Isaiah 46 — 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 46
Bel, Nebo and the God who carries
Verse 46:1 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
46:1 Bel crouches; Nebo soils himself. Their idols have become like wild and domestic animals; what you carry weighs heavily, a load for the weary.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
46:1 Bel fell; Dagon was shattered. Their carved images became a burden for wild and domestic animals. Lift them, bound together, as a load for one who is weary
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek Dagon replaces Nebo, and fallen/shattered replaces the Hebrew ridicule. The Hebrew crouching, soiling, and animal comparison follow Rashi; bowing and stooping under transported idols is the main alternative [RASHI46]. Greek commands the lifting of bound images, continuing into two.
Verse 46:2 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
46:2 They soil themselves and crouch together; they cannot discharge the burden, and they themselves have gone into captivity.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
46:2 and hungry and exhausted, without strength at all; they cannot be saved from war, and they themselves were led captive.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew discharge the burden continues Rashi's bodily ridicule; rescuing the transported load is another reading [RASHI46]. Greek instead expands the carrier's weakness and denies rescue from war. Both end with captivity of those expected to provide help.
Verse 46:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
46:3 “Listen to Me, house of Jacob and all the remnant of Israel's house, you who have been borne from the belly and carried from the womb.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
46:3 “Listen to Me, house of Jacob and all Israel's remnant, you who are carried from the belly and instructed from childhood.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew repeats divine carrying from prenatal origins; Greek replaces the second carrying clause with education from childhood. Jacob and Israel's remnant remain the audience.
Verse 46:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
46:4 Even to old age I am He, and to gray hair I will bear you. I made you, and I will carry you; I will bear you and rescue you.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
46:4 Until old age I am, and until you grow very old I am. I bear with you; I made you, and I will release you. I will take you up and save you.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek repeats I am and explicitly promises release where Hebrew has carrying. Its bearing with can signify patient endurance as well as support. Both extend God's sustaining and saving action through old age.
Verse 46:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
46:5 To whom will you liken Me and make Me equal, compare Me so that we may be alike?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
46:5 To whom did you liken Me? Look, devise your handiwork, you who wander astray.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek replaces Hebrew's repeated equality and likeness questions with a challenge to manufacture and an address to the erring. Both challenge an attempted divine comparison.
Verse 46:6 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
46:6 Those pouring gold from a purse and weighing silver on a balance hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god. They kneel and bow down.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
46:6 Those contributing gold from a pouch will set silver on a balance by weight; after hiring a goldsmith they made handmade objects and bend down to worship them.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The gold, silver, hired craftsman, and worship agree. Greek gives manufacture to the contributors and calls the plural products handmade objects rather than one god.
Verse 46:7 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
46:7 They lift it, carry it on a shoulder, and set it down; it stands there and never moves from its place. Someone even cries to it, but it does not answer or save him from his distress.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
46:7 They lift it onto their shoulders and go along. If they set it down, it stays in its place and will never move. Whoever cries to it, it will certainly not listen or save him from evils.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both expose the image's dependence on carriers, immobility, and inability to answer or rescue. Greek adds the carriers' journey and uses plural evils for distress.
Verse 46:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
46:8 Remember this and strengthen yourselves; bring it back to heart, you transgressors.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
46:8 Remember these things and groan. Repent, you who have wandered astray; turn back in heart.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew strengthening, following Rashi, becomes Greek groaning; Greek also adds repentance [RASHI46]. Both summon inward reconsideration, with transgressors described as the erring in Greek.
Verse 46:9 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
46:9 Remember the former things from ancient times: I am God, and there is no other; God, and there is none like Me.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
46:9 Remember the former things from eternity, for I am God, and there is none besides Me,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The remembrance and exclusive divine identity agree. Greek lacks the second divine designation and separate denial of anyone like God.
Verse 46:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
46:10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago things not yet done. I say, ‘My counsel will stand, and I will do everything I desire.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
46:10 announcing the last things beforehand, before they came to be—and together they were fulfilled. I said, ‘All My counsel will stand, and I will do everything I have planned,’
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek adds an explicit report of completed fulfillment and uses past announcing/saying contexts. Hebrew desired action becomes Greek planned action. Both connect prediction with effective divine counsel.
Verse 46:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
46:11 I call a counselor from the east, from a distant land the man of My counsel. Indeed, I spoke; I will also bring it about. I formed it; I will also do it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
46:11 calling a bird from the east and from a distant land concerning what I have planned. I spoke and brought it about; I created and acted. I brought him and made his journey prosper.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew counselor follows Rashi's counsel-root interpretation; he also allows a swift bird, while bird of prey is another lexical reading [RASHI46]. Greek explicitly has a bird, lacks man of My counsel, and adds a successful journey. Hebrew My counsel follows the checked read form, against written his counsel [RASHI46].
Verse 46:12 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
46:12 Listen to Me, you stronghearted, who are far from righteousness.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
46:12 Listen to Me, you who have lost heart, who are far from righteousness.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew stronghearted becomes Greek those who have lost heart. Rashi understands the Hebrew as faithful endurance while redemption remains distant; stubbornhearted is another contextual construal [RASHI46].
Verse 46:13 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
46:13 I brought My righteousness near; it will not be far away, and My salvation will not delay. I will give salvation in Zion, My glory to Israel.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
46:13 I brought My righteousness near, and I will not delay the salvation that comes from Me. I have given salvation in Zion to Israel for glory.”
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The nearness and undelayed salvation in Zion agree. Greek lacks the additional not-far assurance and presents the gift as accomplished, while Hebrew promises it. Hebrew My glory becomes Greek for glory.