Jeremiah 6 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 6:11, 6:16, 6:27
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 6
Jeremiah 6
Hebrew source: BHS6 • chapter 6
Greek source: LXX6 • chapter 6
Verse 6:1 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:1] Flee for safety, sons of Benjamin, from within Jerusalem! Sound a ram's horn in Tekoa, and raise a signal over Beth-haccherem, for disaster looks out from the north, and great destruction.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:1] Take courage, sons of Benjamin, from within Jerusalem, and signal with a trumpet in Tekoa, and raise a sign above Beth-haccherem, because evils have looked out from the north, and great crushing is taking place,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek take courage differs from the Hebrew call to seek safety. Tekoa and sound form a Hebrew wordplay not reproducible in these English words.
Verse 6:2 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:2] The lovely and pampered daughter of Zion I will silence.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:2] and your height will be taken away, daughter of Zion.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew damiti is difficult: silence or destroy is retained provisionally; liken, with a supplied comparison, is another interpretation. Greek names the removal of height.
Verse 6:3 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:3] Shepherds and their flocks will come to her; they will pitch tents against her all around, each grazing his own portion.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:3] Shepherds and their flocks will come to her, and they will pitch tents against her all around, and each will shepherd with his own hand.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The shepherd image depicts encirclement; Hebrew his hand is rendered idiomatically as his own portion, while Greek explicitly uses with his hand.
Verse 6:4 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:4] Consecrate war against her! Rise, and let us go up at noon! Woe to us, for the day has turned, for evening's shadows stretch out!
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:4] Prepare yourselves for war against her! Rise, and let us go up against her at noon! Woe to us, because the day has declined, because evening's shadows are failing!
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek failing shadows differs from Hebrew lengthening shadows; consecration language in Hebrew is not reduced to a claim that the attack is morally approved.
Verse 6:5 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:5] Rise, and let us go up by night and destroy her palaces!
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:5] Rise, and let us go up in the night and destroy her foundations!
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek foundations replaces Hebrew palaces.
Verse 6:6 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:6] For thus says YHWH of hosts: Cut down trees and pour up a siege mound against Jerusalem. She is the city to be visited; all within her is oppression.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:6] For thus says the Lord: Cut down her trees; pour out a force upon Jerusalem. O false city, all oppression is within her!
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek force and false city differ from the Hebrew siege mound and city marked for visitation; Greek lacks of hosts.
Verse 6:7 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:7] As a well keeps its water fresh, so she keeps her evil fresh. Violence and devastation are heard in her; sickness and blows are continually before Me.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:7] As a cistern cools water, so her evil cools; impiety and misery will be heard in her, continually before her. With pain and scourging
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The final Greek pain-and-scourging phrase belongs syntactically with instruction in 6:8; it is kept at its displayed verse boundary. Hebrew's water verb is difficult: welling up is an alternative to keeping fresh. Greek has before her, not before Me.
Verse 6:8 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:8] Accept correction, Jerusalem, lest My soul become estranged from you, lest I make you a desolation, a land uninhabited.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:8] you will be instructed, Jerusalem, lest My soul depart from you, lest I make you an impassable land that will not be inhabited.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The Greek sentence begins with the pain-and-scourging phrase at the end of its preceding verse; Hebrew directly commands acceptance of correction.
Verse 6:9 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:9] Thus says YHWH of hosts: They will thoroughly glean Israel's remnant like a vine. Turn your hand back like a grape-gatherer over the tendrils.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:9] For thus says the Lord: Glean, glean Israel's remnants like a vine; turn back like the grape-gatherer to his basket.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek commands the gleaning and explicitly has a basket, where Hebrew's salsillot is provisionally tendrils; Greek lacks of hosts and your hand.
Verse 6:10 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:10] To whom shall I speak and testify, so that they hear? Look, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot listen. Look, YHWH's word has become a reproach to them; they take no pleasure in it.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:10] To whom shall I speak and testify, and he will hear? Look, their ears are uncircumcised, and they cannot hear. Look, the Lord's utterance became a reproach to them; they certainly will not wish to hear it.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both retain the uncircumcised-ear metaphor; Greek explicitly repeats hearing in the final clause.
Verse 6:11 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:11] But I am full of YHWH's fury; I am weary of holding it in. Pour it upon children in the street and upon the company of young men together, for man and woman alike will be captured, the old with those full of days.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:11] And I filled up My fury and held back and did not bring them to an end. I will pour it upon little children outside and upon a gathering of young men together, because man and woman will be seized, the elder with one full of days.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek my fury and the statement of restraint give a divine first-person voice, while Hebrew first describes the speaker filled with YHWH's fury and then commands pouring. The speaker transition is not silently harmonized.
Verse 6:12 Same
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:12] Their houses will pass to others, fields and wives together, for I will stretch out My hand against the land's inhabitants—YHWH's declaration.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:12] And their houses will be transferred to others, fields and their wives together, because I will stretch out My hand against those dwelling in this land, says the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both describe the invader's dispossession of households.
Verse 6:13 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:13] For from their least to their greatest, everyone is greedy for gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone practices falsehood.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:13] For from their small to their great, all have carried out lawless deeds; from priest to false prophet, all have done false things.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek explicitly calls the prophet false, reverses the priest/prophet order, and has lawless deeds rather than gain.
Verse 6:14 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:14] They treated My people's fracture lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:14] And they treated My people's fracture with contempt, saying, 'Peace, peace'; and where is peace?
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek ends with a question rather than the Hebrew denial.
Verse 6:15 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:15] They were put to shame because they committed an abomination, yet they were not at all ashamed and did not know how to blush. Therefore they will fall among the fallen; when I attend to them, they will stumble, says YHWH.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:15] They were put to shame because they failed, and even so they were not at all ashamed and did not recognize their dishonor. Therefore they will fall in their fall, and at the time of their visitation they will perish, said the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek failure replaces the explicit Hebrew abomination, and perishing replaces stumbling. Both retain the tension between objective disgrace and lack of felt shame.
Verse 6:16 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:16] Thus says YHWH: Stand at the roads and see; ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk.'
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:16] Thus says the Lord: Stand on the roads and see, and ask for the Lord's eternal paths and see which is the good way, and walk in it, and you will find purification for your souls. And they said, 'We will not go.'
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek purification differs from Hebrew rest and adds the Lord's to the paths; neither column is conformed to a later quotation of this saying.
Verse 6:17 Same
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:17] I set watchmen over you: Listen to the ram's horn's sound! But they said, 'We will not listen.'
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:17] I have appointed watchers over you: Hear the trumpet's sound! And they said, 'We will not hear.'
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both present refusal of the warning.
Verse 6:18 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:18] Therefore hear, nations, and know, assembly, what is among them.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:18] Therefore the nations heard, and those shepherding their flocks.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew summons nations and an assembly to know a difficult final object; Greek reports nations and shepherds hearing and lacks that object.
Verse 6:19 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:19] Hear, earth! Look, I am bringing disaster upon this people, the fruit of their thoughts, because they did not listen to My words, and they rejected My instruction.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:19] Hear, earth! Look, I am bringing evils upon this people, the fruit of their turning away, because they did not attend to My words and rejected My law.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek turning away differs from Hebrew thoughts; instruction and law distinguish torah and nomos without denying their overlap.
Verse 6:20 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:20] Why should frankincense from Sheba come to Me, and sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices do not please Me.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:20] Why do you bring Me frankincense from Sheba and cinnamon from a distant land? Your whole burnt offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices did not please Me.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek explicitly names cinnamon where Hebrew has sweet cane. Reception—Saint Irenaeus, Against HeresiesIV.17.2, cites the rejected incense and sacrifices while arguing that God needs no offerings and instead counsels people toward life. Source: IrenaeusIV17, directly read English presentation.
Verse 6:21 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:21] Therefore thus says YHWH: Look, I am placing stumbling blocks before this people, and fathers and sons together will stumble over them; neighbor and companion will perish.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:21] Therefore thus says the Lord: Look, I am placing weakness upon this people, and fathers and sons together will become weak in it; neighbor and his neighbor will perish.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek weakness replaces the Hebrew stumbling-block image.
Verse 6:22 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:22] Thus says YHWH: Look, a people comes from the northern land, and a great nation is roused from the farthest parts of the earth.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:22] Thus says the Lord: Look, a people comes from the north, and nations will be roused from the earth's extremity.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek has plural nations rather than a great nation.
Verse 6:23 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:23] They grasp bow and javelin; it is cruel, and they have no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride horses, arrayed like a man for war against you, daughter of Zion.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:23] They will grasp bow and spear; it is ruthless and will show no mercy. Its voice is like a surging sea; on horses and chariots it will draw up like fire for war against you, daughter of Zion.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek adds chariots and compares the array to fire rather than a man; the collective shifts between singular and plural remain visible.
Verse 6:24 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:24] We have heard its report; our hands grow slack. Distress has seized us, pain like a woman giving birth.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:24] We heard the report of them; our hands were paralyzed. Affliction seized us, labor pains like a woman giving birth.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both depict communal helplessness through labor pains.
Verse 6:25 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:25] Do not go out into the field or walk on the road, for the enemy has a sword; terror is all around.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:25] Do not go out into a field or walk on the roads, because the enemies' sword dwells all around.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek dwelling all around replaces Hebrew terror all around. The Hebrew displayed written/read forms differ in number; English you leaves that distinction open, and Mechon-Mamre directly displays the plural traditional reading.
Verse 6:26 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:26] Daughter of My people, put on sackcloth and roll in ashes. Make mourning for yourself as for an only child, bitter lamentation, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:26] Daughter of My people, gird yourself with sackcloth; sprinkle yourself with ashes. Make mourning for yourself for a beloved one, a pitiful lament, because misery will suddenly come upon you.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek beloved one differs from Hebrew only child; misery upon you replaces the destroyer upon us.
Verse 6:27 Disparate
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:27] I have made you an assayer among My people, a fortress, so that you may know and test their way.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:27] I have made you a tester among tested peoples, and you will know Me when I test their way.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek has plural tested peoples and knowing Me through My testing; Hebrew appoints the addressee to test their way and includes fortress. The Hebrew pairing of assayer and fortress is difficult and retained without an unmarked emendation.
Verse 6:28 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:28] All are utterly rebellious, going about with slander, bronze and iron; all of them act corruptly.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:28] All are unheeding, walking crookedly, bronze and iron; all are corrupted.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both employ the base-metal image within the testing passage.
Verse 6:29 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:29] The bellows roar; from the fire the lead is exhausted. In vain the refiner refines, for the wicked are not separated out.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:29] The bellows failed from the fire; the lead failed. In vain the silversmith works silver; their wickedness was not melted away.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek wickedness not melted differs from Hebrew wicked persons not separated. Hebrew's compressed fire/lead wording is read as the traditional division from fire, exhausted, directly displayed separately by Mechon-Mamre; roar versus scorch for the bellows remains a lexical question.
Verse 6:30 Similar
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[6:30] They call them rejected silver, for YHWH has rejected them.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[6:30] Call them rejected silver, because the Lord rejected them.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek directly commands the naming; Hebrew's form is rendered as reported naming, with an imperative construal also possible.