Exodus 34 — Hebrew and Greek compared
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Same 8 Similar 13 Different 8 Divergent 5 Disparate 1
Disparate in this chapter: 34:20
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.
Preparation for the New Tablets
34:1 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:1 YHWH said to Moses, “Cut two stone tablets like the first, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:1 The Lord said to Moses, “Cut two stone tablets like the first and come up to Me on the mountain. I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you shattered.
Greek includes the command to ascend here. [G34]
34:2 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:2 Be ready in the morning, come up to Mount Sinai in the morning, and present yourself to Me there on the mountain’s summit.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:2 Be ready in the morning, come up to Mount Sinai, and stand before Me there on the mountain’s summit.
Greek does not repeat “in the morning.”
34:3 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:3 No one shall come up with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain. Neither flocks nor herds shall graze near that mountain.”
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:3 No one shall come up with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain. Neither sheep nor cattle shall graze near that mountain.”
34:4 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:4 Moses cut two stone tablets like the first. He rose early and went up Mount Sinai as YHWH commanded him, carrying the two stone tablets in his hand.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:4 Moses cut two stone tablets like the first. He rose early and went up Mount Sinai as the Lord commanded him, taking the two stone tablets.
Greek lacks the explicit hand reference.
The Proclamation of God's Character
34:5 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:5 YHWH descended in the cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed the name YHWH.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:5 The Lord descended in a cloud, stood beside him there, and called upon the name of the Lord.
The clause’s subject and the calling formula should be reviewed with the following proclamation rather than settled by added explanation.
34:6 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:6 YHWH passed before him and proclaimed, “YHWH, YHWH, a God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in steadfast love and truth,
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord God, compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in mercy and true,
Hebrew repeats YHWH and names steadfast love and truth; Greek has mercy and the adjective true. [H34; G34]
Rabbinic reception: Rashi on 34:6 reads the repeated divine name as compassion before sin and after repentance. [R34]
34:7 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the fathers’ iniquity upon children and children’s children to the third and fourth generation.”
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:7 preserving righteousness and showing mercy to thousands, taking away lawlessness, injustice, and sins, yet not cleansing the guilty, bringing the fathers’ lawlessness upon children and children’s children to the third and fourth generation.”
Greek adds righteousness and uses removal and cleansing language. The generational statement is not expanded into a claim about every descendant’s personal guilt. [G34]
34:8 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:8 Moses quickly bowed to the ground and worshiped.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:8 Moses quickly bowed to the ground and worshiped.
34:9 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:9 He said, “If I have found favor in Your sight, my Lord, please go among us, though this is a stiff-necked people. Pardon our iniquity and sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:9 He said, “If I have found favor before You, let my Lord go with us, for this is a stiff-necked people. You shall take away our sins and lawlessness, and we shall be Yours.”
Greek states belonging rather than the explicit inheritance request. Hebrew ki is rendered concessively here; “for” is also possible. [H34; G34]
Covenant Stipulations and Ritual Laws
34:10 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:10 He said, “Look, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do wonders never created in all the earth or among any nation. All the people among whom you live shall see YHWH’s work, for what I am doing with you is awesome.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:10 The Lord said to Moses, “Look, I establish a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do glorious things never done in all the earth or among any nation. All the people among whom you live shall see the Lord’s works, for what I will do for you is marvelous.
Greek explicitly names the speaker and addressee, and expresses the wonders as glorious things.
34:11 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:11 Observe what I command you today. I am driving out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:11 Observe everything I command you. I am driving out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.
Greek includes Girgashites and lacks today. RH places Hittites before Perizzites, as does Hebrew.
34:12 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:12 Take care not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest it become a snare among you.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:12 Take care not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest it become a stumbling block among you.
34:13 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:13 Tear down their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their Asherim.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:13 Tear down their altars, break their pillars, cut down their sacred groves, and burn their gods’ carved images with fire.
Greek adds burning carved images and renders the Asherim as groves. [G34]
34:14 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:14 You shall not bow down to another god, for YHWH, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:14 You shall not bow down to another god, for the Lord God, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
RH has singular another god, corresponding to Hebrew; the provisional plural is superseded.
34:15 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:15 Do not make a covenant with the land’s inhabitants, lest they prostitute themselves to their gods, sacrifice to them, invite you, and you eat their sacrifice,
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:15 Do not make a covenant with the foreign inhabitants of the land, lest they prostitute themselves to their gods, sacrifice to them, invite you, and you eat their sacrifices,
The prostitution image concerns religious infidelity here.
34:16 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:16 and take their daughters for your sons, and their daughters prostitute themselves to their gods and lead your sons to do the same.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:16 and take their daughters for your sons and give your daughters to their sons, and your daughters prostitute themselves to their gods and lead your sons to prostitute themselves to their gods.
Greek includes marriage in both directions and makes “your daughters” the subsequent subject, not “their daughters” as V1 did. [G34]
34:17 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:17 You shall not make cast-metal gods for yourself.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:17 You shall not make cast-metal gods for yourself.
34:18 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:18 Keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in that month you came out of Egypt.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:18 Keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month of new grain, for in the month of new grain you came out of Egypt.
Greek expresses the agricultural sense of the month’s name.
34:19 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:19 Everything that opens the womb is Mine, every male firstborn of your livestock, whether ox or sheep.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:19 Every male that opens the womb is Mine, every firstborn calf and firstborn sheep.
Greek specifies the calf.
34:20 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:20 Redeem a firstborn donkey with a sheep; if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn son. No one shall appear before Me empty-handed.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:20 Redeem a firstborn beast of burden with a sheep; if you do not redeem it, pay its value. Redeem every firstborn son. You shall not appear before Me empty-handed.
For the same failure to redeem, Hebrew requires breaking the animal’s neck; Greek requires payment. This substantive difference is retained. [H34; G34]
34:21 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:21 For six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. Even at plowing time and harvest you shall rest.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:21 For six days you shall work, but on the seventh you shall rest; at sowing time and harvest you shall rest.
Hebrew names plowing; Greek sowing.
34:22 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:22 Keep the Feast of Weeks, of the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year’s turn.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:22 Keep the Feast of Weeks for Me, at the beginning of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the middle of the year.
The time expressions differ: turn and middle. Their calendar reckoning requires review before declaring incompatible dates. [G34]
34:23 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:23 Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord YHWH, the God of Israel.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:23 Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord, the God of Israel.
34:24 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:24 I will drive nations out before you and enlarge your borders. No one shall desire your land when you go up to appear before YHWH your God three times a year.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:24 When I drive nations out before you and enlarge your borders, no one shall desire your land when you go up to appear before the Lord your God three times a year.
34:25 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:25 You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leaven, or leave the sacrifice of the Passover feast until morning.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:25 You shall not offer the blood of My offerings with leaven, or leave the sacrifices of the Passover feast until morning.
RH uses plural θυμιάματα, normally incense or aromatic offerings, in this blood-sacrifice context. It is rendered offerings here; RH 23:18 instead has θυσίασμα. [G34; G23]
34:26 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:26 Bring the first of the firstfruits of your ground into the house of YHWH your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:26 Bring the first produce of your land into the house of the Lord your God. You shall not offer a lamb in its mother’s milk.”
The consulted Greek says “offer,” not “boil,” and names a lamb. [H34; G34]
34:27 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:27 YHWH said to Moses, “Write these words, for according to these words I have made a covenant with you and Israel.”
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:27 The Lord said to Moses, “Write these words, for according to these words I have made a covenant with you and Israel.”
34:28 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:28 He was there with YHWH forty days and forty nights, eating no bread and drinking no water. He wrote on the tablets the covenant’s words, the Ten Words.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:28 Moses was there before the Lord forty days and forty nights, eating no bread and drinking no water. He wrote these words on the covenant tablets, the Ten Words.
Greek explicitly names Moses at the beginning. The writer’s referent in the final clause should be read with 34:1 and the wider account.
The Radiant Face of Moses
34:29 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:29 As Moses came down Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, he did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had spoken with Him.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:29 As Moses came down the mountain with the two tablets in his hands, he did not know that the appearance of his face’s skin had been glorified through speaking with Him.
Greek describes glorification and lacks Sinai and testimony in this verse. [G34]
Saints reception: Paul develops the motif of Moses’ glorious face in 2 Corinthians 3:7–18. His contrast between ministries is a Christian theological reading. [S-2Cor3]
34:30 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:30 Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw that the skin of Moses’ face shone, and they were afraid to approach him.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:30 Aaron and all Israel’s elders saw that the appearance of the skin of Moses’ face had been glorified, and they were afraid to approach him.
Greek names the elders rather than all the sons of Israel. [G34]
34:31 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:31 Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the assembly’s leaders returned to him. Moses spoke with them.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:31 Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the assembly’s leaders returned to him. Moses spoke with them.
34:32 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:32 Afterward all the sons of Israel approached, and he commanded them everything YHWH had spoken to him on Mount Sinai.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:32 Afterward all the sons of Israel approached him, and he commanded them everything the Lord had spoken to him on Mount Sinai.
34:33 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:33 When Moses finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:33 When Moses finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
The veil is placed after speaking, not before the speech is completed.
Saints reception: 2 Corinthians 3:13–18 develops the veil motif in relation to turning to the Lord and transformation in glory. This application does not replace the narrative’s account of when Moses used the veil. [S-2Cor3]
34:34 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:34 Whenever Moses entered before YHWH to speak with Him, he removed the veil until he came out. Then he told the sons of Israel what he had been commanded.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:34 Whenever Moses entered before the Lord to speak with Him, he removed the veil until he came out. Then he told all the sons of Israel what the Lord had commanded him.
Greek explicitly names the Lord as the one commanding.
34:35 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
34:35 The sons of Israel saw that the skin of Moses’ face shone. Moses replaced the veil over his face until he entered to speak with Him.
Greek · Saints priority
G 34:35 The sons of Israel saw that Moses’ face had been glorified. Moses replaced the veil over his face until he entered to converse with Him.
Radiance in Hebrew corresponds to glorification in Greek. [G34]
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Saints Translation · Companion comparison edition · working draft awaiting specialist review.