1 Samuel 21 — 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.
1 Samuel 21
Bread for the hungry in Christ’s teaching
Explicit Gospel reuse: Jesus invokes David’s reception of sacred bread in Luke 6:3–5 [NT5]. Chrysostom treats the episode while explaining Matthew 12 [C3].
21:1–7 | Parting, the priest’s questions, and sacred bread
Source 21:1 corresponds to the last sentence commonly numbered 20:42; source 21:2–7 corresponds to common English 21:1–6.
Verse MT 21:1 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:1
He rose and went, and Jonathan entered the city.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:1
David rose and went away, and Jonathan entered the city.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Greek names David; Hebrew continues him unnamed. Both publisher source sequences number this sentence 21:1; common English Bibles append it to 20:42. It is counted once here.
Verse MT 21:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:2
David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled as he met David and said to him, “Why are you alone, with no one with you?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:2
David came to Nomba, to Abimelech the priest. Abimelech was astonished at meeting him and said to him, “Why are you alone, with no one with you?”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew Ahimelech and Nob correspond to Greek Abimelech and Nomba. The different personal name is retained. From here to 21:16, common English Bible numbers are one lower than the displayed source numbers used for navigation.
Saints: In discussing the Gospel account of David’s bread, Chrysostom explains Abiathar and Ahimelech as two names of one person. That is his proposed harmonization; this volume retains the names actually present in each source [C3, Homily on Matthew 39.1].
Verse MT 21:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:3
David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king commanded me a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter on which I am sending you and which I commanded you.’ I have directed the young men to such-and-such a place.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:3
David said to the priest, “The king commanded me a matter today and said to me, ‘Let no one know the matter on which I am sending you and concerning which I commanded you.’ I have solemnly instructed the young men at the place called God’s Faithfulness, Phellani Allemoni.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek adds today and uses a solemn-testimony verb for the instruction. Its place expression includes God’s Faithfulness and retained Phellani Allemoni, where Hebrew uses an indefinite such-and-such formula. The relation between the Greek designations is difficult. David’s claim of royal authorization remains his reported speech.
Verse MT 21:4 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:4
Now what is at hand? Give me five loaves, or whatever is available.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:4
Now, if five loaves are at hand, give me whatever is available.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew asks what is available and requests five loaves or an alternative; Greek frames the five loaves conditionally. At hand renders the shared under-your-hand idiom.
Verse MT 21:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:5
The priest answered David and said, “There is no common bread at hand, only holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from a woman.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:5
The priest answered David and said, “There are no common loaves at hand, only holy loaves. If the young men have kept themselves from a woman, then he may eat.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly adds a singular he-may-eat clause after the plural young men. Its unnamed singular subject is not silently changed to they. The sexual-abstinence condition and bread distinction agree.
Verse MT 21:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:6
David answered the priest and said to him, “Indeed, women have been kept from us as in former days when I went out, and the young men’s vessels were holy. Though the journey is common, how much more today will it be holy in the vessel.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:6
David answered the priest and said to him, “But we have abstained from a woman yesterday and the third day. When I went out on the road, all the young men had been purified. The road itself is common, for it will be sanctified today through my equipment.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew describes the young men’s vessels as holy; Greek the young men themselves as purified, then my equipment. Both final journey/vessel constructions are difficult and provisional. Vessels may refer to equipment or bodily purity; no single identification is imposed. Hebrew’s former-days idiom and Greek’s explicit day wording remain distinct.
Verse MT 21:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:7
The priest gave him holy bread, for there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence, removed from before YHWH so that hot bread could be placed there on the day it was taken away.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:7
Abimelech the priest gave him the loaves of presentation, for there was no bread there except the loaves of the Presence, removed from before the Lord so that hot bread could be set out on the day he took them.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek names Abimelech and explicitly calls the gift presentation loaves. Hebrew’s final removal is passive; Greek has an unnamed singular taker. Bread of the Presence and loaves of presentation preserve the source designations without inserting an interpretation into the bread itself.
Saints: Jesus invokes David’s sacred bread in Luke 6:3–5 [NT5]. Chrysostom, explaining Matthew 12, emphasizes the hunger and the priest’s consent in the appeal to necessity [C3, Homily on Matthew 39.1–2].
21:8–10 | Doeg and the sword of Goliath
Source 21:8–10 corresponds to common English 21:7–9.
Verse MT 21:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:8
A man from Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before YHWH. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul’s shepherds.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:8
One of Saul’s young servants was there that day, detained, neessaran, before the Lord. His name was Doeg the Syrian, tending Saul’s mules.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew identifies an Edomite and a chief shepherd; Greek a Syrian and mule-tender. Greek neessaran is retained as an uncertain transliterated expression alongside detained. The reason for the detention is not supplied.
Verse MT 21:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:9
David said to Ahimelech, “Is there not a spear or sword here at hand? I have brought neither my sword nor my equipment, because the king’s matter was urgent.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:9
David said to Abimelech, “See whether a spear or sword is here at hand. I have not brought my sword or the equipment, because the king’s matter was urgent.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The Ahimelech/Abimelech distinction continues. Hebrew gives a compressed question; Greek an instruction to look. Both retain David’s explanation of urgency.
Verse MT 21:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:10
The priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck in the Valley of Elah—there it is, wrapped in a garment behind the ephod. If you want to take it, take it, for there is no other here.” David said, “There is none like it. Give it to me.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:10
The priest said, “Look, the sword of Goliath the foreigner, whom you struck in the Valley of Elah: it is wrapped in a garment. If you want to take it, take it, for there is no other here.” David said, “Look, there is none like it. Give it to me.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek lacks behind the ephod. Both name the valley here; the omission of Elah from Greek 17:2 is not retroactively filled from this verse.
The fugitive’s peril among foreign rulers
Editorial Christian reading of David’s troubled path in the history leading to Jesus [NT1]. His performed behavior is not assigned a modern diagnosis.
21:11–16 | David before Achish
Source 21:11–16 corresponds to common English 21:10–15.
Verse MT 21:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:11
David rose and fled that day from Saul. He came to Achish, king of Gath.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:11
He gave it to him. David rose and fled that day from Saul, and David came to Achish, king of Gath.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly narrates the sword’s transfer before the flight. The unnamed giver continues the priest, and the repeated David is retained.
Verse MT 21:12 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:12
Achish’s servants said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Is this not the one about whom they answered in the dances, saying, ‘Saul has struck his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:12
Achish’s servants said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Is this not the one for whom the dancing women led the song, saying, ‘Saul has struck his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek explicitly names dancing women leading the song; Hebrew an answering dance refrain. The designation king of the land remains the servants’ statement, and the shared refrain recalls 18:7.
Verse MT 21:13 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:13
David placed these words in his heart and became very afraid of Achish, king of Gath.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:13
David placed the words in his heart and became very afraid of Achish, king of Gath.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The inward response, fear, and ruler’s identification agree.
Verse MT 21:14 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:14
He changed his behavior in their eyes and acted mad in their hands. He made marks on the gate’s doors and let saliva run down onto his beard.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:14
He altered his face before him and pretended that day. He drummed on the city’s doors, was carried about in his hands, and fell against the gate’s doors. His saliva ran down onto his beard.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew has changed behavior, feigned madness, and making marks; Greek changed face, pretending, drumming, being carried about, and falling against doors. Greek’s in-his-hands expression is awkward and remains provisional; its singular pronoun is not replaced with Hebrew’s plural. Neither narrator’s performance description is treated as a clinical diagnosis.
Verse MT 21:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:15
Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see a man acting mad. Why do you bring him to me?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:15
Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see a man subject to fits. Why have you brought him to me?”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s madness term differs from Greek epilēptos, rendered subject to fits. These are Achish’s characterizations of David’s performance; no modern medical conclusion is asserted.
Verse MT 21:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:16
“Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this one to act mad before me? Shall this one enter my house?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:16
“Do I lack people subject to fits, that you have brought him to have fits before me? This one shall not enter a house.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The differing affliction terms continue. Hebrew ends with a question about my house; Greek with a negative assertion and no possessive. Greek’s prohibition remains explicit.