1 Chronicles 15 — Hebrew and Greek compared
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 15
Hebrew source [H15] • Greek source [G15]
The Levites prepare to carry the ark (15:1–15)
Verse 15:1 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:1] He made houses for himself in the City of David, prepared a place for God's ark, and pitched a tent for it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:1] He made houses for himself in the City of David, prepared the place for God's ark, and made a tent for it.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both distinguish David's houses from the tent prepared for the ark.
Verse 15:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:2] Then David said, “No one is to carry God's ark except the Levites, for YHWH chose them to carry YHWH's ark and to serve Him forever.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:2] Then David said, “No one may lift God's ark except the Levites, for the Lord chose them to lift the Lord's ark and to minister to Him forever.”
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both restrict carrying to the Levites and ground it in divine choice.
Verse 15:3 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:3] David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring YHWH's ark up to the place he had prepared for it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:3] David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring the Lord's ark up to the place he had prepared for it.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The gathering, destination, and prepared place correspond.
Verse 15:4 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:4] David gathered Aaron's sons and the Levites.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:4] David gathered Aaron's sons and the Levites.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both distinguish Aaron's sons and the Levites in the gathering.
Verse 15:5 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:5] From Kohath's sons: Uriel the commander and his brothers, one hundred twenty.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:5] From Kaath's sons: Ouriel the ruler and his brothers, one hundred twenty.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The Kohathite leader and total agree.
Verse 15:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:6] From Merari's sons: Asaiah the commander and his brothers, two hundred twenty.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:6] From Merari's sons: Asaia the ruler and his brothers, two hundred fifty.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The Merarite total is two hundred twenty in Hebrew and two hundred fifty in Greek.
Verse 15:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:7] From Gershom's sons: Joel the commander and his brothers, one hundred thirty.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:7] From Gersam's sons: Joel the ruler and his brothers, one hundred fifty.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The Gershomite total is one hundred thirty in Hebrew and one hundred fifty in Greek.
Verse 15:8 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:8] From Elizaphan's sons: Shemaiah the commander and his brothers, two hundred.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:8] From Elisaphan's sons: Samaias the ruler and his brothers, two hundred.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The leader and total agree.
Verse 15:9 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:9] From Hebron's sons: Eliel the commander and his brothers, eighty.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:9] From Hebron's sons: Eliel the ruler and his brothers, eighty.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The leader and total agree.
Verse 15:10 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:10] From Uzziel's sons: Amminadab the commander and his brothers, one hundred twelve.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:10] From Oziel's sons: Amminadab the ruler and his brothers, one hundred twelve.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The leader and total agree.
Verse 15:11 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:11] David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:11] David summoned Sadok and Abiathar the priests, and the Levites Ouriel, Asaia, Joel, Samaia, Eliel, and Amminadab.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both name the two priests and the same six Levite leaders.
Verse 15:12 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:12] He said to them, “You are heads of the Levites' ancestral houses. Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, and bring up the ark of YHWH, Israel's God, to the place I have prepared for it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:12] He said to them, “You are rulers of the Levites' ancestral houses. Purify yourselves, you and your brothers, and bring up the ark of Israel's God to the place I have prepared for it.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek lacks the divine name before Israel's God and uses purify beside Hebrew consecrate. The commanded preparation and transport agree.
Verse 15:13 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:13] Because you were not there the first time, YHWH our God broke out against us, for we did not seek Him according to the rule.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:13] Because you were not there previously, our God cut among us, for we did not seek according to judgment.”
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek omits YHWH and the explicit object of seeking, and preserves cutting/judgment language beside Hebrew breach/rule. Both have a compressed initial clause about the Levites' prior absence; the supplied “there” is grammatical clarification.
Verse 15:14 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:14] The priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of YHWH, Israel's God.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:14] The priests and Levites purified themselves to bring up the ark of Israel's God.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: As in verse twelve, Greek lacks YHWH and uses purification wording; both record the preparation's fulfillment.
Verse 15:15 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:15] The Levites' sons carried God's ark on their shoulders, with the poles upon them, as Moses had commanded according to YHWH's word.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:15] The Levites' sons took God's ark, as Moses had commanded by God's word according to the writing, with carrying poles upon them.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew explicitly specifies shoulders; Greek instead expressly appeals to the writing and names God rather than YHWH. Both retain carrying poles. Saints: Gregory the Great, Pastoral Rule II.11 [S2], interprets the ark's poles in Exodus as enduring teachers who remain attached to Scripture and carry the Church through preaching. This is a thematic comparison from his Exodus interpretation, not a claim that he comments directly on this Chronicles verse.
Singers, musicians, and gatekeepers (15:16–24)
Verse 15:16 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:16] David told the Levites' commanders to appoint their brothers the singers with musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals—to sound out and raise a joyful voice.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:16] David said to the Levites' rulers, “Appoint their brothers the psalm singers with song instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals—to sound on high with a voice of gladness.”
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek frames the appointment as direct speech while retaining third-person their brothers; the instruments and joyful sound agree.
Verse 15:17 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:17] The Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; and from Merari's sons, their brothers, Ethan son of Kushaiah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:17] The Levites appointed Aiman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Barachia; and from Merari's sons, his brothers, Aithan son of Kisaiou.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The three musical leaders and their ancestry correspond; Hebrew their brothers becomes Greek his brothers in the Merarite phrase.
Verse 15:18 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:18] With them were their brothers of the second rank: Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:18] With them were their brothers of the second rank: Zacharias, Oziel, Semiramoth, Jiiel, Oni, Eliab, Banaia, Maasaia, Mattathia, Eliphalia, Makenia, Abdedom, Jiiel, and Ozias, the gatekeepers.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew has Ben as a separate list item and Jaaziel where Greek has Oziel; Greek adds Ozias at the end. Both lists have fourteen entries under this segmentation, and Greek repeats Jiiel. Ben may instead be an incomplete son-of expression, so its name status remains provisional.
Verse 15:19 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:19] The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound bronze cymbals.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:19] The psalm singers Aiman, Asaph, and Aithan were to make themselves heard with bronze cymbals.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The three singers and bronze cymbals correspond.
Verse 15:20 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:20] Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played harps according to Alamoth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:20] Zacharias, Oziel, Semiramoth, Jiiel, Oni, Eliab, Masaias, and Banaias played harps according to Alaimoth.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The performers correspond; the unexplained musical designation is retained in each form rather than assigned a conjectural register.
Verse 15:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:21] Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah played lyres according to the Sheminith, to lead.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:21] Mattathias, Eliphalias, Makenias, Abdedom, Jiiel, and Ozias played lyres, Amasenith, to strengthen.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Azaziah/Ozias and the final purpose lead/strengthen differ. Hebrew Sheminith and Greek Amasenith are retained as uncertain musical directions.
Verse 15:22 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:22] Chenaniah, the Levites' leader in the carrying, instructed in the carrying, for he understood it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:22] Chonenia, ruler of the Levites, was ruler of the songs, for he was discerning.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew massa is provisionally rendered carrying or burden, with an instruction verb; Greek explicitly says leader of songs. Massa may denote musical delivery here, so a major change from transport to music is not established and is not classified Disparate.
Verse 15:23 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:23] Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:23] Barachia and Elkana were gatekeepers of the ark.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The two assigned gatekeepers correspond.
Verse 15:24 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:24] The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer blew trumpets before God's ark; Obed-edom and Jehiah were gatekeepers for the ark.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:24] The priests Sobnia, Josaphat, Nathanael, Amasai, Zacharia, Banai, and Eliezer sounded trumpets before God's ark; Abdedom and Jia were gatekeepers of God's ark.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The seven trumpeting priests and two gatekeepers correspond; Greek repeats God's in the final ark designation.
The ark enters Jerusalem (15:25–29)
Verse 15:25 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:25] David, Israel's elders, and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the ark of YHWH's covenant from Obed-edom's house with joy.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:25] David, Israel's elders, and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the ark of the Lord's covenant from Abdedom's house with gladness.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both describe the same leaders, ark, departure house, and joy.
Verse 15:26 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:26] When God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of YHWH's covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:26] When God strengthened the Levites lifting the ark of the Lord's covenant, they sacrificed seven calves and seven rams.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew help becomes Greek strengthening, and bulls becomes calves; the two groups of seven and the divine support agree.
Verse 15:27 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:27] David was clothed in a fine-linen robe, as were all the Levites carrying the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah, leader in the carrying of the singers. David also wore a linen ephod.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:27] David was girded in a fine-linen robe, as were all the Levites lifting the ark of the Lord's covenant, the psalm singers, and Chonenias, leader of the singers' songs. Upon David was a fine-linen robe.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek adds the covenant-of-the-Lord designation, makes Chenaniah's role explicitly musical, and repeats a fine-linen robe instead of Hebrew's distinct linen ephod. The Hebrew carrying/singing expression is uncertain as in verse twenty-two; no extra Greek ephod is supplied.
Verse 15:28 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:28] All Israel brought up the ark of YHWH's covenant with shouting, the sound of the shofar, trumpets, and cymbals, sounding out with harps and lyres.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:28] All Israel brought up the ark of the Lord's covenant with signals, the sound of the sopher, trumpets, and cymbals, sounding out with harps and lyres.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek retains the horn's designation as sopher and uses signals beside Hebrew shouting; the other instruments and procession agree.
Verse 15:29 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[15:29] As the ark of YHWH's covenant came to the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked down through the window. She saw King David dancing and celebrating, and despised him in her heart.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[15:29] As the ark of the Lord's covenant came to the City of David, Melchol daughter of Saul peered through the window. She saw King David dancing and playing, and despised him in her soul.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The arrival, observation, dancing, and inward contempt correspond; heart/soul expresses the same internal response.