Isaiah 61 — 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 61
Good news, restored ruins and righteousness
Verse 61:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
61:1 The spirit of Lord YHWH is upon me, because YHWH has anointed me to bring good news to the humble. He sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and the opening of confinement to prisoners,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
61:1 The Lord's spirit is upon me, because He anointed me. He sent me to bring good news to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to captives and recovery of sight to the blind,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek healing replaces binding and sight for the blind replaces opening confinement for prisoners. Rashi interprets the Hebrew anointing as bestowed authority and the final opening as release from captivity [RASHI61]. Luke four eighteen–twenty-one applies the mission to Jesus; its declared NA28 quotation lacks the brokenhearted clause and adds release for the oppressed from Isaiah fifty-eight six [NA28LUK4].
Verse 61:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
61:2 to proclaim YHWH's year of favor and our God's day of vengeance, to comfort all who mourn,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
61:2 to announce the Lord's acceptable year and a day of recompense, to comfort all who mourn,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Favor and the acceptable year agree, as does comfort for mourners. Greek recompense replaces vengeance and omits our God. Luke four nineteen ends its public reading with the acceptable year; Isaiah's following judgment clause is retained here [NA28LUK4].
Verse 61:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
61:3 to provide for Zion's mourners, giving them a splendid headdress instead of ashes, oil of joy instead of mourning, a mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called Trees of Righteousness, YHWH's planting, for displaying glory.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
61:3 so that Zion's mourners may receive glory instead of ashes, an ointment of joy for those who mourn, a robe of glory instead of a spirit of despondency. They will be called Generations of Righteousness, the Lord's planting, for glory.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek glory replaces the Hebrew ornamental headwear and later praise. Generations replaces the Hebrew trees, whose botanical image Rashi confirms from the planting clause [RASHI61]. The exchange of mourning for restored honor agrees.
Verse 61:4 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
61:4 They will rebuild ancient ruins, raise former desolations, and renew ruined cities, places desolate for generations.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
61:4 They will rebuild age-old deserts and raise places formerly desolated. They will renew deserted cities laid waste for generations.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both promise reconstruction of long-desolate cities and places. Greek deserts or deserted places corresponds to the Hebrew ruins.
Verse 61:5 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
61:5 Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks; foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
61:5 Foreigners will come shepherding your sheep, and people of other nations will be plowmen and vinedressers.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The foreigners' pastoral and agricultural roles agree. Greek coming replaces standing, uses singular your for the flock, and leaves the farmers' possessives implicit.
Verse 61:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
61:6 But you will be called YHWH's priests; you will be named ministers of our God. You will eat the nations' wealth and succeed them in their glory.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
61:6 But you will be called priests of the Lord, ministers of God. You will consume the nations' resources and be admired in their wealth.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek admiration in wealth replaces Hebrew succession into glory, following Rashi's exchange-based explanation; boasting in glory is another Hebrew reading [RASHI61]. Rashi understands the priests as God's princes. The priestly and ministerial titles remain literal in the translation.
Verse 61:7 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
61:7 In exchange for your double shame and the disgrace they lamented as their lot, they will therefore inherit double in their land; everlasting joy will be theirs.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
61:7 Thus they will inherit the land a second time, and everlasting joy will be over their head.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek lacks the double shame, disgrace, and lamented lot, and presents a second inheritance rather than a double share. Hebrew lament follows Rashi; construing the verb as rejoicing over the new portion is another reading [RASHI61]. Greek adds the joy being over their head.
Verse 61:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
61:8 “For I, YHWH, love justice and hate robbery in a burnt offering. I will faithfully give their recompense and make an everlasting covenant with them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
61:8 “For I am the Lord who loves righteousness and hates plunder obtained through injustice. I will give their labor's yield to righteous people and make an everlasting covenant with them.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek unjust plunder replaces Hebrew robbery in a burnt offering, the sacrificial reading retained by Rashi [RASHI61]. Greek explicitly gives the yield to righteous people; Hebrew gives their recompense faithfully. The enduring covenant agrees.
Verse 61:9 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
61:9 Their offspring will be known among nations and their descendants among peoples. All who see them will recognize that they are offspring YHWH has blessed.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
61:9 Their offspring and descendants will be known among nations. Everyone seeing them will recognize them, because they are offspring blessed by God,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The descendants' public recognition and blessing agree. Greek combines the two audience clauses and uses God for YHWH. Its statement continues into the first clause of ten.
Verse 61:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
61:10 I will greatly rejoice in YHWH; my soul will exult in my God. For He clothed me in garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, like a bridegroom adorned with priestly splendor and a bride wearing her jewels.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
61:10 and they will rejoice greatly in the Lord.” Let my soul exult in the Lord, for He clothed me in a garment of salvation and a tunic of joy. Like a bridegroom He placed a turban on me, and like a bride He adorned me with ornaments.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek first has they rejoice, then a wish for my soul; Hebrew begins throughout with the singular speaker. Greek joy replaces righteousness in the second garment and explicitly makes God bestow the turban. Hebrew the bridegroom's priestly clothing follows the verb and Rashi's explanation [RASHI61].
Verse 61:11 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
61:11 For as earth brings forth its growth and a garden makes its sown seeds sprout, so Lord YHWH will make righteousness and praise sprout before all nations.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
61:11 As earth increases its flower and a garden its seeds, so the Lord will make righteousness and exultation spring up before all nations.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The planting comparison and publicly flourishing righteousness agree. Greek flower replaces general growth, exultation replaces praise, and the divine title is simply Lord.