Octapla

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɑktəplə/

Definitions

1. A particular manuscript format showcases the same work in eight distinct parallel translations, serving as a valuable resource for comparative literature studies
2. This unique format allows readers to explore up to eight alternate versions of a text side by side, enhancing understanding and analysis
3. A specialized edition presents a single text with eight translations arranged in parallel, facilitating comparative analysis and deeper comprehension for scholars and readers

Etymology: Origen, the third-century Alexandrian scholar, produced a monumental edition of the Hebrew Bible in which he set the original text beside several Greek translations, arranged in eight parallel columns. The Greek title he gave it, "octapla," came from the neuter plural of "oktaploûs," meaning "eightfold," and the word has stayed attached to that work ever since. Its first element, "okta-," meaning "eight," is the same root found in "octopus" and "octave," while the second, "-plóos," means "-fold," as in "diploma" and "triple." The word reached English through Late Latin, where "octapla" was used as the title of Origen's edition, so it is a learned borrowing rather than an everyday term. Because it names one specific book, it has always been used mainly by scholars of biblical texts and textual criticism, which explains why it is rarely met outside those circles.