Psalm 34 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 34:5, 34:11, 34:22
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.
Psalm 34
Taste and see
Verse 34:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:1] Of David, when he changed his discernment before Abimelech,
who drove him out, and he went away.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:1] Of David, when he altered his face before Abimelech,
who dismissed him, and he went away.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew literally names taste, extended here to discernment; Greek names the face. Both actual superscriptions say Abimelech; the name is not replaced with Achish.
Verse 34:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:2] I will bless YHWH at every time;
His praise is always in my mouth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:2] I will bless the Lord at every time;
His praise is continually in my mouth.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both pledge unceasing praise.
Verse 34:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:3] My soul will boast in YHWH;
let the humble hear and rejoice.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:3] My soul will be praised in the Lord;
let the meek hear and rejoice.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew actively boasts; Greek uses a passive expression of being praised.
Verse 34:4 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:4] Magnify YHWH with me;
let us exalt His name together.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:4] Magnify the Lord with me;
let us exalt His name together.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The invitation to shared praise agrees.
Verse 34:5 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:5] I sought YHWH, and He answered me;
from all my fears He delivered me.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:5] I sought the Lord, and He heard me;
from all my sojourns He rescued me.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew fears become Greek sojourns or places of alien residence, materially changing what deliverance removes.
Verse 34:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:6] They looked to Him and became radiant;
let their faces not be ashamed.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:6] Approach Him and be enlightened,
and your faces will certainly not be put to shame.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew reports looking and radiance before a wish; Greek commands approach and enlightenment before a promise.
Verse 34:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:7] This poor man called, and YHWH heard;
from all his troubles He saved him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:7] This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him;
from all his afflictions He saved him.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The poor person's cry and comprehensive rescue agree.
Verse 34:8 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:8] YHWH's angel encamps around those who fear Him
and delivers them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:8] An angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear Him
and will rescue them.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both depict angelic protection encircling those who fear God.
Verse 34:9 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:9] Taste and see that YHWH is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:9] Taste and see that the Lord is kind;
blessed is the man who hopes in Him.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Goodness/kindness and refuge/hope correspond closely. Reception: 1 Peter 2:3 echoes tasting the Lord's kindness, then calls believers to approach the living stone and become a spiritual house (SBL-1PET-PS, 2:1–5).
Verse 34:10 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:10] Fear YHWH, His holy ones,
for those who fear Him have no lack.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:10] Fear the Lord, His holy ones,
for there is no deficiency for those who fear Him.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both assure God's holy ones of provision.
Verse 34:11 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:11] Young lions lack and hunger,
but those who seek YHWH will lack no good thing.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:11] Rich people became poor and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing. Diapsalma.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek replaces young lions with rich people, turning an animal contrast into a social reversal. Its performance marker is additional.
Verse 34:12 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:12] Come, children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:12] Come, children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The teacher's invitation agrees.
Verse 34:13 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:13] Who is the person who desires life,
who loves days in which to see good?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:13] Who is the person who desires life,
who loves to see good days?
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Hebrew speaks of seeing good during one's days; Greek calls the days good.
Verse 34:14 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:14] Guard your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:14] Stop your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Guarding and stopping produce the same restraint of speech. Reception: 1 Peter 3:10–12 quotes the sequence on speech, peace and divine attention in teaching nonretaliation and blessing (SBL-1PET-PS, 3:8–12).
Verse 34:15 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:15] Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:15] Turn aside from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The commands agree.
Verse 34:16 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:16] YHWH's eyes are toward the righteous,
and His ears toward their cry for help.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:16] The Lord's eyes are upon the righteous,
and His ears toward their supplication.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Cry for help and supplication express the same appeal.
Verse 34:17 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:17] YHWH's face is against evildoers,
to cut off their memory from the earth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:17] But the Lord's face is against those who do evil,
to destroy their remembrance from the earth.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both describe divine opposition removing the evildoers' memory.
Verse 34:18 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:18] They cried, and YHWH heard;
from all their troubles He delivered them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:18] The righteous cried out, and the Lord heard them;
from all their afflictions He rescued them.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek explicitly identifies the criers as the righteous; Hebrew leaves their identity pronominal.
Verse 34:19 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:19] YHWH is near to the brokenhearted,
and He saves those crushed in spirit.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:19] The Lord is near to the brokenhearted,
and He will save the humble in spirit.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Crushed and humble describe related but distinct conditions of spirit.
Verse 34:20 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:20] Many are the evils of the righteous person,
but YHWH delivers him from them all.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:20] Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
and He will rescue them from them all.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew is singular and names YHWH; Greek is plural and leaves the rescuer implicit.
Verse 34:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:21] He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:21] The Lord guards all their bones;
not one of them will be shattered.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew continues the singular righteous person; Greek continues the plural righteous and explicitly names the Lord.
Verse 34:22 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:22] Evil will put the wicked person to death,
and those who hate the righteous will incur guilt.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:22] The death of sinners is evil,
and those who hate the righteous will incur guilt.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew makes evil the cause that kills the wicked; Greek predicates evil of sinners' death. The final verbs concern guilt or offending.
Verse 34:23 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[34:23] YHWH redeems the soul of His servants;
none of those who take refuge in Him will incur guilt.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[33:23] The Lord will redeem the souls of His servants,
and none of those who hope in Him will incur guilt.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Soul/souls and refuge/hope differ slightly; both close with redemption and freedom from guilt.