Genesis 26 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 26:32
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 26
Isaac’s Covenant Renewal
Verse 26:1 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:1 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech, the king of the Philistines, in Gerar.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:1 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech, the king of the Philistines, in Gerar.
Classification & Notes
Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.
Verse 26:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:2 Then YHWH appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; instead, dwell in the land that I shall tell you of.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:2 Then the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; instead, dwell in the land that I shall tell you of.”
Classification & Notes
Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.
Verse 26:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:3 “Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and to your seed I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:3 “Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and to your seed I will give all this land, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham.”
Classification & Notes
Similar — Hebrew plural lands and Greek singular land do not by themselves establish different territorial promises.
Verse 26:4 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:4 “And I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and I will give to your seed all these lands; and all the nations of the earth shall bless themselves in your seed.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:4 “And I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and I will give to your seed all this land; and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in your seed.”
Classification & Notes
Similar — The Hebrew blessing form can be understood reflexively or passively; Greek is passive. The chosen distinction is not an incompatible promise.
Verse 26:5 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:5 “Because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:5 “Because Abraham your father obeyed My voice and watched over My charges, My commandments, My ordinances, and My statutes.”
Classification & Notes
Divergent — Greek names Abraham as your father and uses a corresponding list of instructions [G26].
Isaac’s Deception in Gerar
Verse 26:6 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:6 So Isaac dwelt in Gerar.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:6 So Isaac dwelt in Gerar.
Classification & Notes
Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.
Verse 26:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:7 And when the men of the place questioned him concerning his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he feared to say, “She is my wife,” thinking, “Lest the men of the place should kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:7 The men of the place questioned him concerning Rebekah, his wife, and he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” lest the men of the place kill him because of Rebekah, for she was beautiful in appearance.
Classification & Notes
Similar — Greek names Rebekah in the opening clause [G26].
Verse 26:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:8 And it came to pass, when he had remained there a long time, that Abimelech, the king of the Philistines, leaned out to look through a window, and he saw Isaac playing with Rebekah, his wife.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:8 And it came to pass, when he had remained there a long time, that Abimelech, the king of Gerar, leaned out to look through a window, and he saw Isaac playing with Rebekah, his wife.
Classification & Notes
Different — The royal titles differ; rule over Gerar and the Philistines is compatible.
Verse 26:9 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:9 Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Is she then truly your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” And Isaac said to him, “Because I thought, ‘Lest I die on her account.’”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:9 Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “So she is indeed your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” And Isaac said to him, “Because I thought, ‘Lest I die on her account.’”
Classification & Notes
Similar — Greek begins with an emphatic statement identifying the wife, followed by the question about Isaac’s claim.
Verse 26:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:10 Abimelech said, “What have you done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:10 Abimelech said, “What have you done to us? One of my kin might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought an unwitting offense upon us.”
Classification & Notes
Different — People/kin and guilt/unwitting offense differ. Greek agnoia is contextualized without claiming a separate legal code [G26].
Verse 26:11 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:11 So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, “Whoever touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:11 So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, “Whoever touches this man or his wife shall be liable to death.”
Classification & Notes
Similar — Both threaten death; Greek expresses liability to death rather than the Hebrew emphatic execution formula.
The Wells of Contention
Verse 26:12 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and he reaped in that same year a hundredfold; and YHWH blessed him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and he reaped in that same year a hundredfold of barley; and the Lord blessed him.
Classification & Notes
Divergent — Greek explicitly identifies barley [G26].
Verse 26:13 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:13 The man became prosperous and continued to prosper until he was very great.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:13 And the man was exalted, and advancing he increased until he became very great.
Classification & Notes
Similar — The two expressions describe increasing prosperity and standing.
Verse 26:14 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:14 He had flocks, herds, and a large household workforce, and the Philistines envied him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:14 For he possessed flocks of sheep, and herds of cattle, and many tilled lands; and the Philistines envied him.
Classification & Notes
Different — Hebrew’s service/work expression is rendered household workforce; Greek explicitly names cultivated lands [G26]. The Hebrew scope remains a lexical review point.
Verse 26:15 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:15 And all the wells which the servants of his father had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped them and filled them with earth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:15 And all the wells which the servants of his father had dug in the time of his father, the Philistines stopped them and filled them with earth.
Classification & Notes
Divergent — Hebrew names Abraham; the consulted Greek does not in this verse [G26].
Verse 26:16 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Depart from us, for you have become much mightier than we.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Depart from us, for you have become much mightier than we.”
Classification & Notes
Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.
Verse 26:17 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:17 So Isaac departed from there, and he camped in the valley of Gerar and dwelt there.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:17 So Isaac departed from there, and he camped in the valley of Gerar and dwelt there.
Classification & Notes
Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.
Verse 26:18 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:18 Isaac dug again the water wells that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham’s death. He gave them the names his father had given them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:18 Isaac dug again the water wells that the servants of Abraham his father had dug, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham his father died. He gave them the names Abraham his father had given them.
Classification & Notes
Divergent — Greek explicitly identifies the diggers as Abraham’s servants and repeats his name [G26].
Verse 26:19 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:19 And Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and they found there a well of living water.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:19 And Isaac’s servants dug in the valley of Gerar, and they found there a well of living water.
Classification & Notes
Divergent — Greek includes Gerar. Living water here describes fresh, flowing water [G26].
Verse 26:20 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:20 The shepherds of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s shepherds, saying, “The water is ours.” He named the well Esek, because they contended with him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:20 The shepherds of Gerar fought with Isaac’s shepherds, saying the water was theirs. He named that well Injustice, because they wronged him.
Classification & Notes
Different — The name and explanation use contention in Hebrew and injustice in Greek. Both have a singular naming subject [G26].
Verse 26:21 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:21 They dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also, so he named it Sitnah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:21 Isaac moved on from there and dug another well. They disputed that one also, so he named it Enmity.
Classification & Notes
Divergent — Greek explicitly describes Isaac’s departure; Sitnah and Enmity are related name and translation [G26].
Verse 26:22 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now YHWH has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. He named it Broad Space, saying, “Now the Lord has made room for us and increased us in the land.”
Classification & Notes
Different — The name is interpreted in Greek; Hebrew will be fruitful and Greek has increased differ in verbal perspective [G26].
Verse 26:23 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:23 He went up from there to Beersheba.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:23 He went up from there to the Well of the Oath.
Classification & Notes
Similar — The proper name and descriptive Greek name identify the corresponding destination.
Verse 26:24 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:24 And YHWH appeared to him that night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father; fear not, for I am with you, and I will bless you and multiply your seed for the sake of Abraham My servant.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:24 And the Lord appeared to him that night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father; fear not, for I am with you, and I have blessed you and will multiply your seed for the sake of Abraham your father.”
Classification & Notes
Different — Hebrew promises I will bless you and concludes Abraham My servant; Greek says I have blessed you and Abraham your father. Both the tense and designation are retained. [G26]
Verse 26:25 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:25 He built an altar there, called on the name of YHWH, and pitched his tent there. Isaac’s servants dug a well there.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:25 He built an altar there, called on the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there. Isaac’s servants dug a well there.
Classification & Notes
Same — The unsupported valley of Gerar ending in V1’s Greek-English is removed; the consulted Greek ends with a well [G26].
The Treaty with Abimelech
Verse 26:26 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:26 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar, along with Ahuzzath his companion and Phicol the commander of his army.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:26 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar, along with Ahuzzath his groomsman and Phicol the commander of his army.
Classification & Notes
Different — Greek calls Ahuzzath a groomsman; Hebrew companion does not specify that role [G26].
Verse 26:27 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:27 And Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:27 And Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?”
Classification & Notes
Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.
Verse 26:28 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:28 And they said, “We have clearly seen that YHWH is with you, and we said, ‘Let there be an oath between us and you, and let us make a covenant with you,’”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:28 And they said, “We have clearly seen that the Lord is with you, and we said, ‘Let there be an oath between us and you, and let us make a covenant with you,’”
Classification & Notes
Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.
Verse 26:29 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:29 “that you will do no wrong to us, just as we have not touched you, and as we have treated you well and sent you away in peace; and now you are blessed by YHWH.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:29 “that you will do no wrong to us, just as we have not loathed you, and as we have treated you well and sent you away in peace; and now you are blessed by the Lord.”
Classification & Notes
Different — Touch/loathe differs. These are the delegation’s claims, not the narrator’s endorsement of their account.
Verse 26:30 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:30 So he made a banquet for them, and they ate and drank.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:30 So he made a banquet for them, and they ate and drank.
Classification & Notes
Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.
Verse 26:31 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:31 And they arose early in the morning and swore an oath to one another; then Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:31 And they arose early in the morning and swore an oath to one another; then Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in safety.
Classification & Notes
Similar — Peace and safety correspond in this farewell setting.
Verse 26:32 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:32 And it came to pass on that same day, that Isaac’s servants came and reported to him concerning the well which they had dug, and they said to him, “We found water.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:32 That same day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well they had dug, saying, “We did not find water.”
Classification & Notes
Disparate — Hebrew reports We found water; Rahlfs–Hanhart prints We did not find water. The negation changes the reported outcome and is retained. This reading has now been checked in the publisher’s Rahlfs–Hanhart main text; it is not a claim that all Greek witnesses agree. [H26; G26]
Verse 26:33 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:33 He named it Shibah; therefore the city is called Beersheba to this day.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:33 He named it Oath; therefore the city’s name is Well of the Oath to this day.
Classification & Notes
Similar — The naming explanation is preserved through proper names in Hebrew and translated names in Greek.
Verse 26:34 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:34 Now when Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:34 When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith, daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, daughter of Elon the Hivite.
Classification & Notes
Different — The consulted Greek calls Elon a Hivite, not a Hittite as V1 had [G26].
Verse 26:35 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
26:35 They were a bitterness of spirit to Isaac and Rebekah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
26:35 And they were continually quarreling with Isaac and Rebekah.
Classification & Notes
Different — Hebrew describes grief; Greek describes quarreling. The descriptions are compatible.