Leonard Greenspoon

Leonard J. Greenspoon
Born	December 5, 1945 Richmond, Virginia
Died	May 22, 2025 (aged 79)
Occupations	Biblical scholar, professor
Organizations	Clemson University; Creighton University
Known for	Septuagint studies; Bible translation; Jewish civilization
Academic background
Alma mater	University of Richmond; Harvard University
Academic work
Notable works	Textual Studies in the Book of Joshua (1983); biography of Max Leopold Margolis

Leonard Jay Greenspoon (December 5, 1945 – May 22, 2025) was an American scholar of biblical studies, noted especially for his work on the Septuagint, Bible translation, and Jewish civilization. He was for many years the Philip M. and Ethel Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization at Creighton University and a longtime contributor to Biblical Archaeology Review.

Early life and education

Greenspoon was born in 1945 in Richmond, Virginia. His father was a Ukrainian Jewish immigrant, and his mother was an American Jew from Richmond.^[1] He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in classical studies at the University of Richmond, where he specialized in Greek and Latin. His master’s thesis examined the political activities of Philo. Initially beginning doctoral studies in Classics at Harvard University, he shifted to biblical and ancient Near Eastern studies, studying under George Ernest Wright and Frank Moore Cross. His Ph.D. dissertation was completed in 1977 and later published as Textual Studies in the Book of Joshua (1983).^[2][3][4]

Academic career

From 1975 to 1996, Greenspoon was on the faculty of Clemson University. In 1996, he joined Creighton University as the Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization, as well as professor of theology and of classical and Near Eastern studies. In this role he organized annual symposia that produced more than 25 edited scholarly volumes.^[2][5]

Greenspoon was a leading figure in Septuagint studies and contributed to a new English translation of the Septuagint. From 1993 to 1999 he was president of the International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies. His scholarship extended beyond the Septuagint to Bible translations in general, Jewish history and culture, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Holocaust, and Jewish humor. Over his career, he published more than 200 articles and book chapters, as well as several monographs and edited collections.^[2][5][6][7]

Writings for general audiences

Greenspoon was known for making biblical scholarship accessible to non-specialists. He contributed to Bible Review and later Biblical Archaeology Review, where his column The Bible in the News ran from 2001 to 2016. This column discussed biblical themes as they appeared in contemporary media and scholarship.^[2][5]

Among his notable popular works was the 1989 Bible Review article “Mission to Alexandria: Truth and Legend about the Creation of the Septuagint, the First Bible Translation,” which summarized scholarly debates about the Septuagint’s origins for a general readership.^[2] He also wrote about humor and religion,^[8] as well as food and Judaism.^[9]

Honors and recognition

In 2018, Greenspoon’s colleagues honored him with a Festschrift, Found in Translation: Essays on Jewish Translation in Honor of Leonard J. Greenspoon (Purdue University Press, 2018), recognizing his contributions to scholarship and mentorship.^{[2][5][6][10]}

In 2020, Greenspoon received the Creighton University Research Award, an honor recognizing faculty with a sustained record of distinguished research and publications that have earned national and international recognition and contributed significantly to their field.^[11]

Personal life and death

Greenspoon was married to Ellie Greenspoon for 55 years. They had two daughters, Galit and Talya, and three grandchildren. He died on May 22, 2025, at the age of 79.^[2]

Selected works

• Textual Studies in the Book of Joshua (Scholars Press, 1983).^[12]

• Max Leopold Margolis: A Scholar's Scholar (Scholars Press, 1987).^[13]

• The Bible in the News: How the Popular Press Relates, Conflates and Updates Sacred Writ (Biblical Archaeology Society, 2012).^[14]

• Jewish Bible Translations: Personalities, Passions, Politics, Progress (Jewish Publication Society, 2020).^[15]

References

1. Greenspoon, Leonard (5 December 2015). "Deny Syrian Refugees Entry to the US? We've Been Here Before". History News Network. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
2. Rosenbaum, Jonathan (9 September 2025). "Milestones: Leonard J. Greenspoon (1945–2025)". Biblical Archaeology Society. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
3. Lohr, Joel N. (2018). "The Life of Leonard". In Barker, James W. (ed.). Found in Translation: Essays on Jewish Biblical Translation in Honor of Leonard J. Greenspoon. Purdue University Press. pp. 24–38. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
4. Greenspoon, Leonard (4 December 2013). "Teaching the Humanities Is My Livelihood: Leonard's Story". Nebraska Cultural Endowment. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
5. Sarna, Jonathan (28 May 2025). "Passing of Prof. Leonard J. Greenspoon (1945–2025)". H-Judaic: H-Net Network on Judaica and Jewish History. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
6. Alfaro, Joshua; De Troyer, Kristin (9 June 2025). "Obituary for Leonard J. Greenspoon (1945–2025)". IOSCS News Archive. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
7. Kirchhoff, Mark (8 December 2020). "Jewish Bible Translations: Honoring Dr. Leonard Greenspoon". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
8. Dancy, Shelvia (26 May 2001). "He Finds More Than Humor in Funnies". Star Tribune. p. 09B. Retrieved 29 September 2025 – via ProQuest.
9. Shapiro, Donna B. J. (16 April 2008). "Passover's Guilty Pleasure: Kugel, a Favorite Jewish Comfort Food, Gets a Makeover for the Holiday". The Sun. Retrieved 29 September 2025 – via ProQuest.
10. Kreuzer, Siegfried (December 2019). "Found in Translation: Essays on Jewish Biblical Translation in Honor of Leonard J. Greenspoon". Journal of Septuagint and Cognate Studies. 52: 229–230.
11. "Creighton University: New Presidential Grants, Research Awards Presented at Convocation". Targeted News Service. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2025 – via ProQuest.
12. Barr, James (1986). "Review of Textual Studies in the Book of Joshua". The Journal of Theological Studies. 37 (2): 699. Retrieved 30 September 2025 – via JSTOR.
13. Sperling, S. David (1989). "Review of Max Leopold Margolis: A Scholar's Scholar". Journal of Biblical Literature. 108 (1): 132–133. doi:10.2307/3267484. Retrieved 30 September 2025 – via JSTOR.
14. Corbett, Glenn J. (1 March 2013). "The Bible in the News". The Jewish Press. p. 6. Retrieved 30 September 2025 – via ProQuest.
15. Noss, Philip A. (December 2023). "Jewish Bible Translations: Personalities, Passions, Politics, Progress". International Bulletin of Mission Research. 47 (1): 121–128. doi:10.1177/23969393221114168. Retrieved 30 September 2025 – via EBSCOhost.