Exodus 33 — Hebrew and Greek compared
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Same 7 Similar 4 Different 9 Divergent 2 Disparate 1
Disparate in this chapter: 33:13
Each verse is rendered independently from the Hebrew (Rabbinic reading tradition) and from the Greek (Saints reading tradition). The badge classifies the relationship between the two readings; the note beneath records the source document’s comparison and attributed interpretation. Each column retains its own verse references where numbering differs.
The Threat of Disconnection
33:1 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:1 YHWH said to Moses, “Go up from here, you and the people you brought up from Egypt, to the land I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:1 The Lord said to Moses, “Go up from here, you and your people whom you led out of Egypt, to the land I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’
Greek explicitly says “your people.”
33:2 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites,
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:2 I will send My angel with you, before you, and he will drive out the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
RH assigns expulsion to a third-person singular agent, contextually the preceding angel; Hebrew continues divine first-person agency. Greek includes Girgashites and does not name Canaanites in this list.
33:3 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:3 to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:3 I will bring you into a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go up with you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”
Greek explicitly adds “I will bring you” at the beginning.
33:4 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:4 When the people heard this grievous word, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments.
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:4 When the people heard this grievous word, they mourned in mourning clothes.
Hebrew describes refraining from ornaments; Greek names mourning garments. [G33]
33:5 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:5 YHWH had said to Moses, “Tell the sons of Israel: ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I go up among you for a moment, I may consume you. Now remove your ornaments, so that I may know what to do with you.’”
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:5 The Lord said to the sons of Israel, “You are a stiff-necked people. Beware lest I bring another blow upon you and consume you. Now remove your splendid robes and ornaments, and I will show you what I will do to you.”
Greek addresses Israel directly, names another blow and splendid robes, and says “I will show,” not “I will know.” [G33]
33:6 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:6 The sons of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments from Mount Horeb onward.
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:6 The sons of Israel removed their ornaments and splendid clothing from Mount Horeb onward.
Greek includes clothing as well as ornaments.
The Provisional Tent of Meeting
33:7 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:7 Moses would take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far from the camp, and call it the Tent of Meeting. Everyone seeking YHWH would go out to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp.
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:7 Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and it was called the Tent of Testimony. Everyone seeking the Lord would go out to the tent outside the camp.
Greek explicitly calls it his tent; the sanctuary designation differs.
33:8 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:8 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose, each standing at his own tent’s entrance, and watched Moses until he entered the tent.
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:8 Whenever Moses went to the tent outside the camp, all the people stood watching, each at his own tent’s doors. They watched Moses go until he entered the tent.
33:9 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the tent’s entrance, and He spoke with Moses.
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the tent’s door, and He spoke with Moses.
The speaker is not newly named in this clause; verse 11 identifies YHWH/the Lord.
33:10 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tent’s entrance. They rose and bowed down, each at his own tent’s entrance.
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tent’s entrance. They rose and bowed down, each at his own tent’s entrance.
33:11 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:11 YHWH spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses returned to the camp, but his young attendant Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:11 The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses returned to the camp, but his young attendant Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
The friend comparison characterizes the direct encounter; it should be read alongside the restriction in verse 20.
Moses’ Intercession
33:12 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:12 Moses said to YHWH, “You tell me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but You have not told me whom You will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have found favor in My sight.’
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:12 Moses said to the Lord, “You tell me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but You have not shown me whom You will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you above all, and you have favor with Me.’
Hebrew says “by name”; Greek “above all.” [G33]
33:13 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:13 Now, if I have found favor in Your sight, please show me Your ways, that I may know You and find favor in Your sight. Consider that this nation is Your people.”
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:13 If I have found favor before You, reveal Yourself to me, that I may see You with understanding and find favor before You, and know that this great nation is Your people.”
Hebrew asks to know God’s ways; Greek asks for God to manifest Himself. This changes the stated object of Moses’ request within the encounter. It does not resolve the ensuing distinction between seeing God’s glory and seeing His face.
33:14 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:14 He said, “My presence will go, and I will give you rest.”
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:14 He said, “I Myself will go before you, and I will give you rest.”
Hebrew “My face/presence” corresponds to Greek’s personal “I Myself.”
33:15 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:15 Moses said to Him, “If Your presence does not go, do not bring us up from here.
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:15 Moses said to Him, “If You Yourself do not go, do not bring me up from here.
Hebrew says “us”; Greek “me.”
33:16 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:16 How else will it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? Then I and Your people will be distinguished from every people on the face of the earth.”
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:16 How will it truly be known that I and Your people have found favor with You, unless You go with us? Then I and Your people will be glorified above all the nations on earth.”
Hebrew describes distinction; Greek glorification. [G33]
God's Grace
33:17 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:17 YHWH said to Moses, “I will also do what you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:17 The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do what you have asked, for you have found favor before Me, and I know you above all.”
The name/above-all distinction recurs.
33:18 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:18 Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.”
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:18 Moses said, “Show me Your glory.”
RH explicitly asks to see Your glory, corresponding to Hebrew. The provisional Yourself wording is superseded.
33:19 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:19 He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you and proclaim the name YHWH before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and show mercy to whom I will show mercy.”
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:19 He said, “I will pass before you in My glory and speak My name, Lord, before you. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
Hebrew names goodness and grace; Greek glory, mercy, and compassion. [G33]
Saints reception: Paul quotes the mercy declaration in Romans 9:15 within his argument about divine mercy. [S-Rom9]
33:20 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:20 He said, “You cannot see My face, for no human may see Me and live.”
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:20 He said, “You cannot see My face, for no human may see My face and live.”
Greek repeats “My face.”
33:21 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:21 YHWH said, “There is a place beside Me; stand on the rock.
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:21 The Lord said, “There is a place beside Me; stand on the rock.
33:22 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:22 When My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed.
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:22 When My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed.
33:23 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:23 Then I will remove My hand, and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”
Greek · Saints priority
G 33:23 Then I will remove My hand, and you shall see what is behind Me, but My face shall not appear to you.”
Greek uses a plural expression for what lies behind; the restriction on seeing the face agrees.
Saints reception: Gregory of Nazianzus, Oration 28.3, interprets God’s back as the glory manifested in creation and the sheltering rock in relation to the incarnate Word. This is a stated mystical and Christological application. [S-Greg28]
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Saints Translation · Companion comparison edition · working draft awaiting specialist review.