Numbers 12 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 12:8, 12:12, 12:15
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.
Numbers 12
The Rebellion Against Moses
The Condemnation
Verse 12:1 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
12:1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
12:1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman Moses had married, for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Greek uses its usual geographical counterpart for Cushite and repeats Moses’ name. The woman is not named here; an identification with Zipporah belongs in interpretation.
Rabbinic reception: Rashi identifies the woman with Zipporah and reads the dispute in connection with Moses’ separation from her. The source verse itself leaves her unnamed.
Source: Rashi, Numbers 12:1
Verse 12:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
12:2 They said, “Has YHWH spoken only through Moses? Has He not also spoken through us?” And YHWH heard.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
12:2 They said, “Has the Lord spoken only to Moses? Has He not also spoken to us?” And the Lord heard.
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew b- can mean through or with; Greek uses a dative, naturally to. The complaint concerns privileged divine speech in both texts, so the prepositions alone do not establish incompatible prophetic claims.
Verse 12:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
12:3 Now the man Moses was very humble, more than anyone else on the face of the earth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
12:3 Now the man Moses was very gentle, more than all the people on the earth.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Humble and gentle reflect overlapping senses of the respective words, not opposed descriptions of Moses.
The Vindication
Verse 12:4 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
12:4 Suddenly YHWH said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, all three of you, to the Tent of Meeting.” And the three of them came out.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
12:4 Immediately the Lord said to Moses, Miriam, and Aaron, “Come out, all three of you, to the Tent of Testimony.” And the three came out to the Tent of Testimony.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Greek reverses Aaron and Miriam in the first list and repeats the destination at the end. The sanctuary titles differ as elsewhere.
Verse 12:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
12:5 YHWH came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent. He called Aaron and Miriam, and both came forward.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
12:5 The Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the Tent of Testimony. Aaron and Miriam were called, and both came forward.
Classification & Notes
Different
Greek gives the fuller sanctuary title and changes He called to they were called; the participants and action correspond.
Verse 12:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
12:6 He said, “Hear My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, YHWH, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
12:6 He said to them, “Hear My words: If there is a prophet of yours for the Lord, I will make Myself known to him in a vision, and speak to him in sleep.
Classification & Notes
Different
The compressed Hebrew places the divine name differently; Greek explicitly describes a prophet belonging to the Lord. The revelation through vision and dream corresponds.
Verse 12:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
12:7 Not so My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
12:7 Not so My attendant Moses; he is faithful in all My house.
Classification & Notes
Similar
The servant terms differ in nuance; the statement of Moses’ faithfulness agrees.
Apostolic reception: Hebrews takes up Moses’ faithfulness in God’s house and contrasts his service within the house with Christ’s status as Son over it. This is an explicit Christian reuse of the passage.
Source: Hebrews 3:2–6
Verse 12:8 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
12:8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, plainly and not in riddles, and he beholds YHWH’s form. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant, against Moses?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
12:8 With him I will speak mouth to mouth, in visible appearance and not through riddles, and he saw the Lord’s glory. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My attendant Moses?”
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Hebrew says he beholds YHWH’s form; Greek says he saw the Lord’s glory. This changes the object and temporal presentation of Moses’ privileged vision. It does not by itself settle a doctrine of the divine body.
The Judgment
Verse 12:9 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
12:9 YHWH’s anger flared against them, and He departed.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
12:9 The Lord’s fierce anger was upon them, and He departed.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Both describe divine anger followed by departure.
Verse 12:10 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
12:10 The cloud withdrew from over the tent, and there was Miriam, afflicted with a skin disease, white as snow. Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, diseased.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
12:10 The cloud withdrew from the tent, and there was Miriam, leprous as snow. Aaron looked at Miriam, and there she was, leprous.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Hebrew ṣaraʿat and Greek lepra refer here to the ancient skin-affliction category. Leprous must not be assumed to identify modern Hansen’s disease.
Verse 12:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
12:11 Aaron said to Moses, “Please, my lord, do not lay upon us the sin in which we have acted foolishly and sinned.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
12:11 Aaron said to Moses, “I beg you, my lord, do not lay sin upon us, because we acted ignorantly in what we sinned.
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew characterizes the conduct as foolish; Greek as ignorant. Neither removes the confession of sin.
Verse 12:12 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
12:12 Please do not let her be like a dead child whose flesh is half consumed when it comes out of its mother’s womb.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
12:12 Do not let her become like one equal to death, like a miscarried child coming out of a mother’s womb, and it consumes half her flesh.”
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Greek explicitly names a miscarriage and ends with an active verb and feminine her; Hebrew has his flesh half consumed, referring grammatically to the dead child. The Greek subject and referent are difficult; the translation leaves that difficulty visible rather than silently restoring the Hebrew syntax.
Verse 12:13 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
12:13 Moses cried out to YHWH, “O God, please heal her, please!”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
12:13 Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “O God, I beg You, heal her!”
Classification & Notes
Similar
The urgent plea corresponds; Hebrew repeats its entreaty particle.
The Restoration
Verse 12:14 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
12:14 YHWH said to Moses, “If her father had spat in her face, would she not be disgraced for seven days? Let her be shut outside the camp for seven days; afterward she may be received back.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
12:14 The Lord said to Moses, “If her father had spat in her face, would she not be ashamed for seven days? Let her be set apart outside the camp for seven days; afterward she shall enter.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
The seven-day exclusion agrees. Hebrew emphasizes confinement and reception back; Greek separation and entry.
Verse 12:15 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
12:15 Miriam was shut outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not set out until Miriam was received back.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
12:15 Miriam was set apart outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not set out until Miriam was cleansed.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Hebrew marks Miriam’s readmission; Greek marks her cleansing. These can accompany one another, but the stated condition for resuming the journey differs materially.
Verse 12:16 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
12:16 Afterward the people set out from Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
12:16 Afterward the people set out from Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.
Classification & Notes
Same
The route and destination correspond.