1 Samuel 18 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: MT 18:6, MT 18:21
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 Samuel 18
Covenant friendship amid royal envy
Editorial Christian reading of love and jealousy within the history leading to Christ [NT1]. A specifically Jewish account of disinterested friendship is attributed in the notes [RA].
18:1–5 | Jonathan’s covenant and David’s advancement
These five verses are absent in the selected Greek.
Verse MT 18:1 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:1
When he finished speaking to Saul, Jonathan’s soul was bound to David’s soul, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
No LXX counterpart
[No corresponding verse in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew 18:1–5 is absent from the selected Greek text, which begins at 18:6. Soul-language expresses the bond without substituting a modern account of the relationship.
Rabbinic: Mishnah Avot 5:16 names David and Jonathan as the example of love independent of an external interest. This is later ethical reception of their friendship, not an added clause in either biblical source [RA].
Verse MT 18:2 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:2
Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
No LXX counterpart
[No corresponding verse in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Absent within the Greek 18:1–5 gap. The retention of David at court remains explicit in Hebrew.
Verse MT 18:3 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:3
Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
No LXX counterpart
[No corresponding verse in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Absent within the Greek 18:1–5 gap. Jonathan is the contextual subject of loved; the source pronouns remain unexpanded.
Verse MT 18:4 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:4
Jonathan stripped off the robe he wore and gave it to David, with his garments, even his sword, his bow, and his belt.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
No LXX counterpart
[No corresponding verse in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Absent within the Greek 18:1–5 gap. The individual gifts remain distinct, without adding an explicit transfer of royal office.
Verse MT 18:5 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:5
David went out wherever Saul sent him and acted wisely. Saul set him over the men of war, and this was good in the eyes of all the people and also in the eyes of Saul’s servants.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
No LXX counterpart
[No corresponding verse in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Absent within the Greek 18:1–5 gap. Acted wisely renders the action-and-success range of sakal; the same wording is used in 18:14–15,30.
18:6–16 | The victory song, fear, and hostility
The Greek absences at 18:10–11 remain marked.
Verse MT 18:6 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:6
As they came back, when David returned from striking the Philistine, the women came out from all Israel’s cities, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, joy, and shalishim.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:6
The dancing women came out from all Israel’s cities to meet David, with tambourines, joy, and cymbals.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew’s returning-battle preface is absent in Greek. The one met is King Saul in Hebrew and David in Greek. Hebrew shalishim is retained as an uncertain musical term rather than identified from Greek cymbals.
Verse MT 18:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:7
The celebrating women answered and said, “Saul has struck his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:7
The women led the song and said, “Saul has struck his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The paired numbers agree. Hebrew depicts an answering celebration; Greek the women leading the song. Verse 21:12 in both source numberings recalls this refrain.
Verse MT 18:8 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:8
Saul became very angry, and this saying was evil in his eyes. He said, “They have given David tens of thousands, but to me they have given thousands. Only the kingship remains for him!”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:8
The saying appeared evil in Saul’s eyes concerning this matter, and he said, “They have given David the tens of thousands, but to me they have given the thousands.”
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek lacks the explicit opening anger statement and the concluding fear about kingship. Its shorter reaction is retained.
Verse MT 18:9 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:9
Saul kept watching David from that day onward.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:9
Saul kept looking askance at David from that day onward.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both describe ongoing suspicious attention. Greek explicitly conveys a sideways or hostile look; Hebrew’s eye-related verb is rendered watching.
Verse MT 18:10 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:10
The next day an evil spirit of God rushed upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. David played with his hand, as he did day by day, and the spear was in Saul’s hand.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
No LXX counterpart
[No corresponding verse in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew 18:10–11 is absent from the selected Greek. Prophesied preserves the Hebrew verb; no modern diagnosis is substituted. The distressing spirit remains lowercase.
Verse MT 18:11 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:11
Saul hurled the spear, saying, “I will strike David and the wall.” David turned away from him twice.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
No LXX counterpart
[No corresponding verse in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Absent within the Greek 18:10–11 gap. The compressed intended pinning action and the two evasions remain; this verse is not supplied from the later episode in chapter 19.
Verse MT 18:12 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:12
Saul was afraid of David, because YHWH was with him and had departed from Saul.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:12
Saul was afraid of David.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek lacks the causal statement concerning divine presence and departure in this verse; it affirms the Lord’s presence with David at 18:14.
Verse MT 18:13 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:13
Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand for himself. He went out and came in before the people.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:13
He removed him from his presence and appointed him a commander of a thousand for himself. He went out and came in before the people.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Greek continues Saul as the unnamed subject. The appointment and public military movements agree.
Verse MT 18:14 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:14
David acted wisely in all his ways, and YHWH was with him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:14
David showed understanding in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew sakal includes wise, successful action; Greek syniēmi emphasizes understanding. Both connect David’s conduct with divine presence.
Verse MT 18:15 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:15
Saul saw that he acted very wisely, and he dreaded him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:15
Saul saw that he showed great understanding, and he was wary of him.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The wisdom/understanding distinction continues. Hebrew describes dread; Greek wary caution.
Verse MT 18:16 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:16
All Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:16
All Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before the people.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The affection and reason agree; Greek names the people where Hebrew uses a pronoun.
The king’s daughter and the danger of the bridal gift
Editorial Christian reading: the royal history preserves both promise and calculated harm. The marriage negotiations are not allegorized into the translated text.
18:17–21 | Merab, Michal, and Saul’s plan
Greek 18:17–19 is absent; the differing pronouns in 18:21 remain visible.
Verse MT 18:17 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:17
Saul said to David, “Here is my eldest daughter Merab. I will give her to you as a wife. Only be a valiant man for me and fight YHWH’s battles.” Saul said, “Let my hand not be against him; let the Philistines’ hand be against him.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
No LXX counterpart
[No corresponding verse in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew 18:17–19 is absent from the selected Greek. Saul’s concealed intent is retained as his own speech or thought, not as a divine instruction.
Verse MT 18:18 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:18
David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my kin, my father’s family in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
No LXX counterpart
[No corresponding verse in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Absent within the Greek 18:17–19 gap. My kin is a contextual, provisional rendering of the difficult hayyay expression, which can also be understood in relation to my life; the following family phrase guides this choice.
Verse MT 18:19 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:19
When the time came to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given as a wife to Adriel the Meholathite.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
No LXX counterpart
[No corresponding verse in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Absent within the Greek 18:17–19 gap. Hebrew retains Merab’s different marriage without inserting an explanation.
Verse MT 18:20 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:20
Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. They told Saul, and the matter was right in his eyes.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:20
Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. It was reported to Saul, and it was right in his eyes.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The affection, report, and favorable reaction agree; the report is active plural in Hebrew and passive in Greek.
Verse MT 18:21 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:21
Saul said, “I will give her to him, so that she may be a snare to him and the Philistines’ hand may be against him.” Saul said to David, “Through the second, you shall become my son-in-law today.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:21
Saul said, “I will give her to him, and she will be a snare to him.” The foreigners’ hand was against Saul.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Greek explicitly places the foreigners’ hand against Saul, in a narrator’s statement, rather than against David in Saul’s plan. It lacks the final marriage offer. Hebrew through the second is provisional for bishtayim, also understood as through one of the two or on a second occasion.
18:22–30 | The demanded price and David’s growing reputation
The final Hebrew verse has no counterpart in this Greek presentation.
Verse MT 18:22 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:22
Saul commanded his servants, “Speak secretly to David, saying, ‘Look, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you. Now become the king’s son-in-law.’”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:22
Saul commanded his servants, saying, “You speak secretly to David, saying, ‘Look, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you. Become the king’s son-in-law.’”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The secret approach, declared affection, and marriage proposal agree; Greek emphasizes you and Hebrew explicitly gives now.
Verse MT 18:23 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:23
Saul’s servants spoke these words in David’s ears. David said, “Is it a light thing in your eyes to become the king’s son-in-law? I am a poor and lightly esteemed man.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:23
Saul’s servants spoke these words in David’s ears. David said, “Is it a light thing in your eyes to become a king’s son-in-law? I am a lowly man, without renown.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew explicitly describes poverty and low esteem; Greek lowliness and lack of renown. The light-thing question agrees.
Verse MT 18:24 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:24
Saul’s servants told him, saying, “David spoke these words.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:24
Saul’s servants reported to him according to these words that David had spoken.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The return report agrees; direct and indirect presentation differ.
Verse MT 18:25 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:25
Saul said, “This is what you shall say to David: ‘The king desires no bride-price, only a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” Saul planned to make David fall into the Philistines’ hand.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:25
Saul said, “This is what you shall say to David: ‘The king wants no gift, only a hundred foreigners’ foreskins, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” Saul planned to throw him into the foreigners’ hands.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names the marriage payment; Greek uses the general word gift. Both retain the violent requirement, the hundred, and Saul’s intent.
Verse MT 18:26 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:26
His servants told David these words, and the matter of becoming the king’s son-in-law was right in David’s eyes. The days had not been completed,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:26
Saul’s servants reported these words to David, and the matter of becoming the king’s son-in-law was right in David’s eyes.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek names Saul but lacks the time clause. Hebrew’s unfinished-days statement is linked to the following action; no unstated deadline length is supplied.
Verse MT 18:27 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:27
when David rose and went, he and his men, and struck two hundred Philistine men. David brought their foreskins, and they presented the full number to the king, to become the king’s son-in-law. Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:27
David rose and went, he and his men, and struck a hundred men among the foreigners. He brought their foreskins to the king and became the king’s son-in-law. He gave him Michal, his daughter, as a wife.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has two hundred killed; Greek one hundred. Hebrew includes a plural presentation of the full tally and a purpose clause; Greek directly states the marriage relationship. Greek’s final unnamed giver is the king in context.
Verse MT 18:28 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:28
Saul saw and knew that YHWH was with David, and Saul’s daughter Michal loved him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:28
Saul saw that the Lord was with David, and all Israel loved him.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names Michal as loving David; Greek all Israel. Hebrew also explicitly includes knew.
Verse MT 18:29 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:29
Saul grew still more afraid of David, and Saul became David’s enemy all his days.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 18:29
He grew still more wary of David.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek lacks the enduring-enmity statement and continues Saul without naming him. Its wariness term continues 18:15.
Verse MT 18:30 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 18:30
The Philistine commanders went out, and whenever they went out, David acted more wisely than all Saul’s servants. His name was greatly esteemed.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
No LXX counterpart
[No corresponding verse in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: The selected Greek chapter ends at 18:29. Hebrew’s repeated military success and reputation notice is retained without expanding the Greek conclusion.