The Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS) is a critical edition of the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible based on the Leningrad Codex (B19A), the oldest complete manuscript of the Hebrew Bible in Hebrew.

Historical Information

Published by the German Bible Society (Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft) in Stuttgart, it succeeded the earlier Biblia Hebraica (BHK) edited by Rudolf Kittel. The BHS was edited by Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph, with later revisions. It includes the consonantal text of the Leningrad Codex along with the Masoretic vowel points, cantillation marks, and Masorah (marginal notes).

Usage

Primary source for modern Old Testament translations and scholarly work. Used as a source for the World English Bible's Old Testament update.

Trustworthiness

Widely regarded as a reliable edition of the Hebrew and Aramaic scriptures and the most widely used original-language edition among scholars. It represents the standard critical text of the Hebrew Bible in academic settings. While based on a single manuscript (the Leningrad Codex), its critical apparatus notes significant variants from other manuscripts and ancient versions.