Judges 5 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: MT 5:6, MT 5:8, MT 5:11, MT 5:13, MT 5:14, MT 5:22, MT 5:26, MT 5:30
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 5
A song of deliverance: praise in the light of Christ
Editorial Christian reading: the song’s thanksgiving is placed beside the songs of divine deliverance in Luke 1:46–55, 68–79. The poem’s warfare, curse, and difficult images retain their own setting; its praise is not rewritten as a Gospel text.
5:1–5 | Bless the Lord who comes from Seir
Verse MT 5:1 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:1
On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang, saying:
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:1
On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang and said:
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both introduce the victory song.
Verse MT 5:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:2
“When leaders took the lead in Israel, when the people offered themselves willingly, bless YHWH!
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:2
“When chiefs began to lead in Israel, when the people chose willingly, bless the Lord!
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The Greek clearly describes leaders leading. Hebrew peraʿot is difficult and may evoke loosened hair or leadership; the latter is adopted provisionally here.
Verse MT 5:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:3
Hear, kings;
give ear, rulers! I, to YHWH—I will sing;
I will make music to YHWH, the God of Israel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:3
Hear, kings;
give ear, mighty satraps! I will sing to the Lord;
I will make music to the God of Israel.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek identifies the rulers as mighty satraps and does not repeat Lord in the final line.
Verse MT 5:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:4
YHWH, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from Edom’s field, the earth shook;
the heavens also dripped, the clouds also dripped water.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:4
Lord, when You went out from Seir, when You departed from Edom’s field, the earth shook;
heaven was astonished, and the clouds dripped water.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The Hebrew heavens drip; the Greek heaven is astonished or thrown into amazement.
Verse MT 5:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:5
Mountains flowed before YHWH—this Sinai, before YHWH, the God of Israel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:5
Mountains were shaken before the Lord—this Sinai, before the Lord, the God of Israel.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew mountain-flowing imagery becomes shaking in Greek.
5:6–11 | Disorder, leadership, and the people’s response
Verse MT 5:6 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:6
In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the roads ceased, and travelers on the paths went by winding roads.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:6
In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, kings ceased, and they traveled paths;
they traveled twisted roads.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Roads cease in Hebrew, but kings cease in Greek; the opening description of disorder therefore differs substantially.
Verse MT 5:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:7
Village life ceased in Israel;
it ceased until I arose, Deborah, until I arose, a mother in Israel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:7
Phrazōn ceased in Israel;
it ceased until Deborah arose, because a mother arose in Israel.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew perazon is provisionally village life or villagers. The displayed Greek phrazōn remains untranslated as an uncertain borrowed form. Greek uses third-person Deborah where Hebrew has first-person speech.
Verse MT 5:8 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:8
They chose new gods;
then war was at the gates.
Was shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:8
They chose new gods like barley bread.
Would I see a covering of lances among forty thousand?
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Greek has barley bread where Hebrew describes warfare at the gates. Its elliptical covering-of-lances clause is difficult; the rendering preserves the wording without restoring the Hebrew question about shield and spear.
Verse MT 5:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:9
My heart is with Israel’s commanders, those who offered themselves willingly among the people.
Bless YHWH!
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:9
My heart is with the things appointed for Israel.
You powerful ones of the people, bless the Lord!
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew commanders and volunteers become appointed things and powerful people in Greek.
Verse MT 5:10 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:10
You who ride tawny donkeys, you who sit on coverings, and you who walk the road, speak of it—
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:10
You who ride on beasts of burden, you who sit in covered carriages—
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek omits the road-walkers and carries the command to speak into verse 11. Its carriages differ from Hebrew middin, provisionally coverings or saddlecloths.
Verse MT 5:11 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:11
at the sound of those dividing at the watering places.
There they recount YHWH’s righteous deeds, His righteous deeds for the villagers in Israel.
Then YHWH’s people went down to the gates.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:11
utter the sound of musicians among those rejoicing.
There they will ascribe righteousness to the Lord.
Righteous people grew strong in Israel;
then the Lord’s people went down to His cities.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: The difficult Hebrew watering-place scene and righteous deeds for villagers differ from Greek musicians, rejoicing, and righteous people gaining strength. Hebrew meḥatsetsem has also been understood as archers; the adopted dividing sense remains provisional.
5:12–18 | Deborah, Barak, and the tribes
Verse MT 5:12 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:12
Awake, awake, Deborah!
Awake, awake, utter a song!
Arise, Barak, and take your captives, son of Abinoam!
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:12
Awake, awake, Deborah!
Rouse myriads with the people!
Awake, awake, speak with song!
Arise in strength, Barak, and strengthen Barak, Deborah!
Take your captives, son of Abinoam!
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds the myriads and Deborah’s strengthening of Barak.
Verse MT 5:13 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:13
Then a remnant went down to the nobles;
YHWH’s people went down for me among the warriors.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:13
When was his strength magnified?
Lord, humble for me those stronger than I am.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew’s descent of the remnant and people becomes a question about strength and a prayer for humbling the stronger. The Hebrew verbal construction is difficult; descent is adopted provisionally.
Verse MT 5:14 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:14
From Ephraim came those whose root was in Amalek;
after you, Benjamin, among your peoples.
From Machir commanders went down, and from Zebulun those wielding the scribe’s staff.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:14
The people of Ephraim punished them in the valley of your brother Benjamin, among your peoples.
From me, Machir, investigators came down;
and from Zebulun the Lord fought for me among mighty ones from there, with a scepter of one strengthening leadership.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: The source texts give substantially different descriptions of the tribes’ actions. The Greek’s compressed syntax, including from me and its final scepter phrase, is retained provisionally rather than conformed to the Hebrew military muster.
Verse MT 5:15 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:15
Issachar’s princes were with Deborah;
and Issachar, like Barak, was sent into the valley at his feet.
Among Reuben’s divisions were great resolutions of heart.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:15
In Issachar, with Deborah, he sent his foot soldiers into the valley.
Why do you dwell between lips?
He stretched out at his feet.
Among Reuben’s divisions were great scrutinies of heart.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds the difficult lips question and changes the preceding syntax and participants. It has no explicit Barak here. The obscure stretched-out clause remains provisional.
Verse MT 5:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:16
Why did you sit between the sheepfolds, listening to the whistling for the flocks?
Among Reuben’s divisions were great searchings of heart.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:16
Why do you sit for me between the mosphathaim, listening to the whistling of those who rouse?
To pass into Reuben’s territory were great searchings of heart.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek borrows mosphathaim instead of translating the Hebrew sheepfolds term and describes those rousing rather than flocks. Its closing purpose clause differs from Hebrew divisions.
Verse MT 5:17 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:17
Gilead dwelt beyond the Jordan;
and Dan—why did he stay with the ships? Asher sat by the seashore and dwelt by his landings.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:17
Gilead camped beyond the Jordan;
and Dan—why does he stay with ships? Asher stayed by the seashore and camped by its breaches.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The tribes’ remaining away from battle agrees. The coastal term is rendered landings in Hebrew and breaches or breaks in Greek.
Verse MT 5:18 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:18
Zebulun was a people that scorned its life to the point of death, and Naphtali on the heights of the field.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:18
Zebulun was a people that scorned its life to the point of death, and Naphtali on the heights of the field.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both praise the tribes’ disregard of mortal danger.
5:19–23 | Kings, stars, the torrent, and Meroz
Verse MT 5:19 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:19
Kings came and fought;
then Canaan’s kings fought at Taanach by Megiddo’s waters. They took no gain of silver.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:19
Kings came and drew up in battle;
then Canaan’s kings fought at Taanach by Megiddo’s water. They took no greedy gain of silver.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The battle and lack of silver spoil correspond; Greek marks the gain as greedy.
Verse MT 5:20 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:20
From heaven the stars fought;
from their courses they fought against Sisera.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:20
From heaven the stars fought;
from their appointed order they fought against Sisera.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The heavenly combat corresponds. Greek meta with fought is adversarial in this context, rendered against to avoid suggesting an alliance with Sisera.
Verse MT 5:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:21
The Kishon torrent swept them away—the ancient torrent, the Kishon torrent.
March on, my soul, in strength!
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:21
The Kishon torrent cast them out—the torrent Kadēmim, the Kishon torrent.
My mighty soul will trample them.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek retains Kadēmim as a name-like form where Hebrew describes the torrent as ancient; its final line predicts trampling rather than issuing an exhortation.
Verse MT 5:22 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:22
Then the horses’ hoofs hammered, from the galloping, the galloping of his mighty steeds.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:22
Then the horse’s heels were cut off—Amadarōth of his mighty ones.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew depicts pounding hoofs and galloping; Greek depicts severed heels and retains the uncertain form Amadarōth. The physical imagery differs markedly.
Verse MT 5:23 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:23
‘Curse Meroz,’ said YHWH’s messenger, ‘utterly curse its inhabitants, because they did not come to YHWH’s help, to YHWH’s help among the warriors.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:23
‘Curse Meroz,’ said the Lord’s messenger, ‘utterly curse its inhabitants, because they did not come to the Lord’s help.
The Lord is our helper, mighty among warriors.’
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek’s final line affirms the Lord as helper instead of repeating the people’s failure to assist Him.
5:24–27 | The blessing of Jael
Verse MT 5:24 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:24
Blessed above women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite;
above women in tents may she be blessed.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:24
Blessed among women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite;
among women in a tent may she be blessed.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both pronounce a blessing on Jael; the comparative force of Hebrew min is expressed more neutrally as among in the Greek rendering.
Verse MT 5:25 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:25
He asked for water;
she gave milk.
In a noble bowl she brought curds.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:25
He asked her for water, and she gave him milk.
In a bowl of mighty ones she brought butter.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The milk and distinguished bowl correspond. Hebrew ḥemʾah and Greek boutyron denote a thick or processed dairy product; the conventional curds/butter renderings do not establish a different recipe.
Verse MT 5:26 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:26
She reached her hand for the peg and her right hand for the workers’ mallet.
She hammered Sisera, crushed his head, shattered and pierced his temple.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:26
She stretched her left hand toward a peg, her right toward the cuttings of the exhausted;
she cut down Sisera, crushed his head, shattered and pierced his jaw.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Greek specifies the left hand, has an obscure cutting phrase in place of the mallet, and again has jaw rather than temple. The cutting phrase is provisional; its words have not been replaced with the Hebrew tool.
Verse MT 5:27 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:27
Between her feet he sank, fell, lay;
between her feet he sank, fell. Where he sank, there he fell, devastated.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:27
Between her feet he bent down and fell;
he lay between her feet. Where he bent down, there he fell, wretched.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The repeated collapse agrees, with somewhat different verbal repetition and final description.
5:28–31 | Sisera’s mother; the closing prayer and rest
Verse MT 5:28 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:28
Through the window Sisera’s mother looked out and wailed through the lattice: ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?
Why are the hoofbeats of his chariots delayed?’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:28
Through the window Sisera’s mother leaned out, looking through the lattice toward those returning with Sisera: ‘Why is his chariot last to arrive?
Why have the tracks of his chariots been delayed?’
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek describes her looking for the returning company instead of wailing and adds that company explicitly.
Verse MT 5:29 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:29
The wisest of her noble ladies answer her;
indeed, she returns her own words to herself:
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:29
The wise among her noble ladies answered her, and she herself answered in her own words:
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both portray the mother and her attendants supplying an explanation.
Verse MT 5:30 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:30
‘Are they not finding and dividing spoil—a woman, two women for each man;
spoil of dyed cloth for Sisera, spoil of dyed cloth, embroidery, dyed double embroidery for the necks of the spoil?’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:30
‘Will they not find him dividing spoils, befriending friends for the head of a mighty man?
Spoils of dyed cloth for Sisera, spoils of dyed cloth, embroidery;
a dyed embroidered piece around his neck as spoil.’
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew includes captive women, literally a womb, two wombs, in the imagined spoil. Greek instead has an obscure phrase about befriending friends. Both close with textiles, but Greek explicitly places a piece around his neck. The Hebrew final necks-of-spoil expression remains difficult.
Verse MT 5:31 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 5:31
So may all Your enemies perish, YHWH!
But may those who love Him be like the sun coming out in its strength.” And the land was quiet for forty years.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 5:31
So may all Your enemies perish, Lord!
And may those who love Him be like the sun’s rising in its might.” And the land was quiet for forty years.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The closing prayer, solar image, and forty-year rest correspond.