2 Samuel 6 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: MT 6:13
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.
2 Samuel 6
Approaching the Holy One with joy and fear
Editorial Christian reading: the ark’s journey brings both celebration and death into the royal story. Holiness is considered without equating the ark with Christ or adding a sacramental institution.
6:1–5 | The procession and the new cart
Verse MT 6:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:1
David again gathered all the chosen men in Israel, thirty thousand.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:1
David again gathered all the young men from Israel, about seventy thousand.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew gives thirty thousand chosen men; Greek about seventy thousand young men. Both the number and Greek’s approximation are retained, without substituting one total for the other.
Verse MT 6:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:2
David and all the people with him rose and went from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, over which is called the Name, the name of YHWH of hosts, enthroned upon the cherubim.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:2
David and all the people with him rose and went from Judah’s rulers on an ascent to bring up from there the ark of God, over which is called the name of the Lord of hosts, enthroned upon the cherubim above it.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew gives Baale-judah and repeats name; Greek gives Judah’s rulers and an ascent. The compressed Name formula is retained without identifying an inscribed label. Greek explicitly ends with above it in the cherubim description.
Verse MT 6:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:3
They placed the ark of God on a new cart and carried it from Abinadab’s house on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were driving the new cart.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:3
He placed the ark of the Lord on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house on the hill. Uzzah and his brothers, Abinadab’s sons, were driving the cart
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has plural agents, ark of God, and the named Ahio; Greek has a singular agent, ark of the Lord, and his brothers. Greek continues into verse 4, while Hebrew repeats new with the cart.
Verse MT 6:4 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:4
They brought it from Abinadab’s house on the hill, with the ark of God, and Ahio was walking before the ark.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:4
with the ark, and his brothers were walking before the ark.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew repeats the bringing from Abinadab’s house, a clause absent in Greek, and again names Ahio. Its it is retained within the difficult cart-and-ark construction rather than replacing the repeated clause. Greek again has the brothers.
Verse MT 6:5 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:5
David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating before YHWH with all kinds of cypress-wood instruments, with lyres, harps, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:5
David and the sons of Israel were celebrating before the Lord on tuned instruments, with strength and songs, with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and pipes.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew’s all cypress woods is understood as instruments made from that wood; it is not emended to with all strength. Greek adds songs, names tuned instruments, and has pipes rather than rattles. Lyres and harps render its borrowed names kinyra and nabla broadly; their precise construction remains uncertain [D14].
6:6–11 | Uzzah’s death and the ark at Obed-edom’s house
Verse MT 6:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:6
They came to Nacon’s threshing floor. Uzzah reached toward the ark of God and took hold of it, because the oxen stumbled.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:6
They came to Nodab’s threshing floor. Uzzah stretched out his hand toward the ark of God to hold it fast, and gripped it because the bull calf had pulled it aside, so as to hold it fast.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The threshing-floor names differ. Hebrew’s oxen stumbled is provisional for a difficult verb; Greek gives a singular calf moving the ark. Greek explicitly names the hand and repeats the holding purpose, which is retained despite its awkward placement.
Verse MT 6:7 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:7
YHWH’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him there for the error. He died there beside the ark of God.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:7
The Lord became angry with Uzzah, and God struck him there. He died there beside the ark of the Lord, before God.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew includes the difficult causal phrase for the error; Greek lacks it and adds before God after the ark of the Lord. Both name divine agency and Uzzah’s death. The rare Hebrew shall is not expanded into a detailed motive or a diagnosis.
Verse MT 6:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:8
David became angry because YHWH had broken out against Uzzah. That place was called Perez-uzzah to this day.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:8
David became disheartened because the Lord had made a breach against Uzzah. That place was called Breach of Uzzah to this day.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew describes anger; Greek discouragement. The Hebrew place-name and Greek translated name recall the breach. To this day preserves the narrative’s temporal perspective.
Verse MT 6:9 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:9
David feared YHWH that day and said, “How can the ark of YHWH come to me?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:9
David feared the Lord that day, saying, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The fear and question agree. The question is David’s response to the death just narrated, without an inserted answer.
Verse MT 6:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:10
David was unwilling to bring the ark of YHWH to himself in the city of David. David turned it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:10
David was unwilling to turn the ark of the Lord’s covenant aside to himself in the city of David. David turned it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly adds covenant to the ark’s title. Both describe the decision to divert it. Greek Abeddara is represented by the securely corresponding familiar name Obed-edom.
Verse MT 6:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:11
The ark of YHWH remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months. YHWH blessed Obed-edom and his whole household.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:11
The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months. The Lord blessed Obed-edom’s whole household and all that was his.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names Obed-edom personally and his household; Greek names the whole household and all his possessions. The three-month duration agrees.
The king’s worship and the household’s division
Editorial Christian thematic reading of worship and humility. David’s defense of his celebration remains his own speech within the contested household scene.
6:12–19 | The ark brought to its tent and the gifts distributed
Verse MT 6:12 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:12
King David was told, “YHWH has blessed Obed-edom’s household and all that belongs to him because of the ark of God.” David went and brought the ark of God up from Obed-edom’s house to the city of David with joy.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:12
King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s household and all that is his because of the ark of God.” David went and brought the ark of the Lord up from Obed-edom’s house to the city of David with gladness.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Both report the blessing and renewed joyful journey. In the final movement clause Hebrew says ark of God, while Greek says ark of the Lord.
Verse MT 6:13 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:13
When those carrying the ark of YHWH had taken six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:13
With them were seven dancing companies carrying the ark, and a calf and a lamb as a sacrifice.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew links sacrifice to six steps and gives an ox and a fattened animal. Greek instead describes seven choroi, rendered dancing companies, and a calf and lamb. Number, procession structure, and sacrificial animals differ materially; neither sequence is reconstructed from Chronicles.
Verse MT 6:14 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:14
David was dancing with all his might before YHWH, and David was girded with a linen ephod.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:14
David was playing on tuned instruments before the Lord, and David was clothed in a distinctive robe.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew gives vigorous dancing and a linen ephod; Greek gives instrumental playing and a distinctive robe. Exallos does not itself identify a royal robe or linen. Greek does explicitly describe dancing later in verse 16.
Verse MT 6:15 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:15
David and the whole house of Israel brought up the ark of YHWH with shouting and the sound of the shofar.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:15
David and the whole house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and the sound of a trumpet.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The procession, participants, and sound agree in substance. Shofar retains the Hebrew instrument name beside Greek trumpet.
Verse MT 6:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:16
As the ark of YHWH entered the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked down through the window. She saw King David leaping and dancing before YHWH, and despised him in her heart.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:16
As the ark reached the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked through the window. She saw King David dancing and playing before the Lord, and despised him in her heart.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names YHWH with the ark and pairs leaping with dancing; Greek pairs dancing with playing. Both state Michal’s inward contempt without yet supplying the fuller exchange of verses 20–22.
Verse MT 6:17 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:17
They brought the ark of YHWH in and set it in its place, inside the tent David had pitched for it. David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:17
They brought the ark of the Lord in and set it in its place, inside the tent David had pitched for it. David offered whole burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The placement in David’s tent and the two offering categories correspond. Whole makes explicit the Greek burnt-offering term; it does not imply that the Hebrew offering was only partly burned.
Verse MT 6:18 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:18
When David finished offering the burnt offering and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of YHWH of hosts.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:18
When David finished offering the whole burnt offerings and peace offerings together, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek has plural burnt offerings and an offering-together verb where Hebrew uses a singular collective burnt offering. The completed worship and blessing in the divine name agree.
Verse MT 6:19 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:19
He distributed to all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each one loaf of bread, one eshpar portion, and one raisin cake. Then all the people went away, each to his own house.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:19
He distributed to all the people, the whole force of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, both men and women, to each a loaf of bread, a hearth cake, and a flat cake from a frying pan. Then all the people went away, each to his own house.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds Dan to Beersheba and names two kinds of cakes alongside bread. Hebrew eshpar is retained as an uncertain food portion: meat and cake interpretations remain conjectural [D4]. Hebrew’s raisin cake and Greek’s pan cake are not harmonized; distribution includes men and women in both.
6:20–23 | Michal’s reproach and David’s answer
Verse MT 6:20 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:20
David returned to bless his household. Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How honored Israel’s king has been today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ servant women, as one of the worthless men openly uncovers himself!”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:20
David returned to bless his household. Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet David, blessed him, and said, “How glorious Israel’s king has been today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ servant women, as one of the dancers openly uncovers himself!”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek adds Michal’s blessing or greeting and compares David with dancers rather than Hebrew worthless men. Both speeches are ironic in context. The extent of exposure is not specified by adding an anatomical description; servant women retains the stated household relationship.
Verse MT 6:21 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:21
David said to Michal, “It was before YHWH, who chose me above your father and above his whole house to appoint me ruler over YHWH’s people, over Israel. I will celebrate before YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:21
David said to Michal, “I will dance before the Lord. Blessed is the Lord, who chose me above your father and above his whole house to appoint me ruler over His people, over Israel. I will celebrate and dance before the Lord,
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds an opening dance declaration, a blessing of the Lord, and a further dance verb. Hebrew names YHWH’s people where Greek has His people. Both retain David’s appeal to divine election over Saul’s house.
Verse MT 6:22 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:22
I will make myself still more lightly esteemed than this, and I will be lowly in my own eyes. But among the servant women you mentioned, among them I will be honored.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:22
and I will uncover myself still in this way and be worthless in your eyes, and with the servant women among whom you said I was to be honored.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has further abasement, my own eyes, and a direct promise of honor among the women. Greek gives further uncovering, your eyes, and a compressed reference to Michal’s statement about honor. Its final infinitive is rendered provisionally rather than supplied with Hebrew’s independent promise.
Verse MT 6:23 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:23
Michal daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:23
Michal daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The concluding childlessness statement agrees. Neither source explicitly names a medical cause or supplies a direct divine speech explaining it; until her death does not imply later childbirth.