Numbers 33 — Hebrew and Greek compared
← Numbers 32 compared · Reading text of Numbers 33 · Numbers: all chapters · Numbers 34 compared →
Same 12 Similar 2 Different 32 Divergent 3 Disparate 7
Disparate in this chapter: 33:6, 33:7, 33:8, 33:36, 33:52, 33:53, 33:55
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.
Divine Command to Record
33:1 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:1 These are the stages of the Israelites, who came out of the land of Egypt by their companies under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
Greek · Saints priority
33:1 These are the stations of the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt with their force under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
Hebrew emphasizes stages of departure; Greek emphasizes stopping places.
Rabbinic reception: Rashi reads the itinerary as evidence of divine kindness, including periods of rest during the wandering. He also records a father-and-son journey parable in which remembered stopping places recall their shared experiences.
Source: Rashi, Numbers 33:1
33:2 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:2 Moses recorded their departures by their stages at YHWH’s command. These are their stages according to their departures.
Greek · Saints priority
33:2 Moses recorded their departures and their stations through the Lord’s word. These are the stations of their journey.
Greek explicitly coordinates departures and stations; Hebrew arranges departures by stages.
From Egypt to Mount Sinai
33:3 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:3 They set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the day after the Passover, the Israelites went out with a high hand in the sight of all Egypt,
Greek · Saints priority
33:3 They set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the day after the Passover, the Israelites went out with a high hand before all the Egyptians,
“With a high hand” conveys open, confident departure in both.
33:4 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:4 while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn whom YHWH had struck down among them. YHWH had also executed judgments against their gods.
Greek · Saints priority
33:4 while the Egyptians were burying all their dead whom the Lord had struck down, every firstborn in the land of Egypt. The Lord also exacted vengeance upon their gods.
Greek explicitly adds the land of Egypt and calls the action against the gods vengeance; Hebrew calls it judgments.
33:5 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:5 The Israelites set out from Rameses and camped at Succoth.
Greek · Saints priority
33:5 The Israelites set out from Rameses and camped at Succoth.
33:6 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:6 They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham, which is at the edge of the wilderness.
Greek · Saints priority
33:6 They set out from Succoth and camped at Bouthan, which is a part of the wilderness.
Greek reads Bouthan for Etham and describes a part of the wilderness rather than its edge.
33:7 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:7 They set out from Etham and turned back toward Pi-hahiroth, which is opposite Baal-zephon, and camped before Migdol.
Greek · Saints priority
33:7 They set out from Bouthan and camped at the mouth of Eiroth, which is opposite Baal-zephon, and camped opposite Migdol.
Greek replaces the turning back with a camping notice and retains Bouthan. It partly translates the next place-name as “mouth of Eiroth.”
33:8 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:8 They set out from before Hahiroth and crossed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness. They traveled three days through the wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.
Greek · Saints priority
33:8 They set out from opposite Eiroth and crossed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness. They themselves traveled three days through the wilderness and camped at Bitternesses.
Greek omits Etham as the wilderness’s name and translates Marah as Bitternesses. The crossing and three-day journey agree.
33:9 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:9 They set out from Marah and came to Elim. At Elim were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.
Greek · Saints priority
33:9 They set out from Bitternesses and came to Elim. At Elim were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there beside the water.
Greek translates Marah and adds “beside the water.” The numbers agree.
33:10 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:10 They set out from Elim and camped by the Sea of Reeds.
Greek · Saints priority
33:10 They set out from Elim and camped by the Red Sea.
Hebrew yam suph is rendered literally as Sea of Reeds; Greek explicitly names the Red Sea. The lexical difference alone does not identify separate bodies of water.
33:11 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:11 They set out from the Sea of Reeds and camped in the wilderness of Sin.
Greek · Saints priority
33:11 They set out from the Red Sea and camped in the wilderness of Sin.
The sea-name distinction continues.
33:12 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:12 They set out from the wilderness of Sin and camped at Dophkah.
Greek · Saints priority
33:12 They set out from the wilderness of Sin and camped at Raphaka.
The consonantal forms Dophkah and Raphaka differ.
33:13 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:13 They set out from Dophkah and camped at Alush.
Greek · Saints priority
33:13 They set out from Raphaka and camped at Alush.
The differing departure-name continues.
33:14 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:14 They set out from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.
Greek · Saints priority
33:14 They set out from Alush and camped at Rephidim, and there was no water there for the people to drink.
33:15 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:15 They set out from Rephidim and camped in the wilderness of Sinai.
Greek · Saints priority
33:15 They set out from Rephidim and camped in the wilderness of Sinai.
From Sinai through the Wilderness
33:16 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:16 They set out from the wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth-hattaavah.
Greek · Saints priority
33:16 They set out from the wilderness of Sinai and camped at Graves of Desire.
Greek translates the place-name’s meaning rather than transliterating it.
33:17 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:17 They set out from Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.
Greek · Saints priority
33:17 They set out from Graves of Desire and camped at Hazeroth.
The translated place-name continues.
33:18 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:18 They set out from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.
Greek · Saints priority
33:18 They set out from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.
Ordinary Greek transcription differences are normalized.
33:19 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:19 They set out from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez.
Greek · Saints priority
33:19 They set out from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez.
33:20 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:20 They set out from Rimmon-perez and camped at Libnah.
Greek · Saints priority
33:20 They set out from Rimmon-perez and camped at Lemonah.
Greek Lemōna differs from Hebrew Libnah.
33:21 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:21 They set out from Libnah and camped at Rissah.
Greek · Saints priority
33:21 They set out from Lemonah and camped at Dessah.
Both place-name forms differ in Greek.
33:22 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:22 They set out from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.
Greek · Saints priority
33:22 They set out from Dessah and camped at Makellath.
Greek preserves Dessah and Makellath rather than the Hebrew forms.
33:23 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:23 They set out from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.
Greek · Saints priority
33:23 They set out from Makellath and camped at Shaphar.
Greek has Makellath and does not explicitly identify Shaphar as a mountain.
33:24 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:24 They set out from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.
Greek · Saints priority
33:24 They set out from Shaphar and camped at Haradah.
Greek again lacks the explicit mountain designation.
33:25 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:25 They set out from Haradah and camped at Makheloth.
Greek · Saints priority
33:25 They set out from Haradah and camped at Makheloth.
33:26 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:26 They set out from Makheloth and camped at Tahath.
Greek · Saints priority
33:26 They set out from Makheloth and camped at Kataath.
Greek Kataath differs from Hebrew Tahath.
33:27 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:27 They set out from Tahath and camped at Terah.
Greek · Saints priority
33:27 They set out from Kataath and camped at Tarath.
The place-name forms differ.
33:28 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:28 They set out from Terah and camped at Mithkah.
Greek · Saints priority
33:28 They set out from Tarath and camped at Mithkah.
The differing departure-name continues.
33:29 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:29 They set out from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah.
Greek · Saints priority
33:29 They set out from Mithkah and camped at Zalmonah.
Greek Selmōna is also the name used at 33:41–42; Hebrew here has Hashmonah.
33:30 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:30 They set out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.
Greek · Saints priority
33:30 They set out from Zalmonah and camped at Moseroth.
The differing departure-name continues.
33:31 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:31 They set out from Moseroth and camped at Bene-jaakan.
Greek · Saints priority
33:31 They set out from Moseroth and camped at Banaia.
Greek Banaia does not reproduce the full Hebrew name Bene-jaakan.
33:32 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:32 They set out from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad.
Greek · Saints priority
33:32 They set out from Banaia and camped at Mount Gadgad.
Greek uses Banaia and explicitly interprets the next station as a mountain.
33:33 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:33 They set out from Hor-haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.
Greek · Saints priority
33:33 They set out from Mount Gadgad and camped at Jotbathah.
The explicit Greek mountain designation continues.
33:34 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:34 They set out from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.
Greek · Saints priority
33:34 They set out from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.
33:35 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:35 They set out from Abronah and camped at Ezion-geber.
Greek · Saints priority
33:35 They set out from Abronah and camped at Ezion-geber.
33:36 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:36 They set out from Ezion-geber and camped in the wilderness of Zin, that is, Kadesh.
Greek · Saints priority
33:36 They set out from Ezion-geber and camped in the wilderness of Sin. They set out from the wilderness of Sin and camped in the wilderness of Paran, that is, Kadesh.
Greek adds an entire departure and encampment in Paran, identifying Paran with Kadesh here. Hebrew directly identifies the wilderness of Zin with Kadesh. Greek Sin also represents Hebrew Zin in this passage.
From Kadesh to the Plains of Moab
33:37 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:37 They set out from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, at the edge of the land of Edom.
Greek · Saints priority
33:37 They set out from Kadesh and camped at Hor the mountain, near the land of Edom.
The descriptions of proximity differ modestly.
33:38 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:38 Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor at YHWH’s command and died there in the fortieth year after the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first day of the month.
Greek · Saints priority
33:38 Aaron the priest went up by the Lord’s command and died there in the fortieth year of the Israelites’ departure from the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first day of the month.
Greek omits the repeated name Mount Hor in this verse; the location is supplied by its context.
33:39 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:39 Aaron was one hundred twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.
Greek · Saints priority
33:39 Aaron was one hundred twenty-three years old when he died on Hor the mountain.
33:40 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:40 The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev in the land of Canaan, heard of the Israelites’ coming.
Greek · Saints priority
33:40 The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the land of Canaan, heard when the Israelites were entering.
Greek omits the Negev designation.
33:41 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:41 They set out from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.
Greek · Saints priority
33:41 They set out from Hor the mountain and camped at Zalmonah.
33:42 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:42 They set out from Zalmonah and camped at Punon.
Greek · Saints priority
33:42 They set out from Zalmonah and camped at Phino.
Greek Phinō differs from Hebrew Punon.
33:43 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:43 They set out from Punon and camped at Oboth.
Greek · Saints priority
33:43 They set out from Phino and camped at Oboth.
The differing departure-name continues.
33:44 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:44 They set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, on the border of Moab.
Greek · Saints priority
33:44 They set out from Oboth and camped at Gai on the other side, at the borders of Moab.
Greek has Gai and translates the crossing-related element; Hebrew retains Iye-abarim.
33:45 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:45 They set out from Iyim and camped at Dibon-gad.
Greek · Saints priority
33:45 They set out from Gai and camped at Dibon-gad.
Hebrew shortens its preceding place-name to Iyim; Greek retains Gai.
33:46 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:46 They set out from Dibon-gad and camped at Almon-diblathaim.
Greek · Saints priority
33:46 They set out from Dibon-gad and camped at Gelmon-diblathaim.
Greek has an initial g in Gelmon, absent from the Hebrew name.
33:47 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:47 They set out from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.
Greek · Saints priority
33:47 They set out from Gelmon-diblathaim and camped at the mountains of Abarim, opposite Nebo.
The differing departure-name continues.
33:48 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:48 They set out from the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan opposite Jericho.
Greek · Saints priority
33:48 They set out from the mountains of Abarim and camped on the western side of Moab, by the Jordan opposite Jericho.
Greek interprets the location directionally as Moab’s west; Hebrew names its plains.
33:49 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:49 They camped by the Jordan from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim, on the plains of Moab.
Greek · Saints priority
33:49 They camped beside the Jordan from Aisimoth to Belshittim, on the western side of Moab.
Greek has shortened place-name forms and again a western location for Hebrew’s plains.
Divine Orders for the Conquest of Canaan
33:50 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:50 YHWH spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan opposite Jericho, saying,
Greek · Saints priority
33:50 The Lord spoke to Moses on the western side of Moab, beside the Jordan opposite Jericho, saying,
The plains/west distinction continues.
33:51 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:51 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
Greek · Saints priority
33:51 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: You are crossing the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
Hebrew introduces the following commands with “when”; Greek directly states the crossing.
33:52 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:52 you shall dispossess all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their figured images, destroy all their cast images, and demolish all their high places.
Greek · Saints priority
33:52 and you shall destroy all who inhabit the land before you, remove their lookout places, destroy all their cast idols, and remove all their pillars.
Greek says destroy the inhabitants rather than dispossess them, and has lookout places and pillars where Hebrew has figured images and high places. The commands differ in both human and cultic objects.
33:53 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:53 You shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.
Greek · Saints priority
33:53 You shall destroy all who inhabit the land and settle in it, for I have given you their land as an allotment.
Greek explicitly repeats destruction of all inhabitants where Hebrew commands possession of the land.
33:54 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:54 You shall inherit the land by lot according to your clans. Give a larger inheritance to the larger group and a smaller inheritance to the smaller group. Wherever the lot falls for anyone shall be his. You shall inherit according to your ancestral tribes.
Greek · Saints priority
33:54 You shall inherit their land by lot according to your tribes. Increase the possession of the larger groups and decrease that of the smaller groups. Wherever his name comes out shall be his. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your ancestral houses.
Greek has tribes for Hebrew clans in the first clause, and the drawing of a name where Hebrew explicitly describes the lot falling.
33:55 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:55 But if you do not dispossess the inhabitants of the land from before you, those whom you leave will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will trouble you in the land where you settle.
Greek · Saints priority
33:55 But if you do not destroy the inhabitants of the land from before you, those whom you leave will become splinters in your eyes and missiles in your sides, and they will act as enemies in the land where you settle.
The dispossess/destroy distinction continues; Greek also changes the side-piercing image from thorns to missiles.
33:56 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
33:56 Then I will do to you what I intended to do to them.”
Greek · Saints priority
33:56 Then I will do to you what I had determined to do to them.”
Both turn the threatened judgment toward Israel if the instruction is not fulfilled.
← Numbers 32 compared · Reading text of Numbers 33 · Numbers: all chapters · Numbers 34 compared →
Saints Translation · Companion comparison edition · working draft awaiting specialist review.