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Genesis 30 — Hebrew and Greek compared

Saints Translation: Genesis 24–50 [V4]

Same 18 Similar 6 Different 11 Divergent 6 Disparate 2

Disparate in this chapter: 30:8, 30:42

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 30

Rachel’s Envy

Verse 30:1 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:1 Now Rachel, seeing that she bore no children to Jacob, envied her sister and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I shall die.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:1 Now Rachel, seeing that she bore no children to Jacob, envied her sister and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I shall die.”

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 30:2 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:2 And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has deprived you of the fruit of the womb?”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:2 And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has deprived you of the fruit of the womb?”

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 30:3 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:3 She said, “Here is my slave woman Bilhah. Go in to her so she may bear on my knees, and I too may be built up through her.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:3 Rachel said to Jacob, “Here is my slave woman Bilhah. Go in to her so she may bear on my knees, and I too may have children through her.”

Classification & Notes

Similar — Hebrew uses the household-building image; Greek describes having children. The knees image is retained without asserting a specific legal ritual [G30].

Verse 30:4 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:4 So she gave him her slave woman Bilhah to be his wife, and Jacob went in to her.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:4 So she gave him her slave woman Bilhah to be his wife, and Jacob went in to her.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 30:5 Divergent

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:5 Bilhah, Rachel’s slave woman, conceived and bore Jacob a son.

Classification & Notes

Divergent — Greek identifies Bilhah as Rachel’s slave woman [G30].

Verse 30:6 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:6 Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; He has heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she named him Dan.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:6 Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; He has heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she named him Dan.

Classification & Notes

Same — The judging verb is favorable in Rachel’s explanation and is rendered vindicated; this is her reported interpretation.

Verse 30:7 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:7 And Rachel’s slave woman Bilhah conceived again and bore a second son to Jacob.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:7 And Rachel’s slave woman Bilhah conceived again and bore a second son to Jacob.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 30:8 Disparate

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:8 Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and prevailed.” She named him Naphtali.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:8 Rachel said, “God has helped me; I have contended with my sister and prevailed.” She named him Naphtali.

Classification & Notes

Disparate — Hebrew wrestlings of God can express exceptional intensity. Greek has God’s help and a difficult interaction verb, rendered contended provisionally; no physical fight is required [H30; G30]. The attribution of help to God changes the expressed relationship in Rachel’s explanation.

Verse 30:9 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:9 Now when Leah saw that she had ceased bearing, she took her slave woman Zilpah and gave her to Jacob to be his wife.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:9 Now when Leah saw that she had ceased bearing, she took her slave woman Zilpah and gave her to Jacob to be his wife.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 30:10 Divergent

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:10 Zilpah, Leah’s slave woman, bore Jacob a son.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:10 Jacob went in to her, and Zilpah, Leah’s slave woman, conceived and bore Jacob a son.

Classification & Notes

Divergent — Greek includes Jacob going in to Zilpah and her conception [G30].

Verse 30:11 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:11 Leah said, “Good fortune!” She named him Gad.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:11 Leah said, “Good fortune!” She named him Gad.

Classification & Notes

Same — Good fortune is a contextual Hebrew reading that agrees with Greek. V1’s a troop comes is not required; Hebrew written/read forms and the name-play need final lexical review [H30; G30].

Verse 30:12 Divergent

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:12 And Zilpah, Leah’s slave woman, bore a second son to Jacob.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:12 Zilpah, Leah’s slave woman, conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.

Classification & Notes

Divergent — Greek includes another conception [G30].

Verse 30:13 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:13 Leah said, “Happy am I! Women will call me happy.” She named him Asher.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:13 Leah said, “Blessed am I! Women will call me blessed.” She named him Asher.

Classification & Notes

Similar — Happy and blessed overlap in this naming explanation. Rahlfs–Hanhart does not include all before women; that addition is removed. The phrase is not made into a quotation of a later Christian text. [G30]

Leah’s Reward

Verse 30:14 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:14 Now Reuben went out in the days of the wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field, and he brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:14 Now Reuben went out in the days of the wheat harvest and found mandrake apples in the field, and he brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

Classification & Notes

Similar — Greek specifies mandrake fruit. The narrative gives no medical guarantee of fertility.

Verse 30:15 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:15 But Leah said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken my husband? Would you take my son’s mandrakes also?” And Rachel said, “Therefore he shall sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:15 But Leah said to her, “Is it not enough for you that you have taken my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes also?” Rachel said, “Not so; let him sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”

Classification & Notes

Different — Greek begins Rachel’s reply Not so; Hebrew has Therefore. Both continue with the same exchange agreement. [G30]

Verse 30:16 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:16 And when Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he lay with her that night.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:16 And when Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me today, for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he lay with her that night.

Classification & Notes

Similar — Greek includes today and reads my son’s mandrakes, correcting V1’s Greek-English your son [G30].

Verse 30:17 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:17 And God heard Leah, and she conceived and bore a fifth son to Jacob.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:17 And God heard Leah, and she conceived and bore a fifth son to Jacob.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 30:18 Divergent

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:18 Then Leah said, “God has given me my reward, because I gave my slave woman to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:18 Then Leah said, “God has given me my reward, because I gave my slave woman to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar, which means Reward.

Classification & Notes

Divergent — The consulted Greek includes the name’s interpretation, Reward [G30]. Leah’s explanation remains attributed to her.

Verse 30:19 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:19 And Leah conceived again and bore a sixth son to Jacob.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:19 And Leah conceived again and bore a sixth son to Jacob.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 30:20 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:20 Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good gift. Now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” She named him Zebulun.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:20 Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good gift; in the present time my husband will choose me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun.

Classification & Notes

Different — The difficult Hebrew verb is rendered honor provisionally, with dwell with as an older alternative. Greek has choose [H30; G30].

Verse 30:21 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:21 Afterward she bore a daughter, and she called her name Dinah.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:21 Afterward she bore a daughter and named her Dinah.

Classification & Notes

Same — Rahlfs–Hanhart ends with Dinah’s naming and does not add a cessation of childbearing. The earlier addition and Divergent classification are removed. [G30]

Verse 30:22 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God heard her and opened her womb.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God heard her and opened her womb.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 30:23 Divergent

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:23 And she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “God has taken away my reproach.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:23 And she conceived and bore a son to Jacob, and she said, “God has taken away my reproach.”

Classification & Notes

Divergent — Greek explicitly names Jacob [G30].

Verse 30:24 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:24 So she called his name Joseph, saying, “May YHWH add to me another son.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:24 So she called his name Joseph, saying, “May God add to me another son.”

Classification & Notes

Different — The divine designation is YHWH in Hebrew and God in Greek [G30].

Jacob’s New Wage

Verse 30:25 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my own country.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my own country.”

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 30:26 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:26 “Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me depart; for you know the service which I have rendered you.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:26 “Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me depart; for you know the service which I have rendered you.”

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 30:27 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:27 Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight— I have learned by divination that YHWH has blessed me because of you.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:27 Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight— I would divine by signs, for God has blessed me at your arrival.”

Classification & Notes

Different — Greek’s divination expression and its conditional force are difficult; this close rendering remains provisional. The text reports Laban’s words without endorsing divination [G30].

Verse 30:28 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:28 He said, “Name your wages, and I will pay them.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:28 He said, “Name your wages, and I will pay them.”

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 30:29 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:29 But Jacob said to him, “You know how I have served you, and how your cattle have fared with me.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:29 But Jacob said to him, “You know how I have served you, and how your livestock have fared with me.”

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 30:30 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:30 “For it was little that you had before I came, and it has increased to an abundance; and YHWH blessed you at my entering. Now therefore, when shall I also provide for my own house?”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:30 “For it was little that you had before I came, and it has increased to an abundance; and the Lord blessed you at my entering. Now therefore, when shall I also provide for my own house?”

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 30:31 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:31 And Laban said, “What shall I give you?” And Jacob said, “You shall give me nothing at all. If you will do this thing for me, I will again tend and guard your flock:”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:31 And Laban said, “What shall I give you?” And Jacob said, “You shall give me nothing at all. If you will do this thing for me, I will again tend and guard your flock:”

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 30:32 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:32 “I will pass through all your flock today, removing every speckled or spotted animal, every dark sheep, and every spotted or speckled goat. These shall be my wages.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:32 “Let all your sheep pass through today, and separate from them every gray animal among the lambs and every white-marked and spotted animal among the goats. These shall be my wages.”

Classification & Notes

Different — The instructions and pattern terms differ. Greek phaios is rendered gray, dialeukos white-marked, and rhantos spotted, consistently within this description. Their exact ancient color ranges remain open; the Hebrew patterns are not substituted for them. [H30; G30]

Verse 30:33 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:33 “My righteousness will answer for me in time to come, when you inspect my wages. Every goat with me that is not speckled or spotted, and every sheep that is not dark, shall be counted stolen.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:33 “My righteousness will answer for me tomorrow, for my wages are before you. Every goat with me that is not spotted or white-marked, and every lamb that is not gray, shall be counted stolen.”

Classification & Notes

Different — The timing and inspection expressions differ, as do the color terms. Righteousness here concerns honest dealing, not a new theory of salvation [G30].

Verse 30:34 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:34 And Laban said, “Let it be according to your word.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:34 And Laban said, “Let it be according to your word.”

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 30:35 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:35 So that day Laban separated the striped and spotted male goats, and all the speckled and spotted female goats—everything that had white on it—and all the black lambs, and handed them into the hands of his sons.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:35 That day he separated the spotted and white-marked male goats, all the spotted and white-marked female goats, everything with white on it, and every gray animal among the lambs, and handed them over to his sons.

Classification & Notes

Different — Hebrew’s striped, speckled and spotted patterns are not identical to Greek’s spotted and white-marked terms; Hebrew dark contrasts with Greek gray. The subject who separates and hands over the animals is unexpressed in both texts, with Laban understood from context. [G30]

Verse 30:36 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:36 And he set a three days’ journey between himself and Jacob; and Jacob pastured the rest of Laban’s flocks.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:36 He put a three-day journey between them and Jacob, and Jacob tended Laban’s remaining sheep.

Classification & Notes

Similar — Hebrew has between him and Jacob; Greek between them and Jacob [G30].

Verse 30:37 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:37 Then Jacob took green rods of poplar, almond, and plane trees, and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the rods.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:37 Jacob took fresh rods of styrax, walnut, and plane tree. He peeled white strips in them, stripping away the green, so the exposed white made a variegated pattern on the rods.

Classification & Notes

Different — The tree identifications differ; Greek karyinos is rendered walnut, with the precise ancient species still open. Greek also elaborates the peeling [G30].

Verse 30:38 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:38 He set the peeled rods in the channels of the watering troughs before the flock, where the animals came to drink. They mated when they came to drink.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:38 He set the rods he had peeled in the channels of the watering troughs, so that, when the sheep came to drink before the rods—when they came to drink—

Classification & Notes

Similar — The Greek construction emphasizes the intended result. This narrative account is not a modern claim about genetic mechanisms [G30].

Verse 30:39 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:39 So the flocks bred before the rods, and the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted young.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:39 the sheep might conceive facing the rods. The sheep bore young that were white-marked, variegated, and ash-gray with spots.

Classification & Notes

Different — Read the Greek purpose clause with 30:38; Rahlfs–Hanhart places its final verb in this verse. The complete conception clause is retained, followed by the distinct Greek pattern list. This narrative is not a modern explanation of genetics. [G30]

Verse 30:40 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:40 Jacob separated the lambs and turned the flock toward the striped and all the dark animals in Laban’s flock. He kept his own droves apart and did not put them with Laban’s flock.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:40 Jacob separated the lambs and set before the sheep a white-marked ram and every variegated animal among the lambs. He kept his own flocks apart and did not mix them with Laban’s sheep.

Classification & Notes

Different — The consulted Greek names a ram and describes different visual markers; V1 had harmonized these details [G30].

Verse 30:41 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:41 Whenever the stronger animals mated, Jacob placed the rods before their eyes in the troughs, so they would mate among the rods.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:41 When the sheep were mating and conceiving, Jacob placed the rods before them in the troughs, so they would mate facing the rods.

Classification & Notes

Different — Hebrew distinguishes stronger animals. The consulted Greek does not expressly say strong or early here [G30].

Verse 30:42 Disparate

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:42 When the animals were weak, he did not put the rods there. So the weaker animals belonged to Laban, and the stronger to Jacob.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:42 When the sheep gave birth, he did not put the rods there. The unmarked animals belonged to Laban, and the marked ones to Jacob.

Classification & Notes

Disparate — Hebrew contrasts weaker and stronger animals, whereas Greek contrasts unmarked and marked animals and refers to giving birth in the opening clause. The resulting division of Laban’s and Jacob’s flocks is described by materially different criteria; no contradiction is required for this classification. [G30]

Verse 30:43 Divergent

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

30:43 The man became exceedingly prosperous and had large flocks, female and male slaves, camels and donkeys.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

30:43 The man became very, very wealthy and had much livestock, oxen, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys.

Classification & Notes

Divergent — Greek explicitly includes oxen; that item is restored from the consulted reading [G30].