2 Chronicles 34 — Josiah’s reforms and the book of the covenant — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 34:22, 34:33
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.
Chapter 34 — Josiah’s reforms and the book of the covenant
Josiah’s early reforms
Verse 34:1 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:1] Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:1] Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both give the same accession age and length of reign.
Verse 34:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:2] He did what was right in YHWH’s eyes and walked in the ways of his father David, turning aside neither to the right nor to the left.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:2] He did what was upright before the Lord and walked in the ways of his father David, turning aside neither to the right nor to the left.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The evaluation, Davidic pattern, and right-or-left image correspond.
Verse 34:3 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:3] In the eighth year of his reign, while still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David. In the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, Asherahs, carved images, and cast images.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:3] In the eighth year of his reign, while still a boy, he began to seek the Lord, the God of his father David. In the twelfth year of his reign he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, sacred groves, and cast objects.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: The Greek adds Lord to the divine designation and omits carved images from this list, though they appear in its next verse. Both preserve the eighth and twelfth years. Rabbinic: R3 emphasizes that Josiah’s seeking God is remarkable precisely because he was still young.
Verse 34:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:4] They tore down the altars of the Baals before him. He cut down the incense altars that stood above them, shattered and pulverized the Asherahs, carved images, and cast images, and scattered them over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:4] He pulled down before him the altars of the Baals and the high places upon them. He cut down the sacred groves, shattered and pulverized the carved and cast objects, and scattered them over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The Hebrew initially has plural demolishers acting before the king; the Greek retains before him with a singular demolishing verb. The Hebrew incense altars correspond to Greek high places. Rabbinic: R3 instead explains the Hebrew hammanim as solar images set high facing the sun; that interpretation is recorded without replacing the selected rendering throughout the book.
Verse 34:5 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:5] He burned priests’ bones upon their altars and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:5] He burned priests’ bones upon the altars and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The Hebrew explicitly calls the altars theirs; the Greek has the altars. Both retain the burning of priests’ bones.
Verse 34:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:6] And in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, on the mountain of their houses all around,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:6] And in the cities of Ephraim, Manasseh, Simeon, and Naphtali, and in their surrounding places,
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The displayed BHS split form is provisionally rendered on the mountain of their houses; the more usual reading among their ruins requires a written/read decision. The Greek has surrounding places and reverses Manasseh and Ephraim. Rabbinic: R3 explicitly discusses the written mountain-of-their-houses construction and interprets it as survivors settling on high ground.
Verse 34:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:7] he tore down the altars, crushed the Asherahs and carved images to powder, and cut down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:7] he pulled down the sacred groves and altars, cut the idols into fine pieces, and cut down all the high places throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The distribution of destruction verbs differs: the Hebrew pulverizes Asherahs and images, while the Greek pulls down groves and altars. Incense altars again correspond to Greek high places.
The temple repairs
Verse 34:8 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:8] In the eighteenth year of his reign, in cleansing the land and the house, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the city official, and Joah son of Joahaz the recorder to repair the house of YHWH his God.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:8] In the eighteenth year of his reign, to cleanse the land and the house, he sent Shaphan son of Eselias, Maasias the city ruler, and Joah son of Joahaz his recorder to strengthen the house of the Lord his God.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both locate the repair mission in the eighteenth year. The infinitive concerning cleansing permits a temporal or purpose relation; neither column inserts an unsupported completion date.
Verse 34:9 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:9] They came to Hilkiah the high priest and handed over the silver brought to God’s house, which the Levites guarding the threshold had gathered from Manasseh, Ephraim, all the remnant of Israel, and all Judah and Benjamin; then they returned to Jerusalem.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:9] They came to Hilkiah the high priest and handed over the silver brought into God’s house, which the Levites guarding the gate had gathered from Manasseh, Ephraim, the rulers, all the remnant in Israel, the sons of Judah and Benjamin, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: The Greek adds the rulers and includes Jerusalem’s inhabitants among the contributors. The Hebrew instead closes with their return to Jerusalem. For that final Hebrew verb, R3 explicitly displays the reading wayyashuvu alongside the unusual written form also visible in BHS; the verified reading is used here.
Verse 34:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:10] They put it into the hands of the workers appointed over YHWH’s house, and the workers who labored in YHWH’s house applied it to mend and strengthen the house.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:10] Those appointed in the Lord’s house put it into the hands of the workers, and they gave it to the workers laboring in the Lord’s house, to repair and strengthen the house.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The Greek makes the appointed men a nominative subject of giving, while the Hebrew connects appointment with the initial recipient workers. Both preserve the repeated transfer for repairs.
Verse 34:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:11] They gave it to the craftsmen and builders to buy quarried stones and timber for joinings and to provide beams for the buildings the kings of Judah had ruined.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:11] They gave it to the craftsmen and builders to buy four-foot stones and timber for beams, to roof the buildings the kings of Judah had destroyed.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The Hebrew names quarried stones and wooden joinings; the Greek describes the stones as tetrapedoi, provisionally four-foot, and names beams. The exact dimensional force of that Greek term remains open.
Verse 34:12 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:12] The men did the work faithfully. Over them were appointed Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathites, to supervise; also the Levites, all skilled with musical instruments,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:12] The men were faithful at the works. Their overseers were Jeth and Abdias, Levites from the sons of Merari, and Zacharias and Mosollam from the sons of Kohath, to oversee, and every Levite skilled in instruments of song,
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The named supervisory groups and musical expertise correspond. Both carry the account of these Levites into the following verse.
Verse 34:13 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:13] were over the burden-bearers and supervised all who did the work, task by task. Among the Levites were scribes, officers, and gatekeepers.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:13] were over the burden-bearers and over all who did the works, task by task. From the Levites came scribes, judges, and gatekeepers.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The Hebrew explicitly repeats supervising and names officers; the Greek gives the governing preposition and names judges.
The discovered book
Verse 34:14 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:14] As they brought out the silver that had been brought into YHWH’s house, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of YHWH’s Law through Moses.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:14] As they brought out the silver that had been received into the Lord’s house, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the Lord’s law through the hand of Moses.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both identify the discovered law with the Lord and its mediation through Moses. Rabbinic: R3 identifies this book as Deuteronomy; neither ancient text names Deuteronomy explicitly in this verse.
Verse 34:15 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:15] Hilkiah spoke up and said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in YHWH’s house.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:15] Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found a book of law in the Lord’s house.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The discovery, recipient, and transfer agree; the Hebrew uses the definite designation the law while the Greek expression is indefinite in form.
Verse 34:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:16] Shaphan brought the book to the king and also reported to the king, saying, “Your servants are doing everything entrusted to their hands.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:16] Shaphan brought the book to the king and also reported to the king, “All the silver given is in the hands of your servants who are doing the work,
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The Hebrew reports that the servants are doing all entrusted tasks. The Greek specifically names all the silver and leaves a clause about its placement in the servants’ hands before continuing in the next verse.
Verse 34:17 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:17] They have poured out the silver found in YHWH’s house and put it into the hands of the overseers and the workers.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:17] and they melted the silver found in the Lord’s house and gave it into the hands of the overseers and those doing the work.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The Hebrew pouring verb can describe emptying or melting out the silver; the Greek explicitly uses melting. The same two recipient groups follow.
Verse 34:18 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:18] Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” Shaphan read from it before the king.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:18] Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” Shaphan read it before the king.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The Hebrew says read in or from it; the Greek makes the book the direct object of reading.
Verse 34:19 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:19] When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his garments.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:19] When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his garments.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both record the same response to hearing the law.
Verse 34:20 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:20] The king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:20] The king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Michaias, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaias the king’s servant, saying,
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The five commissioned men and their stated roles correspond; the Greek forms of Micah and Asaiah are retained.
Verse 34:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:21] “Go, inquire of YHWH for me and for those left in Israel and Judah concerning the words of the book that has been found. Great is YHWH’s wrath poured out upon us, because our fathers did not keep YHWH’s word by doing all that is written in this book.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:21] “Go, seek the Lord concerning me and all who are left in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found. The Lord’s great anger has burned against us because our fathers did not heed the Lord’s words by doing all that is written in this book.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The Hebrew pictures wrath poured out, the Greek anger kindled. Keeping the singular word becomes heeding plural words; the Greek also adds all to the surviving people.
Huldah’s answer
Verse 34:22 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:22] Hilkiah and those belonging to the king went to Huldah the prophetess, wife of Shallum son of Tokhath son of Hasrah, keeper of the garments. She lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter, and they spoke to her accordingly.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:22] Hilkiah and those to whom the king had spoken went to Huldah the prophetess, wife of Sellem son of Thakouath son of Chelles, herself keeper of the robes. She lived in Jerusalem in Masana, and they spoke to her accordingly.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: The Hebrew masculine keeper identifies the husband; the Greek feminine participle identifies Huldah as keeping the robes, changing the holder of the office. The Greek supplies the king’s speaking verb, has Chelles for Hasrah, and transliterates the district name Masana.
Verse 34:23 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:23] She said to them, “Thus says YHWH, the God of Israel: Tell the man who sent you to me,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:23] She said to them, “Thus said the Lord God of Israel: Tell the man who sent you to me,
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The divine messenger formula and instruction to address the sender correspond.
Verse 34:24 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:24] ‘Thus says YHWH: I am bringing disaster upon this place and its inhabitants—all the curses written in the book that they read before the king of Judah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:24] ‘Thus says the Lord: I am bringing evils upon this place—all the words written in the book read before the king of Judah,
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: The Hebrew includes the inhabitants and specifically calls the written content curses. The Greek omits the inhabitants here and has all the words.
Verse 34:25 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:25] Because they abandoned Me and burned offerings to other gods, provoking Me with all the works of their hands, My wrath will be poured out upon this place and will not be quenched.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:25] because they abandoned Me and burned incense to foreign gods, provoking Me with all the works of their hands. My anger has been kindled in this place and will not be quenched.’
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The Hebrew has future outpouring of wrath; the Greek has anger already kindled. Both deny its quenching.
Verse 34:26 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:26] But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of YHWH, say this: ‘Thus says YHWH, the God of Israel: Concerning the words you heard,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:26] But concerning the king of Judah who sent you to seek the Lord, say this to him: ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: The words you heard—
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both turn from the judgment on the place to the king’s response. The Greek leaves the words as an introductory phrase continued in the next verse.
Verse 34:27 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:27] because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and its inhabitants, and humbled yourself before Me, tore your garments, and wept before Me, I also have heard you, declares YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:27] and your heart felt shame, and you humbled yourself before Me when you heard My words against this place and its inhabitants, and humbled yourself before Me, tore your garments, and wept before Me—I also have heard, says the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The Hebrew begins with a tender heart and speaks of God and His words before shifting to Me. The Greek has a shamed heart and uses Me and My consistently. Both repeat the humbling and answer it with hearing.
Verse 34:28 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:28] I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your graves in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am bringing upon this place and its inhabitants.’” They brought word back to the king.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:28] I am adding you to your fathers, and you will be added to your tombs in peace. Your eyes will not see all the evils I am bringing upon this place and its inhabitants.’” They brought word back to the king.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both promise burial in peace and exemption from witnessing the announced disaster. The wording is retained without harmonizing it in advance with Josiah’s battle death in chapter thirty-five.
The covenant assembly
Verse 34:29 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:29] The king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:29] The king sent and gathered the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The Hebrew adds all; the same elders assemble in both.
Verse 34:30 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:30] The king went up to YHWH’s house with every man of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people from great to small. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant found in YHWH’s house.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:30] The king went up to the Lord’s house with all Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people from great to small. He read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant found in the Lord’s house.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both include priests and Levites separately and describe public reading of the entire covenant book’s words.
Verse 34:31 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:31] The king stood at his station and made the covenant before YHWH: to walk after YHWH and keep His commandments, testimonies, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, carrying out the words of the covenant written in this book.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:31] The king stood by the pillar and established a covenant before the Lord: to walk before the Lord and keep His commandments, testimonies, and ordinances with the whole heart and the whole soul—the words of the covenant written in this book.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The Hebrew has a station and walking after YHWH; the Greek a pillar and walking before the Lord. The Hebrew explicitly says to carry out the covenant words, while the Greek attaches them without that verb.
Verse 34:32 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:32] He made everyone present in Jerusalem and Benjamin stand to it. The inhabitants of Jerusalem acted according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:32] He made everyone found in Jerusalem and Benjamin stand. The inhabitants of Jerusalem made a covenant in the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The Hebrew describes acting according to God’s covenant; the Greek describes making a covenant and supplies its location in the Lord’s house.
Verse 34:33 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[BHS 34:33] Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the children of Israel and made everyone present in Israel serve YHWH their God. Throughout his days they did not turn aside from following YHWH, the God of their fathers.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[LXX 34:33] Josiah removed all the abominations from all the land belonging to the sons of Israel and made everyone present in Jerusalem and Israel serve the Lord their God throughout his days. He did not turn aside from following the Lord, the God of his fathers.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: The Greek explicitly includes Jerusalem and ends with singular he and his fathers, evaluating the king. The Hebrew ends with plural they and their fathers, evaluating the people’s continued allegiance during his lifetime.