Isaiah 66 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 66:3, 66:5, 66:9
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 66
True worship, Zion’s children and final judgment
Verse 66:1 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:1 Thus says YHWH: “The heavens are My throne, and the earth My footstool. What house could you build for Me, and what place is My rest?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:1 Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, and earth the footstool of My feet. What sort of house will you build for Me, or what place is My rest?
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The cosmic throne, footstool, and question about a human-built dwelling agree. Greek singular heaven corresponds to Hebrew heavens. Stephen cites this and the following creation claim in Acts seven forty-eight–fifty, questioning confinement of the Most High in handmade dwellings [NA28ACT7].
Verse 66:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:2 My hand made all these things, and all these things came to be,” declares YHWH. “But to this one I look: the poor and broken in spirit, who trembles at My word.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:2 For My hand made all these things, and all these things are Mine,” says the Lord. “And to whom will I look except the humble and quiet one who trembles at My words?
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek all things are Mine replaces Hebrew their coming into existence. Quiet replaces broken in spirit; the divine regard for the lowly and responsive person agrees.
Verse 66:3 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:3 One who slaughters an ox strikes down a man; one who sacrifices a sheep breaks a dog's neck; one who presents a grain offering presents pig's blood; one who offers a memorial of frankincense brings a gift of wrongdoing. They too chose their own ways, and their soul desired their abominations.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:3 But the lawless person who sacrifices a calf to Me is like someone killing a dog; the one offering fine flour is like one offering pig's blood; the one giving frankincense as a memorial is like a blasphemer. These people chose their ways and their abominations, which their soul desired,
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek explicitly identifies the worshiper as lawless, lacks the human-killing and separate sheep clauses, and ends with blasphemy. Hebrew gift of wrongdoing follows Rashi; blessing an idol is another reading. Rashi, in the closing words of his comment on 66:2, takes the ox clause as violence against its owner to steal it [RASHI66]. The changed ritual pairings and moral acts substantially reshape the accusation.
Verse 66:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:4 I too will choose their mockeries and bring their fears upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and they did not hear. They did evil in My eyes and chose what I did not desire.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:4 and I will choose their mockeries and repay their sins to them, because I called them and they did not obey Me, I spoke and they did not hear. They did evil before Me and chose what I did not want.”
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek repayment of sins replaces bringing the things they fear. It describes disobedience to the call rather than an unanswered call. The corresponding divine choosing answers their chosen evil.
Verse 66:5 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:5 Hear YHWH's word, you who tremble at His word! Your brothers who hate you and cast you out said, ‘For my name's sake let YHWH be glorified!’ And we will see your joy, but they will be ashamed.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:5 Hear the Lord's word, you who tremble at His word! Speak, our brothers, to those who hate us and loathe us, so that the Lord's name may be glorified and seen in their rejoicing; and those people will be ashamed.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew hostile brothers speak; Greek commands our brothers to address those hating us and makes glorification a purpose clause. Hebrew the boast followed by the prophet's assurance follows Rashi; taking we will see your joy as part of the mockers' words is another reading [RASHI66]. Greek the precise implied speech and referent of their rejoicing remain difficult; its changed speakers and pronouns are preserved.
Verse 66:6 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:6 A sound of tumult from the city! A sound from the temple! The sound of YHWH repaying His enemies what they deserve!
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:6 A sound of shouting from the city, a sound from the temple, the sound of the Lord repaying recompense to His opponents!
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The threefold sound and divine recompense from city and temple agree. Tumult/shouting and enemies/opponents are corresponding expressions.
Verse 66:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:7 Before she labored, she gave birth; before birth pangs came upon her, she delivered a male.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:7 Before the woman in labor gave birth, before the pain of labor came, she escaped and bore a male.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek identifies the woman as laboring, describes escape, and places the birth before the laboring woman's delivery; the difficult sequence is retained. Hebrew simply contrasts birth with the preceding absence of labor and pangs. Both specify a male child.
Verse 66:8 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen things like these? Can a land be brought forth in one day, or a nation be born all at once? For Zion labored and also bore her children.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:8 Who heard such a thing, and who has seen anything like it? Did a land labor in one day, or was a nation born all at once? For Zion labored and bore her children.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both marvel at the sudden birth of Zion's children as a nation. Hebrew the land being brought forth becomes Greek the land itself laboring.
Verse 66:9 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:9 ‘Would I bring to the point of birth and not bring forth?’ says YHWH. ‘Would I, who causes birth, shut the womb?’ says your God.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:9 ‘But I gave this expectation, and you did not remember Me,’ said the Lord. ‘Look, did I not make the woman who gives birth and the barren woman?’ said God.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew assures completion of a birth God initiates. Greek reproaches failure to remember and asserts that God made both fertile and barren women. The changed action, reproach, and reference to barrenness give a substantially different force.
Verse 66:10 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:10 Rejoice with Jerusalem and exult in her, all who love her! Be exceedingly glad with her, all who mourn over her,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:10 Rejoice, Jerusalem, and celebrate in her, all who love her! Rejoice with joy, all who mourn over her,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The lovers and mourners of Jerusalem receive the same call to joy. Greek first addresses Jerusalem directly, where Hebrew calls others to rejoice with her.
Verse 66:11 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:11 so that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast, so that you may drink deeply and delight in her approaching glory.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:11 so that you may nurse and be filled from her comforting breast, so that, nursing fully, you may delight in the entrance of her glory.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The nursing and consolation images agree. Hebrew approaching glory follows Rashi's movement interpretation; abundance of glory is another reading [RASHI66]. Greek explicitly describes glory's entrance.
Verse 66:12 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:12 For thus says YHWH: ‘Look, I am extending peace to her like a river, and the nations' glory like an overflowing stream. You will nurse, be carried on the hip, and be dandled on knees.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:12 For thus says the Lord: ‘Look, I turn toward them like a river of peace, and like a flooding torrent the glory of nations. Their children will be lifted on shoulders and comforted on knees.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek makes God turn toward them like a river, where Hebrew extends peace to her. It names their children, shifts hip to shoulders, and lacks the nursing clause. Both join the nations' glory with tender carrying and consolation.
Verse 66:13 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:13 As a man whose mother comforts him, so I will comfort you; in Jerusalem you will be comforted.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:13 As if a mother were to comfort someone, so I too will comfort you, and in Jerusalem you will be comforted.’
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The maternal comparison and divine comfort in Jerusalem agree. Greek someone is less specifically male than Hebrew a man.
Verse 66:14 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:14 You will see, and your heart will rejoice; your bones will flourish like grass. YHWH's hand will be made known to His servants, and He will show indignation toward His enemies.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:14 You will see, and your heart will rejoice; your bones will spring up like vegetation. The Lord's hand will be known to those who revere Him, and He will threaten the disobedient.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Renewed vigor and recognition of divine power agree. Greek reverent people replaces servants, while threatening disobedient people replaces indignation against enemies.
Verse 66:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:15 For look, YHWH will come in fire, and His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger in fury and His rebuke in flames of fire.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:15 For look, the Lord will come like fire, and His chariots like a storm, to render vengeance in wrath and rejection in a flame of fire.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek like fire replaces in fire, vengeance replaces anger, and rejection replaces rebuke. The storm-chariots and fiery judgment agree.
Verse 66:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:16 For YHWH will contend with all flesh by fire and His sword, and those slain by YHWH will be many.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:16 For by the Lord's fire all the earth will be judged, and by His sword all flesh; many will be wounded by the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek explicitly distinguishes the earth judged by fire from flesh judged by sword; Hebrew makes YHWH the contending subject with both instruments. Slain becomes wounded. Rashi explains contending as judicial argument and also permits construing all flesh as judged [RASHI66].
Verse 66:17 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:17 ‘Those who consecrate and purify themselves for the gardens, one after another in the middle, eating pig's flesh, the detestable thing, and the mouse, will perish together,’ declares YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:17 ‘Those purifying and cleansing themselves for the gardens, eating pig's flesh and abominations and the mouse in the porches, will be consumed together,’ said the Lord,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek porches replaces Hebrew the difficult one-after-another-in-the-middle phrase. Hebrew follows Rashi's successive groups in the garden; following one central figure is another interpretation [RASHI66]. The forbidden foods and collective destruction agree.
Verse 66:18 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:18 ‘As for Me—their deeds and their thoughts have come, to gather all the nations and languages; they will come and see My glory.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:18 ‘and I know their works and their reasoning. I am coming to gather all nations and languages, and they will come and see My glory.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek explicitly supplies I know and I am coming. Hebrew has an abrupt I, no knowledge verb, and a feminine singular coming form; Rashi connects the deeds reaching God with the resulting gathering [RASHI66]. The Hebrew ellipse is retained without importing the Greek verbs. Both conclude with nations seeing divine glory.
Verse 66:19 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:19 I will place a sign among them and send survivors from them to the nations: Tarshish, Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, Tubal and Javan, the distant islands that have not heard My fame or seen My glory. They will declare My glory among the nations.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:19 I will leave signs upon them and send those saved from them to the nations: to Tharsis, Phoud, Loud, Mosoch, Thobel and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard My name or seen My glory. They will announce My glory among the nations.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek plural signs and name replace sign and fame; Mosoch replaces the Hebrew bow-drawing description, and Phoud differs from Pul. Rashi reads the sign as a surviving mark of judgment; Cyril, Catechetical Lecture twelve eight, applies the gathering and sign to Christ and the Cross [RASHI66] [CYRILCAT12].
Verse 66:20 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:20 They will bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to YHWH, on horses and in chariots, in covered wagons and on mules, with dancing songs, to My holy mountain, Jerusalem,’ says YHWH, ‘as the Israelites bring the offering in a clean vessel to YHWH's house.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:20 They will bring your brothers from all nations as a gift to the Lord, with horses and chariots, in mule carriages with sunshades, to the holy city Jerusalem,’ said the Lord, ‘as the Israelites might bring Me their sacrifices with psalms into the Lord's house.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek holy city replaces My holy mountain; mule carriages and sunshades differ from the Hebrew transport list. Hebrew dancing songs follows Rashi; another vehicle is an alternative reading [RASHI66]. Greek sacrifices with psalms replaces the offering in a clean vessel, changing the comparison's ritual detail.
Verse 66:21 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:21 From them too I will take priests and Levites,’ says YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:21 From them I will take priests and Levites for Myself,’ said the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The selection of priests and Levites from them agrees; Greek explicitly says for Myself. The antecedent's scope is not resolved by naming new groups. Rashi explains selection through priestly and Levitical ancestry known to God among the returned and returning people [RASHI66].
Verse 66:22 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:22 ‘For as the new heavens and new earth that I am making endure before Me,’ declares YHWH, ‘so your offspring and your name will endure.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:22 ‘For just as the new heaven and new earth that I make remain before Me,’ says the Lord, ‘so your offspring and your name will stand.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The enduring new creation guarantees enduring descendants and name in both. Greek singular heaven corresponds to Hebrew heavens. Compare the reception of the new-creation promise at sixty-five seventeen [NA28REV21] [NA282PE3].
Verse 66:23 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:23 From new moon to new moon and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh will come to bow down before Me,’ says YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:23 Month after month and Sabbath after Sabbath, all flesh will come before Me to bow down in Jerusalem,’ said the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek explicitly adds in Jerusalem and uses month, where Hebrew can name the new-moon observance. The recurring Sabbath and universal bodily worship agree.
Verse 66:24 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
66:24 ‘They will go out and see the corpses of the people who rebelled against Me, for their worm will not die and their fire will not be quenched. They will be an abhorrence to all flesh.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
66:24 ‘They will go out and see the limbs of the people who transgressed against Me, for their worm will not die and their fire will not be quenched. They will be a spectacle to all flesh.’
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek limbs and spectacle replace corpses and abhorrence. Both retain undying worm and unquenched fire. Rashi explains contempt and reads the fire as Gehinnom; Mark nine forty-eight applies the worm/fire wording in Jesus' Gehenna warning [RASHI66] [NA28MRK9]. The Greek Isaiah text remains distinct from Mark's present-tense citation.