Zechariah 5 — Hebrew and Greek compared
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 5
The flying scroll and the woman in the measure
Verse 5:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
5:1 Again I lifted my eyes and saw: look, a flying scroll!
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
5:1 I turned and lifted my eyes and saw: look, a flying sickle!
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew megillah is a scroll; Greek drepanon is a sickle. The different visionary object is preserved.
Verse 5:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
5:2 He said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
5:2 He said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see a flying sickle, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.”
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The scroll/sickle difference continues, while both retain twenty by ten cubits. No modern conversion or correction to a more plausible object size is imposed.
Verse 5:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
5:3 He said to me, “This is the curse going out over the whole earth: every thief will be cleared away from here according to it, and everyone who swears will be cleared away from here according to it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
5:3 He said to me, “This is the curse going out over the whole earth, because every thief will be punished by this to death, and every false swearer will be punished by this to death.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek explicitly specifies false swearing and punishment to death. Hebrew niqqah, here cleared away in the destructive context, can also evoke being cleared or acquitted, while mizzeh may distinguish sides of the scroll. The chosen construal remains provisional rather than claiming the Hebrew explicitly says death.
Verse 5:4 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
5:4 I have sent it out, declares YHWH of hosts. It will enter the thief's house and the house of whoever swears falsely by My name; it will lodge within his house and consume it, its timbers and its stones.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
5:4 I will bring it out, says the Lord Almighty. It will enter the thief's house and the house of whoever swears falsely by My name; it will lodge within his house and finish it off, its timbers and its stones.”
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both carry the curse into offenders' homes and destroy their fabric. Hebrew sent out is presented as accomplished; Greek makes the sending future.
Verse 5:5 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
5:5 The angel speaking with me came out and said to me, “Please lift your eyes and see what this is that is coming out.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
5:5 The angel speaking within me came out and said to me, “Look up with your eyes and see what this is that is coming out.”
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The renewed command to look at the emerging object agrees.
Verse 5:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
5:6 I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is the ephah measure coming out.” He said, “This is their appearance throughout the earth.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
5:6 I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is the measure coming out.” He said, “This is their injustice throughout the earth.”
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew names the ephah and has eynam, literally their eye, provisionally appearance; Greek has a generic measure and explicitly their injustice. The Hebrew word is not silently emended to wrongdoing.
Verse 5:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
5:7 Look, a round lead weight was being lifted, and there was one woman sitting inside the ephah measure!
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
5:7 Look, a talent of lead was being lifted out, and look, one woman was sitting inside the measure!
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew kikkar is rendered a round weight in this container vision; Greek explicitly names a talent. The seated woman agrees, and no unsupported modern weight or volume is supplied.
Verse 5:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
5:8 He said, “This is Wickedness.” He threw her into the ephah measure and threw the lead stone onto its opening.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
5:8 He said, “This is Lawlessness.” He threw her into the measure and threw the lead stone into her mouth.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew the-mouth-of-her/it can refer to the feminine ephah, here its opening. Greek measure is neuter, while autes is feminine and points to the woman's mouth. The striking image is retained rather than automatically making both clauses a lid on a container.
Verse 5:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
5:9 I lifted my eyes and saw: look, two women coming out, with wind in their wings! They had wings like a stork's wings, and they lifted the ephah measure between earth and heaven.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
5:9 I lifted my eyes and saw: look, two women coming out, with wind in their wings! They had wings like a hoopoe's wings, and they lifted the measure between earth and heaven.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The winged women and transport agree; Hebrew names the stork, Greek the hoopoe. Neither bird is replaced with a generalized angelic image.
Verse 5:10 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
5:10 I said to the angel speaking with me, “Where are they taking the ephah measure?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
5:10 I said to the angel speaking within me, “Where are they carrying the measure?”
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The question about destination agrees; Greek continues using the generic measure in place of Hebrew ephah.
Verse 5:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
5:11 He said to me, “To build a house for it in Shinar's land. When it is prepared, it will be set there on its base.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
5:11 He said to me, “To build a house for it in Babylon's land and prepare it; they will place it there on its prepared setting.”
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew Shinar becomes Greek Babylon. Hebrew passive preparation and placement become Greek actions by unnamed agents; both give the transported measure a settled site.