PriestReverent preparation

Exodus 19 — Hebrew and Greek compared

Saints-Translation_Exodus-1-20_V2

Same 6 Similar 7 Different 9 Divergent 3 Disparate 0

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.

Chapter 19

Covenant Promise

Verse 19:1 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

1 In the third month after the sons of Israel left the land of Egypt, on that day they came to the wilderness of Sinai.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:1 In the third month after the sons of Israel left the land of Egypt, on that day they came to the wilderness of Sinai.

Classification & Notes

Same — That day preserves the source’s compressed date expression; a more exact calendar date is not inserted [H19; G19].

Verse 19:2 Divergent

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

2 They journeyed from Rephidim, came to the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. Israel camped there before the mountain.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:2 They journeyed from Rephidim and came to the wilderness of Sinai. Israel camped there opposite the mountain.

Classification & Notes

Divergent — Greek lacks the separate they camped in the wilderness clause [G19]. Both conclude with singular Israel camped.
Rabbinic: Rashi on 19:2 interprets the singular camped as expressing Israel’s unity of purpose at Sinai. This is a homiletic reading of the grammatical form [R19].

Verse 19:3 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

3 Moses went up to God, and YHWH called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel:

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:3 Moses went up to God’s mountain, and God called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and announce to the sons of Israel:

Classification & Notes

Similar — Both have the divine call from the mountain. RH’s mountain supersedes the provisional webpage’s heaven.

Verse 19:4 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

4 “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:4 “You yourselves have seen what I have done to the Egyptians, and I carried you as on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.

Classification & Notes

Similar — Greek explicitly marks the wings as a comparison with as [G19].

Verse 19:5 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

5 “Now, if you diligently obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:5 “Now, if you diligently obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured people among all nations, for all the earth is Mine.

Classification & Notes

Similar — Greek expresses the treasured status as a people, laos periousios [G19]. Both place Israel’s covenant calling within God’s ownership of the whole earth.

Verse 19:6 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

6 “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:6 “You shall be to Me a royal priesthood and a holy nation. These are the words you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

Classification & Notes

Different — Kingdom of priests/royal priesthood preserves the distinct construction [H19; G19]. Both address Israel in the scene.
Saints: First Peter 2:9 reuses royal-priesthood and holy-nation language for its Christian audience. That scriptural reuse is distinguished from Exodus’s original address to Israel [S13].

Verse 19:7 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

7 Moses came, called the people’s elders, and set before them all these words that YHWH had commanded him.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:7 Moses came, called the people’s elders, and set before them all these words that God had instructed him.

Classification & Notes

Different — Both describe Moses calling the elders. RH names God where Hebrew names YHWH; the provisional spoke to is superseded.

Verse 19:8 Divergent

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

8 All the people answered together, “We will do everything YHWH has spoken.” Moses brought the people’s words back to YHWH.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:8 All the people answered with one accord, “We will do everything God has said, and we will obey.” Moses brought the people’s words to God.

Classification & Notes

Divergent — Greek adds and we will obey and has God [G19]. The added pledge does not contradict the shorter Hebrew response.

Verse 19:9 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

9 YHWH said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and trust you forever.” Moses told the people’s words to YHWH.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:9 The Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a pillar of cloud, so that the people may hear Me speaking to you and trust you forever.” Moses reported the people’s words to the Lord.

Classification & Notes

Different — Thick cloud/pillar of cloud differs [H19; G19]. The descriptions can coexist and are not inherently contradictory.

Preparation and Consecration

Verse 19:10 Divergent

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

10 YHWH said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Let them wash their garments

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:10 The Lord said to Moses, “Go down, solemnly warn the people, and purify them today and tomorrow. Let them wash their garments

Classification & Notes

Divergent — Greek adds the warning and specifies going down [G19]. Consecration and purification are closely related here but are not universal lexical equivalents.

Verse 19:11 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

11 “and be ready for the third day, for on the third day YHWH will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:11 “and be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 19:12 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

12 “Set bounds around the people, saying, ‘Take care not to go up the mountain or touch its edge. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:12 “Set bounds around the people, saying, ‘Take care not to go up the mountain or touch any part of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely die.

Classification & Notes

Similar — Edge/any part and the expressed passive execution formula differ [H19; G19].

Verse 19:13 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

13 “‘No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot. Whether animal or human, he shall not live. When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they may go up the mountain.’”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:13 “‘No hand shall touch him, for he shall be stoned with stones or shot with a dart. Whether animal or human, he shall not live. When the sounds, the trumpets, and the cloud leave the mountain, they may go up the mountain.’”

Classification & Notes

Different — Him takes the preceding trespasser as the pronoun’s referent; the mountain is another interpretive possibility. The final approach signal differs substantially [H19; G19]. Greek explicitly includes the departing cloud.

Verse 19:14 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

14 Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:14 Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated them, and they washed their garments.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 19:15 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

15 He said to the people, “Be ready for the third day. Do not approach a woman.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:15 He said to the people, “Be ready for three days. Do not approach a woman.”

Classification & Notes

Similar — Approach is the sexual-abstinence expression in this preparation setting. The duration wording differs [H19; G19]; it is not a declaration that women are absent from the covenant people.

The Lord Descends upon the Mountain

Verse 19:16 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

16 On the morning of the third day there were thunder and lightning, a heavy cloud over the mountain, and a very loud horn blast. All the people in the camp trembled.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:16 Toward dawn on the third day there were thunder and lightning and a dark cloud over Mount Sinai. The trumpet sounded loudly, and all the people in the camp were terrified.

Classification & Notes

Similar — Greek names Sinai and emphasizes terror; both describe audible storm sounds [H19; G19]. Voices need not replace thunder mechanically.

Verse 19:17 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

17 Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:17 Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood beneath the mountain.

Classification & Notes

Similar — RH has beneath the mountain; Hebrew has at the mountain’s lower part. RH does not separately name Sinai in this verse.

Verse 19:18 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because YHWH had descended on it in fire. Its smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:18 Mount Sinai was entirely covered with smoke because God had descended on it in fire. The smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and all the people were greatly astonished.

Classification & Notes

Different — The final subject and action differ: the mountain trembles/the people are astonished. Greek also has God [H19; G19]. Both reactions could occur; the readings are not inherently incompatible.

Verse 19:19 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

19 The horn’s sound grew louder and louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with a voice.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:19 The trumpet’s sounds grew much stronger. Moses spoke, and God answered him with a voice.

Classification & Notes

Same — Voice preserves the divine response; sound or thunder is possible within the audible setting [H19; G19].

Verse 19:20 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

20 YHWH descended on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. YHWH called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:20 The Lord descended on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. The Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 19:21 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

21 YHWH said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to YHWH to gaze and many of them fall.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:21 God said to Moses, “Go down and solemnly warn the people, lest they come near God to gaze and a multitude of them fall.

Classification & Notes

Different — Greek has God and approaching rather than breaking through [G19]. Fall retains the warning’s death image without supplying a mechanism.

Verse 19:22 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

22 “Let the priests who approach YHWH also consecrate themselves, lest YHWH break out against them.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:22 “Let the priests who approach the Lord God consecrate themselves, lest the Lord depart from them.”

Classification & Notes

Different — Greek has Lord God and the difficult apallaxē ap’ autōn, provisionally rendered depart from them [G19]. Hebrew explicitly warns of breaking out against them [H19]. V1 conflated distinct Greek verbs; see the different verb in verse 24.

Verse 19:23 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

23 Moses said to YHWH, “The people cannot go up Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.’”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:23 Moses said to God, “The people cannot go up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, saying, ‘Set the mountain apart and consecrate it.’”

Classification & Notes

Different — YHWH/God and set bounds/set apart differ in expression [H19; G19].

Verse 19:24 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

24 YHWH said to him, “Go down, then come up with Aaron. But do not let the priests or the people break through to come up to YHWH, lest He break out against them.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:24 The Lord said to him, “Go down, then come up with Aaron. But do not let the priests or the people force their way up to God, lest the Lord destroy some of them.”

Classification & Notes

Different — Greek explicitly names God as the destination and the Lord as the destroying agent [G19]. This verse’s apolesē means destroy; it should not be substituted for verse 22’s different wording.

Verse 19:25 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

25 Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

19:25 Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.