Isaiah 43 — Hebrew and Greek compared
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 43
Israel redeemed and the witnesses summoned
Verse 43:1 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:1 But now thus says YHWH, your Creator, Jacob, and your Former, Israel: “Do not fear, for I redeemed you. I called you by your name; you are Mine.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:1 But now thus says the Lord God who made you, Jacob, who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I redeemed you. I called you by your name; you are Mine.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Creation, formation, redemption, personal calling, and belonging agree. Greek expands the divine designation to Lord God.
Verse 43:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:2 When you pass through waters, I am with you; through rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through fire, you will not be scorched, and flame will not burn you.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:2 Even if you cross through water, I am with you, and rivers will not flood over you. Even if you pass through fire, you will certainly not be burned up; flame will not burn you up.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both promise divine presence and protection through water and fire. Greek uses conditional formulations and intensifies the denial of burning.
Verse 43:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:3 For I am YHWH your God, Israel's Holy One, your Savior. I gave Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:3 For I am the Lord your God, Israel's Holy One, who saves you. I made Egypt your exchange, and Ethiopia and Soene on your behalf.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew Cush becomes Ethiopia, but Seba becomes the distinct Greek Soene. Ransom becomes exchange; the divine titles and substitution pattern agree.
Verse 43:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:4 Because you are precious in My eyes, honored, and I love you, I give people in your place and peoples in exchange for your life.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:4 Since you became honored before Me, you were glorified, and I loved you. I will give many people on your behalf and rulers for your head.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek specifies many people and substitutes rulers for peoples and head for life. The divine valuation and love remain, with Greek presenting the honor as an attained state.
Verse 43:5 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:5 Do not fear, for I am with you. From the east I will bring your offspring, and from the west I will gather you.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:5 Do not fear, for I am with you. From the east I will bring your offspring, and from the west I will gather you.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The reassurance and two directions of regathering agree.
Verse 43:6 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up,’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back. Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the earth's end,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:6 I will say to the north, ‘Bring them,’ and to the southwest, ‘Do not hinder. Bring My sons from a distant land and My daughters from the earth's extremities,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek has the southwest wind or quarter where Hebrew names south, and specifies a distant land. Both command the return of sons and daughters.
Verse 43:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:7 everyone called by My name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and indeed made,’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:7 all who are called by My name.’ For in My glory I fashioned him, formed him, and made him,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew creation for God's glory becomes Greek fashioning in His glory. Greek first uses plural all, then switches to singular him; Hebrew is consistently distributive singular.
Verse 43:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:8 to bring out a blind people who have eyes, and deaf people who have ears.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:8 and I brought out a blind people, and their eyes are likewise blind, and deaf people possessing ears.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew an infinitive of purpose follows Rashi, rather than a command [RASHI43]; Greek explicitly reports God's completed action. Greek additionally calls the eyes blind, whereas Hebrew contrasts blindness with possessing eyes.
Verse 43:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:9 Let all nations gather together and peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this or let us hear the former things? Let them produce their witnesses and be vindicated; let them hear and say, ‘It is true.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:9 All nations were gathered together, and rulers from them will assemble. Who will announce these things, or who will announce to you the things from the beginning? Let them bring their witnesses, be justified, and speak true things.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek substitutes rulers from the nations for peoples and shifts us to you. It omits the witnesses' hearing and turns their truth verdict into speaking true things. Both present a test through witnesses and prior knowledge.
Verse 43:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:10 You are My witnesses, declares YHWH, and My servant whom I chose, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, nor will there be one after Me.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:10 Become witnesses for Me—and I too am a witness, says the Lord God, and the servant whom I chose—so that you may know, believe, and understand that I am. Before Me no other god came to be, nor will there be one after Me.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek adds God as witness alongside the chosen servant and turns you are into a command. It lacks Me after believe, says no other god, and uses came to be rather than was formed. Both insist upon divine uniqueness.
Verse 43:11 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:11 I, I am YHWH, and apart from Me there is no savior.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:11 I am God, and apart from Me there is no one who saves.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The exclusive saving claim agrees. Greek has God and does not repeat the first-person pronoun.
Verse 43:12 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:12 I declared, saved, and made it heard; no foreign one was among you. You are My witnesses, declares YHWH, and I am God.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:12 I announced and saved; I reproached, and there was no foreign one among you. You are witnesses for Me, and I too am a witness, says the Lord God,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek reproaching replaces making heard, and its final God-as-witness statement replaces Hebrew I am God. Both deny a foreign participant among the people, without explicitly supplying god after foreign one.
Verse 43:13 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:13 Even from the day I am He, and no one rescues from My hand. I act, and who can reverse it?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:13 still from the beginning. No one rescues from My hands. I will act, and who will turn it back?”
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both claim enduring divine priority and irresistible action. Greek carries the temporal expression on from twelve and lacks Hebrew's repeated I am He; the Hebrew from the day is a compressed temporal phrase, not a specified calendar date.
Verse 43:14 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:14 Thus says YHWH, your Redeemer, Israel's Holy One: “For your sake I sent to Babylon and brought them all down with oars, and the Chaldeans in their rejoicing ships.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:14 Thus says the Lord God who redeems you, Israel's Holy One: “For your sake I will send to Babylon and rouse all who flee, and Chaldeans will be bound in ships.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew oars follows Rashi's nautical construal; fugitives or bars are other interpretations of the difficult term [RASHI43]. Greek explicitly rouses fugitives and binds Chaldeans, with no rejoicing. Hebrew leaves the sent party unstated; no modern identification is supplied.
Verse 43:15 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:15 I am YHWH, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:15 I am the Lord God, your Holy One, who presented Israel as your king.”
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew makes God Israel's Creator and the people's King; Greek makes Israel the one presented as their king. The Greek double accusative is retained rather than changed into the Hebrew divine royal title.
Verse 43:16 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:16 Thus says YHWH, who makes a way in the sea and a path in mighty waters,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:16 Thus says the Lord, who gives a way in the sea and a path in strong water,
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The way through powerful waters and the divine speaker agree.
Verse 43:17 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:17 who brings out chariot and horse, army and strength: They lie down together and will not rise; they die away, quenched like a flax wick.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:17 who brought out chariots and a horse and a mighty host: But they fell asleep and will not rise; they were extinguished like an extinguished flax wick.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both describe the summoned military force's irreversible fall and wick-like extinction. Greek makes the army mighty rather than separately naming strength, uses sleep, and lacks together.
Verse 43:18 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:18 “Do not remember the former things or dwell on ancient events.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:18 “Do not remember the first things or ponder the ancient ones.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The double command to turn attention from the past agrees.
Verse 43:19 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:19 Look, I am doing something new; now it springs up. Will you not recognize it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the wasteland.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:19 Look, I am doing new things which will now spring up, and you will know them. I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the waterless land.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek pluralizes the new work and changes the rhetorical question to an assurance of recognition. The road and rivers agree.
Verse 43:20 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:20 Wild animals will honor Me, jackals and ostriches, because I gave water in the wilderness and rivers in the wasteland to give drink to My chosen people,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:20 The field's wild beasts will bless Me, sirens and daughters of ostriches, because I gave water in the wilderness and rivers in the waterless land to give drink to My chosen race,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew jackals become Greek sirens, retained as the Greek creature name. Greek daughters of ostriches reproduces the literal bird expression rather than replacing it with a different animal; the Greek bird term can also denote smaller birds. Both link animal praise to the people's water supply.
Verse 43:21 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:21 this people whom I formed for Myself, so that they might recount My praise.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:21 My people, whom I acquired to recount My praiseworthy deeds.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek acquiring replaces forming and has deeds or excellences instead of praise. The people's belonging and purpose of proclamation agree.
Verse 43:22 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:22 Yet you did not call upon Me, Jacob; rather, you grew weary of Me, Israel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:22 I did not call you now, Jacob, nor did I make you toil, Israel.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: The subjects and objects reverse: Hebrew accuses Jacob of not calling God and tiring of Him; Greek denies that God called Jacob now or made him labor. The explicit Greek negatives are retained as statements in the declared punctuation.
Verse 43:23 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:23 You did not bring Me sheep for your burnt offerings or honor Me with your sacrifices. I did not make you serve with an offering or weary you with frankincense.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:23 Your whole-burnt-offering sheep were not for Me, nor did you glorify Me with your sacrifices, nor did I make you toil with frankincense.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek lacks the separate Hebrew denial of compulsory service with an offering. It states that the sheep were not for God, where Hebrew denies bringing them; the sacrifice and frankincense clauses broadly agree.
Verse 43:24 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:24 You did not buy aromatic cane for Me with silver or satisfy Me with your sacrifices' fat. Instead, you made Me serve with your sins and wearied Me with your iniquities.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:24 You did not acquire incense for Me with silver, nor did I desire your sacrifices' fat; instead, amid your sins and wrongdoings I stood over you.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek incense replaces aromatic cane, and God's lack of desire replaces the people's failure to satisfy Him. Its final God standing over or attending the people replaces their burdening and wearying Him; the precise force of the Greek protecting/presiding verb remains uncertain.
Verse 43:25 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:25 I, I am the One who wipes out your transgressions for My sake, and I will not remember your sins.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:25 I am, I am the One who wipes out your lawless acts, and I will certainly not remember.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek omits for My sake and leaves the final object of remembering implicit, while Hebrew explicitly repeats your sins. Both emphasize the divine erasure and refusal to recall wrongdoing.
Verse 43:26 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:26 Remind Me; let us argue our case together. You state your account, so that you may be justified.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:26 But you, remember, and let us be judged. You state your lawless acts first, so that you may be justified.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew commands reminding God and presenting a case; Greek commands the person's own recollection and explicitly confessing lawless acts first. The shared judicial purpose remains, but the required speech differs substantially.
Verse 43:27 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:27 Your first father sinned, and your spokesmen rebelled against Me.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:27 Your first fathers and their rulers acted lawlessly against Me,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew one first father and spokesmen become Greek plural first fathers and their rulers. Rashi identifies the father as Abraham by citing Abraham's words at Genesis 15:8, without the name appearing in the primary verse or in Rashi's comment [RASHI43].
Verse 43:28 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
43:28 so I profaned the sanctuary's princes and gave Jacob to destruction and Israel to insults.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
43:28 and the rulers defiled My holy things, and I gave Jacob over to destruction and Israel to reproach.”
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew God profanes sacred princes; Greek rulers defile God's holy things, reversing both agent and object of profanation. Both end with Jacob's destruction and Israel's public reproach.