Numbers 14 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 14:9, 14:12, 14:23, 14:27, 14:36
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 14
Israel's Refusal
The People’s Rebellion
Verse 14:1 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:1 The whole congregation raised their voices, and the people wept that night.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:1 The whole congregation raised its voice, and the people wept all that night.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Greek explicitly says all the night; the collective outcry corresponds.
Verse 14:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!
Classification & Notes
Same
Both preserve the complaint and the two wishes for death.
Verse 14:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:3 Why is YHWH bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and little ones will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to fall in war? Our wives and children will become plunder. So now it is better for us to return to Egypt.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Greek says war rather than sword and changes the closing rhetorical question into an assertion.
Verse 14:4 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:4 They said to one another, “Let us appoint a head and return to Egypt.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:4 They said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Greek expresses the leadership metaphor directly.
Verse 14:5 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:5 Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the whole assembly of the Israelite congregation.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:5 Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the whole congregation of Israelites.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Greek uses one assembly term where Hebrew has two; the action and audience agree.
Verse 14:6 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, among those who had explored the land, tore their garments.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, among those who had explored the land, tore their garments.
Classification & Notes
Same
The two men and their gesture correspond.
Verse 14:7 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:7 They said to the whole Israelite congregation, “The land through which we passed to explore it is an exceedingly, exceedingly good land.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:7 They said to the whole congregation of Israelites, “The land we inspected is exceedingly, exceedingly good.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Greek omits through which we passed; both retain the doubled emphasis on the land’s goodness.
Verse 14:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:8 If YHWH delights in us, He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:8 If the Lord chooses us, He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew speaks of delight; Greek of choosing or preferring. The promised outcome corresponds.
Verse 14:9 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:9 Only do not rebel against YHWH. Do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their shade has departed from them, and YHWH is with us. Do not fear them.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:9 Only do not become deserters from the Lord. Do not fear the people of the land, for they are food for us. Their season has passed away from them, but the Lord is among us. Do not fear them.”
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Hebrew pictures the removal of protective shade; Greek says their kairos, season or opportunity, has departed. The explanation for the inhabitants’ vulnerability changes, although both exhort Israel to trust the Lord.
Verse 14:10 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:10 The whole congregation said to stone them with stones. Then YHWH’s glory appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:10 The whole congregation said to stone them with stones. Then the Lord’s glory appeared in a cloud over the Tent of Testimony among all the Israelites.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Greek adds in a cloud and describes the glory over the tent; Hebrew does not mention a cloud in this verse.
Moses’ Intercession
Verse 14:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:11 YHWH said to Moses, “How long will this people despise Me? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have done among them?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:11 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people provoke Me? How long will they refuse to believe Me, despite all the signs I have done among them?
Classification & Notes
Different
Despising is expressed as provoking in Greek; both connect unbelief with the witnessed signs.
Verse 14:12 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:12 I will strike them with pestilence and dispossess them, and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:12 I will strike them with death and destroy them, and I will make you and your father’s house into a nation greater and much more numerous than this one.”
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Greek explicitly includes Moses’ ancestral household in the replacement nation and speaks of destruction and numerical increase. Hebrew names Moses alone, with dispossession and greater might.
Verse 14:13 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:13 Moses said to YHWH, “Then Egypt will hear, for by Your strength You brought this people up from their midst.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:13 Moses said to the Lord, “Egypt will hear that by Your strength You brought this people up from among them.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Hebrew’s connective can introduce the reason or the report’s content; Greek explicitly presents what Egypt will hear.
Verse 14:14 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:14 They will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that You, YHWH, are among this people; that You, YHWH, are seen eye to eye; that Your cloud stands over them; and that You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:14 Indeed, all those living in this land have heard that You, the Lord, are among this people, that You appear eye to eye, O Lord, and that Your cloud stands over them, and You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Greek omits the opening report from Egypt to the land’s inhabitants and directly states that all the inhabitants have heard. The visible guidance imagery corresponds.
Verse 14:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:15 If You put this people to death as one man, the nations who have heard of Your reputation will say,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:15 If You wipe out this people as one man, the nations who have heard Your name will say,
Classification & Notes
Different
Reputation/report is rendered name; the feared destruction of the people as a single body corresponds.
Verse 14:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:16 ‘Because YHWH was unable to bring this people into the land He swore to them, He slaughtered them in the wilderness.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:16 ‘Because the Lord was unable to bring this people into the land He swore to them, He laid them low in the wilderness.’
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew uses the slaughter verb; Greek pictures laying the people low. These are the nations’ anticipated accusations, not the narrator’s admission of divine inability.
Verse 14:17 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:17 Now, please, let the Lord’s power be great, as You have spoken, saying,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:17 Now let Your strength be exalted, O Lord, as You have spoken, saying,
Classification & Notes
Similar
Hebrew speaks of the Lord’s power; Greek addresses Your strength. Both introduce the appeal to the divine declaration.
Verse 14:18 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:18 ‘YHWH is slow to anger and abundant in steadfast love, bearing iniquity and rebellion; yet He certainly does not acquit, visiting the fathers’ iniquity upon the children to the third and fourth generations.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:18 ‘The Lord is patient, abundant in mercy, and true, removing lawlessness, wrongdoing, and sins; yet He certainly will not cleanse the guilty, repaying the fathers’ sins upon the children to the third and fourth generations.’
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Greek adds and true, has three wrongdoing terms instead of two, and supplies the guilty as the object. Bearing/removing and visiting/repaying also differ. Both retain mercy and intergenerational judgment; neither column silently limits the children to imitators of their parents.
Verse 14:19 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:19 Please forgive this people’s iniquity according to the greatness of Your steadfast love, as You have borne with this people from Egypt until now.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:19 Forgive this people’s sin according to Your great mercy, as You have been gracious to them from Egypt until now.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
The appeal for forgiveness and its historical basis correspond; Hebrew bearing language is expressed as graciousness in Greek.
Divine Judgment and the Forty-Year Sentence
Verse 14:20 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:20 YHWH said, “I have forgiven according to your word.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:20 The Lord said to Moses, “I am gracious to them according to your word.
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew explicitly declares forgiveness; Greek states present graciousness and names Moses as addressee. These differ in expression without implying that the Greek denies forgiveness.
Verse 14:21 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:21 But as I live, and as YHWH’s glory fills all the earth,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:21 But I live, and My name lives, and the Lord’s glory will fill all the earth,
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Greek adds the life of the divine name and uses a future clause for the glory’s filling. Hebrew’s oath construction also allows a future-oriented understanding of that filling.
Verse 14:22 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:22 none of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I did in Egypt and the wilderness, yet have tested Me these ten times and have not listened to My voice,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:22 all the men who have seen My glory and the signs I did in Egypt and this wilderness, and have tested Me this tenth time and have not listened to My voice,
Classification & Notes
Similar
The Hebrew sentence’s negative outcome is supplied in English from the oath continued in 14:23. Both identify repeated testing despite witnessed signs.
Verse 14:23 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:23 shall see the land I swore to their fathers. None of those who despise Me shall see it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:23 shall certainly not see the land I swore to their fathers. But their children who are here with Me, who do not know good or evil, every inexperienced young person—to these I will give the land. None of those who provoke Me shall see it.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Greek adds an extensive exception and promise for children, characterized by lack of knowledge of good and evil. Hebrew has no such clause here, although both texts promise entry to the children later in 14:31.
Verse 14:24 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:24 But My servant Caleb, because a different spirit was with him and he followed Me fully, I will bring into the land he entered, and his descendants shall possess it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:24 But My servant Caleb, because a different spirit was in him and he followed Me, I will bring into the land he entered, and his descendants shall inherit it.
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew emphasizes wholehearted following; Greek omits that explicit fullness. Both promise Caleb and his descendants entry and possession.
Verse 14:25 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:25 The Amalekites and Canaanites live in the valley. Tomorrow turn and set out for the wilderness by the way of the Sea of Reeds.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:25 Amalek and the Canaanites live in the valley. Tomorrow turn and depart for the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Greek uses Red Sea for Hebrew Sea of Reeds. These traditional geographical designations should not be collapsed into a claim that the texts specify different routes beyond this naming distinction.
Verse 14:26 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:26 YHWH spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:26 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
Classification & Notes
Same
The addressees and speech introduction correspond.
Verse 14:27 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:27 “How long must I bear this evil congregation that grumbles against Me? I have heard the Israelites’ complaints that they grumble against Me.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:27 “How long with this evil congregation? They grumble before Me; I have heard the Israelites’ grumbling that they have directed against you.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
The final object of the complaints is Me in Hebrew but you, plural, in Greek, referring to Moses and Aaron. Both earlier identify the grumbling as confronting God, but the explicit accusation’s target changes.
Verse 14:28 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:28 Say to them, ‘As I live—YHWH’s declaration—I will do to you just as you have spoken in My hearing.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:28 Say to them, ‘I live, says the Lord: I will certainly do to you just as you have spoken into My ears.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Both use the divine life as an oath and answer the people’s own words.
Verse 14:29 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:29 In this wilderness your corpses shall fall: all of you who were registered, according to your full number, from twenty years old and upward, who grumbled against Me.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:29 In this wilderness your limbs shall fall, with your entire registration and those of you counted from twenty years old and upward who grumbled against Me.
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew says corpses; Greek uses limbs or bodies. Greek episkopē here concerns registration or numbering, not Christian episcopal office.
Apostolic reception: Paul recalls the wilderness generation’s fall despite shared divine gifts. Hebrews likewise connects the fallen generation with disobedience and failure to enter God’s rest.
Source: 1 Corinthians 10:5; Hebrews 3:16–19
Verse 14:30 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:30 You shall certainly not enter the land where I raised My hand to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:30 You shall certainly not enter the land over which I stretched out My hand to settle you upon it, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
Classification & Notes
Similar
The hand gesture differs in phrasing; the oath’s exclusion and two named exceptions correspond.
Verse 14:31 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:31 But your little ones, whom you said would become plunder, I will bring in. They shall know the land you rejected.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:31 But the children whom you said would become plunder I will bring into the land, and they shall inherit the land from which you turned away.
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew promises that the children will know or experience the land; Greek explicitly promises inheritance. Both place them in the land rejected by their parents.
Verse 14:32 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:32 As for you, your corpses shall fall in this wilderness.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:32 Your limbs shall fall in this wilderness.
Classification & Notes
Different
The corpses/limbs wording of 14:29 recurs.
Verse 14:33 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:33 Your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years and bear your unfaithfulness, until your corpses are finished in the wilderness.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:33 Your children shall live as herders in the wilderness for forty years and bear your prostitution, until your limbs are consumed in the wilderness.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Both use a sexual-infidelity metaphor for Israel’s unfaithfulness and impose the same forty years. The different English glosses do not establish different offenses.
Verse 14:34 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:34 According to the number of days you explored the land—forty days, a year for each day, a year for each day—you shall bear your iniquities for forty years, and you shall know My opposition.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:34 According to the number of days you inspected the land—forty days, a day for a year—you shall bear your sins for forty years, and you shall know the fury of My anger.
Classification & Notes
Different
Greek renders the difficult Hebrew term for opposition as fierce anger and does not repeat the day/year formula. Both explicitly prescribe forty years, so the differing formula is not treated as a different duration.
Verse 14:35 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:35 I, YHWH, have spoken. I will certainly do this to all this evil congregation gathered against Me. In this wilderness they shall come to an end, and there they shall die.’”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:35 I, the Lord, have spoken. I will certainly do this to this evil congregation that has banded together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.’”
Classification & Notes
Similar
The announced fate corresponds; Greek intensifies the image of the congregation’s gathering.
Verse 14:36 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:36 The men Moses had sent to explore the land returned and made the whole congregation grumble against him by spreading a bad report about the land.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:36 The men Moses had sent to inspect the land came back and grumbled against it before the congregation, bringing out evil words about the land.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Hebrew says the scouts caused the congregation to grumble against him; Greek depicts the scouts themselves grumbling against the land before the congregation. Agency and the object of complaint change.
Verse 14:37 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:37 Those men who spread the bad report about the land died by the plague before YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:37 Those men who spoke evil against the land died in the plague before the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Both identify the offending scouts and the same mode of death.
Verse 14:38 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:38 But Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh lived, out of those men who had gone to explore the land.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:38 But Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh lived, out of those men who had gone to explore the land.
Classification & Notes
Same
The two surviving scouts correspond.
Presumptuous Defeat
Verse 14:39 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:39 Moses spoke these words to all the Israelites, and the people mourned greatly.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:39 Moses spoke these words to all the Israelites, and the people mourned greatly.
Classification & Notes
Same
Both describe Moses’ report and the people’s mourning.
Verse 14:40 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:40 They rose early in the morning and went up toward the top of the hill country, saying, “Here we are! We will go up to the place YHWH has spoken of, for we have sinned.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:40 They rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, “Here we are! We will go up to the place the Lord has spoken of, for we have sinned.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Hebrew har can denote a mountain or hill country; the ascent and confession correspond.
Verse 14:41 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:41 Moses said, “Why are you transgressing YHWH’s command? This will not succeed.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:41 Moses said, “Why are you transgressing the Lord’s word? Things will not go well for you.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Both warn that the unauthorized advance will fail.
Verse 14:42 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:42 Do not go up, for YHWH is not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:42 Do not go up, for the Lord is not with you, and you will fall before your enemies.
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew frames defeat as the danger to avoid; Greek states it as the consequence. Both prohibit the ascent.
Verse 14:43 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:43 The Amalekites and Canaanites are there before you, and you will fall by the sword. Because you have turned back from following YHWH, YHWH will not be with you.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:43 Amalek and the Canaanites are there before you, and you will fall by the sword. Because you turned away in disobedience to the Lord, the Lord will not be among you.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Greek explicitly characterizes the turning away as disobedience; the warning corresponds.
Verse 14:44 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:44 But they presumed to go up toward the top of the hill country. The ark of YHWH’s covenant and Moses did not move from within the camp.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:44 But they forced their way up to the top of the mountain. The ark of the Lord’s covenant and Moses did not move from the camp.
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew emphasizes presumption; Greek forceful persistence. Both leave Moses and the ark in the camp.
Verse 14:45 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
14:45 The Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down, struck them, and crushed them as far as Hormah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
14:45 Amalek and the Canaanites who lived on that mountain came down, routed them, and cut them down as far as Erman. Then they returned to the camp.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Greek adds a return to camp and gives the endpoint as Erman. Its final plural subject is not named afresh; the translation does not insert Israel or its enemies to settle that ambiguity.