1 Samuel 25 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: MT 25:22, MT 25:29
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 25
Hospitality refused and anger rising
Editorial Christian thematic reading beside Christ’s teaching on generosity and mercy [NT5, Luke 6:27–38]. Nabal’s words and David’s intended retaliation are retained as the narrative presents them.
25:1–13 | Samuel’s death, Nabal’s refusal, and David’s response
Verse MT 25:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:1
Samuel died. All Israel gathered, mourned him, and buried him at his house in Ramah. David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:1
Samuel died. All Israel gathered, mourned him, and buried him at his house in Armathaim. David rose and went down to the wilderness of Maan.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names Ramah and David’s destination Paran; Greek Armathaim and Maan. The different wilderness is retained.
Verse MT 25:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:2
A man lived in Maon, with his business at Carmel. The man was very great: he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep at Carmel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:2
A man lived in Maan, with his flocks at Carmel. The man was very great: he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his flock at Carmel.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew gives the man’s business or possessions at Carmel; Greek his flocks. The livestock numbers agree.
Verse MT 25:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:3
The man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. The woman had good understanding and a beautiful form, but the man was harsh and evil in his deeds. He was a Calebite.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:3
The man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. His wife had good understanding and was very beautiful in appearance, but the man was harsh and evil in his practices. The man was doglike.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew follows the read Calebite; the written consonants allow a heart-related construal [Q25]. Greek explicitly says doglike, a characterization rather than the lineage statement. It is not read as a reference to a later philosophical school.
Verse MT 25:4 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:4
David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:4
David heard in the wilderness that Nabal the Carmelite was shearing his flock.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek explicitly calls Nabal the Carmelite.
Verse MT 25:5 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:5
David sent ten young men. David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, come to Nabal, and ask about his welfare in my name.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:5
David sent ten young men and said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and ask about his welfare in my name.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The ten messengers, destination, and greeting instruction agree.
Verse MT 25:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:6
Say this: ‘To life! Peace to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that is yours.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:6
Say this: ‘To the seasons! May you be well, and may your house and all that is yours be well.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The short Hebrew lehay and Greek eis hōras greetings are difficult and rendered provisionally with their life/season terms visible. Hebrew repeats peace three times; Greek uses health or wellbeing language.
Verse MT 25:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:7
Now I have heard that they are shearing for you. Your shepherds were with us; we did not shame them, and nothing of theirs was missing all the days they were at Carmel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:7
Now look, I have heard that they are shearing for you. Your shepherds were with us in the wilderness; we did not hinder them or impose any order on them all the days they were at Carmel.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek adds in the wilderness and gives no hindrance or imposed orders, where Hebrew gives no shaming and no missing property.
Verse MT 25:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:8
Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Let the young men find favor in your eyes, for we have come on a good day. Please give whatever your hand finds to your servants and to your son David.’”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:8
Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Let the young men find favor in your eyes, for we have come on a good day. Please give whatever your hand finds to your son David.’”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek lacks to your servants in the gift request. Your son is David’s deferential self-designation, not a claim of literal parentage.
Verse MT 25:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:9
David’s young men came and spoke to Nabal according to all these words in David’s name. Then they rested.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:9
The young men came and spoke these words to Nabal, according to all these sayings, in David’s name. Then he sprang up,
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew ends with the messengers resting or pausing; Greek with an unnamed singular man springing up, continuing into Nabal’s answer in 25:10.
Verse MT 25:10 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:10
Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David, and who is Jesse’s son? Today many slaves break away, each from his master.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:10
and Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David, and who is Jesse’s son? Today many slaves withdraw, each from his master.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The derisive questions and runaway-slave comparison agree. They remain Nabal’s allegations.
Verse MT 25:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:11
Shall I take my bread, my water, and my meat that I slaughtered for my shearers and give it to men whose origin I do not know?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:11
Shall I take my loaves, my wine, and my slaughtered offerings—the sheep I slaughtered for my shearers—and give them to men whose origin I do not know?”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names water; Greek wine. Greek explicitly identifies sheep and uses sacrificial slaughter vocabulary, while Hebrew gives slaughtered meat.
Verse MT 25:12 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:12
David’s young men turned onto their way, returned, came, and told him all these words.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:12
David’s young men turned onto their way, returned, came, and reported to David according to these words.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The repeated return verbs and report agree; Greek explicitly names David as recipient.
Verse MT 25:13 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:13
David said to his men, “Each of you strap on his sword.” Each strapped on his sword, and David too strapped on his sword. About four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred stayed with the equipment.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:13
David said to his men, “Each of you strap on his sword.” About four hundred men went up after David, while the two hundred stayed with the equipment.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek lacks the two clauses narrating the men’s and David’s actual arming. Both retain the four-hundred/two-hundred division.
25:14–22 | The warning and Abigail’s provision
Verse MT 25:14 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:14
One of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to bless our master, and he swooped at them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:14
One of the young men reported to Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to bless our master, and he turned away from them.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s swooping verb depicts a harsh rebuff; Greek gives turning away. The report remains the servant’s account.
Verse MT 25:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:15
The men were very good to us. We were not shamed and missed nothing all the days we went about with them while we were in the field.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:15
The men were very good to us. They did not hinder us or impose orders on us all the days we were with them. While we were in the field,
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The distinct claims from 25:7 recur: Hebrew no shaming or loss, Greek no hindrance or orders. Greek’s field-clause continues into 25:16.
Verse MT 25:16 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:16
They were a wall around us by night and by day, all the days we were with them tending the sheep.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:16
they were like a wall around us by night and by day, all the days we were with them tending the flock.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Greek makes the wall comparison explicit with like; the protective image and duration agree.
Verse MT 25:17 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:17
Now know and see what you will do, for evil has been determined against our master and all his house. He is such a worthless son that one cannot speak to him.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:17
Now know and see what you will do, for evil has been determined against our master and his house. He is a pestilent son, and one cannot speak to him.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew son of worthlessness and Greek pestilent son remain attributed characterizations. Greek explicitly states inability to speak; Hebrew’s compressed expression is rendered to the same contextual effect.
Verse MT 25:18 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:18
Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves, two skins of wine, five prepared sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred raisin clusters, and two hundred fig cakes. She placed them on the donkeys.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:18
Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves, two vessels of wine, five prepared sheep, five oiphi of barley meal, one gomor of raisins, and two hundred fig cakes. She placed them on the donkeys.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has five seahs of roasted grain and a hundred raisin clusters; Greek five oiphi of barley meal and one gomor of raisins. Each denomination is retained without conversion. Hebrew wine-skins and Greek vessels also differ. Clusters supplies the counted raisin portions in Hebrew.
Verse MT 25:19 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:19
She said to her young men, “Go on before me. Look, I am coming after you.” She did not tell her husband Nabal.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:19
She said to her young men, “Go on before me. Look, I am coming after you.” She did not tell her husband.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Hebrew explicitly names Nabal. Her independent action and concealed departure agree.
Verse MT 25:20 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:20
As she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, there were David and his men coming down to meet her. She met them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:20
As she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, there were David and his men coming down to meet her. She met them.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The converging movements and mountain cover agree.
Verse MT 25:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:21
David had said, “Surely I guarded all this man’s possessions in the wilderness for nothing. Nothing of all he had was missing, yet he has repaid me evil for good.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:21
David said, “Perhaps it was for an unjust man that I guarded all his possessions in the wilderness. We imposed no order to take anything of all he had, yet he has repaid me evil for good.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew gives surely/for nothing and absence of loss; Greek perhaps/for an unjust man and no order to take. Greek shifts from singular guarding to plural imposing orders. The difficult eis adikon phrase is construed as referring to an unjust beneficiary; compare the independently consulted reading in [N], 25:21.
Verse MT 25:22 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:22
May God do so to David’s enemies, and more besides, if I leave by morning anyone of all he has who urinates against a wall.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:22
May God do so to David, and more besides, if I leave by morning anyone of all Nabal has who urinates against a wall.”
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: The oath’s curse falls on David’s enemies in Hebrew and David himself in Greek. Greek names Nabal. The male-designating urination idiom is retained in both, with its violent scope left explicit.
The intercessor who averts bloodshed
Editorial Christian reading: Abigail’s intervention challenges retaliatory violence. Rashi’s moral interpretation is separately attributed [R25]; the translated speech remains Abigail’s own.
25:23–31 | Abigail’s appeal and the promised household
Verse MT 25:23 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:23
Abigail saw David, hurried, and came down from the donkey. She fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:23
Abigail saw David, hurried, and jumped down from the donkey. She fell before David on her face and bowed to him on the ground,
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek intensifies the dismount and carries the posture into 25:24. Both describe deference to David.
Verse MT 25:24 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:24
She fell at his feet and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear your maidservant’s words.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:24
at his feet, and said, “On me, my lord, be the wrong. Please let your female servant speak in your ears, and hear your female servant’s word.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew repeats the falling action and emphasizes on me; Greek continues the prior posture. Hebrew has plural words and Greek singular word. The self-designations express Abigail’s deference.
Verse MT 25:25 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:25
Please let my lord not set his heart on this worthless man, on Nabal. As his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I, your maidservant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:25
Please let my lord not set his heart on this pestilent man, for as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I, your female servant, did not see your young men whom you sent.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew explicitly names Nabal twice; Greek once. The name-and-folly association belongs to Abigail’s speech. Hebrew worthlessness and Greek pestilence retain the earlier characterization difference.
Verse MT 25:26 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:26
Now, my lord, as YHWH lives and as your soul lives, YHWH has restrained you from coming into bloodguilt and from your hand bringing deliverance for yourself. Now may your enemies and those seeking evil for my lord become like Nabal.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:26
Now, lord, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, the Lord has restrained you from coming into innocent blood and from saving your hand for yourself. Now may your enemies and those seeking evil for my lord become like Nabal.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s hand is the instrument or agent of self-deliverance; Greek makes the hand the object of saving. The awkward Greek construction is retained, with self-redress a contextual interpretation. Greek explicitly says innocent blood; Hebrew plural bloods is rendered bloodguilt.
Verse MT 25:27 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:27
Now let this blessing, which your female servant has brought to my lord, be given to the young men who follow at my lord’s feet.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:27
Now take this blessing, which your female servant has brought to my lord, and give it to the young men who stand beside my lord.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly commands David to take and give; Hebrew has a passive gift instruction. Hebrew followers at his feet differ from Greek attendants beside him. Blessing names the offered provisions.
Verse MT 25:28 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:28
Please bear away your maidservant’s transgression. YHWH will surely make my lord a faithful house, for my lord fights YHWH’s battles, and evil shall not be found in you all your days.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:28
Please take away your female servant’s lawless deed. The Lord will surely make my lord a faithful house, for my lord fights the Lord’s war, and evil shall never be found in you.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The plea for forgiveness and enduring-house assurance agree. Hebrew gives plural battles and your days; Greek singular war and ever. Faithful house retains the household/dynastic image without turning it into a physical-building promise.
Verse MT 25:29 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:29
Though a person rises to pursue you and seek your soul, my lord’s soul shall be bound in the bundle of life with YHWH your God. The soul of your enemies He shall sling from the hollow of the sling.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:29
A person will rise to pursue you and seek your soul, but my lord’s soul shall be bound in the bond of life beside the Lord God. The soul of your enemies you shall sling in the midst of the sling.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew’s final unnamed singular agent is construed as God; Greek explicitly makes David the slinger. Hebrew names your God and the sling’s hollow; Greek Lord God and the midst of the sling. Bundle/bond of life retains the related but distinct imagery.
Verse MT 25:30 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:30
When YHWH does for my lord all the good He has spoken concerning you and appoints you ruler over Israel,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:30
When the Lord does for my lord all the good things He has spoken concerning you, and the Lord appoints you leader over Israel,
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The promised good and appointment agree. Greek repeats the Lord as subject; both sentences continue into 25:31.
Verse MT 25:31 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:31
this shall not be a staggering or a stumbling of heart for my lord: shedding blood without cause and my lord bringing deliverance for himself. When YHWH does good to my lord, remember your maidservant.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:31
this shall not be an abomination or a stumbling block for my lord: pouring out innocent blood without cause and saving my lord’s hand for himself. The Lord will do good to my lord, and you shall remember your female servant to do good to her.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew describes staggering and a heart-stumbling; Greek abomination and a stumbling block. Greek adds innocent and an explicit future benefit to the servant, and again makes the hand an object of saving. The construction concerns guilt avoided through restraint, not approval of the threatened massacre.
Rabbinic: Rashi explains that wrongful bloodshed would undermine David’s future ability to rebuke others. Abigail’s warning is thus read as protecting the moral authority of the coming king [R25, on 25:31].
25:32–35 | David accepts the restraint
Verse MT 25:32 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:32
David said to Abigail, “Blessed be YHWH, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:32
David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you today, on this day, to meet me.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The blessing and divine sending agree; Greek explicitly repeats the day expression.
Verse MT 25:33 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:33
Blessed be your discernment, and blessed are you, who kept me this day from coming into bloodguilt and from my hand bringing deliverance for myself.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:33
Blessed be your manner, and blessed are you, who kept me today, on this day, from coming into bloodguilt and from saving my hand for myself.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew blesses discernment; Greek manner or conduct. The hand-as-agent versus hand-as-object construction from 25:26 recurs.
Verse MT 25:34 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:34
Truly, as YHWH the God of Israel lives, who restrained me from harming you, if you had not hurried and come to meet me, no one belonging to Nabal who urinates against a wall would have remained by morning light.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:34
But as the Lord the God of Israel lives, who restrained me today from harming you, if you had not hurried and come to meet me—then I said: ‘No one belonging to Nabal who urinates against a wall shall remain by morning light.’”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek adds today and explicitly resumes the prior oath through then I said. Hebrew gives the counterfactual result directly. Hebrew follows the read feminine you came rather than the written form with an additional final letter [Q25]. Both retain the full threatened scope.
Verse MT 25:35 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:35
David took from her hand what she had brought him and said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have listened to your voice and lifted your face.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:35
David took from her hand all that she had brought him and said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have listened to your voice and favored your face.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew lifting the face and Greek favoring it both express acceptance, with their distinct verbs retained. Greek explicitly gives all.
Judgment and the altered household
Editorial Christian continuation of the narrative. The account of Nabal’s collapse remains undiagnosed, and the marriages are preserved in their stated circumstances.
25:36–44 | Nabal’s death and the marriages
Verse MT 25:36 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:36
Abigail came to Nabal, and there he was holding a feast in his house like a king’s feast. Nabal’s heart was merry within him, and he was very drunk. She told him nothing, small or great, until morning light.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:36
Abigail came to Nabal, and there he was holding a drinking feast in his house like a king’s drinking feast. Nabal’s heart was merry within him, and he was very drunk. She told him nothing, small or great, until morning light.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both feast-words are associated with drinking; the condition and delayed report agree.
Verse MT 25:37 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:37
In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things. His heart died within him, and he became like stone.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:37
In the morning, when Nabal had sobered from the wine, his wife told him these things. His heart died within him, and he became like stone.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Hebrew gives the wine’s departure; Greek sobering. The heart-death and stone images are retained without a modern medical diagnosis.
Verse MT 25:38 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:38
About ten days later YHWH struck Nabal, and he died.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:38
About ten days later the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The approximate interval, divine action, and death agree.
Verse MT 25:39 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:39
David heard that Nabal had died and said, “Blessed be YHWH, who has pleaded the cause of my disgrace from Nabal’s hand and restrained His servant from evil. YHWH has returned Nabal’s evil on his own head.” David sent and spoke concerning Abigail, to take her as his wife.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:39
David heard and said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has judged the case of my reproach from Nabal’s hand and preserved His servant from the hand of evil things. The Lord has returned Nabal’s evil on his own head.” David sent and spoke concerning Abigail, to take her as his wife.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew explicitly names the news of death; Greek leaves what was heard implicit. Hebrew restraining the servant from evil differs from Greek preserving him from the hand of evils. Both keep David’s blessing and subsequent marriage initiative distinct.
Rabbinic: Rashi identifies the evil from which David was restrained as his intended killing of Nabal [R25, on 25:39].
Verse MT 25:40 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:40
David’s servants came to Abigail at Carmel and spoke to her, saying, “David has sent us to you to take you as his wife.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:40
David’s servants came to Abigail at Carmel and spoke to her, saying, “David has sent us to you to take you as his wife.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The messengers’ proposal agrees.
Verse MT 25:41 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:41
She rose, bowed with her face to the ground, and said, “Here is your maidservant, a female servant to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:41
She rose, bowed to the ground on her face, and said, “Here is your female servant, a maid to wash the feet of your servants.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew refers to my lord’s servants; Greek your servants. Her deferential self-description and offered foot-washing agree.
Verse MT 25:42 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:42
Abigail hurried, rose, and rode on the donkey, with five of her young women following at her feet. She went after David’s messengers and became his wife.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:42
Abigail rose and mounted the donkey, and five girls followed her. She went after David’s servants and became his wife.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew includes haste, her ownership of the attendants, and the at-her-feet expression; Greek has a shorter departure and calls David’s representatives servants. Both retain five attendants and the marriage.
Verse MT 25:43 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:43
David also took Ahinoam from Jezreel, and both of them became his wives.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:43
David took Ahinoam from Jezreel, and both were his wives.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The second wife and plural marriage statement agree, without an added chronology beyond the source sequence.
Verse MT 25:44 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 25:44
Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 25:44
Saul gave his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Romma.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names Gallim; Greek Romma. Both continue to identify Michal as David’s wife while reporting Saul’s transfer of her.