Jeremiah 2 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 2:2, 2:16, 2:19, 2:20, 2:23, 2:24, 2:33, 2:34
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 2
Jeremiah 2
Hebrew source: BHS2 • chapter 2
Greek source: LXX2 • chapter 2
Verse 2:1 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:1] YHWH's word came to me, saying,
Greek–English Saints Priority
[—] [No corresponding verse is displayed in the declared Greek running text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: The publisher Greek chapter begins at 2:2. This notice describes that running text, not every Greek witness.
Verse 2:2 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:2] Go and proclaim in Jerusalem's hearing: Thus says YHWH, I remember for you the steadfast love of your youth, the love of your bridal days, when you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:2] And He said, Thus says the Lord: I remembered the mercy of your youth and the love of your completion, when you followed the Holy One of Israel, says the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek lacks the instruction to proclaim and the wilderness setting, has completion instead of bridal days, and names the Holy One of Israel instead of Me. Completion is provisional for teleiosis; its marital association is not ruled out.
Verse 2:3 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:3] Israel was holy to YHWH, the first of His harvest. All who devoured him incurred guilt; disaster came upon them—YHWH's declaration.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:3] Israel is holy. To the Lord he is the first of His produce. All who devour him will offend; calamities will come upon them, declares the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek's displayed punctuation separates holy Israel and the Lord's first produce. The protective harvest image agrees despite tense differences.
Verse 2:4 Same
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:4] Hear YHWH's word, house of Jacob and all the clans of the house of Israel.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:4] Hear the Lord's word, house of Jacob and every clan of the house of Israel.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both address the whole covenant community.
Verse 2:5 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:5] Thus says YHWH: What wrong did your fathers find in Me, that they went far from Me, followed vapor and became vaporous?
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:5] Thus says the Lord: What offense did your fathers find in Me, that they withdrew far from Me, followed futile things and became futile?
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Hebrew hevel wordplay is retained as vapor/vaporous; Greek uses futility language. The accusation concerns the addressed community's worship, not the worth of people generally.
Verse 2:6 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:6] They did not say, Where is YHWH, who brought us up from Egypt's land, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of steppe and pits, a land of drought and death-shadow, a land no one passed through and no human being inhabited?
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:6] They did not say, Where is the Lord who brought us up from Egypt's land, who guided us in the wilderness, in a boundless and impassable land, a waterless and fruitless land, a land through which nothing passed and where no human being lived?
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek's boundless, impassable, fruitless and nothing differ from the Hebrew terrain and death-shadow expressions.
Verse 2:7 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:7] I brought you into a fruitful land to eat its fruit and goodness, but you came and defiled My land and made My inheritance an abomination.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:7] I brought you into Carmel to eat its fruits and good things, but you entered and polluted My land and made My inheritance an abomination.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew karmel is read descriptively as fruitful land; Greek prints Carmel as a place-name. Neither is silently normalized to the other.
Verse 2:8 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:8] The priests did not say, Where is YHWH? Those handling the instruction did not know Me; the shepherds rebelled against Me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that do not profit.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:8] The priests did not say, Where is the Lord? Those holding to the law did not know Me; the shepherds acted ungodly toward Me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed what is useless.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Instruction/law and handling/holding retain the source emphases. Shepherds is not replaced with an assumed office title.
Verse 2:9 Same
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:9] Therefore I will still contend with you—YHWH's declaration—and with your children's children I will contend.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:9] Therefore I will still enter judgment with you, says the Lord, and with your children's children I will enter judgment.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The forensic contention and successive generations agree.
Verse 2:10 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:10] Cross over to the coastlands of Kittim and see; send to Kedar and consider carefully. See whether anything like this has happened.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:10] Cross over to the islands of Kittim and see; send to Kedar and consider carefully. See whether such things have happened.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Coastlands/islands preserve the semantic ranges without substituting modern borders.
Verse 2:11 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:11] Has a nation exchanged its gods, though they are not gods? Yet My people exchanged their glory for what does not profit.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:11] Will nations exchange their gods, though these are not gods? But My people exchanged their glory, from which they will not benefit.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek's relative clause attaches to the exchanged glory, a compressed relation distinct from Hebrew's explicit exchange for the unprofitable. The Greek is not rewritten from Hebrew.
Verse 2:12 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:12] Be appalled at this, heavens; shudder and be utterly desolate—YHWH's declaration.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:12] Heaven was astonished at this and shuddered exceedingly, says the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew commands the heavens to react; Greek reports their response and lacks a separate desolation command.
Verse 2:13 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:13] For My people committed two evils: they abandoned Me, the spring of living waters, to hew cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:13] For My people did two evil things: they abandoned Me, a spring of water of life, and dug broken pits for themselves that cannot hold water.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Living waters can mean fresh flowing water while carrying theological force; Greek water of life is kept distinct. Hebrew repeats cisterns. Reception—Justin, Dialogue with Trypho19, applies the living-fountain/broken-cistern image to his argument about baptism and circumcision. This later Christian application is distinct from the translated oracle. Source: Justin11 (scope includes19), English presentation.
Verse 2:14 Same
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:14] Is Israel a slave, or was he born in the house? Why has he become plunder?
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:14] Is Israel a slave, or is he house-born? Why has he become spoil?
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: House-born implies a household slave in context without adding a new legal definition.
Verse 2:15 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:15] Young lions roar over him and raise their voice. They made his land a desolation; his cities were burned, without inhabitant.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:15] Lions roared over him and raised their voice. They made his land a wilderness, and his cities were demolished so that none inhabited them.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek demolition differs from Hebrew burning, and Greek lacks young in the lion image.
Verse 2:16 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:16] Even the sons of Memphis and Tahpanhes have grazed the crown of your head.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:16] The sons of Memphis and Tahpanhes knew you and mocked you.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek knowledge and mockery differ from Hebrew the grazing or stripping of the scalp. The difficult Hebrew action is provisionally literal.
Verse 2:17 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:17] Have you not brought this upon yourself by abandoning YHWH your God when He led you on the way?
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:17] Has not your abandoning Me done these things to you? says the Lord your God.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek lacks the leading-on-the-way clause and uses direct Me plus a speech formula.
Verse 2:18 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:18] Now what have you to do with Egypt's road, to drink Shihor's water? And what have you to do with Assyria's road, to drink the River's water?
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:18] Now what have you to do with Egypt's road, to drink Gihon's water? And what have you to do with the Assyrians' road, to drink river waters?
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek Gihon differs from Hebrew Shihor, and Greek rivers is plural. The River is left as the Hebrew designation rather than silently expanded to a named river.
Verse 2:19 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:19] Your evil will discipline you, and your apostasies will rebuke you. Know and see that abandoning YHWH your God is evil and bitter, and that fear of Me is not in you—the declaration of the Lord YHWH of hosts.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:19] Your apostasy will discipline you, and your evil will rebuke you. Know and see that abandoning Me is bitter for you, says the Lord your God; and I took no pleasure in you, says the Lord your God.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek interchanges the disciplinary subjects and ends with divine displeasure rather than lack of fear. Its titles and repeated speech formula differ from Hebrew Lord YHWH of hosts.
Verse 2:20 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:20] For long ago I broke your yoke and tore apart your bonds, but you said, I will not serve. On every high hill and beneath every leafy tree you sprawled as a prostitute.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:20] For long ago you shattered your yoke and tore apart your bonds, and said, I will not be enslaved, but I will go upon every high hill and beneath every shady tree; there I will abandon myself to my prostitution.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew explicitly has I broke/I tore; Greek has you. Greek also extends the woman's quoted speech where Hebrew shifts to an accusation. The sexual metaphor personifies communal religious infidelity.
Verse 2:21 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:21] Yet I planted you as a choice vine, wholly genuine seed. How have you changed for Me into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:21] But I planted you as a fruitful vine, wholly genuine. How have you changed into bitterness, you foreign vine?
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek fruitful and bitterness differ from Hebrew choice vine and degenerate shoots. The vineyard metaphor is retained.
Verse 2:22 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:22] Even if you wash with natron and use much cleansing alkali, your iniquity remains stained before Me—the declaration of the Lord YHWH.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:22] Even if you wash with natron and multiply cleansing herb for yourself, you remain stained in your injustices before Me, says the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek poa literally herb is interpreted as a cleansing plant in this washing context. Ancient substances are not replaced with modern chemical products.
Verse 2:23 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:23] How can you say, I am not defiled; I have not followed the Baals? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done: a swift young she-camel entangling her ways,
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:23] How will you say, I was not polluted and did not follow Baal? See your ways in the burial ground and know what you did. Late her voice wailed; her ways
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek burial ground differs from Hebrew valley, and the she-camel image becomes a voice clause. Greek leaves her ways as the object completed in 2:24; the source boundary is preserved.
Verse 2:24 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:24] a wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, sniffing the wind in her desire. Who can turn back her heat? All who seek her need not tire; in her month they will find her.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:24] she broadened upon wilderness waters. In her soul's desires she was carried by the wind; she was handed over. Who will turn her back? All who seek her will not toil; in her humiliation they will find her.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek lacks the wild donkey and has waters, wind-carried movement, handing over and humiliation instead of the Hebrew animal's mating season. The rare Greek wind-carried verb and its figurative force require review.
Verse 2:25 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:25] Keep your foot from going bare and your throat from thirst. But you said, It is hopeless! No, for I love strangers, and after them I will go.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:25] Turn your foot from a rough road and your throat from thirst. But she said, I will be strong, because she had loved strangers and went after them.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek rough road and I will be strong differ from Hebrew bare foot and hopelessness. Greek shifts from quotation into third-person narration rather than keeping all the reply in first person.
Verse 2:26 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:26] As a thief is ashamed when found, so the house of Israel is ashamed: they, their kings, their officials, their priests and their prophets.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:26] As a thief is ashamed when caught, so the sons of Israel will be ashamed: they, their kings, their rulers, their priests and their prophets.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek sons of Israel differs from Hebrew house of Israel; the full leadership list agrees.
Verse 2:27 Same
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:27] They say to wood, You are my father, and to stone, You gave birth to me. They have turned their backs to Me, not their faces; yet in their trouble they say, Rise and save us!
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:27] They said to wood, You are my father, and to stone, You gave birth to me. They turned their backs toward Me, not their faces; and in the time of their calamities they will say, Rise and save us!
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The idol-addresses and reversal in distress agree. Divine pronouns refer to the speaker, not the wood or stone.
Verse 2:28 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:28] Where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them rise, if they can save you in your trouble! For your gods are as numerous as your cities, Judah.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:28] Where are your gods that you made for yourself? Will they rise and save you in the time of your affliction? For your gods were as numerous as your cities, Judah, and according to the number of Jerusalem's streets they sacrificed to Baal.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek adds the Jerusalem-streets and Baal-sacrifice clause. Hebrew's challenge is exhortative; Greek poses a question.
Verse 2:29 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:29] Why do you contend with Me? All of you have rebelled against Me—YHWH's declaration.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:29] Why do you speak to Me? All of you acted ungodly, and all of you acted lawlessly against Me, says the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek has a doubled accusation with repeated all of you, and speak rather than contend.
Verse 2:30 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:30] In vain I struck your children; they accepted no discipline. Your sword devoured your prophets like a destroying lion.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:30] In vain I struck your children; you accepted no discipline. A sword devoured your prophets like a destroying lion, and you did not fear.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek changes the discipline subject to you, lacks your on sword, and adds the lack-of-fear clause.
Verse 2:31 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:31] You of this generation, see YHWH's word! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of deep darkness? Why do My people say, We are free to roam; we will come to You no more?
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:31] Hear the Lord's word. Thus says the Lord: Have I become a wilderness to Israel, or a land left barren? Why did My people say, We will not be ruled, and we will come to You no more?
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek adds a speech formula, lacks generation, and differs in barren land and refusal to be ruled. Hebrew radnu is difficult; free to roam is provisional.
Verse 2:32 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:32] Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her bands? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days beyond counting.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:32] Will a bride forget her adornment, or a virgin her breastband? Yet My people forgot Me for days beyond counting.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek reverses bride and virgin relative to the two ornaments and specifies a breastband.
Verse 2:33 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:33] How well you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have even taught wicked women your ways.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:33] What good practice will you still pursue in your ways to seek love? Not so; you too acted wickedly to pollute your ways.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek condemns pollution of one's own ways rather than teaching others. Hebrew's displayed spelling at taught is unusual; the pointed second-person feminine sense is followed provisionally, with textual review outstanding.
Verse 2:34 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:34] Even on your skirts was found the lifeblood of the innocent poor. You did not find them breaking in, but because of all these things—
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:34] Even on your hands was found the blood of innocent lives. I did not find them in break-ins, but at every oak.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek hands, I, and every oak differ from Hebrew skirts, you, and all these things. The Hebrew final relation is difficult and remains unfinished into the following statement.
Verse 2:35 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:35] yet you say, I am innocent; surely His anger has turned from me. Look, I am entering judgment with you because you say, I have not sinned.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:35] And you said, I am innocent; let His fury turn away from me. Look, I enter judgment with you because you say, I did not sin.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek asks for anger to turn away, while Hebrew asserts that it has turned.
Verse 2:36 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:36] Why do you go about so much, changing your way? You will also be ashamed of Egypt, as you were ashamed of Assyria.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:36] Why did you show such contempt by repeating your ways? You will also be put to shame by Egypt, as you were put to shame by Assyria.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek contempt and repeating differ from Hebrew going about and changing. The political disappointment is retained without substituting modern allies.
Verse 2:37 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[2:37] From this place too you will go out with your hands on your head, for YHWH has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper through them.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[2:37] For from here too you will go out with your hands on your head, because the Lord rejected your hope, and you will not prosper in it.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek singular hope differs from Hebrew plural objects of trust; the mourning or shame gesture agrees.