Hosea 2 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 2:4, 2:5, 2:17
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.
Chapter 2
The rejected wife and the renewed covenant
Verse 2:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:1 The number of Israel's sons will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ it will be said to them, ‘Sons of the living God.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:1 The number of Israel's sons was like the sand of the sea, which will not be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ there they will be called sons of the living God.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek opens with past was, Hebrew with future will be. Both reverse the people's disowned status to living God's sons. This verse is commonly numbered 1:10 in English Bibles; the declared source editions both number it 2:1. New Testament reception: Romans 9:24–26 applies the people-naming oracle within a calling that includes Gentiles [NT-ROM9]. Saints: Augustine reads the joined Judah and Israel of this and the following verse as Jews and Gentiles united under Christ; this is his Christian typology [AUG-HOS].
Verse 2:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:2 Judah's sons and Israel's sons will be gathered together, appoint one head for themselves and come up from the land, for great is Jezreel's day.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:2 Judah's sons and Israel's sons will gather together, appoint one authority for themselves and come up from the land, for great is Jezreel's day.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The joint gathering, single leadership, ascent and Jezreel's great day correspond. This is common English 1:11; land is not silently identified as a particular exile territory.
Verse 2:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:3 Say to your brothers, ‘Ammi—My People,’ and to your sisters, ‘Ruhamah—Pitied.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:3 Say to your brother, ‘My People,’ and to your sister, ‘Shown Mercy.’
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Hebrew addresses plural brothers and sisters, Greek a singular brother and sister. Both reverse the two negative names; this is common English 2:1.
Verse 2:4 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:4 “Contend with your mother, contend! For she is not My wife and I am not her husband. Let her remove her prostitution from her face and her adulteries from between her breasts,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:4 “Enter into judgment with your mother, enter into judgment! For she is not My wife and I am not her husband. I will remove her prostitution from My face and her adultery from between her breasts,
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew commands the woman to remove her prostitution from her face; Greek assigns removal to God from His face. Agency and the relation to the following exposure change; the concrete breasts image remains.
Verse 2:5 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:5 lest I strip her naked and set her as on the day of her birth, make her like a wilderness, place her like a dry land and kill her with thirst.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:5 so that I may strip her naked and restore her as on the day of her birth. I will make her like a wilderness, set her like a waterless land and kill her with thirst.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew lest makes exposure a threatened consequence to avoid; Greek so that makes it the purpose of the preceding removal. The images of naked birth, wilderness and fatal thirst agree.
Verse 2:6 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:6 I will have no compassion on her children, for they are children of prostitution.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:6 I will certainly show no mercy to her children, for they are children of prostitution.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The denied mercy and stated reason correspond.
Verse 2:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:7 For their mother prostituted herself; she who conceived them acted shamefully. She said, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and water, my wool and flax, my oil and drinks.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:7 For their mother prostituted herself; she who bore them brought shame. She said, ‘I will follow my lovers, who give me my loaves and water, my garments and linen cloths, my oil and everything due to me.’
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew wool and flax becomes Greek garments and linen cloths; drinks becomes everything due to her. Both expose the woman's attribution of her provisions to lovers, preserving all six listed items or groups.
Verse 2:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:8 Therefore look, I will hedge your way with thorns; I will wall up her enclosure, and she will not find her paths.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:8 Therefore look, I block her way with thorns and will build up her roads, and she will certainly not find her path.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew shifts from your to her and names an enclosure; Greek keeps her throughout and names roads being built up. The obscured path agrees. Greek's building is retained in the blocking context without silently replacing roads with a wall.
Verse 2:9 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:9 She will pursue her lovers but not overtake them; seek them but not find them. She will say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, for it was better for me then than now.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:9 She will pursue her lovers but certainly not catch them; seek them but certainly not find them. She will say, ‘I will go and return to my former husband, for it was better for me then than now.’
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The failed pursuit, unsuccessful search and decision to return for better treatment agree, with all negatives intact.
Verse 2:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:10 She did not know that it was I who gave her grain, new wine and fresh oil, who multiplied silver for her—and gold they used for Baal.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:10 She did not know that it was I who gave her grain, wine and oil and multiplied silver for her; but she made silver and gold objects for Baal.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew's plural they used gold becomes Greek she made objects of both metals. Hebrew new wine and fresh oil are more specific produce terms. Both identify divine provision redirected toward Baal.
Verse 2:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:11 Therefore I will return and take My grain in its season and My new wine at its appointed time; I will snatch away My wool and flax that were to cover her nakedness.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:11 Therefore I will return and recover My grain at its season and My wine at its time; I will take away My garments and linen cloths so that they do not cover her shame.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The retrieval of produce and covering agrees, but Hebrew raw wool/flax again becomes Greek finished cloth. Greek explicitly states the negative purpose of leaving her uncovered; Hebrew describes the covering's intended use.
Verse 2:12 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:12 Now I will uncover her disgrace before her lovers' eyes, and no one will rescue her from My hand.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:12 Now I will uncover her uncleanness before her lovers, and no one will certainly deliver her from My hand.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Hebrew's obscure nablut, here disgrace, becomes explicit Greek uncleanness. Exposure before lovers and the absence of rescue agree.
Verse 2:13 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:13 I will end all her joy, her festival, new moon and Sabbath, and every appointed feast.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:13 I will turn away all her rejoicings, her festivals, new moons and Sabbaths, and all her festal assemblies.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both end joy across the complete festival, new-moon, Sabbath and assembly sequence; Greek uses plurals throughout.
Verse 2:14 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:14 I will lay waste her vine and fig tree, of which she said, ‘These are my wages that my lovers gave me.’ I will make them a forest, and wild animals will devour them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:14 I will obliterate her vine and fig trees, whatever she said were ‘my wages that my lovers gave me.’ I will make them a testimony, and the field's beasts, heaven's birds and the earth's creeping things will devour them.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek adds birds and creeping things to the devourers and makes the ruined plants a testimony rather than Hebrew a forest. The woman's claim that the plants were lovers' wages is retained.
Verse 2:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:15 I will call her to account for the days of the Baals, when she burned offerings to them, adorned herself with her ring and jewelry and went after her lovers, but forgot Me,” declares YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:15 “I will exact vengeance upon her for the days of the Baalim, when she sacrificed to them, put on her earrings and necklaces and went after her lovers, but forgot Me,” says the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew burning offerings becomes Greek sacrificing; a ring and jewelry becomes earrings and necklaces. The days of the Baals/Baalim and forgetting God agree; ring placement is not assumed in Hebrew.
Verse 2:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:16 “Therefore look, I will allure her, lead her into the wilderness and speak to her heart.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:16 “Therefore look, I will lead her astray, place her in a wilderness and speak to her heart,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew patta is here allure or persuade; Greek planaō is lead astray or cause to wander. The wilderness and speech to the heart agree, but the Greek verb's unsettling force is retained.
Verse 2:17 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:17 From there I will give her her vineyards and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope. There she will answer as in the days of her youth, as on the day she came up from Egypt's land.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:17 and from there I will give her her possessions and the Valley of Achor to open her understanding. There she will be humbled as in the days of her infancy and the days of her ascent from Egypt's land.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew vineyards becomes Greek possessions, hope's doorway becomes opening understanding, and answering becomes being humbled. The shared Achor and exodus setting does not erase these differences. Hebrew answer can also carry a singing sense here.
Verse 2:18 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:18 On that day,” declares YHWH, “you will call Me ‘My Husband’ and no longer call Me ‘My Baal.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:18 On that day,” says the Lord, “she will call Me ‘My Husband’ and no longer call Me ‘Baalim.’
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew second-person address and singular my Baal becomes Greek third-person she and plural Baalim. Hebrew baʿal can mean master or husband as well as the deity's title; the name is retained so the rejection remains visible.
Verse 2:19 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:19 I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they will no longer be remembered by their names.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:19 I will remove the names of the Baalim from her mouth, and they will certainly no longer remember their names.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Hebrew passively denies remembrance; Greek makes unnamed people its subject. Both remove the Baal names from speech and memory.
Verse 2:20 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:20 On that day I will make a covenant for them with the field's beasts, heaven's birds and the ground's creeping things. I will break bow, sword and war from the land and make them lie down securely.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:20 On that day I will establish a covenant for them with the field's beasts, heaven's birds and the earth's creeping things. I will shatter bow, sword and war from the land and settle you in hope.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The covenant creatures and end of warfare agree. Hebrew makes them recline securely; Greek addresses singular you and promises settlement in hope.
Verse 2:21 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:21 I will betroth you to Myself forever; I will betroth you to Myself in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love and compassion.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:21 I will betroth you to Myself forever; I will betroth you to Myself in righteousness and judgment, in mercy and compassion,
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both repeat the betrothal and preserve its enduring duration and four defining qualities. Hebrew and Greek kindness/mercy idioms do not alone change the promise.
Verse 2:22 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:22 I will betroth you to Myself in faithfulness, and you will know YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:22 and I will betroth you to Myself in faithfulness, and you will know the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The third betrothal statement and resulting knowledge of God correspond; pistis is construed as faithfulness in this covenant context.
Verse 2:23 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:23 On that day I will answer,” declares YHWH, “I will answer the heavens, and they will answer the earth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:23 On that day,” says the Lord, “I will listen to heaven, and heaven will listen to the earth,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Hebrew repeats I will answer before naming the heavens; Greek gives one listening verb. Both begin the responsive chain from God through heaven to earth.
Verse 2:24 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:24 The earth will answer the grain, new wine and fresh oil, and they will answer Jezreel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:24 and the earth will listen to grain, wine and oil, and they will listen to Jezreel.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The same produce completes the responsive sequence to Jezreel; Hebrew's fresh-product vocabulary is retained without changing the chain's meaning.
Verse 2:25 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
2:25 I will sow her for Myself in the land, have compassion on Lo-ruhamah—Not Pitied—and say to Lo-ammi—Not My People—‘You are My people.’ He will say, ‘My God!’”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
2:25 I will sow her for Myself upon the land, show mercy to Not Shown Mercy and say to Not My People, ‘You are My people.’ He will say, ‘You are the Lord my God!’”
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek expands the final response with You are the Lord. Both enact the two names' reversal and the sowing wordplay associated with Jezreel. The shifts from feminine her to masculine he are preserved, without substituting plural people throughout. New Testament reception: Romans 9:25 uses loved/not loved wording alongside the people-name reversal, where this Greek Hosea text uses mercy language. Paul’s wording is recorded separately [NT-ROM9].