The Septuagint (latin septuaginta, "seventy") derives its name from the story that it was translated by seventy Jewish scribes over seventy days. Septuagint is abbreviated by the Roman numerals LXX (70).

As Greek became the common language of the Western world, the Septuagint became very popular. It was more than likely the Old Testament used by Paul and the other Apostles. In fact, the Septuagint is quoted in the New Testament more often than the original Hebrew.