1 Samuel 10 — 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 10
Anointing and the king awaited in Christian hope
Editorial Christian reading: anointing supplies the book’s royal vocabulary. The Greek word christos denotes the person anointed in this story; later reference to Jesus is interpretive [NT1].
10:1–8 | Anointing, signs, and instructions
Verse MT 10:1 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:1
Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on his head, kissed him, and said, “Has not YHWH anointed you as leader over His inheritance?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:1
Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on his head, kissed him, and said to him, “Has not the Lord anointed you as ruler over His people, over Israel? You will rule among the Lord’s people and save them from their enemies’ hand all around. This will be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you as ruler over His inheritance:
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek includes a longer commission and explicitly introduces the following signs. All its clauses remain in 10:1; Hebrew’s shorter statement is not expanded from them.
Verse MT 10:2 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:2
When you leave me today, you will find two men near Rachel’s tomb in Benjamin’s territory at Zelzah. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you went to seek have been found. Your father has left the matter of the donkeys aside and is worried about you both, saying, “What shall I do about my son?”’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:2
When you leave me today, you will find two men near Rachel’s tombs in Benjamin’s territory, leaping greatly. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you both went to seek have been found. Your father has cast aside the matter of the donkeys and has spent lavishly on your account, saying, “What shall I do for my son?”’
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew names Zelzah, a singular tomb, and the father’s worry. Greek has plural tombs, men leaping, and a difficult verb of lavish expenditure. The Greek is not corrected to the Hebrew; “spent lavishly” remains provisional.
Verse MT 10:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:3
Go on farther from there until you reach Tabor’s great tree. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there: one carrying three young goats, one carrying three loaves of bread, and one carrying a skin of wine.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:3
Go on farther from there until you reach Tabor’s oak. You will find three men there going up to God at Bethel: one carrying three young goats, one carrying three containers of loaves, and one carrying a skin of wine.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has three loaves; Greek has three containers of loaves. Hebrew elon is a large tree conventionally identified as oak or terebinth; Greek specifically uses drys, oak. The meeting’s grammatical direction also differs.
Verse MT 10:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:4
They will ask about your welfare and give you two loaves, and you shall accept them from their hand.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:4
They will ask about your welfare and give you two first portions of loaves, and you shall accept them from their hand.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek aparchai specifies first portions or firstfruits. Hebrew simply gives two loaves; the Greek term’s precise ritual force here remains uncertain.
Verse MT 10:5 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:5
Afterward you will come to God’s hill, where the Philistine garrisons are. When you enter the city there, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place, with a harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, and they will be prophesying.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:5
Afterward you will enter God’s hill, where the foreigners’ station is—there is Nasib the foreigner. When you both enter the city there, you will meet a chorus of prophets coming down from Bama, with a nabla, tambourine, pipe, and kinyra before them, and they will be prophesying.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek includes Nasib the foreigner beside its difficult anastēma, rendered provisionally “station.” Hebrew clearly has plural posts or garrisons. Greek retains Bama and the Semitic instrument forms nabla and kinyra; these correspond broadly to Hebrew nebel and kinnor without claiming exact modern instruments.
Verse MT 10:6 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:6
YHWH’s Spirit will rush upon you. You will prophesy with them and be changed into another man.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:6
The Lord’s Spirit will leap upon you. You will prophesy with them and be changed into another man.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both describe the Spirit’s arrival and Saul’s transformation. The forceful verbs differ in their immediate images.
Verse MT 10:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:7
When these signs come to you, do whatever your hand finds, for God is with you.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:7
When these signs come upon you, do everything your hand finds, for God is with you.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both connect action with the signs and God’s presence. Greek explicitly includes everything.
Verse MT 10:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:8
Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice peace offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you; then I will make known to you what you must do.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:8
Go down before Gilgal. I will come down to you to offer a whole burnt offering and peace sacrifices. Wait seven days until I come to you; then I will make known to you what you must do.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew says ahead of me to Gilgal; the displayed Greek says before Gilgal without “me.” Hebrew has plural burnt offerings and Greek a singular whole burnt offering. The seven-day instruction agrees.
10:9–16 | The signs and the prophetic company
Verse MT 10:9 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:9
As he turned his shoulder to leave Samuel, God changed his heart to another heart, and all these signs came that day.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:9
As he turned his shoulder to leave Samuel, God changed his heart to another heart, and all the signs came that day.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The shoulder image, God’s action, and fulfillment agree; Hebrew explicitly says these signs.
Verse MT 10:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:10
They came there to the hill, and a band of prophets was coming to meet him. God’s Spirit rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:10
He came from there to the hill, and a chorus of prophets was facing him. God’s Spirit leaped upon him, and he prophesied among them.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has they came there; Greek has he came from there. Band/chorus and rushing/leaping continue the source wording from 10:5–6.
Verse MT 10:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:11
All who had known him before saw him prophesying with the prophets. The people said to one another, “What has happened to Kish’s son? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:11
All who had known him before saw him among the prophets. The people said to one another, “What has happened to Kish’s son? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew explicitly repeats that Saul is prophesying; Greek places him among the prophets without repeating the verb here. “Before” renders both texts’ yesterday/third-day idiom.
Verse MT 10:12 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:12
A man from there answered, “And who is their father?” That is why it became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:12
One of them answered, “And who is his father?” That is why it became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The question concerns their father in Hebrew and his father in Greek. Neither column supplies a proposed answer.
Verse MT 10:13 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:13
He finished prophesying and came to the high place.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:13
He finished prophesying and came to the hill.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names the high place; Greek names a hill, not its retained Bama of 10:5.
Verse MT 10:14 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:14
Saul’s uncle said to him and his young servant, “Where did you go?” He said, “To look for the donkeys. When we saw they were not there, we came to Samuel.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:14
His relative said to him and his young servant, “Where did you go?” They said, “To look for the donkeys. When we saw they were not there, we came to Samuel.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew identifies Saul’s uncle and gives a singular reply; Greek has the broader relative or household relation and a plural reply.
Verse MT 10:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:15
Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you both.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:15
The relative said to Saul, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s you is plural; Greek’s is singular. The kinship term remains broader in Greek.
Verse MT 10:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:16
Saul said to his uncle, “He plainly told us that the donkeys had been found.” But he did not tell him the matter of the kingship that Samuel had spoken.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:16
Saul said to his relative, “He plainly told me that the donkeys had been found.” But he did not tell him the word about the kingship.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has us and explicitly refers again to Samuel’s speech; Greek has me and lacks that closing reference.
A king chosen amid fear and division
Editorial Christian reading within the same royal history [NT1]. Saul’s election, concealment, and mixed reception remain distinct from the later Davidic promise.
10:17–24 | The lots and the public presentation
Verse MT 10:17 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:17
Samuel summoned the people to YHWH at Mizpah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:17
Samuel summoned all the people to the Lord at Mizpah.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek explicitly includes all. The gathering’s destination and purpose agree.
Verse MT 10:18 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:18
He said to the sons of Israel, “Thus says YHWH, Israel’s God: ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt and rescued you from Egypt’s hand and from the hand of all the kingdoms oppressing you.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:18
He said to the sons of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, Israel’s God: ‘I brought the sons of Israel up from Egypt and rescued you from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt and from all the kingdoms oppressing you.’
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly names Pharaoh king of Egypt; Hebrew names Egypt and repeats hand for the kingdoms.
Verse MT 10:19 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:19
Yet today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your evils and distresses. You have said to Him, ‘You must appoint a king over us.’ Now present yourselves before YHWH by your tribes and your thousands.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:19
Yet today you have treated God as nothing, the One who is your Savior from all your evils and distresses. You have said, ‘No! You must establish a king over us.’ Now stand before the Lord by your tribes and your clans.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek adds No and lacks Hebrew to Him; it uses Savior where Hebrew has a saving participle. Hebrew groups are tribes and thousands; Greek groups are tribes and clans, with skeptron and phyle marking different levels [D1]. No exact size is imposed on every unit.
Verse MT 10:20 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:20
Samuel brought all Israel’s tribes near, and Benjamin’s tribe was taken.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:20
Samuel brought all Israel’s tribes near, and Benjamin’s tribe was selected by lot.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both select Benjamin’s tribe. Greek explicitly names selection by lot; Hebrew’s taken is understood within the selection scene. Skeptron is the Greek tribal designation here [D1].
Verse MT 10:21 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:21
He brought Benjamin’s tribe near by its clans. The Matrite clan was taken, and Saul son of Kish was taken. They looked for him, but he could not be found.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:21
He brought Benjamin’s tribe near by clans. Mattari’s clan was selected by lot. They brought Mattari’s clan near man by man, and Saul son of Kish was selected by lot. He looked for him, but he could not be found.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek explicitly includes selection within Mattari’s clan man by man; Hebrew lacks that stage. Hebrew then has plural searchers, Greek one unnamed searcher. The Greek tribal terms are rendered by their contextual levels [D1].
Verse MT 10:22 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:22
They inquired of YHWH again, “Has the man come here yet?” YHWH said, “Look, he is hiding among the baggage.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:22
Samuel inquired of the Lord again, “Is the man coming here?” The Lord said, “Look, he has hidden among the baggage.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek names Samuel as the inquirer; Hebrew has unnamed plural inquirers. The question’s precise time sense differs.
Verse MT 10:23 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:23
They ran and brought him from there. He stood among the people, taller than all the people from his shoulders upward.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:23
He ran and brought him from there and stationed him among the people. He rose above all the people from his shoulders upward.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has plural retrievers and Saul taking his stand; Greek has one unnamed retriever who stations Saul. The height description agrees.
Verse MT 10:24 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:24
Samuel said to all the people, “Have you seen the one YHWH has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” All the people shouted, “May the king live!”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:24
Samuel said to all the people, “Have you seen the one the Lord has chosen for Himself? There is no one like him among all of you.” All the people acknowledged it and said, “May the king live!”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly adds for Himself and uses knowing or acknowledging rather than Hebrew’s shout. The acclamation agrees.
10:25–27 | The royal rule recorded; supporters and opponents
Read the Greek continuation at 11:1 for its notice of elapsed time.
Verse MT 10:25 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:25
Samuel spoke to the people about the ordinance of kingship, wrote it in a scroll, and placed it before YHWH. Samuel sent all the people away, each to his house.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:25
Samuel spoke to the people about the king’s claim, wrote it in a scroll, and placed it before the Lord. Samuel sent all the people away, and each went to his place.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names kingship as an institution; Greek names the king. Hebrew dismisses each to his house; Greek explicitly reports each person’s departure to his place. The document’s contents are not supplied from an imagined legal text.
Verse MT 10:26 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:26
Saul also went to his house in Gibeah. The men of valor whose hearts God had touched went with him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:26
Saul went to his house in Gibeah. Sons of might whose hearts the Lord had touched went with Saul.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names God and the collective force or men of valor; Greek names the Lord, uses sons of might, and repeats Saul’s name.
Verse MT 10:27 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 10:27
But worthless men said, “How can this one save us?” They despised him and brought him no gift. He remained as though silent.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 10:27
But pestilent men said, “How can this one save us?” They dishonored him and brought him no gifts.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew includes Saul’s silence; the Greek verse ends with the withheld gifts. Hebrew sons of worthlessness and Greek pestilent sons are idioms for the hostile men, not diagnoses.