Genesis 29 — Hebrew and Greek compared
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Same 21 Similar 7 Different 3 Divergent 4 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.
Jacob Arrives in Haran
29:1 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:1 Jacob went on his way to the land of the people of the east.
Greek · Saints priority
29:1 Then Jacob rose up and journeyed into the land of the East, to Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.
Greek adds Laban’s identity and family relationships [G29].
29:2 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:2 And he looked, and behold, a well was in the plain, and there were three flocks of sheep resting by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks, and a great stone was over the mouth of the well.
Greek · Saints priority
29:2 And he looked, and behold, a well was in the plain, and there were three flocks of sheep resting by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks, and a great stone was over the mouth of the well.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
29:3 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:3 And all the flocks would be gathered there, and they would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and then put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.
Greek · Saints priority
29:3 And all the flocks would be gathered there, and they would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and then put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
29:4 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:4 And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Haran.”
Greek · Saints priority
29:4 And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Haran.”
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
29:5 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:5 Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.”
Greek · Saints priority
29:5 Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.”
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
29:6 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:6 And he said to them, “Is he well?” And they said, “He is well; and behold, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep.”
Greek · Saints priority
29:6 He asked, “Is he well?” They said, “He is well.” And behold, Rachel his daughter was coming with the sheep.
Both give the report of Laban’s welfare and Rachel’s approach. Rahlfs–Hanhart has this short arrival notice; the longer description previously printed here belongs to 29:9. [G29]
29:7 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:7 He said, “There is still much of the day left; it is not time to gather the livestock. Water the sheep and take them out to pasture.”
Greek · Saints priority
29:7 He said, “There is still much of the day left; it is not time to gather the livestock. Water the sheep and take them out to pasture.”
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
29:8 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:8 But they said, “We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”
Greek · Saints priority
29:8 But they said, “We cannot, until all the shepherds are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”
Hebrew gathers the flocks; Greek gathers the shepherds [G29].
29:9 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s flock, for she was a shepherdess.
Greek · Saints priority
29:9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel, Laban’s daughter, came with her father’s sheep, for she tended her father’s sheep.
Greek explicitly names Laban and repeats her relationship to the flock [G29].
29:10 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, that Jacob drew near and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother.
Greek · Saints priority
29:10 When Jacob saw Rachel, daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob approached, rolled the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother.
Rahlfs–Hanhart includes the opening mention of Laban’s sheep. That clause is restored, and the earlier claimed omission is withdrawn. [G29]
29:11 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept aloud.
Greek · Saints priority
29:11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept aloud.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
29:12 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:12 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman and Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.
Greek · Saints priority
29:12 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman and Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.
Both brother terms are broader kinship language here: Jacob is Laban’s nephew, not his sibling [G29].
29:13 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him into his house. And he related to Laban all these words.
Greek · Saints priority
29:13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the name of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him into his house. And he related to Laban all these words.
Hebrew has news/report; Greek has the name of Jacob.
29:14 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:14 And Laban said to him, “You are of my bones and of my flesh.” And he stayed with him a full month.
Greek · Saints priority
29:14 And Laban said to him, “You are of my bones and of my flesh.” And he stayed with him a full month.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
29:15 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:15 Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you serve me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
Greek · Saints priority
29:15 Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, you shall not serve me for nothing. Tell me what your wages should be.”
The Hebrew question and Greek statement both reject unpaid service in the proposal [G29].
29:16 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Greek · Saints priority
29:16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
29:17 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:17 Leah’s eyes were tender, while Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.
Greek · Saints priority
29:17 Leah’s eyes were weak, while Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.
Hebrew tender is ambiguous; Greek weak is more specific. Neither warrants diagnosing Leah or describing her as unattractive [G29]. Rabbinic reception: Rashi explains Leah’s tender eyes through her weeping at the prospect of marrying Esau. This is an aggadic explanation, not a settled lexical definition [R29].
29:18 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:18 And Jacob loved Rachel, and he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
Greek · Saints priority
29:18 And Jacob loved Rachel, and he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
29:19 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:19 And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man; stay with me.”
Greek · Saints priority
29:19 And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man; stay with me.”
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
29:20 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they were before him as a few days, because of his love for her.
Greek · Saints priority
29:20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him like a few days because he loved her.
Both explain that love made the seven years seem like a few days. The complete clause is present in Rahlfs–Hanhart and is restored; the earlier Greek omission claim is withdrawn. [G29]
29:21 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
Greek · Saints priority
29:21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
29:22 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:22 So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast.
Greek · Saints priority
29:22 So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a wedding feast.
Greek explicitly names the wedding setting; Hebrew names the feast [G29].
29:23 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and Jacob went in to her.
Greek · Saints priority
29:23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and Jacob went in to her.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
29:24 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:24 And Laban gave his slave woman Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her slave woman.
Greek · Saints priority
29:24 And Laban gave his slave woman Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her slave woman.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
29:25 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:25 And it came to pass in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this that you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you defrauded me?”
Greek · Saints priority
29:25 And it came to pass in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this that you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you defrauded me?”
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
29:26 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:26 And Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.”
Greek · Saints priority
29:26 And Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the older.”
Firstborn/older differs in wording, with the same sister intended.
29:27 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:27 “Complete this one’s week, and we will give you the other also, in exchange for another seven years of service.”
Greek · Saints priority
29:27 “Complete this one’s week, and I will give you the other also, in exchange for another seven years of service.”
We will give/I will give differs. The week refers to the current marriage celebration, not another seven-year period [G29].
29:28 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:28 And Jacob did so; he fulfilled her week, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.
Greek · Saints priority
29:28 And Jacob did so; he fulfilled her week, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
29:29 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:29 And Laban gave his slave woman Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her slave woman.
Greek · Saints priority
29:29 And Laban gave his slave woman Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her slave woman.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
29:30 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah; and he served with him another seven years.
Greek · Saints priority
29:30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah; and he served with him another seven years.
The corresponding meaning and content agree.
Leah’s Sons
29:31 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:31 YHWH saw that Leah was unloved and opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
Greek · Saints priority
29:31 The Lord saw that Leah was unloved and opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
Rahlfs–Hanhart has Lord, without the draft’s additional God. Both texts use hated language, rendered unloved in the relational contrast with 29:30; neither source uses a milder verb here. [G29]
29:32 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:32 And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, saying, “Because YHWH saw my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.”
Greek · Saints priority
29:32 And Leah conceived and bore a son to Jacob, and she called his name Reuben, saying, “Because the Lord saw my humiliation; now therefore my husband will love me.”
Greek explicitly names Jacob; the affliction/humiliation expressions overlap [G29].
29:33 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:33 And she conceived again and bore a son, and she said, “Because YHWH heard that I am unloved, He has given me this one also.” So she called his name Simeon.
Greek · Saints priority
29:33 And she conceived again and bore a second son to Jacob, and she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am unloved, He has given me this one also.” So she called his name Simeon.
Greek includes second and to Jacob [G29]. Both repeat Leah’s experience of being unloved.
29:34 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:34 She conceived again and bore a son, saying, “Now my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore he was named Levi.
Greek · Saints priority
29:34 She conceived again and bore a son, saying, “Now my husband will be on my side, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore he was named Levi.
The Greek relation expression is rendered idiomatically; the Hebrew naming explanation evokes being joined [G29].
29:35 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
29:35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and she said, “Now this time I will praise YHWH.” Therefore she called his name Judah; and she ceased bearing.
Greek · Saints priority
29:35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and she said, “Now this time I will give thanks to the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah; and she ceased bearing.
Praise and giving thanks overlap in the naming explanation; ceasing to bear here is not a claim that Leah never bears again.
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Saints Translation · Companion comparison edition · working draft awaiting specialist review.