1 Samuel 8 — 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 8
The demand for a king and the cost of power
Editorial Christian reading within the kingship history leading to David and Jesus [NT1]. The people’s request, divine response, and warning are not flattened into a single favorable or unfavorable account of monarchy.
8:1–9 | Samuel’s sons and the people’s demand
Verse MT 8:1 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:1
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges for Israel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:1
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges for Israel.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The succession arrangement agrees.
Verse MT 8:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:2
His firstborn son’s name was Joel, and his second son’s name was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:2
These were his sons’ names: the firstborn was Joel, and the second son’s name was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both name the same sons, birth order, and place; the introductory construction differs without changing the content.
Verse MT 8:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:3
His sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:3
His sons did not walk in his way. They turned aside after completion, took bribes, and perverted ordinances.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek synteleia, literally “completion,” is difficult here and is retained provisionally rather than replaced with Hebrew “dishonest gain.” “Bribes” renders gifts in the explicitly corrupt judicial context. Greek has plural ordinances where Hebrew has justice/judgment.
Verse MT 8:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:4
All Israel’s elders gathered and came to Samuel at Ramah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:4
Israel’s men gathered and came to Samuel at Armathaim.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew identifies all the elders; Greek says men. The different displayed forms of Samuel’s home remain visible.
Verse MT 8:5 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:5
They said to him, “Look, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:5
They said to him, “Look, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your way. Now appoint a king over us to judge us like the other nations.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew has all the nations and plural ways; Greek has the other nations and singular way. The request agrees.
Verse MT 8:6 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:6
The matter was evil in Samuel’s eyes when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” Samuel prayed to YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:6
The word was evil in Samuel’s eyes when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” Samuel prayed to the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The evaluation and prayer agree. Hebrew dabar can denote word or matter; Greek uses rhēma, word.
Verse MT 8:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:7
YHWH said to Samuel, “Listen to the people’s voice in everything they say to you. They have rejected Me from reigning over them; it is not you they have rejected.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:7
The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the people’s voice in whatever they say to you. They have treated Me as nothing so that I should not reign over them; it is not you they have treated as nothing.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew uses rejection; Greek’s verbs express treating as worthless or disregarding. Both place the ultimate rejection upon God’s kingship. The English clause order makes the contrast readable without changing its object.
Verse MT 8:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:8
As in all the deeds they have done from the day I brought them up from Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you as well.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:8
As in all the deeds they have done to Me from the day I brought them up from Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you as well.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly adds “to Me” to the deeds. Both connect the current demand with the history of forsaking God.
Verse MT 8:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:9
Now listen to their voice. But solemnly warn them and tell them the practice of the king who will reign over them.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:9
Now listen to their voice. But solemnly testify to them and report to them the claim of the king who will reign over them.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew mishpat can denote custom, judgment, or right; here “practice” introduces the warning. Greek dikaiōma presents a claim or prescribed right. Neither rendering means that every described royal seizure is morally approved.
8:10–18 | The king’s exactions
Verse MT 8:10 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:10
Samuel told all YHWH’s words to the people who were asking him for a king.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:10
Samuel told the whole word of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The comprehensive report agrees; Hebrew uses plural words and Greek singular word.
Verse MT 8:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:11
He said, “This will be the practice of the king who reigns over you: he will take your sons and appoint them for himself to his chariot and his horsemen, and they will run before his chariot.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:11
He said, “This will be the claim of the king who reigns over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots, his horsemen, and as runners before his chariots.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The practice/claim terminology continues from 8:9. Hebrew has singular chariot where Greek has plural chariots.
Verse MT 8:12 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:12
He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and set them to plow his plowing, reap his harvest, and make his weapons of war and his chariot equipment.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:12
He will appoint them for himself as commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and set them to reap his harvest, gather his vintage, and make his weapons of war and his chariot equipment.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has fifties and plowing; Greek has hundreds and vintage gathering. The Hebrew repeated plowing noun is preserved.
Verse MT 8:13 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:13
He will take your daughters as perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:13
He will take your daughters as perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The three forms of service agree.
Verse MT 8:14 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:14
He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your good olive groves and give them to his servants.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:14
He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your good olive groves and give them to his servants.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The seized property agrees. Both service nouns can denote servants or slaves; royal dependents are in view here. The adjective’s exact scope may extend beyond the olive groves.
Verse MT 8:15 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:15
He will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his eunuchs and his servants.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:15
He will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his eunuchs and his servants.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both name a tenth and royal dependents. Hebrew sarisim may denote court officials as well as eunuchs; Greek eunouchoi supports retaining the concrete term, without asserting the bodily status of every official.
Verse MT 8:16 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:16
He will take your male slaves, your female slaves, your good young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:16
He will take your male slaves, your female slaves, your good cattle herds, and your donkeys, and take a tenth for his work.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew has young men and putting to work; Greek has cattle herds and a further tenth. These materially different forms of royal extraction are retained.
Verse MT 8:17 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:17
He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:17
He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both warnings culminate in the people’s enslavement.
Verse MT 8:18 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:18
On that day you will cry out because of the king you chose for yourselves, but YHWH will not answer you on that day.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:18
On that day you will cry out because of the king you chose for yourselves, but the Lord will not hear you in those days, because you chose a king for yourselves.”
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds the final reason, repeating their choice, and has plural days in the response clause. Hebrew says answer; Greek hear favorably.
8:19–22 | The people persist
Verse MT 8:19 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:19
The people refused to listen to Samuel’s voice. They said, “No! There must be a king over us,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:19
The people would not listen to Samuel. They said to him, “No! There must be a king over us,
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The refusal and demand agree.
Verse MT 8:20 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:20
so that we too may be like all the nations. Our king will judge us, go out before us, and fight our battles.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:20
so that we too may be like all the nations. Our king will judge us, go out before us, and fight our war.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew has plural battles; Greek has a singular war. The people’s three expectations agree.
Verse MT 8:21 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:21
Samuel heard all the people’s words and spoke them in YHWH’s ears.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:21
Samuel heard all the people’s words and spoke them in the Lord’s ears.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The ear image is preserved in both columns, with the divine-name correspondence visible.
Verse MT 8:22 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 8:22
YHWH said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice and make a king reign for them.” Samuel said to Israel’s men, “Go, each man to his city.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 8:22
The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice and make a king reign for them.” Samuel said to Israel’s men, “Let each go off to his city.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both authorize installing a king and dismiss the gathering. Greek’s departure verb has the force of going or running off.