Numbers 31 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 31:6, 31:8, 31:16, 31:18, 31:28
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 31
The War Against the Midianites
Mobilization of Troops
Verse 31:1 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
Classification & Notes
Same
Verse 31:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:2 “Take vengeance for the Israelites upon the Midianites. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:2 “Exact vengeance for the Israelites from the Midianites. Finally you shall be added to your people.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Both announce Moses’ death after the action against Midian.
Verse 31:3 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:3 Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for the army, that they may go against Midian to inflict YHWH’s vengeance on Midian.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:3 Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Equip men from among you to draw up for battle before the Lord against Midian, to repay Midian with vengeance from the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Greek explicitly adds “before the Lord” to the battle preparations.
Verse 31:4 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:4 You shall send a thousand from each tribe, from all the tribes of Israel, into the army.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:4 Send a thousand from each tribe, from all the tribes of Israel, to draw up for battle.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Verse 31:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:5 So a thousand from each tribe were supplied from the thousands of Israel: twelve thousand armed for war.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:5 They counted out a thousand from each tribe from the thousands of Israel: twelve thousand equipped for battle.
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew describes the men being handed over; Greek describes counting them out.
The Battle and the Captives
Verse 31:6 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:6 Moses sent them into the army, a thousand from each tribe, together with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, with the sacred vessels and the alarm trumpets in his hand.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:6 Moses sent them, a thousand from each tribe, with their force and Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, with the sacred vessels and the signaling trumpets in their hands.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Greek adds Aaron to the genealogy and assigns the vessels and trumpets to “their hands”; Hebrew has “his hand.” The ritual equipment’s stated custody differs.
Rabbinic reception: Rashi explains the Hebrew phrase in his hand as indicating Phinehas’ possession or authority. That supports retaining the singular custodian separately from the Greek plural their hands.
Source: Rashi, Numbers 31:6
Verse 31:7 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:7 They waged war against Midian, as YHWH had commanded Moses, and killed every male.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:7 They drew up for battle against Midian, as the Lord had commanded Moses, and killed every male.
Classification & Notes
Same
Both texts report the killing; neither column softens its scope.
Verse 31:8 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:8 They killed the kings of Midian among their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:8 They killed the kings of Midian together with their slain: Evi, Zur, Rekem, Hur, and Robok, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword together with their slain.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Greek reorders Zur and Rekem, reads Robok for Reba, and repeats with their slain after Balaam. The killing context supports the slain sense of Greek traumatiai; the order, name, and repetition remain distinct.
Verse 31:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:9 The Israelites took the women of Midian and their little ones captive, and plundered all their livestock, all their herds, and all their wealth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:9 They took the women of Midian and their dependents as spoil, and plundered their livestock, all their possessions, and their resources.
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew expressly names little ones; Greek aposkeuē denotes the accompanying household or dependents, not merely baggage here.
Verse 31:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:10 They burned all their inhabited towns and all their encampments with fire.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:10 They burned all their towns in their settlements and their farmsteads with fire.
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew ṭirot and Greek epauleis describe the subsidiary settlements differently.
Verse 31:11 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:11 They took all the spoil and all the captives, both people and livestock.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:11 They took all the plunder and all their spoils, from people to livestock,
Classification & Notes
Similar
Both include human captives among what was taken.
Verse 31:12 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:12 They brought the captives, the captured livestock, and the spoil to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the congregation of the Israelites, at the camp on the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:12 and brought the captives, the spoils, and the plunder to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the Israelites, at the camp at Araboth Moab, which is on the Jordan opposite Jericho.
Classification & Notes
Different
Greek retains Araboth as a place-name; Hebrew identifies the plains of Moab. “All Israelites” corresponds to Hebrew’s congregation.
Verse 31:13 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:13 Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the congregation went out to meet them outside the camp.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:13 Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the rulers of the congregation went out to meet them outside the camp.
Classification & Notes
Same
Moses' Command
Verse 31:14 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds who were returning from the military campaign.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:14 Moses was angry with the overseers of the force, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds who were returning from the battle formation,
Classification & Notes
Similar
Greek episkopoi here means military overseers; it does not name a Christian ecclesiastical office.
Verse 31:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:15 Moses said to them, “Have you kept every female alive?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:15 and Moses said to them, “Why have you taken every female alive?
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew asks whether they kept the women alive; Greek explicitly asks why.
Verse 31:16 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:16 Look! Through Balaam’s counsel these women caused the Israelites to act unfaithfully against YHWH in the matter of Peor, so that the plague came upon YHWH’s congregation.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:16 For these women, according to Balaam’s word, caused the Israelites to turn away and disregard the Lord’s word because of Peor, and the plague came upon the Lord’s congregation.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Greek specifies turning away and disregarding the Lord’s word where Hebrew speaks of covenantal unfaithfulness. Balaam’s responsibility appears in both.
Apostolic reception: Revelation recalls Balaam teaching Balak to entice Israel into eating idol-offerings and sexual wrongdoing. It applies the Balaam tradition as a warning to a Christian congregation.
Source: Revelation 2:14
Verse 31:17 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:17 Now kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man by lying with a male.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:17 Now kill every male among all the dependents, and kill every woman who has known a male’s bed.
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew explicitly includes male children; Greek uses the collective household term apartia. Both contain the command to kill and distinguish women by sexual experience.
Verse 31:18 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:18 But keep alive for yourselves all the young females who have not known a male’s bed.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:18 Take alive all the female dependents who have not known a male’s bed.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Hebrew explicitly says “for yourselves”; Greek lacks that phrase and speaks of taking them alive. Both retain their status as captives, rather than describing a voluntary arrangement.
Purification Rituals
Verse 31:19 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:19 You shall camp outside the camp for seven days. All of you who killed a person or touched someone slain shall purify yourselves on the third day and the seventh day, both you and your captives.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:19 You shall camp outside the camp for seven days. Everyone who killed someone or touches someone slain shall be purified on the third day and the seventh day, both you and your captives.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Both require purification after killing or contact with someone slain. Greek uses the participle tetrōmenos, whose slain sense is attested for this passage; its passive purification wording differs from the Hebrew imperative.
Verse 31:20 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:20 You shall purify every garment, every leather article, everything made from goats’ hair, and every wooden article.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:20 You shall thoroughly purify every covering, every leather article, every object made from goats’ material, and every wooden article.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
The materials correspond; “hair” makes the usual Hebrew contextual sense explicit.
Verse 31:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:21 Eleazar the priest said to the men of the army who had gone into battle, “This is the statute of the instruction that YHWH commanded Moses:
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:21 Eleazar the priest said to the men of the force who were returning from the battle formation, “This is the ordinance of the law that the Lord prescribed to Moses:
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew describes those coming to the war; Greek explicitly describes their return from battle.
Verse 31:22 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:22 Only the gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, and lead—
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:22 Except for the gold, silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin—
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Greek reverses the order of tin and lead. The same six metals are named.
Verse 31:23 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:23 everything that can withstand fire you shall pass through fire, and it shall be clean; nevertheless, it must be purified with the water for impurity. Everything that cannot withstand fire you shall pass through water.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:23 everything that passes through fire shall also be cleansed, but it shall be purified with the water of purification. Everything that does not pass through fire shall pass through water.
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew explicitly directs the people to pass suitable objects through fire; Greek states the process more impersonally. Both also require the purification water.
Verse 31:24 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:24 You shall wash your clothes on the seventh day and be clean; afterward you may enter the camp.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:24 You shall wash your clothes on the seventh day and be cleansed; afterward you may enter the camp.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Division of Midianite Loot
Divine Command for Division of Plunder
Verse 31:25 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:25 YHWH said to Moses,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:25 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
Classification & Notes
Same
Verse 31:26 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:26 “Take a count of the captured spoil, both people and livestock—you, Eleazar the priest, and the ancestral heads of the congregation.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:26 “Take a total of the spoils of captivity, from people to livestock—you, Eleazar the priest, and the rulers of the congregation’s ancestral houses.
Classification & Notes
Same
Verse 31:27 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:27 Divide the captured spoil equally between the warriors who went out to battle and the whole congregation.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:27 Divide the spoils between the warriors who went out to battle and the whole congregation.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Hebrew’s verb explicitly means dividing into halves; Greek’s halves are stated in the following instructions.
Verse 31:28 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:28 Levy a tribute for YHWH from the warriors who went out to battle: one living being out of every five hundred, from the people, cattle, donkeys, and flocks.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:28 Set aside a levy for the Lord from the warriors who went out to battle: one living being out of every five hundred, from the people, livestock, cattle, sheep, and goats.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
The rate agrees, but Greek explicitly lists goats and does not name donkeys here. Donkeys reappear in the Greek allocation at 31:39; the differing lists are preserved.
Verse 31:29 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:29 Take it from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest as YHWH’s contribution.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:29 Take it from their half and give the firstfruits of the Lord to Eleazar the priest.
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew calls the allocation a contribution; Greek calls it firstfruits.
Verse 31:30 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:30 From the Israelites’ half, take one out of every fifty, from the people, cattle, donkeys, flocks, and all livestock, and give them to the Levites who keep the charge of YHWH’s tabernacle.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:30 From the Israelites’ half, take one out of every fifty, from the people, cattle, sheep, donkeys, and all livestock, and give them to the Levites who keep the watches in the Lord’s tent.”
Classification & Notes
Divergent
The livestock categories are reordered. Hebrew speaks of the tabernacle’s charge; Greek describes watches in the tent.
Verse 31:31 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:31 Moses and Eleazar the priest did as YHWH had commanded Moses.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:31 Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord had prescribed to Moses.
Classification & Notes
Same
Accounting and Division of the Spoil
Verse 31:32 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:32 The captured spoil remaining from the plunder that the army had taken was six hundred seventy-five thousand of the flocks,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:32 The surplus of the plunder that the warriors had taken was six hundred seventy-five thousand sheep,
Classification & Notes
Similar
The total agrees. Hebrew tson can include sheep and goats; Greek here names sheep.
Verse 31:33 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:33 seventy-two thousand cattle,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:33 seventy-two thousand cattle,
Classification & Notes
Same
Verse 31:34 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:34 sixty-one thousand donkeys,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:34 sixty-one thousand donkeys,
Classification & Notes
Same
Verse 31:35 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:35 and thirty-two thousand human beings in all, from the women who had not known a male’s bed.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:35 and thirty-two thousand human beings in all, from the women who had not known a man’s bed.
Classification & Notes
Same
Both count captive women within the distribution of spoil.
Verse 31:36 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:36 The half-share belonging to those who went out to battle numbered three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred of the flocks,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:36 The half-share belonging to those who went out to war numbered three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep,
Classification & Notes
Similar
The numerical share agrees.
Verse 31:37 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:37 and YHWH’s tribute from the flocks was six hundred seventy-five.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:37 and the levy for the Lord from the sheep was six hundred seventy-five.
Classification & Notes
Same
Verse 31:38 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:38 The cattle numbered thirty-six thousand, and their tribute to YHWH was seventy-two.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:38 The cattle numbered thirty-six thousand, and the levy for the Lord was seventy-two.
Classification & Notes
Same
Verse 31:39 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:39 The donkeys numbered thirty thousand five hundred, and their tribute to YHWH was sixty-one.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:39 The donkeys numbered thirty thousand five hundred, and the levy for the Lord was sixty-one.
Classification & Notes
Same
Verse 31:40 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:40 The human beings numbered sixteen thousand, and their tribute to YHWH was thirty-two persons.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:40 The human beings numbered sixteen thousand, and their levy for the Lord was thirty-two persons.
Classification & Notes
Same
Both assign a levy of persons. The verse does not state that these persons were sacrificed.
Verse 31:41 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:41 Moses gave the tribute, YHWH’s contribution, to Eleazar the priest, as YHWH had commanded Moses.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:41 Moses gave the levy for the Lord, God’s contribution, to Eleazar the priest, as the Lord had prescribed to Moses.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Greek explicitly adds “for the Lord” before describing the contribution as God’s.
Verse 31:42 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:42 From the Israelites’ half, which Moses had separated from that of the men who fought—
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:42 From the Israelites’ half, which Moses had separated from the warriors—
Classification & Notes
Same
Verse 31:43 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:43 the congregation’s half was three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred of the flocks,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:43 the congregation’s half was three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep,
Classification & Notes
Similar
The total agrees.
Verse 31:44 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:44 thirty-six thousand cattle,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:44 thirty-six thousand cattle,
Classification & Notes
Same
Verse 31:45 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:45 thirty thousand five hundred donkeys,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:45 thirty thousand five hundred donkeys,
Classification & Notes
Same
Verse 31:46 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:46 and sixteen thousand human beings—
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:46 and sixteen thousand human beings—
Classification & Notes
Same
Verse 31:47 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:47 Moses took one out of every fifty, from the people and livestock, and gave them to the Levites who kept the charge of YHWH’s tabernacle, as YHWH had commanded Moses.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:47 Moses took one out of every fifty, from the people and livestock, and gave them to the Levites who kept the watches of the Lord’s tent, as the Lord had prescribed to Moses.
Classification & Notes
Similar
The rate and recipients agree.
The Officers’ Offering
Verse 31:48 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:48 The officers over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, approached Moses.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:48 All those appointed over the army’s units of a thousand, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, approached Moses.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Greek explicitly says “all”; the offices correspond.
Verse 31:49 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:49 They said to Moses, “Your servants have counted the warriors under our command, and not one man of ours is missing.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:49 They said to Moses, “Your servants have totaled the warriors in our company, and not even one of them is missing.
Classification & Notes
Same
Verse 31:50 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:50 So we have brought YHWH’s offering, each man whatever gold article he found—armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and ornaments—to make atonement for our lives before YHWH.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:50 We have brought the gift to the Lord, each man whatever gold article he found—armlets, bracelets, rings, wrist ornaments, and hair ornaments—to make propitiation for us before the Lord.”
Classification & Notes
Different
The jewelry terms do not align precisely; some Hebrew identifications are uncertain. Greek explicitly names a hair ornament. Both give the purpose of the rite on behalf of the people.
Verse 31:51 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:51 Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from them, all of it fashioned articles.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:51 Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from them, every article worked by hand.
Classification & Notes
Same
Verse 31:52 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:52 All the gold of the contribution that they presented to YHWH from the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds was sixteen thousand seven hundred fifty shekels.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:52 All the gold, the contribution that they set aside for the Lord from the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred fifty shekels.
Classification & Notes
Same
The weight agrees; no modern monetary value is imposed.
Verse 31:53 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:53 The soldiers had taken plunder, each for himself.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:53 The warriors had taken plunder, each for himself.
Classification & Notes
Same
Verse 31:54 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
31:54 Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tent of Meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
31:54 Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tent of Testimony as a memorial for the Israelites before the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Different
Hebrew names the Tent of Meeting; Greek names the Tent of Testimony.