Jeremiah 31 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 31:2, 31:7, 31:8, 31:21, 31:22, 31:23, 31:32, 31:37
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 31
Jeremiah 31
Hebrew source: BHS31 • chapter 31
Greek source: LXX38 • chapter 38
Verse 31:1 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:1] At that time—YHWH's declaration—I will be God to all Israel's clans, and they will be My people.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:1] At that time, said the Lord, I will be God to Israel's family, and they will be My people.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek singular family differs from all clans. BHS publisher chapter31 has forty verses; Chabad's numbering places this verse at30:25 and labels the remaining verses31:1–39. This draft follows the BHS publisher labels and displays Greek38 references.
Verse 31:2 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:2] Thus says YHWH: The people who survived the sword found favor in the wilderness, as I went to give Israel rest.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:2] Thus said the Lord: I found warmth in the wilderness among those who perished by the sword. Go, and do not destroy Israel.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek first-person finding warmth among the dead differs from Hebrew the survivors finding favor; Greek commands not destroying Israel rather than giving rest. Hebrew I is supplied for the infinitive go's implicit agent and remains a declared interpretive choice.
Verse 31:3 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:3] YHWH appeared to me from afar: I loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I drew you with faithful kindness.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:3] The Lord appeared to him from afar: I loved you with an eternal love; therefore I drew you into compassion.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek to him differs from Hebrew to me. Hebrew drawing with kindness also permits extending kindness; both columns preserve the explicit eternal-love claim.
Verse 31:4 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:4] Again I will build you, and you will be built, virgin Israel. Again you will adorn yourself with your tambourines and go out in the dance of merrymakers.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:4] Again I will build you, and you will be built, virgin Israel. Again you will take your tambourine and go out with a gathering of people playing.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek gathering and taking a singular tambourine differ from Hebrew dance and adornment with plural instruments.
Verse 31:5 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:5] Again you will plant vineyards on Samaria's mountains; the planters will plant and release their fruit for ordinary use.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:5] Again plant vineyards on Samaria's mountains; plant and praise.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek commands planting and praise; Hebrew promises the planters' use of the fruit, with hillil provisionally referring to its release from sacred restriction. Reception: Rashi, Chabad31:4, explains redemption of fourth-year fruit with money; that detail remains commentary, not added translation.
Verse 31:6 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:6] For a day is coming when watchmen will call on Ephraim's mountain: Rise, let us go up to Zion, to YHWH our God.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:6] Because there is a day of calling by those making their defense in Ephraim's mountains: Rise and go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek defenders differs from Hebrew watchmen, and Greek commands go up rather than let us go up. The unusual Greek apologoumenon is not silently replaced by Hebrew's profession.
Verse 31:7 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:7] For thus says YHWH: Sing joyfully for Jacob and shout at the head of the nations. Make it heard, praise, and say: Save, YHWH, Your people, Israel's remnant!
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:7] Because thus said the Lord to Jacob: Rejoice and neigh aloud toward the head of the nations; make it heard and praise. Say: The Lord saved His people, Israel's remnant!
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek declares completed salvation rather than Hebrew's petition to save, and its neighing verb retains a striking shout image. Jacob is the Greek addressee rather than the Hebrew beneficiary of singing.
Verse 31:8 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:8] Look, I am bringing them from the northern land and gathering them from the earth's farthest reaches. Among them are blind and lame people, the pregnant woman and the woman giving birth together; a great assembly will return here.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:8] Look, I am bringing them from the north and will gather them from the earth's farthest end at the Passover festival. You will bear a great crowd, and they will return here.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek has Passover and singular you bearing a crowd, instead of Hebrew blind, lame, pregnant, and laboring people. The Greek festival is actually named phasek; the Hebrew inclusions are not inserted into its text.
Verse 31:9 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:9] They will come with weeping, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them. I will guide them to streams of water on a straight road where they will not stumble, for I have become Israel's father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:9] They went out with weeping, and with encouragement I will bring them up, lodging them beside water channels on a straight road where they will certainly not wander, because I became Israel's father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek past departure differs from Hebrew future arrival; encouragement, lodging, channels, and wandering differ from pleas, leading, streams, and stumbling.
Verse 31:10 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:10] Hear YHWH's word, nations, and declare it in distant coastlands: He who scattered Israel will gather him and guard him as a shepherd guards his flock.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:10] Hear the Lord's word, nations, and announce it to the farther islands. Say: He who winnowed Israel will gather him and guard him like one tending his flock.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek winnowing supplies a particular scattering image; both keep the same divine agent for dispersal and gathering.
Verse 31:11 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:11] For YHWH ransomed Jacob and redeemed him from the hand of one stronger than he.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:11] Because the Lord ransomed Jacob and rescued him from the hand of those stronger than he.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek has plural stronger opponents and rescue rather than the second Hebrew redemption verb.
Verse 31:12 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:12] They will come and sing on Zion's height, streaming toward YHWH's goodness—grain, new wine, oil, and the young of flock and herd. Their life will be like a watered garden, and they will languish no more.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:12] They will come and rejoice on Mount Zion; they will come for the Lord's good things, to a land of grain, wine, fruits, livestock, and sheep. Their life will be like a fruitful tree, and they will hunger no more.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek fruitful tree and no hunger differ from Hebrew watered garden and no languishing. Greek fruits replaces the explicit oil and does not specify animal offspring.
Verse 31:13 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:13] Then a virgin will rejoice in the dance, and young men and old together. I will turn their mourning into joy, comfort them, and gladden them after their sorrow.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:13] Then virgins will rejoice in a gathering of young men, and elders will rejoice. I will turn their mourning into gladness and make them joyful.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek has plural virgins and a gathering rather than dance, and lacks the explicit comforting and removal from sorrow.
Verse 31:14 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:14] I will satisfy the priests' appetite with rich food, and My people will be filled with My goodness—YHWH's declaration.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:14] I will magnify and fill the priests' souls to abundance, the sons of Levi, and My people will be filled with My good things.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek adds magnify and sons of Levi, lacks the explicit fat-rich food and final formula, and uses a saturation verb that can also mean intoxicate.
Verse 31:15 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:15] Thus says YHWH: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel weeps for her children; she refuses comfort for her children, because they are no more.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:15] Thus said the Lord: A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and wailing. Rachel, weeping aloud, would not stop over her sons, because they are no more.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek refusal to stop differs from Hebrew refusal of comfort, and Greek uses plural they where Hebrew has a collective singular absence. Reception: Rashi, Chabad31:14, reports a midrash in which Rachel's mercy toward Leah grounds her intercession for Israel; this is attributed reception, not an event inserted here.
Verse 31:16 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:16] Thus says YHWH: Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work has a reward—YHWH's declaration—and they will return from the enemy's land.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:16] Thus said the Lord: Let your voice cease from weeping and your eyes from your tears, because your works have a reward, and they will return from enemies' land,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek works and enemies are plural, and Greek lacks the internal declaration formula.
Verse 31:17 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:17] There is hope for your future—YHWH's declaration—and your children will return to their territory.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:17] a lasting stay for your children.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek has only the brief monimon phrase, provisionally a lasting stay, following the return in38:16; it lacks the explicit hope, future, formula, and territorial-return clause.
Verse 31:18 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:18] I have surely heard Ephraim lamenting: You disciplined me, and I was disciplined like an untrained calf. Turn me back, and I will return, for You are YHWH my God.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:18] I surely heard Ephraim wailing: You disciplined me, and I was disciplined; like a calf I was not taught. Turn me back, and I will return, because You are the Lord my God.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek states I was not taught as a separate clause; Hebrew untrained describes the calf in the discipline comparison.
Verse 31:19 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:19] For after I turned back, I repented, and after I came to understand, I struck my thigh. I was ashamed and disgraced, for I bore my youth's reproach.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:19] Because after my captivity I repented, and after I came to know, I groaned over days of shame and showed You that I received reproach from my youth.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek captivity differs from Hebrew returning; groaning over days and showing You differ from striking the thigh and being disgraced.
Verse 31:20 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:20] Is Ephraim a precious son to Me, a child of delight? Whenever I speak of him, I still remember him. Therefore My inward parts stir for him; I will surely have compassion on him—YHWH's declaration.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:20] Ephraim is a beloved son to Me, a child taking delight, because My words are in him; I will surely remember him. Therefore I hastened toward him; I will surely have mercy on him, says the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek statement, My words in him, and divine hastening differ from Hebrew question, speaking of him, and stirred inward parts. The Greek child participle is active, not silently turned into being delighted in.
Verse 31:21 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:21] Set up markers for yourself; place signposts for yourself. Set your heart on the highway, the road you traveled. Return, virgin Israel; return to these cities of yours.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:21] Stand firm, Zion; carry out punishment; set your heart upon the shoulders. Turn back along the road you traveled, virgin Israel; turn back to your cities in mourning.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek Zion, punishment, shoulders, and mourning differ radically from Hebrew route markers. Hebrew you traveled adopts the reading explicitly displayed at Chabad31:20 beside written halakhti, I traveled; Rashi interprets the written form as God's accompanying Israel, a reception alternative rather than a hidden correction.
Verse 31:22 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:22] How long will you turn evasively away, wandering daughter? For YHWH has created a new thing in the land: a female will surround a man.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:22] How long will you turn away, dishonored daughter? Because the Lord created salvation for a new planting; people will go about in salvation.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek salvation, planting, and people differs from Hebrew female surrounding man; neither text is rewritten into the other's image. Reception: Rashi, Chabad31:21, reads the female seeking the male in marriage and also reports Judah the Preacher's inheritance interpretation. Neither interpretation replaces the difficult Hebrew wording.
Verse 31:23 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:23] Thus says YHWH of hosts, Israel's God: They will again say this word in Judah's land and its cities when I restore their fortunes: May YHWH bless you, dwelling of righteousness, holy mountain!
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:23] Thus said the Lord: They will again say this word in Judah's land and its cities when I return its captivity: Blessed is the Lord over the righteous mountain, His holy mountain,
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek blesses the Lord rather than asking Him to bless the addressed dwelling and mountain; Greek lacks of hosts, Israel's God. The repeated mountain in English clarifies Greek apposition, not a second site.
Verse 31:24 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:24] Judah and all its cities will dwell there together, farmers and those traveling with the flock.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:24] and those dwelling in Judah's cities and all its land together with a farmer; and he will be lifted up with a flock.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek's suspended inhabitants phrase and singular passive lifted up are difficult and retained provisionally, without replacing them with Hebrew traveling shepherds.
Verse 31:25 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:25] For I have satisfied the weary soul and filled every languishing soul.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:25] Because I filled every thirsty soul to abundance and filled every hungry soul.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek thirst and hunger differ from Hebrew weariness and languishing.
Verse 31:26 Same
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:26] At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:26] Therefore I awoke and saw, and my sleep became sweet to me.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both preserve the sudden first-person waking report; its speaker is not renamed in the translation.
Verse 31:27 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:27] Look, days are coming—YHWH's declaration—when I will sow Israel's house and Judah's house with human seed and animal seed.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:27] Therefore look, days are coming, says the Lord, and I will sow Israel and Judah with human seed and livestock seed.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek adds therefore and lacks both house nouns; the repopulation image remains.
Verse 31:28 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:28] As I watched over them to uproot, tear down, demolish, destroy, and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and plant—YHWH's declaration.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:28] And just as I watched over them to tear down and harm, so I will watch over them to build and plant, says the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek has two destructive actions rather than Hebrew five.
Verse 31:29 Same
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:29] In those days they will no longer say: Fathers ate unripe grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:29] In those days they will certainly not say: The fathers ate an unripe grape, and the children's teeth were set on edge.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both reject the inherited-consequence proverb in the coming situation.
Verse 31:30 Same
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:30] Instead, each will die for his own iniquity; every person eating unripe grapes will have his own teeth set on edge.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:30] Instead, each will die in his own sin, and the one eating the unripe grape will have his own teeth set on edge.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both emphasize the eater's own consequence.
Verse 31:31 Same
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:31] Look, days are coming—YHWH's declaration—when I will make a new covenant with Israel's house and Judah's house,
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:31] Look, days are coming, says the Lord, and I will make a new covenant with Israel's house and Judah's house,
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both name Israel and Judah as the covenant parties; no later community name replaces them. Reception—Saint Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho11, explicitly quotes the new-covenant promise and interprets Christ as its fulfillment. This is attributed Christian reception within a polemical dialogue, not wording inserted into either ancient-text translation. Source: Justin11, read in the identified English presentation.
Biblical connection — New Testament quotation: Hebrews 8:8-12. Hebrews quotes Jeremiah's new-covenant promise at length when explaining the covenant associated with Christ's ministry.
Verse 31:32 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:32] not like the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took their hand to bring them out of Egypt's land—a covenant they broke, although I was their husband—YHWH's declaration.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:32] not according to the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took their hand to bring them out of Egypt's land, because they did not remain in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew baalti is rendered was their husband, also permitting lordship; Greek emelesa states disregard, a substantive difference retained rather than harmonized. The covenant's ancient-language wording is translated here independently of its later quotation in Hebrews.
Verse 31:33 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:33] For this is the covenant I will make with Israel's house after those days—YHWH's declaration: I will place My instruction within them and write it on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be My people.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:33] Because this is the covenant I will make with Israel's house after those days, says the Lord: I will surely put My laws into their understanding and write them upon their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek plural laws and understanding differ from Hebrew singular instruction and within them; the inner inscription is shared.
Verse 31:34 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:34] No longer will each teach his fellow or his brother, saying, Know YHWH, for they will all know Me, from their least to their greatest—YHWH's declaration. For I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:34] And they will certainly not teach each his fellow citizen or his brother, saying, Know the Lord, because they will all know Me, from their least to their greatest. I will be merciful toward their injustices and certainly remember their sins no more.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek fellow citizen and plural injustices/sins differ slightly from Hebrew fellow and collective singulars; Greek lacks the internal formula.
Verse 31:35 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:35] Thus says YHWH, who gives the sun for light by day and the ordinances of moon and stars for light by night, who stirs the sea so its waves roar—YHWH of hosts is His name:
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:36] Thus said the Lord, who gave the sun for daylight, moon and stars for night light, and a cry in the sea so its waves boomed—the Lord Almighty is His name:
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: This Hebrew verse aligns Greek38:36, after Greek's assurance corresponding to Hebrew31:37. Greek lacks ordinances here and makes a cry part of what was given; the actual source order is registered.
Verse 31:36 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:36] If these ordinances depart from before Me—YHWH's declaration—then Israel's offspring will also cease to be a nation before Me for all days.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:37] If these laws cease from before Me, says the Lord, then Israel's family will cease to be a nation before Me for all days.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: This Hebrew verse aligns Greek38:37; both condition Israel's cessation on the cessation of the cosmic ordering.
Verse 31:37 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:37] Thus says YHWH: If the heavens above can be measured and the earth's foundations below searched out, then I too will reject all Israel's offspring for all they have done—YHWH's declaration.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:35] If the heaven is raised to the height, says the Lord, and the earth's ground lowered beneath, even then I do not reject Israel's family, says the Lord, for all they did.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: This Hebrew verse aligns Greek38:35. Greek raised/lowered and explicit do not reject differ from Hebrew measured/searched and conditional rejection. Reception: Rashi, Chabad31:36, reads Hebrew's condition as impossible and therefore assuring Israel against rejection. That reading explains the rhetorical force without deleting Hebrew's conditional wording.
Verse 31:38 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:38] Look, days are coming—YHWH's declaration—when the city will be built for YHWH from Hananel's tower to the Corner Gate.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:38] Look, days are coming, says the Lord, and a city will be built for the Lord from Hanamel's tower to the Corner Gate.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew coming follows the explicitly marked read-but-not-written form at Chabad31:37; the BHS web display has its vowels without consonants. Greek Hanamel differs from Hebrew Hananel and is not normalized as though identical.
Verse 31:39 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:39] The measuring line will go out further opposite it to Gareb's hill and turn toward Goah.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:39] And its measurement will go out opposite them as far as Gareb's hills, and it will be enclosed all around with chosen stones.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek plural hills and chosen-stone enclosure differ from Hebrew singular hill and Goah. Hebrew line follows the read qaw explicitly displayed beside written qaweh at Chabad31:38.
Verse 31:40 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[31:40] The whole valley of corpses and ashes, and all the fields as far as the Kidron stream, to the corner of the Horse Gate eastward, will be holy to YHWH. It will never again be uprooted or demolished.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[38:40] And all Asaremoth as far as the Kidron wadi, to the corner of the eastern Horse Gate, will be a sanctuary for the Lord. It will certainly never disappear or be torn down forever.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek lacks the valley-of-corpses-and-ashes phrase and transliterates Asaremoth; Hebrew fields adopts the shademoth reading explicitly shown at Chabad31:39 beside written sharemoth. Greek nachal is the Hebrew wadi term transliterated. Neither column asserts modern site identifications.