Zechariah 8 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 8:8
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 8
Restoration, truth and nations seeking God
Verse 8:1 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:1 The word of YHWH of hosts came, saying:
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:1 The word of the Lord Almighty came, saying:
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The prophetic introduction corresponds; neither source explicitly adds to me here.
Verse 8:2 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:2 “Thus says YHWH of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy; with great fury I am jealous for her.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:2 “Thus says the Lord Almighty: I have been jealous for Jerusalem and Zion with great jealousy; with great wrath I have been jealous for her.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek names Jerusalem as well as Zion. Both repeat the divine jealousy and its intense anger.
Verse 8:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:3 Thus says YHWH: I have returned to Zion and will dwell within Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of YHWH of hosts the Holy Mountain.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:3 Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion and dwell within Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called the True City, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty a Holy Mountain.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Return, indwelling and the city's and mountain's new descriptions correspond. Hebrew returned is presented as accomplished against Greek future return.
Verse 8:4 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:4 Thus says YHWH of hosts: Old men and old women will again sit in Jerusalem's squares, each with a staff in hand because of many days.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:4 Thus says the Lord Almighty: Old men and old women will again sit in Jerusalem's squares, each holding a staff in hand because of many days.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The renewed presence of elderly women and men and their age-related staffs agree.
Verse 8:5 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:5 The city's squares will be full of boys and girls playing in her squares.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:5 The city's squares will be filled with boys and girls playing in her squares.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Children of both sexes playing in the city agree.
Verse 8:6 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:6 Thus says YHWH of hosts: If it seems extraordinary in the eyes of this people's remnant in those days, will it also seem extraordinary in My eyes? declares YHWH of hosts.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:6 Thus says the Lord Almighty: If it is impossible before this people's remnant in those days, surely it will not also be impossible before Me? says the Lord Almighty.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Hebrew wonder or difficulty is framed here as an unmarked rhetorical question; Greek explicitly uses impossibility and a question expecting no. An affirmative Hebrew construal is possible and is not concealed by claiming identical syntax.
Verse 8:7 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:7 Thus says YHWH of hosts: Look, I am saving My people from the eastern land and from the land of the setting sun.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:7 Thus says the Lord Almighty: Look, I am rescuing My people from the eastern land and from the western land,
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both announce the people's rescue from east and west.
Verse 8:8 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:8 I will bring them, and they will dwell within Jerusalem. They will be My people, and I will be their God in truth and righteousness.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:8 and I will bring them in and dwell within Jerusalem. They will be My people, and I will be their God in truth and righteousness.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew they will dwell becomes Greek I will dwell. The people-and-God relationship agrees, but the promised resident is different; this reverses the direction of the subject difference seen at source 2:15.
Verse 8:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:9 Thus says YHWH of hosts: Let your hands be strong, you who hear these words in these days from the prophets who were there when the foundation of the house of YHWH of hosts was laid, for the temple to be built.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:9 Thus says the Lord Almighty: Let your hands be strong, you who hear these words in these days from the prophets' mouth, from the day when the house of the Lord Almighty was founded, and the temple from when it was built.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew links the foundation to the temple's prospective construction; Greek's final phrase describes it as built. The Hebrew relative clause and Greek doubled temporal wording are retained without inventing a construction chronology.
Verse 8:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:10 Before those days there was no wage for people or hire for animals, and no peace for those going out or coming in because of the foe. I set everyone against his neighbor.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:10 Before those days people's wages will bring no benefit, and animals' hire will not exist; those going out or coming in will have no peace because of affliction. I will send everyone out against his neighbor.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew describes prior absence of wages and a foe; Greek uses future verbs even after before those days, says wages bring no benefit and names affliction. Both retain divinely prompted conflict between neighbors.
Verse 8:11 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:11 But now I will not be as in the former days toward this people's remnant, declares YHWH of hosts.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:11 Now I do not act toward this people's remnant as in the former days, says the Lord Almighty,
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both promise a changed divine relation to the remnant.
Verse 8:12 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:12 For there will be a sowing of peace: the vine will give its fruit, the earth its yield, and the heavens their dew. I will give this people's remnant all these as an inheritance.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:12 but I will show peace: the vine will give its fruit, the earth its produce, and heaven its dew. I will give My people's remnant all these as an inheritance.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew seed or sowing of peace becomes Greek I will show peace; Greek also calls them My people where Hebrew says this people. The promised fruit, produce, dew and inheritance correspond.
Verse 8:13 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:13 Just as you were a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands be strong.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:13 As you were under a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will preserve you, and you will be in blessing. Take courage and be strong in your hands.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both reverse curse into blessing for Judah and Israel and command courage and strength. Hebrew being a curse or blessing becomes Greek being in those conditions.
Verse 8:14 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:14 For thus says YHWH of hosts: Just as I planned to bring harm upon you when your fathers provoked Me, says YHWH of hosts, and I did not relent,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:14 For thus says the Lord Almighty: As I intended to harm you when your fathers provoked Me, says the Lord Almighty, and I did not change My mind,
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The prior intention to punish and refusal to relent agree.
Verse 8:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:15 so in these days I have again planned to do good to Jerusalem and Judah's house. Do not fear.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:15 so I have arrayed Myself and intended in these days to do good to Jerusalem and Judah's house. Take courage.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew again planning becomes Greek arraying Himself and intending. Both now promise good to Jerusalem and Judah and encourage them.
Verse 8:16 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:16 These are the things you shall do: speak truth to one another; render true and peaceful judgment in your gates.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:16 These are the things you shall do: speak truth, each to his neighbor, and render peaceful judgment in your gates.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Both require truthful speech and peaceful justice; Greek lacks the second truth qualification attached to judgment in Hebrew.
Verse 8:17 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:17 Do not plan harm against one another in your hearts, and do not love a false oath, for all these are things I hate, declares YHWH.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:17 Do not reckon your neighbor's wrong in your hearts, and do not love a false oath, for I hate all these things, says the Lord Almighty.”
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew is rendered as plotting another's harm; Greek as reckoning the neighbor's wrong, consistent with its resentment wording at 7:10. Greek logizesthe can also describe calculating harm, so the distinction is provisional. Both condemn false oaths, and Greek adds Almighty.
Verse 8:18 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:18 The word of YHWH of hosts came to me, saying:
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:18 The word of the Lord Almighty came to me, saying:
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The further divine word agrees.
Verse 8:19 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:19 “Thus says YHWH of hosts: The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joy, gladness and good festivals for Judah's house. Love truth and peace.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:19 “Thus says the Lord Almighty: The fourth fast, the fifth fast, the seventh fast and the tenth fast will become joy, gladness and good festivals for Judah's house. You will rejoice; love truth and peace.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek adds you will rejoice. Both retain all four numbered fasts and their joyful transformation; Hebrew ordinals are understood as months in context, while Greek directly qualifies fasting.
Verse 8:20 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:20 Thus says YHWH of hosts: Peoples and residents of many cities will yet come.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:20 Thus says the Lord Almighty: Many peoples and residents of many cities will yet come.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The arrival of peoples and city residents agrees; Greek also explicitly calls the peoples many.
Verse 8:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:21 The residents of one city will go to another, saying, ‘Let us go earnestly to seek YHWH's favor and seek YHWH of hosts. I too will go.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:21 Residents of five cities will come together into one city, saying, ‘Let us go to entreat the Lord's presence and seek the presence of the Lord Almighty. I too will go.’
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew one city goes to another; Greek explicitly gathers five cities into one. Both voice a shared journey to seek God, with Greek repeating presence in both purposes.
Verse 8:22 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:22 Many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek YHWH of hosts in Jerusalem and seek YHWH's favor.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:22 Many peoples and many nations will come to seek the presence of the Lord Almighty in Jerusalem and appease the Lord's presence.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The nations' Jerusalem pilgrimage and appeal to God correspond; mighty becomes many, and Greek retains its presence and appeasement terms.
Verse 8:23 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
8:23 Thus says YHWH of hosts: In those days ten men from all the nations' languages will take hold—take hold of the edge of a Jewish man's garment—saying, ‘Let us go with you all, for we have heard that God is with you all.’”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
8:23 Thus says the Lord Almighty: In those days, when ten men from all the nations' languages take hold and grasp the fringe of a Jewish man's garment, saying, ‘We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you all.’”
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both preserve ten men, all languages and the Jewish man's garment. Greek first addresses the individual singularly, then the group plurally; Hebrew both addresses are plural. Greek's when construction remains a suspended introduction, without an invented concluding action.