Numbers 9 — Hebrew and Greek compared
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Same 5 Similar 7 Different 3 Divergent 7 Disparate 1
Disparate in this chapter: 9:13
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 Second Passover
9:1 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:1 YHWH spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the second year after they came out of the land of Egypt, in the first month, saying:
Greek · Saints priority
9:1 The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the second year after they came out of the land of Egypt, in the first month, saying:
9:2 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:2 The sons of Israel shall observe the Passover at its appointed time.
Greek · Saints priority
9:2 Tell the sons of Israel to observe the Passover at its appointed time.
Greek expressly commands Moses to tell them.
9:3 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:3 On the fourteenth day of this month, between the evenings, you shall observe it at its appointed time. You shall observe it according to all its statutes and ordinances.
Greek · Saints priority
9:3 On the fourteenth day of the first month, toward evening, you shall observe it at the proper times. You shall observe it according to its law and its prescribed determination.
This month / first month; between the evenings / toward evening; distinct terms for the governing rules.
9:4 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:4 Moses told the sons of Israel to observe the Passover.
Greek · Saints priority
9:4 Moses told the sons of Israel to observe the Passover.
9:5 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:5 They observed the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, between the evenings, in the wilderness of Sinai. As YHWH commanded Moses, so the sons of Israel did.
Greek · Saints priority
9:5 At the beginning, on the fourteenth day of the month in the wilderness of Sinai, the sons of Israel did as the Lord instructed Moses.
Greek’s opening participle is compressed and lacks Hebrew’s explicit renewed Passover and evening clauses. Verse three still supplies the evening instruction.
9:6 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:6 There were men unclean through a dead person who could not observe the Passover that day. They came before Moses and Aaron that day.
Greek · Saints priority
9:6 Men arrived who were unclean through a dead person and could not observe the Passover that day. They approached Moses and Aaron that day.
9:7 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:7 Those men said to him: We are unclean through a dead person. Why should we be kept back from presenting YHWH’s offering at its appointed time among the sons of Israel?
Greek · Saints priority
9:7 Those men said to him: We are unclean through a dead person. Must we therefore fail to present the gift to the Lord at its appointed time among the sons of Israel?
Both protest exclusion from timely participation.
9:8 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:8 Moses said to them: Wait, and I will hear what YHWH commands concerning you.
Greek · Saints priority
9:8 Moses said to them: Stand here, and I will hear what the Lord commands concerning you.
9:9 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:9 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying:
Greek · Saints priority
9:9 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
9:10 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:10 Speak to the sons of Israel, saying: If anyone among you or your generations is unclean through a dead person or is on a distant journey, that person shall nevertheless observe the Passover to YHWH.
Greek · Saints priority
9:10 Speak to the sons of Israel, saying: If anyone among you or your generations becomes unclean through a dead person or is on a distant journey, that person shall observe the Passover to the Lord.
Both provide a later observance for these impediments; the date follows.
9:11 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:11 In the second month, on the fourteenth day, between the evenings, they shall observe it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
Greek · Saints priority
9:11 In the second month, on the fourteenth day, toward evening, they shall observe it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
The same alternate date; distinct evening expressions.
9:12 Same
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:12 They shall leave none of it until morning and shall break no bone of it. They shall observe it according to every statute of the Passover.
Greek · Saints priority
9:12 They shall leave none of it until morning and shall break no bone of it. They shall observe it according to the law of the Passover.
Apostolic reception: John connects Jesus’ unbroken bones with scriptural fulfillment. The Passover prohibition here is part of that scriptural background; John does not identify this verse as the exclusive source of his citation.
Source: John 19:33–36
9:13 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:13 But a person who is clean, is not on a journey, and neglects to observe the Passover shall be cut off from their people. Because that person did not present YHWH’s offering at its appointed time, that person shall bear their sin.
Greek · Saints priority
9:13 A person who is clean, is not on a distant journey, and fails to observe the Passover shall be destroyed from their people. Because that person did not present the gift to the Lord at its appointed time, that person shall bear their sin.
Greek expressly qualifies the journey as distant and uses a destruction verb; Hebrew has the cut-off formula and does not repeat “distant” here. Hebrew cutting off is not reduced to simple social exclusion.
9:14 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:14 If a resident alien lives among you and observes the Passover to YHWH, they shall do so according to its statute and ordinance. You shall have one statute, for the resident alien and the native of the land.
Greek · Saints priority
9:14 If a newcomer comes to you in your land and observes the Passover to the Lord, they shall do so according to its law and prescribed order. You shall have one law, for the newcomer and the native of the land.
Resident alien / newcomer (prosēlytos), with “in your land” explicit in Greek. Later conversion rules are not inserted into the noun itself.
Divine Guidance
9:15 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:15 On the day the Dwelling was erected, the cloud covered the Dwelling, the Tent of Testimony. In the evening there was over the Dwelling an appearance like fire until morning.
Greek · Saints priority
9:15 On the day the Tent was erected, the cloud covered the Tent, the House of Testimony. In the evening there was over the Tent an appearance like fire until morning.
Dwelling and Tent of Testimony / Tent and House of Testimony.
Apostolic reception: Paul recalls Israel beneath the cloud and interprets the cloud-and-sea experience in relation to baptism into Moses, within his warning to the Christian community.
Source: 1 Corinthians 10:1–5
9:16 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:16 So it was continually: the cloud covered it, and an appearance of fire by night.
Greek · Saints priority
9:16 So it was continually: the cloud covered it by day, and an appearance of fire by night.
Greek expressly says by day.
9:17 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:17 Whenever the cloud rose from above the Tent, afterward the sons of Israel set out. Where the cloud settled, there the sons of Israel camped.
Greek · Saints priority
9:17 Whenever the cloud rose from the Tent, afterward the sons of Israel set out. Where the cloud stood, there the sons of Israel camped.
9:18 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:18 At the mouth of YHWH the sons of Israel set out, and at the mouth of YHWH they camped. As long as the cloud dwelt over the Dwelling, they camped.
Greek · Saints priority
9:18 By the command of the Lord the sons of Israel shall camp, and by the command of the Lord they shall set out. As long as the cloud overshadows the Tent, the sons of Israel shall camp.
Greek reverses the initial camp/depart order and gives a prospective rule. The controlling guidance agrees.
9:19 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:19 When the cloud remained over the Dwelling for many days, the sons of Israel kept YHWH’s charge and did not set out.
Greek · Saints priority
9:19 When the cloud remains over the Tent for more days, the sons of Israel shall keep God’s charge and certainly not set out.
The instruction agrees; Greek says God rather than Lord in the charge formula.
9:20 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:20 Sometimes the cloud remained over the Dwelling for a few days. At the mouth of YHWH they camped, and at the mouth of YHWH they set out.
Greek · Saints priority
9:20 When the cloud covers the Tent for a number of days, by the voice of the Lord they shall camp and by the command of the Lord they shall set out.
9:21 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:21 Sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning; when the cloud rose in the morning, they set out. Or if it remained a day and a night, when the cloud rose, they set out.
Greek · Saints priority
9:21 When the cloud remains from evening until morning and rises in the morning, they shall set out by day or by night.
Greek has one cloud-rising clause and attaches day/night directly to departure. Hebrew repeats the rising-and-departing sequence and describes a further duration of a day and a night.
9:22 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:22 Whether two days, a month, or days on end, while the cloud lingered over the Dwelling to dwell upon it, the sons of Israel camped and did not set out. When it rose, they set out.
Greek · Saints priority
9:22 For the days of a month, while the cloud continues overshadowing it, the sons of Israel shall camp and certainly not set out.
Greek has a shorter duration expression and lacks the final rising/departing clause. Hebrew “days” is often understood here as a year. The omission is retained; it does not cancel the Greek rule already stated in 9:17.
9:23 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
9:23 At the mouth of YHWH they camped, and at the mouth of YHWH they set out. They kept YHWH’s charge, at the mouth of YHWH through Moses.
Greek · Saints priority
9:23 For by the command of the Lord they shall set out. They kept the Lord’s charge, by the command of the Lord through Moses.
Greek lacks the opening camping clause. This is a shorter summary, not an assertion that Israel never camped by divine command.
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Saints Translation · Companion comparison edition · working draft awaiting specialist review.