1 Samuel 22 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: MT 22:23
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 22
Refuge for the distressed in David’s company
Editorial Christian reading: the gathering of vulnerable people can be considered within David’s later Christ-centered reception [NT1]. The men’s debts and distress are translated concretely.
22:1–5 | The cave, the parents’ safety, and Gad’s instruction
Verse MT 22:1 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:1
David went from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. His brothers and all his father’s house heard, and they went down to him there.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:1
David went from there and escaped, and he came to the cave of Adullam. His brothers and his father’s house heard, and they went down to him there.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Greek explicitly separates escape and arrival; Hebrew explicitly gives all the household. The refuge and family movement agree.
Verse MT 22:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:2
Everyone in distress, everyone who had a creditor, and everyone bitter in soul gathered to him. He became their commander, and about four hundred men were with him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:2
Everyone in need, everyone in debt, and everyone pained in soul gathered to him. He became their leader, and about four hundred men were with him.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The gathered groups and approximate number agree. Hebrew names having a creditor and bitterness of soul; Greek indebtedness and pain of soul.
Verse MT 22:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:3
David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab and said to Moab’s king, “Please let my father and mother come out to be with you, until I know what God will do for me.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:3
David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab and said to Moab’s king, “Please let my father and mother stay with you, until I know what God will do for me.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew’s coming-out expression is rendered with its contextual purpose of joining the king’s protection; Greek directly says being with him. Hebrew addresses a plural you, Greek a singular you; the king and his company are the contextual Hebrew addressees.
Verse MT 22:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:4
He brought them before Moab’s king, and they stayed with him all the days David was in the stronghold.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:4
He entreated Moab’s king, and they stayed with him all the days David was in the stronghold.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew narrates presenting the parents; Greek entreating the king. The subsequent stay agrees.
Verse MT 22:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:5
The prophet Gad said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold. Go and enter the land of Judah.” David went and came to the forest of Hereth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:5
The prophet Gad said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold. Go, and you will come to the land of Judah.” David went, came, and stayed in the city of Sarich.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s destination is the forest of Hereth; Greek the city of Sarich, with an explicit stay there. Neither the terrain nor the name is harmonized.
The slaughter of the priests and the surviving witness
Editorial Christian reading: the royal story includes grievous wrongdoing, not only deliverance. Saul’s accusations and the massacre remain explicit; refuge follows the surviving priest’s report.
22:6–10 | Saul accuses his servants; Doeg reports
Verse MT 22:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:6
Saul heard that David and the men with him had been discovered. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk on the height, his spear in his hand, and all his servants were stationed around him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:6
Saul heard that David and the men with him had been discovered. Saul was sitting on the hill below the cultivated ground in Ramah, the spear in his hand, and all his servants stood beside him.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew gives a tamarisk and a height-expression, also read as the place-name Ramah; Greek explicitly has aroura, cultivated ground, and Ramah. The difficult Greek landscape description is retained rather than changed into a tree.
Verse MT 22:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:7
Saul said to his servants stationed around him, “Listen, please, sons of Benjamin! Will Jesse’s son also give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:7
Saul said to his servants standing beside him, saying to them, “Listen, please, sons of Benjamin! Will Jesse’s son really give all of you fields and vineyards and appoint all of you commanders of hundreds and commanders of thousands?
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek reverses the command ranks’ order. The appeal to the Benjaminites’ material and official interests agrees.
Verse MT 22:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:8
that all of you have conspired against me? No one uncovers my ear when my son makes a covenant with Jesse’s son. None of you grieves over me or uncovers my ear that my son has raised my servant against me to lie in ambush, as he does this day.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:8
For all of you have conspired against me. No one uncovers my ear when my son makes a covenant with Jesse’s son. None of you suffers for me or uncovers my ear that my son has raised my servant against me as an enemy, as on this day.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew alleges an ambush; Greek an enemy relationship. Hebrew’s covenant object is understood from the cutting idiom; Greek explicitly gives covenant. All accusations remain Saul’s speech.
Verse MT 22:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:9
Doeg the Edomite, who was stationed over Saul’s servants, answered and said, “I saw Jesse’s son coming to Nob, to Ahimelech son of Ahitub.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:9
Doeg the Syrian, who was appointed over Saul’s mules, answered and said, “I saw Jesse’s son arriving at Nomba, to Abimelech son of Ahitub the priest.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The Edomite/Syrian and Ahimelech/Abimelech differences continue chapter 21. Hebrew places Doeg over the servants, though among them is another construal; Greek explicitly places him over mules and identifies the priest.
Verse MT 22:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:10
He inquired of YHWH for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:10
He inquired for him through God, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the foreigner.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names YHWH; Greek God. The provision and weapon claims agree and remain attributed to Doeg’s report.
22:11–19 | The priest’s defense and the massacre
Verse MT 22:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:11
The king sent to summon Ahimelech son of Ahitub the priest and all his father’s house, the priests at Nob. All of them came to the king.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:11
The king sent to summon Abimelech son of Ahitub and all the sons of his father, the priests at Nomba. All of them came to the king.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names the father’s household; Greek the father’s sons. The differing priest and town names continue.
Verse MT 22:12 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:12
Saul said, “Listen, please, son of Ahitub.” He said, “Here I am, my lord.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:12
Saul said, “Listen, please, son of Ahitub.” He said, “Here I am. Speak, lord.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek adds the invitation Speak. Lord is lowercase because the priest addresses Saul.
Verse MT 22:13 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:13
Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and Jesse’s son, by giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he should rise against me to lie in ambush, as he does this day?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:13
Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and Jesse’s son, by giving him bread and a sword and inquiring for him through God, to set him against me as an enemy, as on this day?”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew alleges David’s rising in ambush; Greek the priest’s setting him as an enemy. The allegations are not presented as the narrator’s findings.
Verse MT 22:14 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:14
Ahimelech answered the king and said, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, turning to your bidding and honored in your house?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:14
He answered the king and said, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, commander of all your orders and renowned in your house?
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s turning-to-your-bidding phrase is difficult and may concern attendance on Saul’s service; Greek explicitly describes command over his orders. The Greek construction remains literal and provisional. Hebrew names Ahimelech; Greek continues the priest unnamed.
Verse MT 22:15 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:15
Did I begin inquiring of God for him today? Far be it from me! Let the king lay no charge against his servant or against all my father’s house, for your servant knew nothing of all this, small or great.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:15
Did I begin inquiring for him through God today? By no means! Let the king lay no charge against his servant or against all my father’s house, for your servant knew nothing of all these things, small or great.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The rhetorical question and denial of knowledge agree. The question is not rewritten into a denial that any inquiry ever took place.
Verse MT 22:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:16
The king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:16
King Saul said, “You shall surely die, Abimelech, you and all your father’s house.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The differing priest’s name continues; Greek explicitly names Saul. The sentence against the whole household agrees.
Verse MT 22:17 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:17
The king said to the runners stationed around him, “Turn and put YHWH’s priests to death, for their hand too is with David. They knew that he was fleeing and did not uncover my ear.” But the king’s servants were unwilling to stretch out their hand to strike YHWH’s priests.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:17
The king said to the runners stationed around him, “Bring them forward and put the Lord’s priests to death, for their hand is with David. They knew that he was fleeing and did not uncover my ear.” But the king’s servants were unwilling to bring their hands against the Lord’s priests.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s initial order is turn; Greek bring forward. Hebrew follows the read my ear rather than the written his ear [Q22]. Both preserve the attendants’ refusal; runners retains their court-service designation.
Verse MT 22:18 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:18
The king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike the priests.” Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests himself. That day he put to death eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:18
The king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike the priests.” Doeg the Syrian turned and put the Lord’s priests to death that day: three hundred and five men, all wearing an ephoud.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has eighty-five victims; Greek three hundred and five. Hebrew specifies linen; Greek retains ephoud without linen. Greek explicitly names the Lord’s priests. The Edomite/Syrian difference remains.
Verse MT 22:19 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:19
He struck Nob, the priests’ city, with the sword’s edge: men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep, with the sword’s edge.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:19
He struck Nomba, the priests’ city, with the sword’s edge: men and women, infants and nursing children, calves, donkeys, and sheep.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew repeats the sword formula and names oxen; Greek gives calves and does not repeat the formula. Both retain the killing of the town’s noncombatants and livestock without softening the account.
22:20–23 | Abiathar escapes to David
Verse MT 22:20 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:20
One son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped; his name was Abiathar. He fled after David.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:20
One son of Abimelech son of Ahitub was saved; his name was Abiathar. He fled after David.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The Ahimelech/Abimelech distinction continues. The named survivor and flight agree.
Verse MT 22:21 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:21
Abiathar told David that Saul had killed YHWH’s priests.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:21
Abiathar told David that Saul had put all the Lord’s priests to death.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek explicitly says all. Both attribute the killings to Saul, despite the preceding account of Doeg as the direct agent.
Verse MT 22:22 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:22
David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have brought this about against every soul of your father’s house.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:22
David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day that Doeg the Syrian would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for the souls of your father’s house.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both retain David’s acknowledgment of responsibility. Hebrew’s caused/turned-against expression is compressed and translated in the context of the deaths; Greek explicitly uses responsible. Hebrew every soul and Greek plural souls preserve the reference to the persons lost.
Verse MT 22:23 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 22:23
Stay with me; do not fear. Whoever seeks my soul seeks your soul, for you will be under protection with me.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 22:23
Stay with me; do not fear. Wherever I seek a place for my soul, I will seek one for your soul too, for you are protected with me.”
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew explains their shared danger through the same pursuer; Greek promises David’s shared search for a place of refuge. Both promise protection, but the agency and rationale differ substantially.