1 Chronicles 19 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 19:6
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Chapter 19
Hebrew source [H19] • Greek source [G19]
The war with Ammon and Aram (19:1–19)
Verse 19:1 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:1] After this Nahash king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:1] After these things Naas king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son Anan reigned in his place.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek names the succeeding son here; Hebrew first names him in the following verse.
Verse 19:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:2] David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, for his father showed kindness to me.” David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. David's servants came to the land of the sons of Ammon, to Hanun, to comfort him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:2] David said, “I will show mercy to Anan son of Naas, as his father showed mercy to me.” David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. David's servants came to the land of the sons of Ammon to comfort him.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Kindness and mercy express the corresponding relational terms. Hebrew repeats to Hanun at the end; Greek does not.
Verse 19:3 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:3] The officials of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, “Does David honor your father in your eyes because he sent comforters to you? Have not his servants come to you to investigate, overthrow, and spy out the land?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:3] The rulers of Ammon said to Anan, “Do you suppose David sent comforters to you to glorify your father before you? Have not his servants come to you so that they might search out the city and spy out the land?”
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek adds the city as the object of investigation and has no verb overthrow. Both interpret the comforting mission suspiciously.
Verse 19:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:4] Hanun took David's servants, shaved them, cut their garments halfway up to the crotch, and sent them away.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:4] Anan took David's servants, shaved them, removed half their cloaks up to the fold, and sent them away.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The Hebrew names the crotch; Greek anabole denotes a throwing up or fold here, with its precise garment location uncertain. Neither column imports the half-beard detail from the Samuel parallel.
Verse 19:5 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:5] They went and told David about the men. He sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow, then return.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:5] They came to report to David about the men. He sent to meet them because they had been greatly dishonored. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow, then return.”
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The report, reception, and instruction agree. The initial reporters remain unnamed in both.
Verse 19:6 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:6] The sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves stink before David. Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen for themselves from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:6] The sons of Ammon saw that David's people had been put to shame. Anan and the sons of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen for themselves from Syria of Mesopotamia, Syria of Moocha, and Soba.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew describes the Ammonites' becoming offensive to David; Greek describes the humiliation of David's people. The affected party and stated reason for military preparation differ. The payment agrees.
Verse 19:7 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:7] They hired thirty-two thousand chariots for themselves, and the king of Maacah and his people. They came and camped before Medeba. The sons of Ammon gathered from their cities and came for battle.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:7] They hired thirty-two thousand chariots for themselves, and the king of Mocha and his people. They came and camped opposite Maidaba. The sons of Ammon gathered from their cities and came to wage war.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The hired force, allies, location, and Ammonite gathering agree. The striking chariot total is retained in both.
Verse 19:8 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:8] David heard and sent Joab and the whole army of mighty men.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:8] David heard and sent Joab and the whole army of mighty men.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The dispatch is equivalent in both texts.
Verse 19:9 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:9] The sons of Ammon came out and arrayed themselves for battle at the city's entrance. The kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:9] The sons of Ammon came out and arrayed themselves for war beside the city gate. The kings who had come camped by themselves in the plain.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek explicitly says the allied kings camped; Hebrew simply locates them separately in the field.
Verse 19:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:10] Joab saw that the battlefront faced him both in front and behind. He chose from all the choice men in Israel and arrayed them to meet Aram.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:10] Joab saw that opponents had come to fight him in front and behind. He selected from all the young men of Israel, and they arrayed themselves against the Syrian.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew describes chosen or choice men and Joab's arranging them; Greek describes young men and uses a plural verb for their arraying themselves.
Verse 19:11 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:11] He placed the rest of the people in the hand of Abishai his brother, and they arrayed themselves to meet the sons of Ammon.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:11] He placed the remainder of the people in the hand of Abessa his brother, and they arrayed themselves opposite the sons of Ammon.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The division of command and deployment agree.
Verse 19:12 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:12] He said, “If Aram is stronger than I, you shall be my deliverance; and if the sons of Ammon are stronger than you, I will deliver you.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:12] He said, “If the Syrian prevails over me, you shall be my deliverance; and if the sons of Ammon prevail over you, I will save you.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both give the reciprocal agreement to rescue the other force.
Verse 19:13 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:13] Be strong, and let us show ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God. May YHWH do what is good in His eyes.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:13] Act courageously, and let us strengthen ourselves for our people and for the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in His eyes.”
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The encouragement agrees; the final Hebrew imperfect can express a wish, while the Greek uses a future statement.
Verse 19:14 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:14] Joab and the people with him drew near before Aram for battle, and they fled before him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:14] Joab and the people with him arrayed themselves opposite the Syrians for war, and they fled from him.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The Hebrew emphasizes approach and the Greek deployment; both report the opposing force's flight.
Verse 19:15 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:15] The sons of Ammon saw that Aram had fled, and they too fled before Abishai his brother and entered the city. Joab came to Jerusalem.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:15] The sons of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, and they too fled before Joab and before Abessa his brother and entered the city. Joab came to Jerusalem.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek names Joab as well as his brother among those from whom the Ammonites fled; Hebrew names only Abishai.
Verse 19:16 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:16] Aram saw that they had been defeated before Israel. They sent messengers and brought out Aram from beyond the River, with Shophach, commander of Hadadezer's army, before them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:16] The Syrian saw that Israel had routed him. He sent messengers, and they brought out the Syrian from beyond the River, with Sophach, chief commander of Adraazar's force, before them.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both describe renewed reinforcements and their commander. Greek consistently personifies the Syrian force as a singular collective where Hebrew shifts into plural agreement.
Verse 19:17 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:17] David was told. He gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, came to them, and arrayed himself against them. David arrayed for battle to meet Aram, and they fought him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:17] David was informed. He gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, came against them, and arrayed himself against them. The Syrian arrayed himself opposite David, and they fought him.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: In the second deployment clause Hebrew again names David as the actor; Greek makes the Syrian the actor. Both then describe battle against David.
Verse 19:18 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:18] Aram fled before Israel. David killed from Aram seven thousand chariot fighters and forty thousand foot soldiers, and he put Shophach the army commander to death.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:18] The Syrian fled before David. David killed from the Syrian force seven thousand chariot fighters and forty thousand foot soldiers, and he killed Sophach the chief commander of the force.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The fleeing force is before Israel in Hebrew and before David in Greek. Both retain seven thousand chariots, rendered chariot fighters because people are killed, and forty thousand infantry.
Verse 19:19 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:19] Hadadezer's servants saw that they had been defeated before Israel. They made peace with David and served him, and Aram was no longer willing to deliver the sons of Ammon.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[19:19] Adraazar's servants saw that they had fallen before Israel. They made a covenant with David and served him, and the Syrian was no longer willing to help the sons of Ammon.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Making peace is expressed as making a covenant in Greek; the resulting service and withdrawal of aid agree.