Isaiah 56 — 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 56
Justice, inclusion and the failed watchmen
Verse 56:1 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
56:1 Thus says YHWH: “Keep justice and do righteousness, for My salvation is near to coming and My righteousness to being revealed.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
56:1 Thus says the Lord: “Keep justice; do righteousness. For My salvation has drawn near to arriving, and My mercy to being revealed.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The demand for justice and impending salvation agree. Greek mercy replaces the second Hebrew righteousness, distinguishing ethical righteousness from the promised divine mercy.
Verse 56:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
56:2 Happy is the mortal who does this, the human being who holds fast to it, keeping the Sabbath from profanation and keeping his hand from every evil deed.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
56:2 Happy is the man who does these things, the person holding fast to them, keeping the Sabbaths from profanation and guarding his hands from wrongdoing.”
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The blessing, Sabbath observance, and restraint from wrongdoing agree. Greek has plural Sabbaths and hands where Hebrew is singular.
Verse 56:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
56:3 Let no foreigner joined to YHWH say, “YHWH will surely separate me from His people.” Let no eunuch say, “Look, I am a dry tree.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
56:3 Let no foreigner attached to the Lord say, “Will the Lord then separate me from His people?” And let no eunuch say, “I am a dry tree.”
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both prohibit the foreigner's fear of exclusion and the eunuch's fruitless-tree self-description. Greek then or surely can also form a statement rather than the question used here. Rashi reads both as discouragement from faithful conduct for fear of no lasting reward [RASHI56].
Verse 56:4 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
56:4 For thus says YHWH: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, choose what I desire, and hold fast to My covenant,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
56:4 Thus says the Lord: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, choose what I wish, and hold fast to My covenant,
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The three conditions for the eunuchs agree: Sabbath observance, chosen obedience, and covenant fidelity.
Verse 56:5 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
56:5 I will give within My house and walls a place and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give him an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
56:5 I will give them in My house and wall a renowned place better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, and it will not fail.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The lasting memorial surpassing descendants agrees. Hebrew place and name, literally hand and name, becomes Greek renowned place. Hebrew shifts from them to him; Greek keeps them, and its wall is singular.
Verse 56:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
56:6 And the foreigners joined to YHWH, to minister to Him and love YHWH's name, to be His servants—all who keep the Sabbath from profanation and hold fast to My covenant—
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
56:6 And the foreigners attached to the Lord, to serve Him and love the Lord's name, to become His male and female slaves, and all those keeping My Sabbaths from profanation and holding fast to My covenant—
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek explicitly includes male and female slaves, where Hebrew uses the unmarked masculine servants. Greek My Sabbaths is plural; Hebrew the Sabbath is singular. Shared service, love, and covenant fidelity continue into the welcome in seven.
Verse 56:7 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
56:7 I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
56:7 I will bring them into My holy mountain and make them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their whole burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations,”
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The holy mountain, joyful prayer, accepted offerings, and universal prayer-house designation agree. Rashi explicitly includes converts alongside Israel [RASHI56]. Mark eleven seventeen quotes the final Greek designation when Jesus challenges the temple's misuse [NA28MRK11].
Verse 56:8 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
56:8 Lord YHWH declares, He who gathers Israel's outcasts: “I will gather still others to him, besides those already gathered to him.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
56:8 said the Lord who gathers Israel's scattered people, “for I will gather a gathering to him.”
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The divine gathering around Israel agrees. Hebrew still others besides the already gathered becomes Greek a gathering without that explicit distinction. Rashi interprets the additional people as converts from the nations [RASHI56].
Verse 56:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
56:9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour all the beasts in the forest!
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
56:9 All you wild beasts, come and eat, all you beasts of the woodland!
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew forest beasts as the object devoured follows Rashi; addressing both animal groups is another construction [RASHI56]. Greek naturally addresses the woodland animals with the wild beasts. The invitation is shared, while the prey/predator relationship depends on syntax.
Verse 56:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
56:10 His watchmen are all blind; they know nothing. They are all mute dogs, unable to bark, slumbering, lying down, loving sleep.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
56:10 See: all have been blinded; they did not know how to think. They are all mute dogs, unable to bark, dreaming of a bed, loving to doze.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek commands See and omits the named watchmen, describes inflicted blindness, and adds how to think. Hebrew slumbering follows Rashi's Dunash/Jonathan explanation; dreaming is another rendering [RASHI56]. Greek specifically dreams of a bed. Both depict useless sleeping guard dogs.
Verse 56:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
56:11 The dogs are greedy, never knowing enough, and they are shepherds without understanding. They all turn to their own way, each to his own gain, every last one.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
56:11 The dogs are shameless in appetite, knowing no satisfaction, and they are evil, without understanding. They all followed their own ways, each according to what was his own.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek evil people replaces Hebrew shepherds and omits the explicit gain and every-last-one phrases. Unrestrained appetite, ignorance, and self-directed conduct agree.
Verse 56:12 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
56:12 “Come, let me fetch wine, and let us fill ourselves with strong drink. Tomorrow will be like this, only far greater!”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
— — No corresponding text in the declared Greek edition.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: The Hebrew invitation to drink and expectation of an even greater tomorrow have no counterpart in the declared Rahlfs–Hanhart chapter, which ends with eleven. The omission is preserved; no wording from the separately displayed Latin is inserted.