1 Samuel 15 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: MT 15:11, MT 15:20, MT 15:32
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 15
The rejected king and the obedience Christ requires
Editorial Christian thematic reading beside Luke 6:46–49 [NT5]. The command against Amalek and Saul’s conduct remain explicit; the heading supplies no Christian authorization for analogous violence.
15:1–9 | The command, campaign, and things spared
Verse MT 15:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:1
Samuel said to Saul, “YHWH sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now listen to the voice of YHWH’s words.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:1
Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over Israel. Now listen to the Lord’s voice.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew explicitly names His people and the voice of His words; Greek has a shorter commission and command to listen.
Verse MT 15:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:2
Thus says YHWH of hosts: ‘I have taken account of what Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way when he came up from Egypt.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:2
Thus says the Lord Sabaoth: ‘Now I will avenge what Amalek did to Israel, how he met him on the way when he came up from Egypt.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew presents taking account as completed; Greek presents vengeance as future and adds now. Sabaoth is the retained Greek form corresponding to hosts. The national actors remain in the source’s singular pronouns.
Verse MT 15:3 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:3
Now go and strike Amalek. You all shall devote everything he has to destruction. Do not spare him. Put to death man and woman, child and nursing infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:3
Now go and strike Amalek and Jerim and everything he has. Preserve nothing of his. Destroy him and place him and everything he has under the ban. Do not spare him. Kill man and woman, child and nursing infant, calf and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek includes Jerim and several repeated destruction clauses. Jerim is a name-like form associated here with Hebrew destruction language, but its precise relation remains uncertain. Hebrew shifts briefly to a plural command. Both columns retain the reported command’s human and animal scope in full.
Verse MT 15:4 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:4
Saul summoned the people and mustered them at Telaim: two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:4
Saul summoned the people and mustered them at Gilgal: four hundred thousand troops and thirty thousand troops of Judah.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: The muster location and both totals differ. Greek tagmata is rendered troops in this numerical context without multiplying the figures by an assumed unit size.
Verse MT 15:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:5
Saul came to Amalek’s city and lay in ambush in the wadi.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:5
Saul came to Amalek’s cities and lay in ambush in the wadi.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has one city and Greek plural cities. Hebrew’s rare ambush form is rendered in context, while the Greek clearly names ambush.
Verse MT 15:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:6
Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, turn aside, come down from among the Amalekites, lest I sweep you away with them. You showed kindness to all Israel’s sons when they came up from Egypt.” The Kenites withdrew from among Amalek.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:6
Saul said to the Kenite, “Go away and turn aside from among the Amalekite, lest I add you with him. You showed mercy to Israel’s sons when they came up from Egypt.” The Kenite withdrew from among Amalek.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew begins with plural commands to the collective people and includes all and come down; Greek keeps the collective singular and an elliptical adding-with-him expression. Hebrew kindness and Greek mercy retain their respective terms.
Verse MT 15:7 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:7
Saul struck Amalek from Havilah as far as the approach to Shur, which faces Egypt.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:7
Saul struck Amalek from Havilah to Shur, facing Egypt.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The campaign endpoints agree; familiar Havilah and Shur represent the corresponding Greek Euilat and Sour.
Verse MT 15:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:8
He captured Agag, Amalek’s king, alive and devoted all the people to destruction by the sword’s edge.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:8
He captured Agag, Amalek’s king, alive and killed all the people of Jerim by the sword’s edge.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek repeats Jerim from 15:3; its relation to the people is construed provisionally as of Jerim. Hebrew explicitly uses the destruction-ban verb.
Verse MT 15:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:9
Saul and the people spared Agag, the best sheep and cattle, the fattened animals, the lambs, and everything good. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction. But everything despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:9
Saul and all the people preserved Agag alive, the good things of the flocks, cattle herds, foods, vineyards, and everything good. He was unwilling to destroy them. But every despised and disregarded thing they destroyed.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek includes foods and vineyards where Hebrew has difficult livestock terms, provisionally fattened animals and lambs. Hebrew’s refusal is plural; Greek’s is singular. The spoil is not reduced to one harmonized livestock list.
15:10–16 | Regret, grief, and Saul’s claim
Verse MT 15:10 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:10
YHWH’s word came to Samuel, saying,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:10
The Lord’s word came to Samuel, saying,
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The introduction agrees, with the divine-name correspondence visible.
Verse MT 15:11 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:11
“I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My words.” Samuel became angry and cried to YHWH all night.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:11
“I have been consoled that I made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not kept My words.” Samuel lost heart and cried to the Lord all night.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew expresses regret; Greek uses parakaleō in the perfect passive, literally being consoled or entreated. Its unexpected force is retained provisionally and distinguished from the regret verb in Greek 15:35. Hebrew’s anger and Greek’s discouragement also differ.
Verse MT 15:12 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:12
Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul. Samuel was told, “Saul came to Carmel and set up a monument for himself. He turned, passed on, and went down to Gilgal.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:12
Samuel rose early and went to meet Israel in the morning. Samuel was told, “Saul has come to Carmel, erected a hand for himself, and turned the chariot around.” He went down to Saul at Gilgal, where he was offering the first of the spoils brought from Amalek as a whole burnt offering to the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek has meeting Israel, a chariot, and an additional offering scene; Hebrew has meeting Saul and the report of Saul’s descent. Hebrew hand is construed as a monument; Greek’s corresponding hand is retained. The added Greek scene has compressed pronoun shifts, understood as Samuel’s arrival and Saul’s offering.
Verse MT 15:13 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:13
Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you by YHWH! I have carried out YHWH’s word.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:13
Samuel arrived at Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you by the Lord! I have established everything the Lord spoke.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Saul claims fulfillment in both texts. Greek has everything the Lord spoke, Hebrew His word.
Verse MT 15:14 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:14
Samuel said, “What is this sound of sheep in my ears, and the sound of cattle that I hear?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:14
Samuel said, “What is this sound of the flock in my ears, and the sound of oxen that I hear?”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The audible evidence and question agree.
Verse MT 15:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:15
Saul said, “They brought them from the Amalekites. The people spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to YHWH your God, and we devoted the rest to destruction.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:15
Saul said, “I brought them from Amalek—the best of the flock and the oxen that the people preserved—to be sacrificed to the Lord your God. I destroyed the rest.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has they brought and we destroyed; Greek has I brought and I destroyed. Both attribute preservation to the people and call God your God when Saul addresses Samuel.
Verse MT 15:16 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:16
Samuel said to Saul, “Stop, and I will tell you what YHWH spoke to me this night.” He said to him, “Speak.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:16
Samuel said to Saul, “Stop, and I will tell you what the Lord spoke to me in the night.” He said to him, “Speak.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Hebrew follows the read singular he said rather than the written plural they said [Q15]. The exchange agrees closely.
15:17–23 | The indictment and the priority of obedience
Verse MT 15:17 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:17
Samuel said, “Though you are small in your own eyes, are you not head of Israel’s tribes? YHWH anointed you king over Israel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:17
Samuel said to Saul, “Are you not small before Him, a leader of a tribal division of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has small in your own eyes and head of plural tribes; Greek small before Him and a compressed singular tribal expression, rendered a tribal division [D1]. The Greek pronoun is understood as the Lord, but the precise hierarchy remains provisional.
Verse MT 15:18 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:18
YHWH sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote the sinners, Amalek, to destruction. Fight against him until they are finished.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:18
The Lord sent you on a mission and said to you, ‘Go and destroy those sinning against Me, Amalek. Fight them until you finish them.’
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly adds against Me and makes Saul the completing agent. Hebrew’s closing form is unusually compressed; the passive-like English conclusion is provisional and does not reconstruct an omitted subject.
Verse MT 15:19 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:19
Why did you not listen to YHWH’s voice? You swooped upon the spoil and did evil in YHWH’s eyes.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:19
Why did you not listen to the Lord’s voice, but rushed to lay hold of the spoils and did evil before the Lord?”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both contrast listening with seizing spoil. Hebrew retains the eye image; Greek says before the Lord.
Verse MT 15:20 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:20
Saul said to Samuel, “I did listen to YHWH’s voice. I went on the mission YHWH sent me on, brought Agag, Amalek’s king, and devoted Amalek to destruction.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:20
Saul said to Samuel, “Because I listened to the people’s voice. I went on the mission the Lord sent me on, brought Agag, Amalek’s king, and destroyed Amalek.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew asserts listening to YHWH; Greek answers with listening to the people. This difference in Saul’s defense is not harmonized.
Verse MT 15:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:21
The people took sheep and cattle from the spoil, the best of what was under the ban, to sacrifice to YHWH your God at Gilgal.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:21
The people took flocks and cattle herds from the spoils, the first of what was marked for destruction, to sacrifice before the Lord our God at Gilgal.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has your God; Greek our God. Both describe taking from what was marked for destruction; the first/best term is retained without treating it as ordinary firstfruits authorization.
Verse MT 15:22 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:22
Samuel said, “Does YHWH delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in listening to YHWH’s voice? Listen: obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness than the fat of rams.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:22
Samuel said, “Are whole burnt offerings and sacrifices as desirable to the Lord as listening to the Lord’s voice? Listen: obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness than the fat of rams.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both use hearing-language for obedience and give the same two comparisons. The question’s delight/desirability construction differs.
Verse MT 15:23 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:23
Rebellion is the sin of divination, and stubbornness is wickedness and teraphim. Because you rejected YHWH’s word, He has rejected you from being king.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:23
Divination is sin;
teraphim bring sorrow and troubles. Because you treated the Lord’s word as nothing, the Lord will treat you as nothing, so that you will not be king over Israel.”
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew compares rebellion and stubbornness with forbidden practices; Greek gives a distinct statement about divination and teraphim’s effects. Both retain teraphim as the named cultic objects. Hebrew’s rejection is completed, Greek’s future, and Greek explicitly names Israel.
A kingdom torn away
Editorial Christian reading within the royal history of Acts 13:20–23 [NT1]. Confession, rejection, Agag’s death, and Samuel’s mourning are retained without harmonizing the two sources.
15:24–31 | Confession and the torn robe
Verse MT 15:24 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:24
Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I transgressed YHWH’s mouth and your words, for I feared the people and listened to their voice.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:24
Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I transgressed the Lord’s word and your word, for I feared the people and listened to their voice.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has YHWH’s mouth and Samuel’s plural words; Greek uses word for each. Both retain Saul’s stated motive.
Verse MT 15:25 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:25
Now please bear away my sin and return with me so that I may bow down to YHWH.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:25
Now please take away my sin and return with me so that I may bow down to the Lord your God.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly adds your God. Both use lifting or taking away language in Saul’s request concerning his sin.
Verse MT 15:26 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:26
Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, for you rejected YHWH’s word, and YHWH has rejected you from being king over Israel.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:26
Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, for you treated the Lord’s word as nothing, and the Lord will treat you as nothing, so that you will not be king over Israel.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s divine rejection is completed; Greek’s is future. The rejection/disregard vocabulary continues.
Verse MT 15:27 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:27
Samuel turned to leave. He seized the edge of his robe, and it tore.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:27
Samuel turned his face to leave. Saul seized the edge of his double cloak and tore it.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly names Saul and makes him tear the cloak; Hebrew leaves the seizer unnamed and says the garment tore. The robe’s owner is understood as Samuel from the scene. Greek specifies a double cloak.
Verse MT 15:28 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:28
Samuel said to him, “YHWH has torn Israel’s kingdom away from you today and given it to your neighbor, who is better than you.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:28
Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn Israel’s kingdom from your hand today and will give it to your neighbor, who is better than you.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly names Saul’s hand and gives the transfer as future; Hebrew gives it as completed. Neither names the neighbor here.
Verse MT 15:29 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:29
Moreover, Israel’s Glory will not lie or change His mind, for He is not a human being who changes His mind.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:29
Israel will be divided in two. He will not turn back or change His mind, for He is not like a human being who changes his mind.”
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew has the divine title Israel’s Glory, also understood as Strength or Endurance, and denial of lying. Greek has Israel’s division and denial of turning back. Greek’s following He is construed as the Lord from 15:28, without replacing the distinct opening clause. The relation to regret in 15:11, 35 is preserved for interpretation.
Verse MT 15:30 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:30
He said, “I have sinned. Now please honor me before my people’s elders and before Israel. Return with me so that I may bow down to YHWH your God.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:30
Saul said, “I have sinned. But please honor me before Israel’s elders and before my people. Return with me so that I may bow down to the Lord your God.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly names Saul and reverses the my people/Israel expressions around the elders. The request for public honor agrees.
Verse MT 15:31 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:31
Samuel returned after Saul, and Saul bowed down to YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:31
Samuel returned after Saul, and he bowed down to the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names Saul as the one bowing; Greek leaves that subject unnamed. The Greek pronoun is retained without forcing a named actor into the clause.
15:32–35 | Agag’s death and the lasting separation
Verse MT 15:32 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:32
Samuel said, “Bring Agag, Amalek’s king, to me.” Agag came to him delicately. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death has passed.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:32
Samuel said, “Bring Agag, Amalek’s king, to me.” Agag approached him trembling. Agag said, “Is death so bitter?”
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew’s rare manner word is provisional: delicately, cheerfully, and in bonds have been proposed. Greek clearly has trembling. Hebrew’s statement about death’s bitterness passing differs from Greek’s question about its bitterness.
Verse MT 15:33 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:33
Samuel said, “As your sword has bereaved women, so your mother shall be bereaved among women.” Samuel cut Agag in pieces before YHWH at Gilgal.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:33
Samuel said to Agag, “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother shall be made childless among women.” Samuel slaughtered Agag before the Lord at Gilgal.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew uses a rare cutting-apart verb; Greek uses slaughter. Greek explicitly names Agag as the addressee. Neither action is softened into a nonviolent punishment.
Verse MT 15:34 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:34
Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Saul’s Gibeah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:34
Samuel went to Armathaim, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The displayed forms of Samuel’s home differ, and Hebrew explicitly calls Gibeah Saul’s.
Verse MT 15:35 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:35
Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, for Samuel mourned over Saul. YHWH regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:35
Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, for Samuel mourned over Saul. The Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both retain the farewell summary and divine regret. The death pronoun remains unexpanded, and the statement is not altered to preempt the later encounter in chapter 19. Greek here uses metamelomai, distinct from 15:11.