Psalm 90 is a unique piece within the Book of Psalms, juxtaposing the frailty of human life with the eternity of God. Its significance extends beyond theology, encompassing literary and historical dimensions as well. The various linguistic versions of the psalm—Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac, Greek, Latin, and Coptic—provide a rich foundation for exploring how this text has evolved and been shaped over the past 2,500 years. The aim of this research is to map the textual history of Psalm 90 and to analyse the differences and similarities among its translations and manuscript traditions.

Key research questions include: What changes can be observed in the text of Psalm 90 across different textual witnesses, and what theological, linguistic, and cultural influences are reflected in these changes? How have translators and communities shaped the psalm, and what strategies did they employ to adapt it to their specific religious and cultural contexts? Of particular interest is how theological emphases manifest in the translations and how these contribute to enriching the interpretation of the psalm.

The research will draw upon the various textual witnesses of Psalm 90. The Masoretic Text (MT) forms the foundation of the Hebrew textual tradition, while the Aramaic Targums preserve interpretive renderings of the psalm in Aramaic. The Syriac Peshitta and the Greek Septuagint (LXX) are crucial for examining translation strategies and theological divergences. The Latin Vulgate represents the central text of the medieval Western Christian tradition, and the Coptic versions provide insights into the perspectives of the Egyptian Christian communities.

The methodology will integrate multiple approaches. Philological analysis will examine the differences in words, expressions, and grammatical structures across the texts. Textual criticism will uncover the reasons behind these divergences, while historical contextualisation will shed light on the circumstances in which these translations were produced. Concurrently, theological analysis will explore the doctrinal and religious intentions underlying the textual variations.

The anticipated outcomes of this research include a comprehensive mapping of the textual history of Psalm 90, shedding light on how various linguistic and cultural communities have shaped its text. The study aims to enhance our understanding of the dynamics of textual change and transmission in biblical texts and to contribute to the fields of textual criticism, theology, and ancient philology.

This research seeks not only to deepen the understanding of Psalm 90 but also to provide new perspectives on the processes of translation and interpretation, while offering fresh insights into the historical and theological significance of the Psalms. The findings will represent a significant contribution to the scholarly study of the Book of Psalms and the advancement of textual-critical scholarship.