
Genesis 25 — Hebrew and Greek compared
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Same 13 Similar 11 Different 7 Divergent 3 Disparate 0
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.
Abraham’s Descendants
25:1 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:1 Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.
Greek · Saints priority
25:1 Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
25:2 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:2 And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
Greek · Saints priority
25:2 And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
25:3 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:3 Jokshan begat Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.
Greek · Saints priority
25:3 Jokshan begat Sheba, Teman, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Raguel, Nabdeel, Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.
Teman, Raguel, and Nabdeel are restored to the Greek genealogy from the consulted reading; V1 omitted them [G25].
25:4 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:4 And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
Greek · Saints priority
25:4 And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Elraga. All these were the sons of Keturah.
Rahlfs–Hanhart prints Elraga as the final name, corresponding to Hebrew Eldaah. Elraga replaces the earlier draft’s Thergama; recognizable forms elsewhere are normalized to familiar English names without treating every spelling difference as a different person. [G25]
25:5 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:5 Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac.
Greek · Saints priority
25:5 Abraham gave all his belongings to Isaac his son.
Greek explicitly calls Isaac his son [G25].
25:6 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:6 But to the sons of his concubines, Abraham gave gifts while he was still living, and he sent them away from his son Isaac eastward, to the land of the East.
Greek · Saints priority
25:6 But to the sons of his concubines, Abraham gave gifts while he was still living, and he sent them away from his son Isaac eastward, to the land of the East.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
25:7 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:7 The years of Abraham’s life were one hundred and seventy-five.
Greek · Saints priority
25:7 The years of Abraham’s life were one hundred and seventy-five.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
25:8 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:8 Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, old and satisfied, and was gathered to his people.
Greek · Saints priority
25:8 Abraham’s strength failed, and he died at a good old age, old and full of days, and was added to his people.
Both are death and gathering formulas. The consulted Greek has people, not a claim of a different ethnic destiny [G25].
25:9 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is opposite Mamre;
Greek · Saints priority
25:9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the Double Cave, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is opposite Mamre;
Greek renders the cave designation as double; the same burial site is intended. Zohar consistently represents Greek Saar, Ephron’s father here and at 23:8.
25:10 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:10 the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried, along with Sarah his wife.
Greek · Saints priority
25:10 the field and the cave which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife.
Greek explicitly includes the cave [G25].
25:11 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by Beer-lahai-roi.
Greek · Saints priority
25:11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the Well of the Vision.
The Hebrew proper name and Greek descriptive well name continue from 24:62.
Ishmael’s Descendants
25:12 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:12 These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s slave woman, bore to Abraham.
Greek · Saints priority
25:12 These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar, Sarah’s slave woman, bore to Abraham.
The consulted Greek lacks the Egyptian designation present in Hebrew and V1’s Greek-English [G25].
25:13 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
Greek · Saints priority
25:13 These are the names of Ishmael’s sons, by the names of their generations: Ishmael’s firstborn Nebaioth, then Kedar, Nabdeel, and Mibsam,
The Greek name corresponding to Adbeel is Nabdeel in the consulted reading [G25]. Other recognizable name forms are normalized.
25:14 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa,
Greek · Saints priority
25:14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa,
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
25:15 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.
Greek · Saints priority
25:15 Choddad, Teman, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.
Rahlfs–Hanhart prints Choddad and Teman, corresponding to Hebrew Hadad and Tema. Choddad replaces the earlier draft’s Choddan. These name-form differences do not by themselves establish different people. [G25]
25:16 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:16 These are Ishmael’s sons and their names by their settlements and encampments: twelve princes according to their peoples.
Greek · Saints priority
25:16 These are Ishmael’s sons and their names by their tents and dwellings: twelve rulers according to their nations.
The settlement terms differ; neither expression by itself establishes fortified cities or nomadic legal status.
25:17 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:17 Ishmael lived one hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people.
Greek · Saints priority
25:17 Ishmael lived one hundred and thirty-seven years. His strength failed, and he died and was added to his family.
Corresponding death formulas; the gathering expressions do not warrant opposing afterlife claims.
25:18 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:18 They settled from Havilah to Shur, opposite Egypt as one goes toward Assyria. He settled opposite all his brothers.
Greek · Saints priority
25:18 He settled from Havilah to Shur, opposite Egypt as one goes toward the Assyrians. He lived opposite all his brothers.
Hebrew changes from plural they to singular he. Its final fell expression is difficult and is provisionally rendered settled; Greek explicitly uses dwelt [G25].
Generation of Isaac
25:19 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:19 These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham begat Isaac.
Greek · Saints priority
25:19 These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham begat Isaac.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
25:20 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and sister of Laban the Aramean, as his wife.
Greek · Saints priority
25:20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian from Mesopotamia and sister of Laban the Syrian, as his wife.
Aramean/Syrian and Paddan-aram/Mesopotamia are corresponding historical designations; the Greek regional phrase follows [G25].
25:21 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:21 Isaac prayed to YHWH on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. YHWH answered him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Greek · Saints priority
25:21 Isaac prayed to the Lord concerning Rebekah his wife, because she was barren. God heard him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Greek names Rebekah in the opening clause and uses God in the response clause [G25].
25:22 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:22 The children struggled within her, and she said, “If this is so, why am I like this?” She went to inquire of YHWH.
Greek · Saints priority
25:22 The children leaped within her, and she said, “If this is to happen to me, why is this happening?” She went to inquire of the Lord.
Struggled/leaped differs in imagery; the Hebrew question is elliptical. No prenatal moral judgment is inserted into the translation.
25:23 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:23 YHWH said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples will be separated from within you. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
Greek · Saints priority
25:23 The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples will be separated from within you. One people will surpass the other, and the greater will serve the lesser.”
The Greek comparison can express age as well as rank; it does not contradict older/younger. Saints: Paul quotes the final clause in Romans 9:12 within his argument about election [S25].
25:24 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:24 And when her days to give birth were fulfilled, behold, twins were in her womb.
Greek · Saints priority
25:24 And when her days to give birth were fulfilled, behold, twins were in her womb.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
25:25 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:25 The first came out red, all over like a hairy cloak, and they named him Esau.
Greek · Saints priority
25:25 The firstborn son came out red, all over like a hairy hide, and he was named Esau.
Cloak/hide differs in image. Greek has an unspecified singular naming subject; the passive avoids inventing the mother as the subject [G25].
25:26 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:26 Afterward his brother came out, his hand grasping Esau’s heel, and he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.
Greek · Saints priority
25:26 Afterward his brother came out, his hand grasping Esau’s heel, and he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah bore them.
Greek explicitly names Rebekah as the mother at the close [G25].
Esau Sells His Birthright
25:27 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:27 The boys grew up. Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.
Greek · Saints priority
25:27 The boys grew up. Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the countryside, while Jacob was an unfeigned man, dwelling in a house.
Tents/house differs; Hebrew tam and Greek aplastos admit broader senses than quiet/unfeigned. Neither is expanded into a declaration of sinlessness [G25].
25:28 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:28 And Isaac loved Esau, because his hunting was food for him; but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Greek · Saints priority
25:28 And Isaac loved Esau, because his hunting was food for him; but Rebekah loved Jacob.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
25:29 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:29 Jacob cooked a stew, and Esau came in from the field exhausted.
Greek · Saints priority
25:29 Jacob cooked a stew, and Esau came in from the field exhausted.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
25:30 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:30 Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me gulp down some of that red stuff, that red stuff, for I am exhausted.” Therefore he was named Edom.
Greek · Saints priority
25:30 Esau said to Jacob, “Let me taste some of this red stew, for I am exhausted.” Therefore he was named Edom.
Hebrew repeats red emphatically; Greek names the stew. Edom is associated here with red; the explanation stays in the note.
25:31 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:31 But Jacob said to him: “Sell me your birthright today.”
Greek · Saints priority
25:31 But Jacob said to him: “Sell me your birthright today.”
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
25:32 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:32 And Esau said: “Behold, I am going to die; what good then is this birthright to me?”
Greek · Saints priority
25:32 And Esau said: “Behold, I am going to die; what good then is this birthright to me?”
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
25:33 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:33 And Jacob said to him: “Swear to me today.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
Greek · Saints priority
25:33 And Jacob said to him: “Swear to me today.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
25:34 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
25:34 Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, rose, and went away. So Esau despised his birthright.
Greek · Saints priority
25:34 Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, rose, and went away. So Esau despised his birthright.
Both give the narrator’s negative assessment. Saints: Hebrews 12:16–17 uses Esau’s sale as a warning; this is later reception [S26].
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Saints Translation · Companion comparison edition · working draft awaiting specialist review.