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Exodus 17 — Hebrew and Greek compared

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Same 3 Similar 5 Different 8 Divergent 0 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 17

Water from the Rock

Verse 17:1 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

1 The whole congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin by their stages, at YHWH’s command, and camped at Rephidim. There was no water for the people to drink.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

17:1 The whole congregation of the sons of Israel set out from the wilderness of Sin by their encampments, at the Lord’s word, and camped at Rephidim. There was no water for the people to drink.

Classification & Notes

Similar — Journey stages/encampments gives a modest difference of expression. Rephidim consistently identifies the corresponding site [H17; G17].

Verse 17:2 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

2 The people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test YHWH?”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

17:2 The people reviled Moses, saying, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you revile me? Why do you test the Lord?”

Classification & Notes

Different — Quarreling/reviling anticipates the corresponding site names in verse 7 [H17; G17].

Verse 17:3 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

3 The people thirsted there for water and grumbled against Moses, saying, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to kill me, my children, and my livestock with thirst?”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

17:3 The people thirsted there for water and grumbled there against Moses, saying, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to kill us, our children, and the livestock with thirst?”

Classification & Notes

Similar — Hebrew shifts from us to singular me and my as the people speak collectively; Greek remains plural [H17; G17].

Verse 17:4 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

4 Moses cried out to YHWH, “What shall I do with this people? A little more, and they will stone me!”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

17:4 Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? A little more, and they will stone me to death!”

Classification & Notes

Similar — The Greek compound makes the threatened stoning vivid [G17]. Hebrew already describes a grave threat.

Verse 17:5 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

5 YHWH said to Moses, “Go on before the people and take some of Israel’s elders with you. Take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

17:5 The Lord said to Moses, “Go on before this people and take some of the people’s elders with you. Take in your hand the staff with which you struck the river, and go.

Classification & Notes

Similar — Israel’s elders/the people’s elders and Nile/river differ in naming, with the same narrative reference [H17; G17].

Verse 17:6 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

6 “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it so that the people may drink.” Moses did so in the sight of Israel’s elders.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

17:6 “Behold, I stand before you there on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, and My people shall drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the sons of Israel.

Classification & Notes

Different — Greek has My people and names the sons of Israel rather than the elders as witnesses [H17; G17].
Saints: In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Paul identifies the spiritual rock with Christ. This is a typological interpretation of wilderness provision; Christ is not inserted as the named speaker or rock in the Exodus translation [S8].

Verse 17:7 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

7 He called the place Massah and Meribah because the sons of Israel quarreled and tested YHWH, saying, “Is YHWH among us or not?”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

17:7 He named that place Testing and Reviling because the sons of Israel reviled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Classification & Notes

Different — Greek translates the place names by their associated actions [G17]. Hebrew Massah recalls testing and Meribah quarreling [H17].

War with the Amalekites

Verse 17:8 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

8 Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

17:8 Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 17:9 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out to fight Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with God’s staff in my hand.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

17:9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose capable men for yourself and go out to take your stand against Amalek tomorrow. Behold, I will stand on the top of the hill with God’s staff in my hand.”

Classification & Notes

Different — Greek adds capable, has for yourself, and attaches tomorrow to the battle instruction [G17]. Iēsous names Joshua here; Christian typology must not replace him with Jesus of Nazareth in the translation.

Verse 17:10 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

10 Joshua did as Moses had told him and fought Amalek. Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

17:10 Joshua did as Moses had told him and went out to take his stand against Amalek. Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

Classification & Notes

Similar — The Greek battle verb emphasizes taking a position [G17].

Verse 17:11 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

11 Whenever Moses raised his hand, Israel prevailed; whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

17:11 Whenever Moses raised his hands, Israel prevailed; whenever he lowered his hands, Amalek prevailed.

Classification & Notes

Different — Hebrew has singular hand here, Greek plural hands. Both have plural hands in verse 12 [H17; G17]. The grammar alone does not describe a cross-shaped posture.
Rabbinic: Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 3:8 locates Israel’s strength in directing their hearts toward their heavenly Father, rather than attributing victory mechanically to Moses’ hands [R17].

Verse 17:12 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

12 Moses’ hands grew heavy. They took a stone, put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on each side, so that his hands remained steady until sunset.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

17:12 Moses’ hands were heavy. They took a stone, put it beneath him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur steadied his hands, one on each side, so that Moses’ hands remained supported until sunset.

Classification & Notes

Same — Both describe physical support and endurance [H17; G17]. Steady renders Hebrew emunah in this bodily setting; faith is a related theological use, not an automatic substitute here.
Saints: Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 90, interprets Moses’ supported, outstretched hands as a sign of the cross and relates Joshua’s name to Jesus. This is Christian typology; Joshua remains the historical person named in the narrative [S12].

Verse 17:13 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

13 Joshua weakened Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

17:13 Joshua routed Amalek and all his people with the slaughter of the sword.

Classification & Notes

Different — Weakened/routed and edge/slaughter differ; Greek includes all [H17; G17]. The verse does not say that every Amalekite everywhere was killed.

Verse 17:14 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

14 YHWH said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in the book and recite it in Joshua’s hearing: I will utterly blot out Amalek’s remembrance from under heaven.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

17:14 The Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and deliver it in Joshua’s hearing: I will utterly blot out Amalek’s remembrance from under heaven.”

Classification & Notes

Same — Both use emphatic language of erasing remembrance [H17; G17]. Joshua remains the historical addressee.

Verse 17:15 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

15 Moses built an altar and named it YHWH Is My Banner.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

17:15 Moses built an altar to the Lord and named it The Lord Is My Refuge.

Classification & Notes

Different — Banner/refuge differs in the altar’s name; Greek explicitly says to the Lord [H17; G17]. These images are compatible descriptions, not opposing divine identities.

Verse 17:16 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

16 He said, “A hand upon the throne of Yah! YHWH has war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

17:16 For with a hidden hand the Lord fights against Amalek from generation to generation.

Classification & Notes

Different — Hebrew’s compressed hand-upon-the-throne phrase is difficult; whose hand and its precise force remain open. Greek has a hidden hand [H17; G17]. Neither text here explicitly names demons or identifies a modern people with Amalek.