1 Kings 21 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: MT 21:19, MT 21:27
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.
1 Kings 21
Hebrew chapter 21 is aligned with Greek chapter 20; the selected Greek has the opposite subject order.
The neighbor’s inheritance and the innocent life
Editorial Christian reading: coveting, false testimony, and killing join in the seizure of Naboth’s vineyard. Hebrew chapter 21 corresponds here to Greek chapter 20.
21:1–7 | Naboth refuses; Jezebel intervenes
Verse MT 21:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:1
After these things, Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:1
Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard beside the threshing floor of Ahab king of Samaria.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: This Hebrew chapter corresponds to Greek chapter 20, which comes before the wars of Greek chapter 21. Hebrew names Jezreel as the vineyard’s location and places it beside a palace; Greek has a threshing floor and lacks after these things and the explicit in Jezreel. The different setting is retained.
Verse MT 21:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:2
Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, so it may be a vegetable garden for me, because it is near my house. I will give you a better vineyard in its place, or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its price in silver.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:2
Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, so it may be a vegetable garden for me, because it is nearer my house. I will give you another vineyard better than it; or, if it pleases you, I will give you silver in exchange for this vineyard of yours, and it will be a vegetable garden for me.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek repeats the vegetable-garden purpose and has nearer rather than near. Both preserve the offered exchange or payment. No price or legal right to compel a sale is supplied.
Verse MT 21:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:3
Naboth said to Ahab, “YHWH forbid that I should give you my fathers’ inheritance!”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:3
Naboth said to Ahab, “May my God forbid that I should give you my fathers’ inheritance!”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew invokes YHWH; Greek has my God. The refusal rests on inherited ancestral property, not an expressed request for a higher price.
Verse MT 21:4 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:4
Ahab came home sullen and angry over what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him: “I will not give you my fathers’ inheritance.” He lay on his bed, turned his face away, and ate no bread.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:4
Ahab’s spirit became troubled. He lay on his bed, covered his face, and ate no bread.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek gives a shorter reaction without the homecoming or repeated inheritance refusal. It describes a troubled spirit and covering the face, where Hebrew describes anger and turning the face away.
Verse MT 21:5 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:5
Jezebel his wife came to him and said, “Why is your spirit so sullen that you are not eating bread?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:5
Jezebel his wife came to him and said, “Why is your spirit troubled, and why are you not eating bread?”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The question follows each text’s description of Ahab’s mood. The wife’s approach and concern with his refusal to eat agree.
Verse MT 21:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:6
He said to her, “I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said, ‘Give me your vineyard for silver; or, if you prefer, I will give you a vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:6
He said to her, “I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, saying, ‘Give me your vineyard for silver; or, if you wish, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my fathers’ inheritance.’”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: In Ahab’s retelling, Hebrew reduces Naboth’s refusal to my vineyard, while Greek retains my fathers’ inheritance. This difference affects how fully Ahab reports Naboth’s stated reason.
Verse MT 21:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:7
Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now exercise kingship over Israel? Rise, eat bread, and let your heart be glad. I will give you Naboth the Jezreelite’s vineyard.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:7
Jezebel his wife said to him, “Is this how you now act as king over Israel? Rise, eat bread, and be yourself again. I will give you Naboth the Jezreelite’s vineyard.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s kingship clause is understood as a rhetorical question; its declarative reading is also possible. Greek more explicitly challenges how he acts as king and has be yourself rather than let your heart be glad. Both make Jezebel the initiator of the promised seizure.
21:8–16 | Letters, false witnesses, death, and possession
Verse MT 21:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:8
She wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and nobles in his city who lived with Naboth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:8
She wrote a letter in Ahab’s name, sealed it with his seal, and sent the letter to the elders and free men who lived with Naboth.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has plural letters, Greek singular letter here, followed by plural documents in verse 9. Nobles and free men preserve the differing status terms. Greek lacks the first explicit city phrase. Both identify the royal name and seal used by Jezebel.
Verse MT 21:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:9
She wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:9
It was written in the documents: “Observe a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names her writing and commands proclamation; Greek uses a passive writing formula and commands fasting. The public religious setting is part of the scheme.
Verse MT 21:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:10
Seat two worthless men opposite him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘You have “blessed” God and the king.’ Take him out and stone him, so he dies.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:10
Seat two men, sons of lawbreakers, opposite him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘He has “blessed” God and the king.’ Let them take him out and stone him, and let him die.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Both use a blessing verb euphemistically for the alleged curse or blasphemy; quotation marks flag that usage. Hebrew’s planned accusation addresses you, Greek says he. Hebrew worthless men and Greek sons of lawbreakers remain distinct. These are instructions for fabricated testimony, not evidence of Naboth’s guilt.
Verse MT 21:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:11
The men of his city—the elders and nobles who lived in his city—did as Jezebel had sent to them, as written in the letters she had sent them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:11
The men of his city—the elders and free men who lived in his city—did as Jezebel had sent to them, as written in the documents she had sent them.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The compliance and repeated city and sending language agree. The nobles/free-men distinction remains. The local officials’ participation is not omitted or transferred entirely to Jezebel.
Verse MT 21:12 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:12
They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:12
They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people,
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The public preparation agrees. Greek here uses proclamation, despite its different command wording in verse 9.
Verse MT 21:13 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:13
The two worthless men came and sat opposite him. The worthless men testified against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has ‘blessed’ God and the king.” They took him outside the city and stoned him with stones, and he died.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:13
Two men, sons of lawbreakers, came and sat opposite him. They testified against him, saying, “You have ‘blessed’ God and the king.” They took him outside the city and stoned him with stones, and he died.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew repeats the witnesses’ character and names Naboth before the people; Greek is shorter and gives a direct you accusation, reversing the person used in its planned wording in verse 10. Both retain the euphemistic blessing verb and the fatal stoning.
Verse MT 21:14 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:14
They sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:14
They sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The report and its recipient agree.
Verse MT 21:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:15
When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, she said to Ahab, “Rise, take possession of Naboth the Jezreelite’s vineyard, which he refused to give you for silver. Naboth is no longer alive; he is dead.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:15
When Jezebel heard, she said to Ahab, “Rise, take possession of Naboth the Jezreelite’s vineyard, which he did not give you for silver. Naboth is no longer alive; he is dead.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew repeats the report of stoning and death in the introduction and explicitly says refused; Greek has the shorter heard and did not give. Both connect Naboth’s death to the seizure of his property.
Verse MT 21:16 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:16
When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab rose to go down to Naboth the Jezreelite’s vineyard to take possession of it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:16
When Ahab heard that Naboth the Jezreelite was dead, he tore his garments and put on sackcloth. After this, Ahab rose and went down to Naboth the Jezreelite’s vineyard to take possession of it.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds torn garments and sackcloth before the seizure and expressly marks after this. Their significance is not explained in this verse; the actions are not omitted because repentance is also described later, nor assigned an invented motive.
The word confronts bloodshed; humility receives a response
Editorial Christian reading: judgment and its postponement are both narrated. Ahab’s response does not undo Naboth’s death or prove an unreported inward motive.
21:17–26 | Elijah speaks the judgment
Verse MT 21:17 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:17
YHWH’s word came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:17
The Lord spoke to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew describes the coming word, Greek the Lord’s speaking. The prophet is identified alike.
Verse MT 21:18 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:18
“Rise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria. Look, he is in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone down to take possession of it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:18
“Rise and go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria. Look, he is in Naboth’s vineyard, because he has gone down there to take possession of it.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The command, royal identification, vineyard, and purpose agree. The relation of the Samaria designation to the vineyard’s earlier setting is left as the text gives it.
Verse MT 21:19 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:19
Say to him, ‘Thus says YHWH: Have you murdered and also taken possession?’ Then say to him, ‘Thus says YHWH: In the place where dogs licked Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick your blood—yours too.’”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:19
Say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: Because you murdered and took possession, therefore thus says the Lord: In every place where swine and dogs licked Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick your blood there, and prostitutes will bathe in your blood.’”
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Greek adds swine, every place, and prostitutes bathing in Ahab’s blood, and makes the accusation a causal statement rather than the Hebrew question. Both directly hold Ahab responsible for murder despite Jezebel’s earlier instructions to the officials.
Verse MT 21:20 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:20
Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, my enemy?” He said, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in YHWH’s eyes.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:20
Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, my enemy?” He said, “I have found you, because you have been sold in vain to do evil before the Lord, provoking Him.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew uses a reflexive selling-yourself expression; Greek has a passive selling and adds in vain and provoking Him. The passive is retained without naming an unstated seller.
Verse MT 21:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:21
Look, I am bringing harm upon you. I will sweep away what remains after you and cut off from Ahab every male who urinates against a wall, both restrained and released in Israel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:21
Thus says the Lord: ‘Look, I am bringing calamities upon you. I will burn out what remains after you and destroy from Ahab every male who urinates against a wall, both confined and abandoned in Israel.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly introduces the Lord’s oracle here, uses plural calamities and a burning verb, and gives abandoned for the second member of the status pair. Hebrew restrained and released is provisional, as at 14:10. The dynastic bodily expression is retained in both.
Verse MT 21:22 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:22
I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, because of the provocation you have provoked and because you caused Israel to sin.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:22
I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, because of the provocations you have provoked and because you caused Israel to sin.’”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The two dynastic comparisons and communal responsibility agree. Hebrew has singular provocation, Greek plural provocations. Neither text expressly supplies Me after the provocation verb here.
Verse MT 21:23 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:23
Concerning Jezebel also, YHWH spoke, saying, “The dogs will eat Jezebel at Jezreel’s rampart.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:23
To Jezebel the Lord spoke, saying, “The dogs will devour her at Jezreel’s outer wall.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names Jezebel within the oracle; Greek has her and describes the location as a forewall or outer defense. Hebrew hel is rendered rampart without importing the field or plot wording of another passage.
Verse MT 21:24 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:24
Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city, the dogs will eat; anyone who dies in the field, the birds of the heavens will eat.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:24
Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city, the dogs will eat; anyone belonging to him who dies in the plain, the birds of the heavens will eat.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The dynastic threat agrees. Greek explicitly repeats belonging to him in the second clause and uses plain where Hebrew has field.
Verse MT 21:25 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:25
There was indeed no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in YHWH’s eyes, whom Jezebel his wife incited.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:25
Yet Ahab acted in vain, as he was sold to do evil before the Lord, as Jezebel his wife turned him aside.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew declares that none was like Ahab and uses reflexive sold himself; Greek gives a difficult in-vain clause and passive was sold. Acted supplies English grammar provisionally. Both attribute an influencing role to Jezebel without absolving Ahab of the preceding murder accusation.
Verse MT 21:26 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:26
He acted most abominably by following the idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom YHWH dispossessed before the children of Israel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:26
He acted most abominably by following the abominations, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names idols and describes dispossession; Greek names abominations and describes destruction. Both retain the comparison with the earlier inhabitants without rewriting the stated action.
21:27–29 | Ahab humbles himself; the disaster is deferred
Verse MT 21:27 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:27
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments, put sackcloth on his flesh, fasted, lay in sackcloth, and walked softly.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:27
Because of the word, Ahab was stricken before the Lord: he went about weeping, tore his tunic, tied sackcloth around his body, fasted, and put on sackcloth on the day he struck Naboth the Jezreelite.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Greek adds weeping and dates the sackcloth to the day he struck Naboth; Hebrew describes hearing the oracle, lying in sackcloth, and subdued walking. The Greek directly attributes striking Naboth to Ahab. Stricken renders katanyssomai, expressing the response without inserting an unrecorded confession.
Verse MT 21:28 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:28
YHWH’s word came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:28
The Lord’s word came through His servant Elijah concerning Ahab, and the Lord said,
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names the Tishbite and presents Elijah as recipient; Greek names His servant, presents the word through him concerning Ahab, and repeats the Lord as speaker.
Verse MT 21:29 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:29
“Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the harm in his days. In his son’s days I will bring the harm upon his house.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:29
“Have you seen how Ahab has been stricken before Me? I will not bring the harm in his days, but in his son’s days I will bring the harm.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew repeats the reason, his humbling, and specifies his house as the later target. Greek uses the stricken expression and a shorter postponement. Neither column turns delayed dynastic judgment into cancellation of every oracle concerning Ahab himself.