1 Samuel 14 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: MT 14:18, MT 14:24, MT 14:40, MT 14:45
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 14
Trust beyond numbers: Jonathan’s daring
Editorial Christian reading: trust in divine deliverance belongs to the faith theme of Hebrews 11 [NT2]. Jonathan’s particular strategy remains a narrated military action.
14:1–10 | The crossing and the proposed sign
Verse MT 14:1 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:1
One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young servant carrying his armor, “Come, let us cross to the Philistine outpost over on that side.” He did not tell his father.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:1
One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young servant carrying his equipment, “Come, let us cross to the foreigners’ messab over on that side.” He did not tell his father.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Greek retains messab, corresponding to Hebrew matsab, outpost or garrison. The secrecy and proposed crossing agree.
Verse MT 14:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:2
Saul was staying at the edge of Gibeah beneath the pomegranate tree in Migron. The people with him numbered about six hundred men.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:2
Saul was sitting at the hill’s summit beneath the pomegranate tree in Magdon. About six hundred men were with him.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names Gibeah and Migron; Greek has the hill and Magdon. The edge/summit location differs; the force count agrees.
Verse MT 14:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:3
Ahijah son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, YHWH’s priest in Shiloh, was bearing an ephod. The people did not know Jonathan had gone.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:3
Ahijah son of Ahitub, Jochabed’s brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, was God’s priest in Shiloh, bearing an ephoud. The people did not know Jonathan had gone.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek has Jochabed where Hebrew has Ichabod, God where Hebrew has YHWH, and the retained form ephoud. Greek’s nominative priest describes Ahijah; Hebrew’s compressed chain permits discussion of the priest phrase’s attachment. The genealogy is not expanded into an invented family chart.
Verse MT 14:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:4
Between the passes where Jonathan sought to cross to the Philistine outpost was a tooth of rock on one side and a tooth of rock on the other. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:4
Within the crossing where Jonathan sought to cross to the foreigners’ station was a rocky promontory on one side and a rocky promontory on the other. One was named Bazes and the other Senna.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew uses the tooth image and plural passes; Greek uses rocky promontories and singular crossing. The displayed crag-name forms remain distinct.
Verse MT 14:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:5
One tooth stood as a pillar on the north opposite Michmash; the other was on the south opposite Geba.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:5
One road approached Michmash from the north, and the other road approached Geba from the south.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew describes the crags’ positions; Greek describes roads and approach directions. The geographical description is not harmonized.
Verse MT 14:6 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:6
Jonathan said to the young servant carrying his armor, “Come, let us cross to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps YHWH will act for us, for nothing restrains YHWH from saving by many or by few.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:6
Jonathan said to the young servant carrying his equipment, “Come, let us cross to these uncircumcised men’s messab. Perhaps the Lord will do something for us, for the Lord is not constrained from saving by many or by few.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The appeal rests on God’s freedom to save; neither wording guarantees Jonathan’s proposed sign in advance. Greek retains messab.
Verse MT 14:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:7
His armor-bearer said to him, “Do everything in your heart. Turn where you wish. Here I am with you according to your heart.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:7
The one carrying his equipment said to him, “Do everything to which your heart inclines. Here I am with you: my heart is as your heart.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly joins the two hearts; Hebrew has an additional turning imperative and the companion’s agreement with Jonathan’s heart.
Verse MT 14:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:8
Jonathan said, “We will cross to the men and show ourselves to them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:8
Jonathan said, “We will cross to the men and roll down toward them.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew describes revealing themselves; Greek uses rolling down. The unexpected Greek movement is retained.
Verse MT 14:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:9
If they say to us, ‘Wait until we reach you,’ we will stand where we are and not go up to them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:9
If they say to us, ‘Stay back there until we tell you,’ we will stand on our own and certainly not go up against them.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has the enemy coming to them; Greek has the enemy reporting or telling them. The Greek’s unexpressed message is not supplied.
Verse MT 14:10 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:10
But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will go up, for YHWH has given them into our hand. This will be our sign.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:10
But if they say to us, ‘Come up to us,’ we will go up, for the Lord has handed them into our hands. This will be our sign.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The second alternative and its proposed interpretation agree; Hebrew hand is singular, Greek hands plural.
14:11–15 | The attack and the trembling camp
Verse MT 14:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:11
The two of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. The Philistines said, “Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they were hiding.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:11
The two of them entered the foreigners’ messab. The foreigners said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of their holes where they were hiding.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew describes showing themselves; Greek describes entry. Greek explicitly calls the holes theirs, and here both source traditions name Hebrews.
Verse MT 14:12 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:12
The outpost’s men called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us, and we will let you know something.” Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for YHWH has given them into Israel’s hand.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:12
The men of the messab called to Jonathan and the one carrying his equipment, “Come up to us, and we will let you know a word.” Jonathan said to the one carrying his equipment, “Come up after me, for the Lord has handed them into Israel’s hands.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both retain the taunt and Jonathan’s response. Hebrew dabar permits thing or word; Greek uses rhēma, word. The exact threatened lesson is not supplied.
Verse MT 14:13 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:13
Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. They fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer put them to death behind him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:13
Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with the one carrying his equipment beside him. They looked Jonathan in the face, and he struck them; the one carrying his equipment kept following behind him.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew says the enemies fell and the companion killed; Greek says they looked and Jonathan struck, while the companion followed on. Greek epididōmi’s force here is provisionally rendered following on; the killings are not transferred into that clause from Hebrew.
Verse MT 14:14 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:14
The first blow Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck was about twenty men, within about half a furrow of a yoke of field.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:14
The first blow Jonathan and the one carrying his equipment struck was about twenty men, with darts, stone-throwers, and pebbles of the plain.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew gives a difficult agricultural extent using furrow and yoke of field; no modern acreage is asserted. Greek instead lists missiles or means of throwing stones. Petroboloi, stone-throwers, is retained provisionally without identifying a particular siege machine.
Verse MT 14:15 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:15
There was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The outpost and the raiders trembled too. The earth shook, and it became a terror from God.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:15
There was terror in the camp and in the field. All the people in the messab and the destroyers were terrified, and they were unwilling to act. The earth was astonished, and there was terror from the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds unwillingness to act and personifies the earth as astonished; Hebrew describes the earth shaking. Hebrew’s terror of God may also function as an expression of extraordinary intensity; Greek explicitly has from the Lord.
14:16–23 | Saul’s response and the spreading battle
Verse MT 14:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:16
Saul’s watchmen in Benjamin’s Gibeah saw the multitude melting away and moving this way and that.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:16
Saul’s lookouts in Benjamin’s Geba saw the camp in turmoil this way and that.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The lookout location is Hebrew Gibeah and Greek Gabee, represented as Geba. Hebrew’s melting multitude becomes Greek’s disturbed camp; the final Hebrew motion expression is difficult.
Verse MT 14:17 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:17
Saul said to the people with him, “Please muster and see who has gone from us.” They mustered, and Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:17
Saul said to the people with him, “Please muster and see who has gone from you.” They mustered, and Jonathan and the one carrying his equipment could not be found.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew says from us; Greek says from you. Both discover the pair’s absence.
Verse MT 14:18 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:18
Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God near.” For the ark of God was with the sons of Israel that day.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:18
Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ephoud near.” For he was bearing the ephoud before Israel that day.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew names the ark of God twice; Greek names the ephoud twice and its bearer. Hebrew’s closing conjunction is compressed; “with” supplies its understood relationship. The object used in the consultation is not harmonized.
Verse MT 14:19 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:19
While Saul spoke to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp kept growing louder. Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:19
While Saul spoke to the priest, the sound in the foreigners’ camp kept growing louder. Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hands.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has singular hand and Greek plural hands. Neither column invents the exact interrupted gesture.
Verse MT 14:20 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:20
Saul and all the people with him assembled and came to the battle. Each man’s sword was against his companion, with exceedingly great confusion.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:20
Saul and all the people with him cried out and came to the battle. Each man’s sword was against his neighbor, with exceedingly great confusion.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew describes assembly; Greek a cry. The enemy’s internal fighting agrees.
Verse MT 14:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:21
The Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them into the camp around also joined Israel with Saul and Jonathan.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:21
The slaves who had previously been with the foreigners and had gone up into the camp also turned to join Israel with Saul and Jonathan.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names Hebrews; Greek names slaves and explicitly states their turning. Hebrew’s surrounding-camp phrase is compressed and remains provisional.
Verse MT 14:22 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:22
All Israel’s men hiding in Ephraim’s hill country heard that the Philistines had fled. They too pursued them closely in the battle.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:22
All Israel hiding on Ephraim’s hill heard that the foreigners had fled. They too joined in behind them for battle.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both describe those in hiding joining the pursuit; the pursuit verbs differ.
Verse MT 14:23 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:23
YHWH saved Israel that day, and the battle passed beyond Beth-aven.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:23
The Lord saved Israel that day. The battle passed beyond Baithon, and all the people with Saul numbered about ten thousand men. The battle spread through the whole city in Ephraim’s hill country.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds the approximate force of ten thousand and the spreading battle. Hebrew Beth-aven and Greek Baithon remain as displayed. Greek explicitly has a city, not a supplied regional boundary.
A rash oath tested by mercy and truth
Editorial Christian reading alongside Christ’s teaching on mercy [NT5]. The oath’s damage and the people’s response are presented before any moral application.
14:24–30 | The oath, the honey, and Jonathan’s criticism
Verse MT 14:24 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:24
Israel’s men were hard pressed that day. Saul bound the people with an oath: “Cursed is the man who eats bread before evening, until I have avenged myself on my enemies.” None of the people tasted bread.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:24
Saul acted with great ignorance that day and laid a curse upon the people: “Cursed is the man who eats bread before evening, until I take vengeance on my enemy.” None of the people tasted bread.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew begins with Israel’s distress; Greek begins with a negative judgment on Saul’s action. Hebrew has enemies, Greek a singular enemy. Bread can include food more broadly in this context; the concrete noun is retained.
Verse MT 14:25 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:25
All the land’s people entered the forest, and honey lay on the field’s surface.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:25
All the land was eating a meal. There was an iaar, a wooded bee-place, facing the field.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek explicitly describes eating and has an untranslated iaar with a forest/bee-place explanation; it is not adjusted to remove the tension with 14:24. Hebrew’s all the land is understood collectively as its people. The Greek construction remains provisional.
Verse MT 14:26 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:26
The people entered the forest, and honey was flowing. No one brought his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:26
The people entered the bee-place. There he was, going along and speaking; no one was bringing his hand back to his mouth, for the people feared the Lord’s oath.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek has an unnamed singular going-and-speaking subject and explicitly calls the oath the Lord’s. Hebrew has flowing honey. The difficult Greek subject is not identified as Saul or Jonathan without evidence.
Verse MT 14:27 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:27
Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under oath. He stretched out the tip of the staff in his hand, dipped it into the honeycomb, and brought his hand back to his mouth. His eyes brightened.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:27
Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under oath. He stretched out the tip of the staff in his hand, dipped it into the honeycomb, and brought his hand back to his mouth. His eyes looked up.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew follows the read form, eyes brightened, rather than the written form, eyes saw [Q14]. Greek anablepo can mean looking up or recovering sight; looking up is retained provisionally. Greek skeptron is rendered staff in this setting [D1].
Verse MT 14:28 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:28
One of the people said, “Your father solemnly put the people under oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats bread today.’” The people were faint.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:28
One of the people said, “Your father solemnly put the people under oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats bread today.’” The people were exhausted.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The report and resulting weakness agree. The final clause may also be read within the speaker’s report; punctuation is editorial.
Verse MT 14:29 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:29
Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:29
Jonathan understood and said, “My father has dismissed the land. See how my eyes have seen because I tasted a little of this honey.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek adds Jonathan’s recognition and uses apallassō, provisionally dismissed, where Hebrew says troubled. The Greek’s force concerning the land is difficult; the eye language differs as well.
Verse MT 14:30 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:30
How much more if the people had eaten freely today from their enemies’ spoil that they found! Would not the blow against the Philistines now have been greater?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:30
If the people had eaten freely today from their enemies’ spoils that they found, the blow against the foreigners would now have been greater.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew’s negative rhetorical question is rendered as a question; Greek states the counterfactual result directly.
14:31–35 | Hunger, slaughter, and the altar
Verse MT 14:31 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:31
They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people were exceedingly faint.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:31
He struck some of the foreigners at Michmash that day, and the people were exceedingly weary.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has plural attackers and a route to Aijalon; Greek has one unnamed attacker and no Aijalon endpoint.
Verse MT 14:32 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:32
The people swooped upon the spoil. They took sheep, cattle, and calves, slaughtered them on the ground, and ate with the blood.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:32
The people turned to the spoils. They took flocks, cattle herds, and calves, slaughtered them on the ground, and ate with the blood.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew follows the read forms for swooped and the spoil, rather than the displayed written verb made/did and articleless spoil [Q14]. The blood offense is retained in both columns without inventing a precise butchering reconstruction.
Verse MT 14:33 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:33
They told Saul, “Look, the people are sinning against YHWH by eating with the blood.” He said, “You have acted treacherously! Roll a large stone to me today.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:33
Saul was told, “The people have sinned against the Lord by eating with the blood.” Saul said at Geththem, “Roll a large stone here to me.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s rebuke becomes Greek’s place-like Geththem. Hebrew says today; Greek says here. The unusual Greek form is not corrected from the Hebrew verb.
Verse MT 14:34 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:34
Saul said, “Scatter among the people and tell them, ‘Bring me each man his ox and each man his sheep. Slaughter them here and eat; do not sin against YHWH by eating with the blood.’” All the people brought their oxen in hand that night and slaughtered them there.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:34
Saul said, “Scatter among the people and tell them to bring here each man his calf and each man his sheep. Let him slaughter it upon this, and you will certainly not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.” All the people brought what was in their hands and slaughtered there.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names oxen, explicitly says eat, and dates the compliance to that night. Greek names calves, says upon this, and leaves the final objects general. The differing commands and assurance are retained.
Verse MT 14:35 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:35
Saul built an altar to YHWH. This was the first altar he built to YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:35
Saul built an altar there to the Lord. This was the altar Saul began to build to the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s beginning formula is construed as the first altar; Greek repeats Saul and more directly describes beginning to build this altar. The clause may be understood differently, so it is not treated as proof that construction remained unfinished.
14:36–46 | The unanswered inquiry and Jonathan’s life
Verse MT 14:36 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:36
Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until morning light. Let us leave none of their men.” They said, “Do whatever is good in your eyes.” The priest said, “Let us draw near here to God.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:36
Saul said, “Let us go down after the foreigners by night and plunder them until daybreak. Let us leave none of their men.” They said, “Do whatever is good before you.” The priest said, “Let us draw near here to God.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The proposal and priestly intervention agree. Hebrew retains the eye image; Greek says before you.
Verse MT 14:37 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:37
Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into Israel’s hand?” But He did not answer him that day.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:37
Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the foreigners? Will You hand them into Israel’s hands?” But He did not answer him that day.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The unanswered inquiry agrees. Hebrew hand is singular and Greek hands plural.
Verse MT 14:38 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:38
Saul said, “Draw near here, all the people’s chiefs. Find out and see in what this sin has occurred today.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:38
Saul said, “Bring here all Israel’s chiefs. Find out and see in whom this sin has occurred today.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Both use corners as a leadership image, rendered chiefs. Hebrew calls the chiefs to approach; Greek orders them brought and names Israel. The question’s what/whom distinction remains visible.
Verse MT 14:39 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:39
As YHWH lives, who saves Israel, even if it is in my son Jonathan, he must certainly die.” But none of all the people answered him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:39
As the Lord lives, who saved Israel, if an answer is given against my son Jonathan, he must certainly die.” But none of all the people answered.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew speaks of the sin being in Jonathan; Greek explicitly speaks of an answer against him. Hebrew has a saving participle; Greek refers to the saving act as past.
Verse MT 14:40 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:40
He said to all Israel, “You stand on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will stand on the other side.” The people said to Saul, “Do what is good in your eyes.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:40
He said to all Israel, “You will be in servitude, and my son Jonathan and I will be in servitude.” The people said to Saul, “Do what is good before you.”
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: The displayed Greek twice has servitude, douleia, where Hebrew divides the parties into two sides. The difficult Greek is retained without replacement from Hebrew; no actual enslavement event is inferred from this wording alone.
Verse MT 14:41 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:41
Saul said to YHWH, Israel’s God, “Give a complete answer.” Jonathan and Saul were taken, and the people went free.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:41
Saul said, “Lord, Israel’s God, why have You not answered Your servant today? If the wrongdoing is in me or my son Jonathan, Lord, Israel’s God, give clear signs. But if You say, ‘It is in Your people Israel,’ give holiness.” Jonathan and Saul were selected by lot, and the people went free.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek contains an extended two-part prayer and explicitly names the lot. Hebrew’s tamim is rendered provisionally complete, with answer supplied. Greek dēlous and hosiotēs are retained as clear signs and holiness; they are not silently replaced by the Hebrew names Urim and Thummim.
Verse MT 14:42 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:42
Saul said, “Cast between me and my son Jonathan.” Jonathan was taken.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:42
Saul said, “Cast between me and my son Jonathan. Let the one whom the Lord selects by lot die.” The people said to Saul, “This must not be!” Saul prevailed over the people. They cast between him and his son Jonathan, and Jonathan was selected by lot.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds the death instruction, the people’s objection, Saul’s prevailing, and the explicit casting. Hebrew’s shorter procedure is not expanded from these clauses.
Verse MT 14:43 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:43
Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” Jonathan told him, “I did taste a little honey with the tip of the staff in my hand. Here I am; I will die.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:43
Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” Jonathan told him, “I did taste a little honey with the tip of the staff in my hand. Here I am; I am dying.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both retain the emphatic tasting and Jonathan’s death statement. Its possible interrogative or resigned tone is not settled by the ancient consonants or punctuation alone; the English uses a statement.
Verse MT 14:44 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:44
Saul said, “May God do so and add still more, for you must certainly die, Jonathan.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:44
Saul said to him, “May God do so to me and add still more, for you must certainly die today.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly makes Saul the oath’s recipient and adds today; Hebrew addresses Jonathan by name. The unspecified oath-penalty is not invented.
Verse MT 14:45 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:45
The people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who worked this great deliverance in Israel? Far be it! As YHWH lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” The people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:45
The people said to Saul, “Must the one who worked this great deliverance in Israel be put to death today? As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for God’s people have worked this day.” The people prayed for Jonathan that day, and he did not die.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew grounds the defense in Jonathan’s working with God and says the people redeemed him. Greek grounds it in God’s people and says they prayed for him. Both preserve his survival. The oath’s literal if-clause expresses an emphatic negative in English.
Verse MT 14:46 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:46
Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:46
Saul went up from pursuing the foreigners, and the foreigners went to their own place.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both describe ending the pursuit and the enemy’s departure.
The king’s household and continuing wars
Editorial Christian canonical frame: this summary belongs to Saul’s place in the royal history preceding David and Jesus [NT1].
14:47–52 | Reign, family, commanders, and recruitment
Verse MT 14:47 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:47
Saul took possession of the kingship over Israel and fought all his enemies around him: Moab, Ammon’s sons, Edom, Zobah’s kings, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:47
Saul was allotted a task over Israel and fought all his enemies around him: Moab, Ammon’s sons, Edom’s sons, Baitheor, Zobah’s king, and the foreigners. Wherever he turned, he was delivered.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek has an allotted task, includes Baitheor, and has one king of Zobah rather than kings. Hebrew’s closing verb, normally condemning or doing wrong, is provisionally construed as inflicting punishment in warfare; Greek has a passive deliverance. These difficult clauses remain open for review.
Verse MT 14:48 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:48
He acted valiantly, struck Amalek, and rescued Israel from its plunderers’ hand.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:48
He acted mightily, struck Amalek, and rescued Israel from the hand of those trampling it.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names plunderers; Greek uses a trampling image. The victory and rescue agree.
Verse MT 14:49 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:49
Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. His two daughters’ names were Merab, the firstborn, and Michal, the younger.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:49
Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Jessiu, and Melchisa. His two daughters’ names were Merab, the firstborn, and Michal, the second.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The sons’ differing displayed forms are retained. Greek names the second daughter by order; Hebrew calls her younger. Familiar daughter-name forms represent the securely corresponding Greek Merob and Melchol.
Verse MT 14:50 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:50
Saul’s wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. His army commander’s name was Abner son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:50
His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. His commander-in-chief’s name was Abner son of Ner, son of Saul’s relative.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly adds son before the relative expression, altering the kinship chain. Hebrew names Saul at the start; Greek uses his. The exact attachment of the compressed Hebrew uncle phrase requires care.
Verse MT 14:51 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:51
Kish was Saul’s father, and Ner, Abner’s father, was Abiel’s son.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:51
Kish was Saul’s father, and Ner, Abner’s father, was Jamin’s son, Abiel’s grandson.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek includes Jamin in the ancestry. The English construes the singular son as applying to Ner; the coordination with Kish is compressed in both texts and should not be expanded into a definitive family reconstruction.
Verse MT 14:52 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 14:52
War against the Philistines was fierce throughout Saul’s days. Whenever Saul saw a mighty man or a man of valor, he gathered him to himself.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 14:52
War against the foreigners was fierce throughout Saul’s days. Whenever Saul saw a mighty man or a son of might, he gathered them to himself.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both summarize continuing warfare and Saul’s recruitment. Greek preserves sons of might and plural them; Hebrew has singular him.