1 Samuel 28 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: MT 28:16, MT 28:19
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 28
The silent oracle and the desperate king
Editorial Christian reading: Saul’s crisis belongs to the troubled history preceding David’s reign [NT1]. The story’s divinatory practices are translated as ancient ritual terms.
28:1–7 | The gathering war and the unanswered inquiry
Verse MT 28:1 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:1
In those days the Philistines gathered their camps for the army, to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “Know for certain that you will go out with me in the camp, you and your men.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:1
In those days the foreigners gathered in their camps to go out and fight with Israel. Achish said to David, “Know for certain that you will go out with me to war, you and your men.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The muster and demand for David’s participation agree; Hebrew names going out in the camp and Greek going to war.
Verse MT 28:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:2
David said to Achish, “Then you will know what your servant will do.” Achish said to David, “Then I will make you guardian of my head all the days.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:2
David said to Achish, “So now you will know what your servant will do.” Achish said to David, “So I will make you chief bodyguard all the days.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew gives guardian of my head; Greek an explicit chief-bodyguard office. David’s answer remains open as to what he intends to do.
Verse MT 28:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:3
Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned him and buried him at Ramah, in his city. Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:3
Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned him and buried him at Armathaim, in his city. Saul had removed the ventriloquists and the knowers from the land.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Ramah/Armathaim continues the location difference. Hebrew obot and yiddeʿonim designate practitioners of communication with spirits or the dead; Greek uses engastrimythoi, literally belly-speakers, and knowers. Ventriloquists is used in that ancient ritual sense, without asserting modern stage performance or deciding how the episode occurred.
Verse MT 28:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:4
The Philistines gathered, came, and camped at Shunem. Saul gathered all Israel, and they camped at Gilboa.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:4
The foreigners gathered, came, and camped at Soman. Saul gathered every man of Israel, and they camped at Gilboa.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew Shunem and Greek Soman remain distinct forms. Greek explicitly names every man, while Hebrew gives all Israel.
Verse MT 28:5 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:5
Saul saw the Philistine camp and was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:5
Saul saw the foreigners’ camp and was afraid, and his heart was greatly astounded.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The fear agrees, with trembling and astonishment as distinct descriptions of the heart’s reaction.
Verse MT 28:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:6
Saul inquired of YHWH, but YHWH did not answer him by dreams, by Urim, or by prophets.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:6
Saul inquired through the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams, by clear signs, or by prophets.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names Urim; Greek uses a substantive form of clear, rendered clear signs without inventing a physical device. All three unanswered channels remain explicit.
Verse MT 28:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:7
Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire through her.” His servants said to him, “There is a woman who is a medium at Endor.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:7
Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a ventriloquist, so that I may go to her and inquire through her.” His servants said to him, “There is a woman who is a ventriloquist at Endor.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The source-specific practitioner terms continue from 28:3. Both preserve Saul’s initiative in seeking the prohibited practitioner; no personal name is supplied for her.
28:8–14 | Saul visits the woman at Endor
Verse MT 28:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:8
Saul disguised himself, put on other garments, and went, with two men beside him. They came to the woman by night. He said, “Please divine for me through the spirit and bring up for me the one I name to you.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:8
Saul concealed himself, put on other garments, and went, with two men beside him. They came to the woman by night. He said to her, “Please divine for me through the ventriloquist and bring up for me the one I name to you.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s ob can denote the spirit or the medium’s means of consultation and is rendered spirit here; Greek uses the practitioner term. The disguise, two companions, night visit, and request agree.
Verse MT 28:9 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:9
The woman said to him, “Look, you know what Saul has done, how he cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you laying a snare for my soul, to put me to death?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:9
The woman said to him, “Look, you know what Saul has done, how he destroyed the ventriloquists and the knowers from the land. Why are you laying a snare for my soul, to put it to death?”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The fear of a trap agrees. Hebrew’s final object is me; Greek explicitly refers back to the soul. The practitioner terms and cut-off/destroy verbs remain distinct.
Verse MT 28:10 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:10
Saul swore to her by YHWH, saying, “As YHWH lives, no guilt shall come upon you in this matter.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:10
Saul swore to her, saying, “As the Lord lives, no wrong shall come upon you in this matter.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew explicitly names YHWH in both the oath introduction and formula. Both if-formulas are rendered as emphatic negatives. Saul’s assurance is retained as his oath, not a narrator’s declaration that the practice is permitted.
Verse MT 28:11 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:11
The woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:11
The woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The requested person and exchange agree.
Verse MT 28:12 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:12
The woman saw Samuel and cried out with a loud voice. The woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:12
The woman saw Samuel and cried out with a loud voice. The woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both narrators name Samuel. The translation preserves that designation without inserting a later explanation such as impersonation or a demon. Her recognition of Saul remains abrupt.
Saints: Augustine acknowledges the account of Samuel’s appearance while also reporting an interpretation in which a spirit imitates him. He discusses exceptional divine permission rather than unrestricted power of the medium over the dead. The alternatives remain attributed; the translation retains Samuel [C4, On the Care of the Dead §§18–19].
Verse MT 28:13 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:13
The king said to her, “Do not fear. What have you seen?” The woman said to Saul, “I have seen gods coming up from the earth.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:13
The king said to her, “Do not fear. Tell me whom you have seen.” She said to him, “I have seen gods coming up from the earth.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew asks what; Greek whom and explicitly requests a report. Both use plural divine-being language with a plural rising expression. Gods is lowercase and belongs to the woman’s description; the following verse identifies one figure.
Rabbinic: Rashi identifies the appearing beings as Moses and Samuel in his aggadic exposition. That identification is not inserted into the woman’s reported vision or used to erase its plural wording [R28, on 28:13].
Verse MT 28:14 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:14
He said to her, “What is his appearance?” She said, “An old man is coming up, wrapped in a robe.” Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:14
He said to her, “What did you perceive?” She said to him, “A man standing upright is coming up from the earth, wrapped in a double cloak.” Saul knew that this was Samuel, and he bent with his face to the ground and bowed to him.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew describes an old man and robe; Greek a man standing upright and a double cloak, explicitly rising from the earth. Greek directs the bowing to him. Saul’s identification is retained without adding a separate sighting by Saul.
Judgment heard at the edge of death
Attributed Christian reception: Augustine discusses Samuel’s appearance and the alternative interpretation of an imitating spirit [C4, §§18–19]. The narrator’s designation Samuel is retained.
28:15–19 | Samuel’s message to Saul
Verse MT 28:15 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:15
Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul said, “I am greatly distressed. The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me and no longer answers me, either through the prophets or by dreams. I have called you to make known to me what I should do.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:15
Samuel said, “Why have you troubled me, that I should come up?” Saul said, “I am greatly afflicted. The foreigners are fighting against me, and God has departed from me and no longer listens to me, either through the prophets or by dreams. Now I have called you to make known to me what I should do.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew explicitly names Saul as addressee and speaks of unanswered requests; Greek speaks of not being heard and adds now. Both preserve the narrator’s Samuel designation and Saul’s explanation.
Verse MT 28:16 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:16
Samuel said, “Why do you inquire of me, when YHWH has departed from you and become your adversary?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:16
Samuel said, “Why do you inquire of me, when the Lord has departed from you and has come to be with your neighbor?
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew describes YHWH as Saul’s adversary; Greek describes the Lord’s association with Saul’s neighbor. The different theological relation is retained, with the neighbor identified as David in 28:17.
Verse MT 28:17 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:17
YHWH has done for him as He spoke by my hand. YHWH tore the kingdom from your hand and gave it to your neighbor David.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:17
The Lord has done to you as He spoke by my hand. The Lord will tear your kingdom from your hand and give it to your neighbor David.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew lo is third-person, rendered for him without selecting a named referent or forcing a reflexive; a reference to God remains possible. Greek explicitly says to you. Hebrew describes the transfer with completed verbs; Greek with futures and your kingdom. The earlier rejection in chapter 15 remains the narrative background, not an inserted sentence.
Verse MT 28:18 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:18
Because you did not listen to YHWH’s voice and did not carry out His burning anger against Amalek, YHWH has done this thing to you this day.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:18
Because you did not listen to the Lord’s voice and did not carry out His furious anger against Amalek, the Lord has done this thing to you this day.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The stated cause and present consequence agree. The reference to Amalek is preserved without softening the earlier command or adding a separate justification.
Verse MT 28:19 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:19
YHWH will also give Israel with you into the Philistines’ hand. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. YHWH will also give Israel’s camp into the Philistines’ hand.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:19
The Lord will hand Israel with you into the foreigners’ hands. Tomorrow you and your sons with you will fall. The Lord will give Israel’s camp into the foreigners’ hands.”
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew says Saul and his sons will be with me, the speaker Samuel; Greek says they will fall, with you. Both announce defeat and death, but only Hebrew explicitly relates the dead to the speaker’s state. Neither column adds a judgment about their final salvation.
Rabbinic: Rashi interprets with me as sharing Samuel’s abode. This is an afterlife interpretation of the phrase, distinct from the Greek reading with you and falling [R28, on 28:19].
28:20–25 | Saul collapses and receives a meal
Verse MT 28:20 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:20
Saul hurried and fell full length to the ground. He was greatly afraid because of Samuel’s words. No strength remained in him, for he had eaten no food all that day and all the night.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:20
Saul hurried and fell from his standing position to the ground. He was greatly afraid because of Samuel’s words. No strength remained in him, for he had eaten no bread all the day and all that night.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew describes his full length; Greek his standing position before falling. The fear and fasting agree.
Verse MT 28:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:21
The woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly terrified. She said to him, “Look, your female servant listened to your voice. I put my soul in my palm and listened to the words you spoke to me.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:21
The woman came in to Saul and saw that he had hurried greatly. She said to him, “Look, your female servant listened to your voice. I put my soul in my hand and listened to the words you spoke to me.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names terror; Greek repeats the haste verb from 28:20. The life-risking hand image agrees, with palm and hand terms.
Verse MT 28:22 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:22
Now please listen, you too, to your female servant’s voice. Let me set a piece of bread before you. Eat, so that you may have strength when you go on your way.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:22
Now please listen to your female servant’s voice. I will set a morsel of bread before you. Eat, and you will have strength, for you will go on your way.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The requested meal and purpose agree; Hebrew explicitly emphasizes reciprocal listening and Greek uses future assertions.
Verse MT 28:23 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:23
He refused and said, “I will not eat.” His servants and the woman pressed him, and he listened to their voice. He rose from the ground and sat on the bed.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:23
He was unwilling to eat. His servants and the woman urged him, and he listened to their voice. He rose from the ground and sat on the seat.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek lacks the direct refusal and has a seat rather than Hebrew’s bed or couch. Both retain the persuasion and resulting movement.
Verse MT 28:24 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:24
The woman had a fattened calf in the house. She hurried and slaughtered it, took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened cakes.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:24
The woman had a grazing heifer in the house. She hurried and slaughtered it, took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened cakes.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew gives a fattened calf; Greek a female grazing animal. The food preparation otherwise agrees.
Verse MT 28:25 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 28:25
She brought the food before Saul and his servants, and they ate. They rose and went away that night.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 28:25
She brought the food before Saul and his servants, and they ate. They rose and went away that night.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The meal and night departure agree. Food supplies the objects prepared in 28:24 without adding another dish.