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Exodus 4 — Hebrew and Greek compared

Saints-Translation_Exodus-1-20_V2

Same 8 Similar 5 Different 12 Divergent 4 Disparate 2

Disparate in this chapter: 4:16, 4:24

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 4

The Signs and Excuses

Verse 4:1 Divergent

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

1 Moses answered, “But they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘YHWH has not appeared to you.’”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:1 Moses answered, “If they do not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘God has not appeared to you,’ what shall I say to them?”

Classification & Notes

Divergent — Greek has God and a closing question absent from Hebrew [H4; G4].

Verse 4:2 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

2 YHWH said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.”

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 4:3 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

3 He said, “Throw it on the ground.” He threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; Moses fled from it.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:3 He said, “Throw it on the ground.” He threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; Moses fled from it.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 4:4 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

4 YHWH said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and grasp it by the tail.” He reached out his hand and grasped it, and it became a staff in his hand.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:4 The Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and grasp it by the tail.” He reached out his hand and grasped the tail, and it became a staff in his hand.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 4:5 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

5 “This is so that they may believe that YHWH, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:5 “This is so that they may believe you, that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

Classification & Notes

Same — RH includes Lord and the ancestral divine titles. The provisional webpage’s shorter title is superseded.

Verse 4:6 Divergent

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

6 YHWH said further to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” He put his hand inside his cloak and drew it out; behold, his hand was leprous, like snow.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:6 The Lord said again to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” He put his hand inside his cloak and drew it out; his hand had become like snow.

Classification & Notes

Divergent — Hebrew explicitly says leprous; Greek gives the snow comparison without that term [H4; G4]. Leprosy is retained as the project’s ancient category, not a modern diagnosis.

Verse 4:7 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

7 He said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” He put it back and drew it out; behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:7 He said again, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” He put it inside and drew it out; it was restored again to its flesh’s color.

Classification & Notes

Similar — Greek explicitly describes the color; both record restoration [G4].

Verse 4:8 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

8 “If they do not believe you or listen to the voice of the first sign, they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:8 “If they do not believe you or listen to the voice of the first sign, they will believe you through the voice of the latter sign.

Classification & Notes

Same — The voice-of-the-sign image is retained; the signs bear witness.

Verse 4:9 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

9 “If they do not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, take water from the river and pour it onto dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the dry ground.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:9 “If they do not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, take water from the river and pour it onto dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the dry ground.”

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 4:10 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

10 Moses said to YHWH, “Please, my Lord, I have never been a man of words, neither before nor since You spoke to Your servant, for I am heavy of mouth and heavy of tongue.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:10 Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been capable, neither before nor since You began to speak to Your servant, for I am weak-voiced and slow-tongued.”

Classification & Notes

Different — The idiom yesterday and the third day refers to former time, not V1’s chronology. The speech descriptions differ, without establishing a precise diagnosis [H4; G4; B4].

Verse 4:11 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

11 YHWH said to him, “Who gives a human being a mouth? Who makes one unable to speak or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, YHWH?

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:11 The Lord said to Moses, “Who gave a human being a mouth? Who made one hard of hearing or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, God?

Classification & Notes

Different — Greek has God and distinct hearing terms [H4; G4]. Ancient sensory vocabulary needs contextual care; V1’s clinical hierarchy is not established.

Verse 4:12 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

12 “Now go. I will be with your mouth and teach you what to say.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:12 “Now go. I will open your mouth and teach you what to say.”

Classification & Notes

Different — Being with the mouth and opening it are different images for promised help [H4; G4].

Verse 4:13 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

13 He said, “Please, my Lord, send by the hand of whomever You will send.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:13 Moses said, “Please, Lord, appoint another capable person whom You will send.”

Classification & Notes

Different — The Hebrew deferral is idiomatic; Greek explicitly asks for another capable person [G4].

Verse 4:14 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

14 YHWH’s anger burned against Moses. He said, “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. Look, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you he will rejoice in his heart.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:14 The Lord became angry with Moses and said, “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he will surely speak for you. Look, he will come out to meet you, and when he sees you he will rejoice within himself.

Classification & Notes

Similar — Greek includes for you; the dative also allows to you [G4; B4]. Both describe Aaron’s joy.

Verse 4:15 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

15 “Speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will be with your mouth and his mouth and teach you both what to do.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:15 “Speak to him and put My words in his mouth. I will open your mouth and his mouth and teach you both what to do.

Classification & Notes

Different — Greek specifies My words and repeats the mouth-opening image [G4].

Verse 4:16 Disparate

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

16 “He shall speak for you to the people. He shall be a mouth for you, and you shall be as God to him.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:16 “He shall speak for you to the people. He shall be your mouth, and you shall represent him in matters concerning God.

Classification & Notes

Disparate — Hebrew gives Moses an as-God role in relation to Aaron; Greek assigns Moses the things concerning God. The portrayal of the mediating role differs materially, without making Moses a rival deity or inferring a translator’s motive.

Verse 4:17 Divergent

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

17 “Take this staff in your hand, with which you shall perform the signs.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:17 “Take in your hand this staff that was turned into a serpent, with which you shall perform the signs.”

Classification & Notes

Divergent — Greek explicitly recalls the staff’s transformation [G4].

The Return and the Warning

Verse 4:18 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

18 Moses went back to Jether his father-in-law and said, “Please let me return to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:18 Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said, “I will return to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” Jethro said to Moses, “Go in health.”

Classification & Notes

Different — Hebrew uses Jether, then Jethro; Greek uses Jethro. Peace and health differ. RH places the king’s death notice at 4:19.

Verse 4:19 Divergent

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

19 YHWH said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return to Egypt, for all the men who sought your life are dead.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:19 After those many days the king of Egypt died. The Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go, depart for Egypt, for all who sought your life are dead.”

Classification & Notes

Divergent — RH begins with the added notice that the king of Egypt died after those many days, before the command to return; Hebrew begins with the command.

Verse 4:20 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

20 Moses took his wife and sons, set them on the donkey, and returned toward the land of Egypt. Moses took the staff of God in his hand.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:20 Moses took his wife and children, set them on the beasts of burden, and returned toward Egypt. Moses took the staff he had from God in his hand.

Classification & Notes

Different — Hebrew names one donkey and sons; Greek has plural beasts of burden and children [H4; G4].

Verse 4:21 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

21 YHWH said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have put in your hand. I will make his heart firm, and he will not let the people go.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:21 The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have put in your hands. I will harden his heart, and he will certainly not let the people go.

Classification & Notes

Similar — Hebrew uses the strengthen/make-firm root; Greek says harden [H4; G4]. The divine subject is explicit and retained. Theological explanations belong in attributed notes.

Verse 4:22 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

22 “Say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says YHWH: Israel is My son, My firstborn.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:22 “Say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: Israel is My firstborn son.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 4:23 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

23 “‘I said to you, “Let My son go so that he may serve Me,” but you refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.’”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:23 “‘I said to you, “Let My people go so that they may serve Me.” If you refuse to let them go, take heed: I will kill your firstborn son.’”

Classification & Notes

Different — My son and My people differ; the Greek refusal is conditional [G4]. Both service verbs concern God here.

The Blood of Circumcision

Verse 4:24 Disparate

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

24 On the way, at the lodging place, YHWH met him and sought to kill him.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:24 On the way, at the lodging place, an angel of the Lord met him and sought to kill him.

Classification & Notes

Disparate — Hebrew names YHWH as the threatening agent; Greek names an angel of the Lord. This changes the direct agency of the lethal encounter. The threatened person remains unnamed and the pronouns remain open to interpretation.

Verse 4:25 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

25 Zipporah took a flint, cut off her son’s foreskin, touched his feet with it, and said, “You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:25 Zipporah took a stone, circumcised her son, fell at the feet, and said, “The blood of my child’s circumcision has stopped.”

Classification & Notes

Different — Touching the feet and falling at the feet differ, as do bridegroom of blood and blood has stopped [H4; G4]. The referent of the feet and the ritual’s meaning remain difficult.

Verse 4:26 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

26 He let him alone. Then she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:26 He went away from him, because she said, “The blood of my child’s circumcision has stopped.”

Classification & Notes

Different — RH contains the circumcision-related dismissal clause at 4:26, where the provisional Swete-labeled webpage was blank. Greek’s child-related circumcision wording remains distinct from Hebrew’s bridegroom-of-blood explanation; no clause is borrowed from Hebrew.

The People’s Belief

Verse 4:27 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

27 YHWH said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” He went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” He went and met him at the mountain of God, and they kissed each other.

Classification & Notes

Similar — Greek makes the greeting reciprocal [G4].

Verse 4:28 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

28 Moses told Aaron all the words of YHWH with which He had sent him, and all the signs He had commanded him to perform.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:28 Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which He had sent him, and all the signs He had commanded him.

Classification & Notes

Same — RH reads signs, corresponding to Hebrew; the provisional webpage’s things/words is superseded.

Verse 4:29 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

29 Moses and Aaron went and gathered all the elders of the sons of Israel.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:29 Moses and Aaron went and gathered the council of elders of the sons of Israel.

Classification & Notes

Similar — Greek describes the council and lacks a separate all [G4].

Verse 4:30 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30 Aaron spoke all the words YHWH had spoken to Moses and performed the signs before the people.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:30 Aaron spoke all these words God had spoken to Moses and performed the signs before the people.

Classification & Notes

Different — The divine designation is YHWH in Hebrew and God in Greek [G4].

Verse 4:31 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

31 The people believed. When they heard that YHWH had attended to the sons of Israel and had seen their affliction, they bowed down and worshiped.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

4:31 The people believed and rejoiced that God had attended to the sons of Israel and had seen their affliction. The people bowed down and worshiped.

Classification & Notes

Different — Heard and rejoiced differ, as do YHWH and God [H4; G4]. Hearing and rejoicing are compatible responses.