of Isaiah and preceding Ezekiel and the Book of the Twelve....
with Baruch, Lamentations, Epistle, Book of Ezekiel
Book of Ezekiel
The Book of Ezekiel is the third of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, following the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah and preceding the Book of the Twelve....
, Book of Daniel
Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel is a book in the Hebrew Bible. The book tells of how Daniel, and his Judean companions, were inducted into Babylon during Jewish exile, and how their positions elevated in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. The court tales span events that occur during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar,...
, with Susanna and Bel. The order of the 12 Prophets
Minor prophet
Minor prophets is a book of the Hebrew Bible, so named because it contains twelve shorter prophetic works. In Christian Bibles the twelve are presented as individual books...
is unusual: Hosea, Amos, Micah, Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The order of books is the same as in Codex Vaticanus
Codex Vaticanus
The Codex Vaticanus , is one of the oldest extant manuscripts of the Greek Bible , one of the four great uncial codices. The Codex is named for the residence in the Vatican Library, where it has been stored since at least the 15th century...
.
The Book of Daniel represents the Theodotion version.
Actually the manuscript consists of 416 parchment leaves, but the first twelve contain patristic matter, and did not form a part of the original manuscript. The leaves measure 11 x 7 inches (29 x 18 cm). The writing is in one column per page, 29 lines per column, and 24-30 letters in line.
It is written in bold uncial of the so-called Coptic style.
In the first half of the 19th century it had the reputation of being one of the oldest manuscript of Septuagint.
It is generally agreed that Codex Marchalianus belongs, to a well-defined textual family with Hesychian characteristics, and its text is a result of the Hesychian recension (along with the manuscripts A
Codex Alexandrinus
The Codex Alexandrinus is a 5th century manuscript of the Greek Bible,The Greek Bible in this context refers to the Bible used by Greek-speaking Christians who lived in Egypt and elsewhere during the early history of Christianity...
, 26, 86, 106, 198, 233).
In Book of Isaiah 45:18 where the Greek translator of Septuaginta used εγω ειμι to render "I am YHWH", it was corrected by a later hand to "I am Lord".
The manuscript is used in discussion about the Tetragrammaton
Tetragrammaton
The term Tetragrammaton refers to the name of the God of Israel YHWH used in the Hebrew Bible.-Hebrew Bible:...
.
About seventy items of an onomasticon stand in the margins of Ezekiel and Lamentations.
History of the codex
The manuscript was written in Egypt not later than the 6th century. It seems to have remained there till the ninth, since the uncial corrections and annotations as well text exhibits letters of characteristically Egyptian form. From Egypt it was carried before the 12th century to South Italy, and thence into France, where it became the property of the Abbey of St. Denys near Paris. Rene Marchal (hence name of the codex) obtained the manuscript from the Abbey of St. Denys. From the library of Marchal it passed into the hands of Cardinal Rochefoucauld, who in turn presented it to the College de Clermont, the celebrated Jesuit house in Paris. Finally, in 1785, it was purchased for the Vatican Library, where it now housed.The codex was known for Bernard de Montfaucon
Bernard de Montfaucon
Bernard de Montfaucon was a French Benedictine monk, a scholar who founded a new discipline, palaeography; an editor of works of the Fathers of the Church; he is also regarded to be one of the founders of modern archaeology.-Early life:Montfaucon was born January 13, 1655 in the castle of...
and Giuseppe Bianchini
Giuseppe Bianchini
Giuseppe Bianchini was an Italian Oratorian, biblical, historical, and liturgical scholar. Clement XII and Benedict XIV, who highly appreciated his learning, entrusted him with several scientific labors...
. The text of the codex was used by J. Morius, Wettstein
Johann Jakob Wettstein
Johann Jakob Wettstein was a Swiss theologian, best known as a New Testament critic.-Youth and study:...
, an Montfaucon
Bernard de Montfaucon
Bernard de Montfaucon was a French Benedictine monk, a scholar who founded a new discipline, palaeography; an editor of works of the Fathers of the Church; he is also regarded to be one of the founders of modern archaeology.-Early life:Montfaucon was born January 13, 1655 in the castle of...
. It was collated for James Parsons, and edited by Tischendorf
Constantin von Tischendorf
Lobegott Friedrich Constantin Tischendorf was a noted German Biblical scholar. He deciphered the Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus, a 5th century Greek manuscript of the New Testament, in the 1840s, and rediscovered the Codex Sinaiticus, a 4th century New Testament manuscript, in 1859.Tischendorf...
in the fourth volume of his Nova Collectio 4 (1869), pp. 225–296, and in the ninth volume of his Nova Collectio 9 (1870), pp. 227–248. Giuseppe Cozza-Luzi
Giuseppe Cozza-Luzi
Giuseppe Cozza-Luzi was an Italian savant, Abbot of the Basilian monastery of Grottaferrata near Rome.-Biography:...
edited its text in 1890.
It was suggested by Ceriani in 1890 that the text of the codex represents Hesychian recension; but Hexapla
Hexapla
Hexapla is the term for an edition of the Bible in six versions. Especially it applies to the edition of the Old Testament compiled by Origen of Alexandria, which placed side by side:#Hebrew...
ric signs have been freely added, and the margins supply copious extracts from Aquila, Symmachus
Symmachus the Ebionite
Symmachus was the author of one of the Greek versions of the Old Testament. It was included by Origen in his Hexapla and Tetrapla, which compared various versions of the Old Testament side by side with the Septuagint...
, Theodotion
Theodotion
Theodotion was a Hellenistic Jewish scholar,, perhaps working in Ephesus who in ca. AD 150 translated the Hebrew Bible into Greek. Whether he was revising the Septuagint, or was working from Hebrew manuscripts that represented a parallel tradition that has not survived, is debated...
, and the Septuaginta of the Hexapla
Hexapla
Hexapla is the term for an edition of the Bible in six versions. Especially it applies to the edition of the Old Testament compiled by Origen of Alexandria, which placed side by side:#Hebrew...
.
The codex is housed in the Vatican Library
Vatican Library
The Vatican Library is the library of the Holy See, currently located in Vatican City. It is one of the oldest libraries in the world and contains one of the most significant collections of historical texts. Formally established in 1475, though in fact much older, it has 75,000 codices from...
(Vat. gr. 2125).
Further reading
- Constantin von TischendorfConstantin von TischendorfLobegott Friedrich Constantin Tischendorf was a noted German Biblical scholar. He deciphered the Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus, a 5th century Greek manuscript of the New Testament, in the 1840s, and rediscovered the Codex Sinaiticus, a 4th century New Testament manuscript, in 1859.Tischendorf...
, Nova Collectio 4 (1869), pp. 225–296 [text of the codex] - Joseph Cozza-Luzi, Prophetarum codex Graecus Vaticanus 2125 (Romae, 1890)
- Antonio Ceriani, De codice Marchaliano seu Vaticano Graeco 2125 (1890)
- Alfred RahlfsAlfred RahlfsAlfred Rahlfs was born in Linden, Hannover, Germany. He studied Protestant Theology, Philosophy, and Oriental Languages in Halle and Göttingen, from where he received a Dr. Phil. in 1881...
, Verzeichnis der griechischen Handschriften des Alten Testaments, für das Septuaginta-Unternehmen, Göttingen 1914, p. 107-108 - Bruce M. Metzger, Manuscripts of the Greek Bible: An Introduction to Palaeography, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1981, Plate 21, p. 94