1 Samuel 4 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: MT 4:7
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 4
God’s presence cannot be possessed
Editorial Christian reading: the failed appeal to the ark invites reflection on faithful obedience, alongside Christ’s teaching in Luke 6:46–49 [NT5]. The ark is not equated with an idol.
4:1–11 | Defeat, the ark brought out, and its capture
Verse MT 4:1 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:1
Samuel’s word came to all Israel. Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle. They camped beside Ebenezer, and the Philistines camped at Aphek.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:1
In those days the foreigners gathered for war against Israel. Israel went out to meet them in battle and camped beside Ebenezer, and the foreigners camped at Aphek.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew begins with Samuel’s word; Greek begins with the enemy’s gathering for war. Greek allophyloi, foreigners, designates the Philistines throughout this account. The two camps correspond. Greek’s extended account of Samuel’s recognition remains at 3:21.
Verse MT 4:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:2
The Philistines drew up against Israel. The battle spread, and Israel was defeated before the Philistines. They struck down about four thousand men in the battle line in the field.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:2
The foreigners drew up for war against Israel. The battle turned, and the men of Israel stumbled before the foreigners. Four thousand men were struck down in the battle line in the field.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Both report Israel’s defeat and four thousand casualties. Hebrew marks the number approximate and has an active they struck; Greek gives the number without approximation and uses a passive. Greek man of Israel is collective here.
Verse MT 4:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:3
The people came into the camp, and Israel’s elders said, “Why has YHWH struck us down today before the Philistines? Let us bring YHWH’s covenant ark to us from Shiloh, so that it may come among us and save us from our enemies’ hand.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:3
The people came into the camp, and Israel’s elders said, “Why has the Lord made us stumble today before the foreigners? Let us take our God’s ark from Shiloh. Let it go out among us, and it will save us from our enemies’ hand.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names the covenant ark of YHWH; Greek names our God’s ark and uses going out rather than coming. The saving subject is expressed through the ark in the English, reflecting the elders’ appeal; the clause is their speech, not an editorial guarantee.
Verse MT 4:4 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:4
The people sent to Shiloh and carried from there the covenant ark of YHWH of hosts, who is enthroned upon the cherubim. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with God’s covenant ark.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:4
The people sent to Shiloh and carried from there the ark of the Lord, who is seated upon the cherubim. Both Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were with the ark.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek lacks both occurrences of covenant, the hosts title, and God in the second ark description. Both retain the enthroned Lord and the named sons accompanying the ark.
Verse MT 4:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:5
When YHWH’s covenant ark came into the camp, all Israel raised a great shout, and the earth resounded.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:5
When the Lord’s ark came into the camp, all Israel cried out with a loud voice, and the earth resounded.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The arrival and resounding response agree. Hebrew retains covenant in the ark’s designation; Greek does not.
Verse MT 4:6 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:6
The Philistines heard the sound of the shout and said, “What is this great shouting in the Hebrews’ camp?” They learned that YHWH’s ark had come into the camp.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:6
The foreigners heard the cry, and the foreigners said, “What is this great cry in the Hebrews’ camp?” They learned that the Lord’s ark had come into the camp.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The question and discovery agree. Greek repeats the designation foreigners as the speakers; Hebrews remains the outsiders’ term for Israel.
Verse MT 4:7 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:7
The Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp.” They said, “Woe to us! Nothing like this has happened before.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:7
The foreigners were afraid and said, “These gods have come to them in the camp. Woe to us! Rescue us today, Lord, for nothing like this has happened before.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew uses a singular arrival verb with elohim; Greek explicitly says these gods have come and adds a plea to Lord for rescue. These remain the frightened enemy’s words. Neither the unexpected prayer nor the divine-number difference is harmonized away.
Verse MT 4:8 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:8
Woe to us! Who will rescue us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck Egypt with every plague in the wilderness.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:8
Woe to us! Who will rescue us from the hand of these powerful gods? These are the gods who struck Egypt with every plague and in the wilderness.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both speeches use explicitly plural divine descriptions here. Greek separates the wilderness phrase with and; Hebrew joins it directly to the plagues. The report is not rewritten to correct the speakers’ account of the exodus.
Verse MT 4:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:9
Be strong and be men, Philistines, so that you do not serve the Hebrews as they served you. Be men and fight!”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:9
Be strong and be men, foreigners, so that you do not serve the Hebrews as they served us. Be men and fight them!”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew says as they served you; Greek has us. Both repeat the appeal to be men; Greek explicitly adds them as the object of fighting.
Verse MT 4:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:10
The Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated. Each man fled to his tents. The slaughter was very great, and thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:10
They fought them, and the men of Israel stumbled. Each fled to his dwelling. The slaughter was very great, and thirty thousand troops of Israel fell.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The defeat, flight, and thirty thousand casualties agree. Hebrew specifies foot soldiers and plural tents; Greek uses a troop designation and singular dwelling. No larger numerical unit is inferred from the Greek military noun.
Verse MT 4:11 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:11
God’s ark was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:11
God’s ark was captured, and both Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The capture and named deaths agree.
Loss and the departed glory
Editorial Christian reading within the scriptural history that leads through Samuel and David toward Jesus [NT1, Acts 13:20–23]. These deaths and the woman’s lament retain their full force.
4:12–18 | The messenger and Eli’s death
Verse MT 4:12 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:12
A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh that day, with his clothes torn and earth on his head.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:12
A Benjaminite man ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh that day, with his garments torn and earth on his head.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The messenger’s origin, arrival, and mourning signs correspond. Greek Ieminaios is understood as the corresponding Benjaminite designation.
Verse MT 4:13 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:13
He came, and look, Eli was sitting on the seat beside the road, watching, for his heart trembled for God’s ark. The man came to report in the city, and the whole city cried out.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:13
He came, and look, Eli was sitting on the seat by the gate, watching the road, for his heart was distraught over God’s ark. The man entered the city to report, and the city cried out.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew follows the checked qere yad, beside, in the roadside description [Q4]. Greek explicitly locates the seat by the gate and makes the road the object of watching. Both describe anxiety about the ark and the city’s cry.
Verse MT 4:14 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:14
Eli heard the sound of the cry and said, “What is this sound of commotion?” The man hurried, came, and reported to Eli.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:14
Eli heard the sound of the cry and said, “What is this crying sound?” The man hurried in and reported to Eli.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The hearing, question, and urgent report correspond.
Verse MT 4:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:15
Eli was ninety-eight years old. His eyes were fixed, and he could not see.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:15
Eli was ninety years old. His eyes were fixed, and he could not see. Eli said to the men standing around him, “What is the sound of this uproar?”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The ages differ: ninety-eight in Hebrew, ninety in Greek. Greek also adds Eli’s question to the surrounding men. The eye description is rendered contextually in both, without supplying a medical diagnosis.
Verse MT 4:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:16
The man said to Eli, “I am the one who has come from the battle line. I fled from the battle line today.” He said, “What happened, my son?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:16
The man hurried up to Eli and said to him, “I am the one who has come from the camp. I fled from the battle line today.” He said, “What happened, child?”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek adds the hurried approach and initially says camp, where Hebrew repeats battle line. Hebrew my son differs from Greek child. Both retain the admission of flight and request for news.
Verse MT 4:17 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:17
The messenger answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines. There has been a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are also dead, and God’s ark has been captured.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:17
The young man answered and said, “The men of Israel have fled before the foreigners. There has been a great slaughter among the people. Both your sons are dead, and God’s ark has been captured.”
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew names Hophni and Phinehas in this report; Greek lacks the names here, having supplied them in verse 11. Hebrew identifies a news-bearer; Greek calls him the young man. The threefold disaster agrees.
Verse MT 4:18 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:18
When he mentioned God’s ark, he fell backward from the seat beside the gate. His neck broke, and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:18
When he mentioned God’s ark, he fell backward from the seat beside the gate. His back was crushed, and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel twenty years.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has a broken neck and forty years of judging; Greek has a crushed back and twenty years. Both connect the fall with the mention of the ark and preserve his age and weight as narrative details.
4:19–22 | Childbirth and the name of grief
Verse MT 4:19 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:19
His daughter-in-law, Phinehas’s wife, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the report that God’s ark had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she crouched and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:19
His daughter-in-law, Phinehas’s wife, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the report that God’s ark had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she crouched and gave birth, for her labor pains turned upon her.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The report, family relationships, labor, and birth correspond. The woman remains unnamed.
Verse MT 4:20 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:20
As she was dying, the women standing beside her said, “Do not fear, for you have borne a son.” She did not answer or give it attention.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:20
At her time she was dying, and the women standing beside her said, “Do not fear, for you have borne a son.” She did not answer, and her heart did not understand.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both describe the attendants’ announcement and her lack of response. Hebrew says she did not set her heart on it; Greek says her heart did not understand. Their wording is not expanded into a diagnosis.
Verse MT 4:21 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:21
She called the boy Ichabod, saying, “Glory has gone into exile from Israel,” because God’s ark had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:21
She called the child Woe-barchaboth, because of God’s ark, her father-in-law, and her husband.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek has the distinctive name expression Ouai barchaboth, here retaining barchaboth and translating the opening woe. It lacks the Hebrew spoken explanation and the explicit capture verb in this verse. The Greek name is not silently replaced with Ichabod.
Verse MT 4:22 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:22
She said, “Glory has gone into exile from Israel, for God’s ark has been captured.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:22
They said, “Israel’s glory has been carried away with the capture of the Lord’s ark.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has she said and God’s ark; Greek has they said and the Lord’s ark. Both connect the departure of glory with the capture, but the speakers remain distinct.