2 Kings 13 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 13:13
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 13
Jehoahaz, Joash, and the Death of Elisha
Verse 13:1 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:1 In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, for seventeen years.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:1 In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king in Samaria, for seventeen years.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek lacks the explicit ‘over Israel’; the date, succession, place, and duration agree.
Verse 13:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:2 He did evil in YHWH's eyes and followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin; he did not turn away from it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:2 He did evil in the Lord's eyes and followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin; he did not turn away from them.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The concluding Hebrew suffix is singular, Greek plural; both describe continued adherence to Jeroboam's sins.
Verse 13:3 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:3 YHWH's anger burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hand of Hazael king of Aram and into the hand of Ben-hadad son of Hazael all those days.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:3 The Lord was fiercely angry with Israel, and He gave them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria and into the hand of the son of Ader, Hazael's son, all those days.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The same continuing subjection is asserted; Greek renders the Ben component as ‘son of’ and uses Ader for Hadad.
Verse 13:4 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:4 Jehoahaz entreated YHWH's face, and YHWH listened to him, for He saw Israel's oppression, because the king of Aram oppressed them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:4 Jehoahaz entreated the Lord's face, and the Lord listened to him, for He saw Israel's affliction, because the king of Syria afflicted them.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both connect answered entreaty with the oppression the Lord sees.
Verse 13:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:5 YHWH gave Israel a deliverer, and they came out from under Aram's hand. The Israelites lived in their tents as in former days.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:5 The Lord gave Israel deliverance, and Israel came out from under Syria's hand. The Israelites lived in their dwellings as in former days.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew מוֹשִׁיעַ denotes a deliverer; Greek σωτηρίαν denotes deliverance. The means is personal in Hebrew, abstract in Greek.
Verse 13:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:6 Yet they did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam's house, who caused Israel to sin; he walked in it. The Asherah also remained standing in Samaria.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:6 Nevertheless, they did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam's house, who caused Israel to sin; they walked in them. Moreover, the grove stood in Samaria.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew changes to singular ‘he walked in it’; Greek remains plural. Hebrew Asherah corresponds to Greek grove, preserving the different cultic image.
Verse 13:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:7 For he left Jehoahaz no troops except fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers, because the king of Aram destroyed them and made them like dust at threshing.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:7 For no troops were left to Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers, because the king of Syria destroyed them, and they made them like dust for trampling.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Numbers agree. Hebrew has a singular destroyer and threshing image; Greek changes to plural ‘they made’ and trampling.
Verse 13:8 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:8 The rest of Jehoahaz's deeds, all that he did, and his might—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:8 The rest of Jehoahaz's deeds, all that he did, and his mighty acts—are these not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both refer the remaining record to Israel's royal chronicles.
Verse 13:9 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:9 Jehoahaz lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. His son Joash became king in his place.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:9 Jehoahaz lay down with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in Samaria. His son Joash became king in his place.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds ‘with his fathers’ to the burial as well as the death notice.
Verse 13:10 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, for sixteen years.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Joash son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, for sixteen years.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both give the same accession and sixteen-year reign; the king's name has its longer Hebrew form here.
Verse 13:11 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:11 He did evil in YHWH's eyes. He did not turn away from all the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin; he walked in it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:11 He did evil in the Lord's eyes. He did not turn away from every sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin; he walked in them.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The singular and plural references to the sinful course differ without changing the verdict.
Verse 13:12 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:12 The rest of Joash's deeds, all that he did, and his might, with which he fought Amaziah king of Judah—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:12 The rest of Joash's deeds, all that he did, and his mighty acts, which he performed with Amaziah king of Judah—are these not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew explicitly says ‘fought’; Greek has ‘performed with,’ leaving the military relationship less explicit in this verse.
Verse 13:13 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:13 Joash lay down with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat on his throne. Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:13 Joash lay down with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat on his throne in Samaria with the sons of Israel.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Greek lacks Joash's burial clause and attaches Samaria and ‘sons of Israel’ to Jeroboam's enthronement. Hebrew instead reports burial with Israel's kings: a substantial change in the narrative assertion.
Verse 13:14 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:14 Elisha fell sick with the sickness from which he would die. Joash king of Israel came down to him, wept over his face, and said, ‘My father, my father! Israel's chariot and its horsemen!’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:14 Elisha fell sick with his sickness, because of which he died. Joash king of Israel came down to him, wept over his face, and said, ‘Father, father! Israel's chariot and its horseman!’
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek speaks retrospectively of the death and has singular ‘horseman’; Hebrew anticipates death and has plural horsemen.
Verse 13:15 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:15 Elisha said to him, ‘Take a bow and arrows.’ He brought a bow and arrows to him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:15 Elisha said to him, ‘Take a bow and arrows.’ He brought a bow and arrows to him.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both introduce the same implements and action.
Verse 13:16 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:16 He said to the king of Israel, ‘Put your hand on the bow.’ He put his hand on it, and Elisha placed his hands on the king's hands.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:16 He said to the king, ‘Put your hand on the bow.’ Joash put his hand on the bow, and Elisha placed his hands on the king's hands.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek names Joash and repeats the bow; Hebrew identifies the king as Israel's. The physical action agrees.
Verse 13:17 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:17 He said, ‘Open the window eastward.’ He opened it. Elisha said, ‘Shoot!’ He shot. He said, ‘An arrow of victory for YHWH, an arrow of victory against Aram! You shall strike Aram at Aphek until it is finished.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:17 He said, ‘Open the window toward the east.’ He opened it. Elisha said, ‘Shoot!’ He shot. He said, ‘An arrow of deliverance for the Lord, an arrow of deliverance against Syria! You shall strike Syria at Aphek until it is finished.’
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both interpret the arrow as divinely given victory or deliverance and promise defeat at Aphek.
Verse 13:18 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:18 He said, ‘Take the arrows.’ He took them. He said to the king of Israel, ‘Strike the ground.’ He struck three times and stopped.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:18 Elisha said to him, ‘Take bows.’ He took them. He said to the king of Israel, ‘Strike the ground.’ The king struck three times and stopped.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has arrows; Greek τόξα has bows. The three strikes and stopping agree; the object is not harmonized.
Verse 13:19 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:19 The man of God was angry with him and said, ‘You should have struck five or six times! Then you would have struck Aram until it was finished. But now you shall strike Aram three times.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:19 The man of God was grieved at him and said, ‘If you had struck five or six times, then you would have struck Syria until it was finished. But now you shall strike Syria three times.’
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew depicts anger; Greek ἐλυπήθη depicts grief or distress. The lost opportunity and three victories agree.
Verse 13:20 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:20 Elisha died, and they buried him. Moab's raiding bands would enter the land when the year came round.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:20 Elisha died, and they buried him. Moab's lightly equipped raiders came into the land when the year came round.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek μονόζωνοι describes lightly equipped men, literally singly girded; Hebrew names raiding bands. Both place the incursion at the year's return.
Verse 13:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:21 As they were burying a man, they suddenly saw the raiding band. They threw the man into Elisha's grave. The man went and touched Elisha's bones, came to life, and stood on his feet.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:21 As they were burying the man, suddenly they saw the lightly equipped raider. They threw the man into Elisha's grave. He went and touched Elisha's bones, came to life, and stood on his feet.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew sees a band; Greek uses singular μονόζωνον, ‘raider.’ Both expressly report life restored after contact with Elisha's bones. Saints: Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 18.16, cites this revival in his argument for bodily resurrection and interprets it as divine power remaining in a righteous person’s body after death [P3]. This is later doctrinal reception of the narrated event.
Verse 13:22 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:22 Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel all Jehoahaz's days.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:22 Hazael afflicted Israel all Jehoahaz's days.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek omits Hazael's title and kingdom here.
Verse 13:23 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:23 YHWH was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and turned toward them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was unwilling to destroy them and has not cast them from His presence until now.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:23 The Lord had mercy on them, pitied them, and looked toward them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Lord was unwilling to destroy them and did not cast them from His presence.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew includes ‘until now’; Greek does not. Both ground preservation in the patriarchal covenant.
Verse 13:24 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:24 Hazael king of Aram died, and his son Ben-hadad became king in his place.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:24 Hazael king of Syria died, and his son, the son of Ader, became king in his place.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The same succession is given, with Ben-hadad represented by Greek ‘son of Ader.’
Verse 13:25 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
13:25 Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the towns he had taken in war from his father Jehoahaz. Joash struck him three times and recovered Israel's towns.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
13:25 Joash son of Jehoahaz took back from the son of Ader, Hazael's son, the towns he had taken in war from his father Jehoahaz. Joash struck him three times and recovered Israel's towns.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both report three victories and recovered towns, matching the limit in verse nineteen.