Isaiah 65 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 65:20
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 65
Servants distinguished and the new creation
Verse 65:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:1 “I made Myself available to those who did not ask; I let Myself be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’ to a nation not called by My name.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:1 “I became manifest to those not seeking Me; I was found by those not inquiring of Me. I said, ‘Here I am,’ to the nation that did not call My name.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek appearance replaces Hebrew availability to inquiry and has one Here I am. Hebrew not called by My name follows Rashi; Greek actively describes failure to invoke it [RASHI65]. Romans ten twenty reverses the Greek found/manifest clauses when citing this verse [NA28ROM10].
Verse 65:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:2 I spread out My hands all day to a rebellious people who walk a way that is not good, following their own thoughts,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:2 I spread out My hands all day to a disobedient, contradicting people who did not walk a true way but followed their sins.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek adds contradiction, specifies a true rather than good way, and replaces thoughts with sins. Rashi reads the hands as openness to repentance [RASHI65]. Romans ten twenty-one cites the disobedient and contradicting people; Cyril, Catechetical Lecture thirteen twenty-seven–twenty-eight, relates the extended hands to the Cross [NA28ROM10] [CYRILCAT13].
Verse 65:3 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:3 a people who provoke Me to My face continually, sacrificing in gardens and burning incense upon bricks,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:3 This people continually provokes Me to My face. They sacrifice in gardens and burn incense on bricks to demons that do not exist,
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek explicitly identifies the recipients as nonexistent demons, a clause without a Hebrew counterpart. The offensive garden sacrifice and brick incense agree.
Verse 65:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:4 who sit among graves and spend the night with corpses, eating pig's flesh, with pieces of abominable food in their vessels,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:4 and sleep in tombs and caves for dreams. They eat pig's flesh and sacrificial broth; all their vessels are defiled.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek explicitly seeks dreams and names caves rather than Hebrew corpses, the latter following Rashi's enclosed-bodies explanation; enclosed places is another reading [RASHI65]. Hebrew pieces follows the written form visible on the publisher page; broth is the traditional read form expressly displayed by the reception page. Greek adds the defilement of every vessel.
Verse 65:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:5 who say, ‘Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you.’ These are smoke in My nostrils, a fire burning all day.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:5 They say, ‘Far away from me! Do not approach me, for I am clean.’ This is smoke of My wrath; fire burns in it all the days.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek clean replaces comparative holiness, and smoke of wrath replaces smoke in divine nostrils. Hebrew holier than you follows Rashi [RASHI65]. The haughty separation and continuing divine indignation agree.
Verse 65:6 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:6 Look, it is written before Me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will repay into their lap
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:6 Look, it is written before Me: I will not keep silent until I repay into their lap
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both present a written indictment and assured recompense. Greek has one repayment verb and until, where Hebrew repeats repayment and can be read either until or as an emphatic but.
Verse 65:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:7 your iniquities and your ancestors' iniquities together,” says YHWH, “because they burned incense on the mountains and insulted Me on the hills. I will measure their former deeds into their lap.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:7 their sins and their ancestors' sins,” says the Lord, “who burned incense on mountains and insulted Me on hills. I will repay their works into their lap.”
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek their replaces your and omits together and former or first. The ancestral wrongdoing, mountain incense, insult, and full recompense agree.
Verse 65:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:8 Thus says YHWH: “As when new wine is found in a cluster and someone says, ‘Do not destroy it, for a blessing is in it,’ so I will act for My servants' sake, without destroying everything.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:8 Thus says the Lord: “As a grape is found in the cluster and people say, ‘Do not ruin it, for the Lord's blessing is in it,’ so I will act for the sake of the one serving Me; for this one's sake I will not destroy everyone.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek a grape replaces Hebrew new wine and explicitly calls the blessing the Lord's. It has one servant and repeats for this one's sake, where Hebrew servants is plural. Rashi allows the literal cluster image alongside an application to Noah [RASHI65].
Verse 65:9 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:9 I will bring offspring from Jacob and an heir of My mountains from Judah. My chosen ones will inherit it, and My servants will dwell there.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:9 I will bring out the offspring from Jacob and from Judah, and it will inherit My holy mountain. My chosen ones and My slaves will inherit and dwell there.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek one holy mountain replaces plural mountains and explicitly joins both chosen ones and servants in inheriting and dwelling. The preserved descendants from Jacob and Judah agree.
Verse 65:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:10 Sharon will become pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for cattle, for My people who sought Me.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:10 There will be shelters for flocks in the woodland, and the ravine of Achor will be a resting place for cattle, for My people who sought Me.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek woodland replaces the named region Sharon and has shelters there rather than the region becoming pasture. Achor, cattle, and the people seeking God agree.
Verse 65:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:11 But you who abandon YHWH and forget My holy mountain, who set a table for Gad and fill a counted measure of mixed wine,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:11 But you who abandoned Me and forget My holy mountain, preparing a table for the demon and filling a mixed drink for Fortune,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek the demon and Fortune explicitly identify two recipients. Hebrew Gad is retained as a deity-name, while counted libations follows Rashi; construing Meni as the second deity Destiny is another reading [RASHI65]. Greek Me replaces YHWH. The illicit banquet contrasts with faithful worship.
Verse 65:12 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:12 I will count you out for the sword, and you will all bow down for slaughter, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not hear. You did evil in My eyes and chose what I did not desire.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:12 I will hand you over to the sword; all of you will fall in slaughter, because I called you and you did not obey, I spoke and you disregarded Me. You did evil before Me and chose what I did not want.”
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The fatal consequence for ignored divine speech agrees. Greek surrender replaces the counting wordplay, falling replaces bowing, and explicit disobedience replaces not answering or hearing.
Verse 65:13 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:13 Therefore thus says Lord YHWH: “Look, My servants will eat, but you will hunger. My servants will drink, but you will thirst. My servants will rejoice, but you will be ashamed.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:13 Therefore thus says the Lord: “Look, those serving Me will eat, but you will hunger. Those serving Me will drink, but you will thirst. Those serving Me will rejoice, but you will be ashamed.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: All three contrasting outcomes agree. Greek those serving Me renders the Hebrew servants with a participial phrase, and its divine title is simply Lord.
Verse 65:14 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:14 Look, My servants will sing from a glad heart, but you will cry out from an aching heart and wail from a broken spirit.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:14 Look, those serving Me will exult with joy, but you will cry out because of your heart's pain and wail from a broken spirit.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The servants' joy contrasts with the others' heartache and spiritual brokenness in both. Greek exultation replaces explicit singing and the servants' glad heart.
Verse 65:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:15 You will leave your name as an oath for My chosen ones: ‘May Lord YHWH put you to death!’ But He will call His servants another name,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:15 For you will leave your name as a surfeit for My chosen ones, but the Lord will put you to death. Those serving Him will be called a new name,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek surfeit replaces the Hebrew curse-oath and keeps you plural. Hebrew the death clause as the oath's wording follows its shift to singular; a direct announcement of death is also possible. Rashi explains the name as a proverbial oath invoking their fate [RASHI65]. Another name becomes a new name.
Verse 65:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:16 so that whoever seeks blessing in the land will bless himself by the God of Faithfulness, and whoever swears in the land will swear by the God of Faithfulness. For former troubles are forgotten and hidden from My eyes.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:16 which will be blessed upon earth. For they will bless the true God, and those swearing upon earth will swear by the true God. They will forget their former affliction, and it will not rise into their heart.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek blesses the new name and then blesses God; Hebrew describes people seeking blessing by God. God of Faithfulness represents Hebrew God of Amen, explained by Rashi through fulfilled promises [RASHI65]. Greek forgotten human affliction replaces troubles hidden from divine eyes.
Verse 65:17 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:17 For look, I am creating new heavens and a new earth; former things will not be remembered or come to mind.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:17 For heaven will be new and earth new, and they will never remember former things, nor will those things enter their heart,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The renewed heaven and earth and forgotten former state agree. Greek lacks the explicit I am creating and uses singular heaven. Revelation twenty-one one depicts new heaven and earth; Second Peter three thirteen expects this promised realm of righteousness. Rashi prefers actual new heavens to a solely governmental interpretation [NA28REV21] [NA282PE3] [RASHI65].
Verse 65:18 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:18 Instead, rejoice and exult forever in what I create, for look, I am creating Jerusalem as exultation and her people as joy.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:18 but they will find joy and exultation in it. For look, I am making Jerusalem an exultation and My people joy.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek predicts finding joy in the new earth instead of commanding perpetual joy in God's creating. My people replaces her people. The transformed Jerusalem agrees.
Verse 65:19 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:19 I will exult in Jerusalem and rejoice in My people. No sound of weeping or cry of distress will be heard in her again.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:19 I will exult over Jerusalem and rejoice over My people, and no sound of weeping or crying will ever again be heard in her.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Divine delight in city and people and the end of audible distress agree. Irenaeus, Against Heresies five thirty-four four, uses the passage for the restored Jerusalem and righteous kingdom [IRENAEUS534].
Verse 65:20 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:20 No longer will there be a child of few days or an old man who fails to complete his days. For the youth will die at a hundred years, and the sinner will be cursed at a hundred years.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:20 There will never be one cut off prematurely there, nor an old man who fails to complete his time. For the young person will be a hundred years old, but the sinner who dies will be a hundred years old and accursed.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek the young person's age lacks the Hebrew death verb; dying is attached to the sinner. Both preserve the stated hundred years and curse without making the passage a general assertion that nobody dies. Greek one cut off prematurely interprets the substantive adjective untimely; immature person is another reading. Rashi applies Hebrew hundred-year liability to capital punishment [RASHI65].
Verse 65:21 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:21 They will build houses and live in them, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:21 They will build houses and inhabit them themselves; they will plant vineyards and eat their own produce.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The builders and planters themselves enjoy the houses and crops in both. Greek emphasizes their own participation.
Verse 65:22 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:22 They will not build for another to inhabit or plant for another to eat. For My people's days will be like a tree's days, and My chosen ones will outlast the work of their hands.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:22 They will not build for others to inhabit or plant for others to eat. For My people's days will be like those of the tree of life; they will wear out the works of their labor.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek explicitly says tree of life, where Hebrew has tree; Rashi reports the same tree-of-life interpretation through Jonathan [RASHI65]. Hebrew chosen ones moves to Greek twenty-three. Irenaeus quotes the tree of life and enduring work in his reading of the restored kingdom [IRENAEUS534].
Verse 65:23 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:23 They will not toil in vain or bear children for terror, for they are the offspring of YHWH's blessed ones, with their descendants beside them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:23 My chosen ones will not labor in vain or bear children for a curse, because they are offspring blessed by God, and their descendants will be with them.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek chosen ones begins this verse, and curse replaces terror. Greek the offspring themselves are blessed, where Hebrew more literally has offspring of blessed people. Fruitful labor and descendants remaining together agree.
Verse 65:24 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:24 Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:24 Before they cry out I will listen to them; while they are still speaking I will say, ‘What is it?’
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both promise prompt divine attention. Greek listening comes first, then the explicit response What is it, where Hebrew first answers and then hears.
Verse 65:25 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
65:25 Wolf and lamb will graze together; the lion will eat straw like cattle, and dust will be the serpent's food. They will not harm or destroy anywhere on My holy mountain,” says YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
65:25 Then wolves and lambs will graze together, and a lion will eat straw like an ox, while a serpent will eat earth like bread. They will not wrong or destroy on My holy mountain,” says the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Peaceful feeding and absence of harm on the holy mountain agree. Greek pluralizes wolves and lambs and describes earth as bread rather than dust as the serpent's food. The imagery also recalls chapter eleven.