Numbers 8 — Hebrew and Greek compared
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Same 8 Similar 4 Different 7 Divergent 0 Disparate 7
Disparate in this chapter: 8:8, 8:11, 8:13, 8:15, 8:19, 8:21, 8:26
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.
The Arrangement of the Golden Lampstand
8:1 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying:
Greek · Saints priority
8:1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
8:2 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:2 Speak to Aaron and say to him: When you raise the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light toward the front of the lampstand.
Greek · Saints priority
8:2 Speak to Aaron and say to him: When you set the lamps in place, the seven lamps shall shine from one side toward the front of the lampstand.
Raise / set in place, with Greek specifying one side. Hebrew’s raising idiom can refer to lighting the lamps.
Rabbinic reception: Rashi links this lamp instruction to the dedication offerings: Aaron’s distress at not participating is answered by the honor of tending the lamps.
Source: Rashi, Numbers 8:2
8:3 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:3 Aaron did so. He raised its lamps toward the front of the lampstand, as YHWH commanded Moses.
Greek · Saints priority
8:3 Aaron did so. He lit its lamps from the one side toward the front of the lampstand, as the Lord instructed Moses.
Greek explicitly says lit and repeats the side arrangement.
8:4 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:4 This was the workmanship of the lampstand: hammered gold, from its base to its flower-work, all hammered. According to the pattern YHWH showed Moses, so he made the lampstand.
Greek · Saints priority
8:4 This was the construction of the lampstand: solid gold, its stem and its lilies, entirely solid. According to the form the Lord showed Moses, so he made the lampstand.
Hammered / solid; base / stem; flower-work / lilies. The Greek describes the finished construction differently from the Hebrew workmanship term.
The Consecration of the Levites
8:5 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:5 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying:
Greek · Saints priority
8:5 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
8:6 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:6 Take the Levites from among the sons of Israel and cleanse them.
Greek · Saints priority
8:6 Take the Levites from among the sons of Israel and purify them.
8:7 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:7 Do this to cleanse them: sprinkle purification water upon them, let them pass a razor over all their flesh, wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves.
Greek · Saints priority
8:7 Do this for their purification: sprinkle them with purification water, let a razor pass over their whole body, and let them wash their clothes and be clean.
Hebrew’s water term contains the sin/purification root; Greek names purification. The prescribed actions agree.
8:8 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:8 They shall take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you shall take a second young bull for a sin offering.
Greek · Saints priority
8:8 They shall take one young bull with its sacrifice of fine flour prepared with oil, and you shall take a year-old young bull for sin.
Hebrew says second; Greek says year-old, supplying an age requirement. The second animal remains implied by the Greek’s two taking clauses.
8:9 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:9 Bring the Levites before the Tent of Meeting and assemble the whole congregation of the sons of Israel.
Greek · Saints priority
8:9 Bring the Levites before the Tent of Testimony and assemble the whole congregation of the sons of Israel.
Meeting / Testimony.
8:10 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:10 Bring the Levites before YHWH, and the sons of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites.
Greek · Saints priority
8:10 Bring the Levites before the Lord, and the sons of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites.
8:11 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:11 Aaron shall wave the Levites as a wave offering before YHWH from the sons of Israel, so that they may perform the service of YHWH.
Greek · Saints priority
8:11 Aaron shall set the Levites apart as a gift before the Lord from the sons of Israel, so that they may perform the works of the Lord.
Wave as an offering / set apart as a gift changes the explicit consecration action. The purpose of divine service agrees.
8:12 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:12 The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls. Offer one as a sin offering and one as a burnt offering to YHWH, to make atonement for the Levites.
Greek · Saints priority
8:12 The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the young bulls. He shall offer one for sin and one as a whole burnt offering to the Lord, to make propitiation for them.
Hebrew addresses the officiant with a command; Greek reports “he shall offer.” The hand-laying and two offerings agree.
8:13 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:13 Stand the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and wave them as a wave offering to YHWH.
Greek · Saints priority
8:13 Stand the Levites before the Lord, before Aaron, and before his sons, and give them as a gift before the Lord.
Greek adds standing before the Lord and describes giving; Hebrew commands waving. This repeats a consequential consecration difference.
8:14 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:14 Separate the Levites from among the sons of Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine.
Greek · Saints priority
8:14 Separate the Levites from among the sons of Israel, and they shall be Mine.
8:15 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:15 Afterward the Levites shall enter to serve the Tent of Meeting. You shall cleanse them and wave them as a wave offering.
Greek · Saints priority
8:15 Afterward the Levites shall enter to perform the works of the Tent of Testimony. You shall cleanse them and give them before the Lord.
Wave / give before the Lord changes the stated presentation. The need for cleansing and subsequent service agrees.
8:16 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:16 For they are wholly given to Me from among the sons of Israel. In place of those opening every womb, every firstborn among the sons of Israel, I have taken them for Myself.
Greek · Saints priority
8:16 For they are given to Me as a gift from among the sons of Israel. In place of those opening every womb, all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, I have taken them for Myself.
8:17 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:17 For every firstborn among the sons of Israel is Mine, human and livestock alike. On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated them to Myself.
Greek · Saints priority
8:17 For every firstborn among the sons of Israel is Mine, human and livestock alike. On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated them to Myself.
8:18 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:18 I took the Levites in place of every firstborn among the sons of Israel.
Greek · Saints priority
8:18 I took the Levites in place of every firstborn among the sons of Israel.
8:19 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:19 I gave the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons from among the sons of Israel, to perform the service of the sons of Israel in the Tent of Meeting and make atonement for the sons of Israel, so that no plague should fall among the sons of Israel when they approach the sanctuary.
Greek · Saints priority
8:19 I gave the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the sons of Israel, to perform the works of the sons of Israel in the Tent of Testimony and make propitiation for the sons of Israel, and there shall be no one among the sons of Israel approaching the holy things.
Hebrew prevents plague when Israel approaches; Greek states that no Israelite will approach. The negative governs different outcomes: harmful consequence / approach itself.
8:20 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:20 Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of the sons of Israel did for the Levites everything that YHWH commanded Moses concerning the Levites. So the sons of Israel did for them.
Greek · Saints priority
8:20 Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of the sons of Israel did for the Levites everything that the Lord commanded Moses concerning the Levites. So the sons of Israel did for them.
8:21 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:21 The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes. Aaron waved them as a wave offering before YHWH, and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them.
Greek · Saints priority
8:21 The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes. Aaron gave them as a gift before the Lord, and Aaron made propitiation for them to purify them.
The execution report preserves the same waving / giving difference as the command.
8:22 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:22 Afterward the Levites entered to perform their service in the Tent of Meeting before Aaron and his sons. As YHWH commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did for them.
Greek · Saints priority
8:22 Afterward the Levites entered to minister their ministry in the Tent of Testimony before Aaron and his sons. As the Lord instructed Moses concerning the Levites, so they did for them.
The sanctuary titles differ; the commencement of service agrees.
Age Limits and Retirement for Levites
8:23 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:23 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying:
Greek · Saints priority
8:23 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
8:24 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:24 This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward, they shall enter the service in the work of the Tent of Meeting.
Greek · Saints priority
8:24 This concerns the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward, they shall enter to work in the Tent of Testimony.
Both have twenty-five here, unlike the thirty / twenty-five contrast in chapter four. The sanctuary title differs; no artificial age difference is counted in this verse.
8:25 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:25 From fifty years old, they shall withdraw from the service of the work and shall work no longer.
Greek · Saints priority
8:25 From fifty years old, they shall withdraw from the ministry and shall work no longer.
Rabbinic reception: Rashi limits retirement to shoulder-bearing work and allows such tasks as gatekeeping, singing, and wagon-loading. Those examples are commentary, not extra words in either source verse.
Source: Rashi, Numbers 8:25
8:26 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
8:26 They may assist their brothers in the Tent of Meeting, keeping charge, but shall perform no work. Thus you shall deal with the Levites in their charges.
Greek · Saints priority
8:26 Their brother shall minister in the Tent of Testimony, keeping charge, but they shall perform no work. Thus you shall deal with the Levites in their charges.
Hebrew describes the retired Levite assisting his brothers; Greek makes his brother the ministering subject. The later work prohibition’s subject is not repeated in Greek; the transition is preserved without erasing the changed relationship.
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Saints Translation · Companion comparison edition · working draft awaiting specialist review.