Samaritan Pentateuch

biblical literature

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July 13, 2026

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The Samaritan Pentateuch is a version of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, known as the Pentateuch. It is significant because it represents an independent Hebrew textual witness, written in a late form of the paleo-Hebrew script. This version has approximately 6,000 variants compared to the Masoretic text, with some of these variants aligning with the Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.1

The Samaritans, who call themselves "Children of Israel," base their religious observance solely on the Pentateuch. A key difference between Samaritans and Jews is their belief regarding the chosen site for God's dwelling: Samaritans believe it is Mount Gerizim, while Jews believe it is Mount Zion in Jerusalem. The Samaritan Pentateuch became known in the West in the 17th century and has since been published and studied extensively.21

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biblical literature
The Samaritan Pentateuch
The importance of the recension known as the Samaritan Pentateuch lies in the fact that it constitutes an independent Hebrew witness to the text written in a late and developed form of the paleo-Hebrew script. Some of the Exodus fragments from Qumrān demonstrate…
Read More
The importance of the recension known as the Samaritan Pentateuch lies in the fact that it constitutes an independent Hebrew witness to the text written in a late and developed form of the paleo-Hebrew script. Some of the Exodus fragments from Qumrān demonstrate…
Read More

biblical literature
Textual criticism: manuscript problems
The Samaritan Pentateuch and the pre-Masoretic versions of the Old Testament made directly from Hebrew originals are all replete with divergences from current Masoretic Bibles. Finally, the scrolls from the Judaean desert, especially those from the caves of Qumrān, have provided, at least, illustrations of many…
Read More
The Samaritan Pentateuch and the pre-Masoretic versions of the Old Testament made directly from Hebrew originals are all replete with divergences from current Masoretic Bibles. Finally, the scrolls from the Judaean desert, especially those from the caves of Qumrān, have provided, at least, illustrations of many…
Read More