Judges 2 — 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.
Judges 2
Forgetfulness and mercy: returning to Christ
Editorial Christian reading: the cycles of abandonment and rescue invite examination of faithful hearing and doing, alongside Matthew 7:24–27. This is a proposed reading association, not a claimed lectionary assignment.
2:1–5 | The messenger’s rebuke and the people’s tears
Verse MT 2:1 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:1
The messenger of YHWH went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:1
The messenger of the Lord went up from Gilgal to the Place of Weeping, to Bethel, and to the house of Israel. He said to them, “The Lord, the Lord brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that He swore to your fathers to give you. He said to you, ‘I will never scatter My covenant with you.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds Bethel and the house of Israel, and explicitly introduces the Lord’s acts in the third person before quoting Him. Hebrew places the whole recital in the messenger’s first-person speech. Bochim is the Hebrew weeping-name.
Verse MT 2:2 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:2
You shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed My voice. What is this you have done?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:2
You shall make no covenant with those dwelling in this land, nor shall you bow down to their gods. Instead, you shall shatter their carved images and pull down their altars.’ But you did not obey My voice when you did these things.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds the prohibition of worship and destruction of carved images. Hebrew ends with a question; Greek gives a temporal accusation.
Verse MT 2:3 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:3
So I have said, ‘I will not drive them out before you. They shall be adversaries at your sides, and their gods shall become a snare to you.’”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:3
And I said, ‘I will no longer remove the people whom I said I would destroy before you. They shall become constraints upon you, and their gods shall become a stumbling block to you.’”
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek includes the earlier destruction statement. Hebrew letsidim is difficult and rendered adversaries at your sides provisionally; Greek has constraints. Both announce continuing danger.
Verse MT 2:4 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:4
When the messenger of YHWH spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people raised their voice and wept.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:4
When the messenger of the Lord spoke these words to all Israel, the people raised their voice and wept.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both describe the people’s weeping response.
Verse MT 2:5 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:5
They called that place Bochim, and there they sacrificed to YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:5
For this reason that place was called the Place of Weeping, and there they sacrificed to the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Greek translates the name’s meaning and states its causal connection.
2:6–10 | Joshua’s generation and those who did not know
Verse MT 2:6 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:6
Joshua sent the people away, and the sons of Israel went, each to his inheritance, to possess the land.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:6
Joshua sent the people away, and the sons of Israel went, each to his house and his inheritance, to inherit the land.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek explicitly includes each person’s house. The narrative returns to Joshua’s dismissal.
Verse MT 2:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:7
The people served YHWH all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work YHWH had done for Israel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:7
The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who knew all the great work the Lord had done for Israel.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew says seen; Greek says knew.
Verse MT 2:8 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:8
Joshua son of Nun, the servant of YHWH, died at the age of one hundred ten years.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:8
Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of one hundred ten years.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both identify Joshua as the Lord’s servant and give the same age. Greek doulos is rendered contextually as servant in this honorific title; no difference in civil status is asserted.
Verse MT 2:9 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:9
They buried him within the territory of his inheritance at Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:9
They buried him within the territory of his inheritance at Timnath-heres, in the mountain of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The burial location corresponds, with familiar English spelling for the corresponding town.
Verse MT 2:10 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:10
That whole generation too was gathered to its fathers. Another generation arose after them, who did not know YHWH or the work He had done for Israel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:10
That whole generation too was added to its fathers. Another generation arose after them, who did not know the Lord or the work He had done for Israel.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The death idioms and the new generation’s lack of knowledge correspond.
2:11–19 | Apostasy, affliction, judges, and relapse
Verse MT 2:11 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:11
The sons of Israel did evil in YHWH’s eyes and served the Baals.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:11
The sons of Israel did evil before the Lord and served the Baalim.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Greek retains the plural Baalim form; the accusation agrees.
Verse MT 2:12 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:12
They abandoned YHWH, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples around them, bowed down to them, and provoked YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:12
They abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples around them, bowed down to them, and provoked the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The remembered deliverance and subsequent apostasy correspond.
Verse MT 2:13 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:13
They abandoned YHWH and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:13
They abandoned the Lord and served Baal and the Astartes.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The named cults correspond; Greek uses its own plural goddess-name.
Verse MT 2:14 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:14
YHWH’s anger burned against Israel. He gave them into the hand of plunderers, who plundered them. He sold them into the hand of their enemies all around, and they could no longer stand before their enemies.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:14
The Lord grew furious with Israel. He handed them into the hand of plunderers, who plundered them. He sold them into the hand of their enemies all around, and they could not stand before their enemies.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Divine anger, delivery, sale, and military inability agree.
Verse MT 2:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:15
Wherever they went out, YHWH’s hand was against them for harm, as YHWH had spoken and as YHWH had sworn to them. They were in great distress.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:15
In everything in which they prostituted themselves, the Lord’s hand was against them for harm, as the Lord had spoken and as the Lord had sworn. He greatly afflicted them.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew going out becomes Greek prostituting themselves, changing the immediate setting of affliction. Greek makes the final afflicting agent explicit; the Hebrew describes their distress.
Verse MT 2:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:16
YHWH raised up judges, and they saved them from the hand of their plunderers.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:16
The Lord raised up judges for them and saved them from the hand of their plunderers.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew makes the judges the grammatical saving agents; Greek retains the Lord as the saving subject.
Verse MT 2:17 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:17
Yet they did not listen even to their judges, for they prostituted themselves after other gods and bowed down to them. They quickly turned aside from the way their fathers had walked in obeying YHWH’s commandments. They did not do so.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:17
Yet they did not listen even to their judges, for they prostituted themselves after other gods, bowed down to them, and provoked the Lord. They quickly turned aside from the way their fathers had walked in obeying the Lord’s commandments. They did not do so.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds provoking the Lord; both preserve the prostitution metaphor and failure to follow the fathers’ obedience.
Verse MT 2:18 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:18
Whenever YHWH raised up judges for them, YHWH was with the judge and saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For YHWH relented because of their groaning under those who oppressed and pressed them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:18
Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved by their groaning before those who besieged and harmed them.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The divine response and duration of deliverance agree. Greek parakaleō is rendered was moved contextually; the oppressors’ actions differ in expression.
Verse MT 2:19 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:19
When the judge died, they turned back and acted more corruptly than their fathers, following other gods to serve them and bow down to them. They did not abandon their practices or their stubborn way.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:19
When the judge died, they turned back and again acted more corruptly than their fathers, following other gods to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cast away their practices or depart from their hard way.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both describe renewed and intensified apostasy after the judge’s death.
2:20–23 | The nations left as a test
Verse MT 2:20 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:20
YHWH’s anger burned against Israel, and He said, “Because this nation has transgressed My covenant that I commanded their fathers, and has not obeyed My voice,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:20
The Lord grew furious with Israel and said, “Because this nation has abandoned My covenant that I commanded their fathers, and has not obeyed My voice,
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew transgressed becomes Greek abandoned; the covenant accusation agrees.
Verse MT 2:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:21
I too will no longer dispossess before them anyone from the nations that Joshua left when he died.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:21
I too will no longer remove before them anyone from the nations that Joshua left and let remain.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew mentions Joshua’s death; Greek has a second leaving verb. The decision against further removal agrees.
Verse MT 2:22 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:22
This was to test Israel through them: would they keep the way of YHWH and walk in it as their fathers had kept it, or not?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:22
This was to test Israel through them: would they keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their fathers had kept it, or not?
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The stated purpose is a test of covenant fidelity in both sources.
Verse MT 2:23 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 2:23
YHWH left these nations, not dispossessing them quickly, and did not give them into Joshua’s hand.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 2:23
The Lord left these nations, not removing them quickly, and did not hand them into Joshua’s hand.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both retain the concluding statement about the nations left in place.