2 Kings 3 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 3:27
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 3
The campaign against Moab and its fearful ending
Verse 3:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:1 Jehoram son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned twelve years.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:1 Jehoram son of Ahab became king in Israel in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned twelve years.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Both give the eighteenth year and twelve-year reign; Hebrew also specifies Samaria here. This accession notice remains distinct from those in chapter one.
Verse 3:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:2 He did what was evil in the eyes of YHWH, though not as his father and his mother had done. He removed the pillar of Baal that his father had made.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:2 He did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, though not as his father and not as his mother had done. He removed the pillars of Baal that his father had made.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has singular ‘pillar’; Greek has plural στήλας, ‘pillars.’ Both name father and mother here, whereas Greek 1:18b names brothers and mother.
Verse 3:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:3 Yet he clung to 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)
3:3 Yet he clung to the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin; he did not turn away from it.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew begins with plural ‘sins’ but ends with a singular pronoun; Greek consistently has singular ‘sin.’ The slightly uneven Hebrew sequence is retained.
Verse 3:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:4 Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder. He rendered to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs and the wool of a hundred thousand rams.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:4 Mesha king of Moab was a noqed. At the rising, he rendered to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs and a hundred thousand rams in their fleeces.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek transliterates the occupational term νωκηδ and adds ἐν τῇ ἐπαναστάσει, ‘at the rising,’ whose sense here is uncertain. Hebrew's final ‘wool’ is construed as wool from the rams; Greek says rams ‘in/on fleeces.’ No annual frequency is inserted.
Verse 3:5 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:5 When Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:5 After Ahab died, the king of Moab broke faith with the king of Israel.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both date Moab's breach of allegiance to Ahab's death; the revolt/breach verbs follow the same distinction as 1:1.
Verse 3:6 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:6 King Jehoram went out from Samaria that day and mustered all Israel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:6 King Jehoram went out from Samaria that day and mustered Israel.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both give the same departure and muster; Hebrew explicitly includes ‘all.’
Verse 3:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:7 He went and sent word to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, ‘The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to war against Moab?’ He said, ‘I will go up. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:7 He went and sent word to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, ‘The king of Moab has broken faith with me. Will you go with me to Moab for war?’ He said, ‘I will go up. As I am, so are you; my people are as your people, my horses as your horses.’
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both preserve the invitation and the threefold statement of solidarity. Greek's first comparative phrase is syntactically unusual but expresses the same pledge.
Verse 3:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:8 He said, ‘By which road shall we go up?’ He said, ‘By the road through the wilderness of Edom.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:8 He said, ‘By which road shall I go up?’ He said, ‘By the wilderness road of Edom.’
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew asks ‘shall we’; Greek asks ‘shall I.’ Neither source expressly names the speakers in this verse.
Verse 3:9 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:9 The king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom went on. They made a circuit of seven days' journey, but there was no water for the camp or the animals following them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:9 The king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom went on. They made a circuit of seven days' journey, but there was no water for the camp or the livestock at their feet.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both retain three kings, seven days, and the water shortage. ‘Following them’ renders Hebrew's bodily idiom ‘at their feet’; Greek's matching image is retained.
Verse 3:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:10 The king of Israel said, ‘Alas! YHWH has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Moab.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:10 The king of Israel said, ‘Alas! The Lord has called the three kings who are passing through to give them into the hand of Moab.’
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew says ‘these three kings’; Greek characterizes them as ‘passing through.’ Both present the king's interpretation of the danger, not an independent divine announcement.
Verse 3:11 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:11 Jehoshaphat said, ‘Is there no prophet of YHWH here, through whom we may inquire of YHWH?’ One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, ‘Elisha son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on Elijah's hands.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:11 Jehoshaphat said, ‘Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?’ One of the attendants of the king of Israel answered, ‘Elisha son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on Elijah's hands.’
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both identify Elisha by his father and his service pouring water on Elijah's hands.
Verse 3:12 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:12 Jehoshaphat said, ‘The word of YHWH is with him.’ The king of Israel, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went down to him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:12 Jehoshaphat said, ‘A word of the Lord is with him.’ The king of Israel, Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and the king of Edom went down to him.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both affirm Elisha's prophetic authority and have the three kings approach him. Greek repeats Jehoshaphat's royal title.
Verse 3:13 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:13 Elisha said to the king of Israel, ‘What have I to do with you? Go to your father's prophets and your mother's prophets.’ The king of Israel said to him, ‘No! For YHWH has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Moab.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:13 Elisha said to the king of Israel, ‘What have I to do with you? Go to your father's prophets.’ The king of Israel said to him, ‘No! For the Lord has called the three kings together to hand them over into the hands of Moab.’
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew includes the mother's prophets; the selected Greek main text does not. Both retain Elisha's distancing question and the king's renewed plea.
Verse 3:14 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:14 Elisha said, ‘As YHWH of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were I not showing regard for Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:14 Elisha said, ‘As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, if I were not showing regard for Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would neither look toward you nor see you.’
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both swear by the divine Lord of hosts and make regard for Jehoshaphat the reason for attending to Israel's king.
Verse 3:15 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:15 ‘Now bring me a musician.’ As the musician played, the hand of YHWH came upon him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:15 ‘But now bring me a player of strings.’ As the player plucked the strings, the hand of the Lord came upon him.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both connect instrumental music with the coming of the divine hand. Hebrew נג״ן and Greek ψάλλω denote instrumental playing; the Greek translation makes the plucking action explicit.
Verse 3:16 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:16 He said, ‘Thus says YHWH: Make this wadi pit after pit.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:16 He said, ‘Thus says the Lord: Make this torrent bed pit after pit.’
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both command a series of pits, preserving the doubled noun. The watercourse term describes the dry bed that will receive water.
Verse 3:17 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:17 ‘For thus says YHWH: You will see no wind and see no rain, yet that wadi will be filled with water. You will drink—you, your livestock, and your animals.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:17 ‘For thus says the Lord: You will see no wind and see no rain, yet this torrent bed will be filled with water. You will drink—you, your possessions, and your livestock.’
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Both exclude visible wind and rain and promise water. Hebrew names livestock and animals; Greek distinguishes κτήσεις, ‘possessions,’ from κτήνη, ‘livestock.’ The possessions naturally include living property in context, but the nouns are not flattened.
Verse 3:18 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:18 ‘This is a light thing in the eyes of YHWH; He will also give Moab into your hand.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:18 ‘This is a light thing in the eyes of the Lord; I will also hand Moab over into your hand.’
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew speaks of YHWH in the third person; Greek shifts to first-person divine speech, ‘I will hand over.’ Both promise Moab's defeat.
Verse 3:19 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:19 ‘You will strike every fortified city and every choice city. You will fell every good tree, stop every spring of water, and ruin every good plot with stones.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:19 ‘You will strike every fortified city. You will bring down every good tree, block every spring of water, and make every good plot useless with stones.’
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew includes ‘every choice city’; Greek has only ‘every fortified city.’ Both retain the destructive treatment of trees, springs, and land.
Verse 3:20 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:20 In the morning, when the grain offering was offered up, look—water was coming from the direction of Edom, and the land filled with water.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:20 In the morning, when the sacrifice was going up, look—waters were coming from the direction of Edom, and the land filled with water.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew מִנְחָה is rendered ‘grain offering’ in this cultic setting; Greek θυσία is the broader ‘sacrifice.’ Both describe water arriving from Edom.
Verse 3:21 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:21 All Moab heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. Everyone old enough to fasten a belt and older was called out, and they stood at the border.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:21 All Moab heard that the kings had come up to fight them. They raised a cry, from everyone wearing a belt and upward, and stood at the border.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew's passive assembly summons and Greek's crying out convey mobilization. Both preserve the belt-wearing threshold, here a sign of readiness for military service without an inserted numerical age.
Verse 3:22 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:22 They rose early in the morning, and the sun shone on the water. From opposite them Moab saw the water red as blood.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:22 They rose early in the morning, and the sun rose over the waters. From opposite them Moab saw the waters fiery red, like blood.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both place the mistaken perception in the morning sunlight and compare the red water with blood.
Verse 3:23 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:23 They said, ‘This is blood! The kings have surely destroyed one another; each has struck his fellow. Now, Moab, to the spoil!’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:23 They said, ‘This is blood from the sword! The kings have fought and each has struck his neighbor. Now, Moab, to the spoils!’
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly mentions ‘the sword’ and fighting; Hebrew uses an emphatic destruction expression. Both make the claim a mistaken report by Moab.
Verse 3:24 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:24 They came to Israel's camp. Israel rose and struck Moab, and they fled before them. They went into the land, striking Moab.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:24 They entered Israel's camp. Israel rose and struck Moab, and they fled before them. They kept going in and striking Moab.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both reverse Moab's expectation and narrate Israel's advance. The difficult Hebrew final form is construed as entry into the land; the displayed running text lacks a separately visible written/read explanation, so that clause remains provisional.
Verse 3:25 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:25 They demolished the cities. Each man threw his stone onto every good plot, filling it. They stopped every spring of water and felled every good tree, until only its stones were left at Kir-hareseth. The slingers surrounded it and struck it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:25 They tore down the cities. Each man threw his stone onto every good plot, filling it. They blocked every spring of water and brought down every good tree, until the stones of the wall were left demolished. The slingers surrounded it and struck it.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew retains the place-name Kir-hareseth; Greek gives demolished wall stones. The Greek clause does not preserve that place-name. Both report slingers surrounding and striking the remaining target.
Verse 3:26 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:26 The king of Moab saw that the battle was too strong for him. He took with him seven hundred men who drew the sword to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:26 The king of Moab saw that the battle had become too strong for him. He took with him seven hundred men with drawn swords to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both retain the seven hundred, drawn swords, Edomite target, and failed breakthrough.
Verse 3:27 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
3:27 He took his firstborn son, who was to reign in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. Great wrath came upon Israel, and they withdrew from him and returned to the land.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
3:27 He took his firstborn son, who had reigned in his place, and offered him as a whole burnt offering on the wall. Great regret came upon Israel, and they withdrew from him and returned to the land.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew has the prospective ‘was to reign’ and קֶצֶף, ‘wrath’; Greek has aorist ‘had reigned’ and μετάμελος, ‘regret.’ The resulting portrayal differs materially. Neither text expressly identifies whose wrath or regret it was; no divine or human agent is inserted.