Psalm 19 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 19:4, 19:5
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 19
The heavens and the law
Verse 19:1 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:1] For the director. A psalm of David.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[18:1] For the end. A psalm of David.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The source-specific direction differs; the Davidic psalm attribution agrees.
Verse 19:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:2] The heavens recount the glory of God,
and the expanse declares the work of His hands.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[18:2] The heavens recount God’s glory,
and the firmament announces the work of His hands.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both portray the heavens proclaiming their Maker’s glory and handiwork; expanse and firmament preserve the source-specific cosmic terms.
Verse 19:3 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:3] Day pours out speech to day,
and night reveals knowledge to night.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[18:3] Day pours forth an utterance to day,
and night announces knowledge to night.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both present the recurring cycle as an unceasing communication of knowledge.
Verse 19:4 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:4] There is no speech, and there are no words;
their voice is not heard.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[18:4] There are no utterances or words
whose voices are not heard.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew denies audible speech; Greek’s relative clause denies the existence of unheard utterances. Rabbinic: Rashi on 19:2 explains that the heavens do not talk to people: their visible light leads creatures to praise God. [RASHI-PS19] Saints: Augustine, Exposition on Psalm 19 §4 in the accessed edition, applies the heard voices to evangelists proclaiming the gospel in every tongue. This is allegorical reception of Greek Psalm 18:4. [AUG-PS19]
Verse 19:5 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:5] Their line has gone out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them He has set a tent for the sun.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[18:5] Their sound went out into all the earth,
and their utterances to the limits of the inhabited world.
In the sun He set His dwelling.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew has a measuring line and a tent set for the sun among the heavens; Greek has sound and God’s dwelling set in the sun. Both the communication image and the dwelling’s location differ substantially.
Verse 19:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:6] It is like a bridegroom coming out of his canopy;
it rejoices like a mighty warrior to run a course.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[18:6] And he is like a bridegroom coming out of his bridal chamber;
he will exult like a giant to run his way.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew gives a mighty warrior, Greek a giant; the bridal canopy and chamber differ slightly. Greek’s masculine pronoun is not capitalized to settle its antecedent. Saints: Augustine’s Exposition on Psalm 19 §6 reads the bridegroom’s chamber as the Virgin’s womb and the giant as Christ’s incomparable strength. These are christological interpretations of the imagery. [AUG-PS19]
Verse 19:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:7] Its rising is from one end of the heavens,
and its circuit reaches their ends;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[18:7] His going out is from heaven’s edge,
and his arrival reaches heaven’s edge;
there is no one who will be hidden from his heat.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both describe the complete heavenly course and inescapable heat; Hebrew circuit differs from Greek arrival or destination.
Verse 19:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:8] YHWH’s law is complete, restoring the soul;
YHWH’s testimony is trustworthy, making the simple wise.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[18:8] The Lord’s law is blameless, turning souls;
the Lord’s testimony is trustworthy, making infants wise.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew restores a soul and makes the inexperienced wise; Greek turns plural souls and names infants or little ones. Rabbinic: Rashi on 19:8 connects the law’s light with the sun and interprets restoration as a return from ways of death to life. [RASHI-PS19]
Verse 19:9 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:9] YHWH’s precepts are upright, rejoicing the heart;
YHWH’s commandment is pure, giving light to the eyes.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[18:9] The Lord’s ordinances are upright, rejoicing the heart;
the Lord’s commandment shines afar, giving light to the eyes.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The heart’s joy and enlightened eyes agree; Hebrew purity corresponds to Greek far-shining radiance.
Verse 19:10 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:10] The fear of YHWH is pure, standing forever;
YHWH’s judgments are truth; they are righteous altogether,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[18:10] The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring for the age of the age;
the Lord’s judgments are true, justified together,
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both affirm enduring pure reverence and the united truth and righteousness of divine judgments.
Verse 19:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:11] more desirable than gold, than much refined gold,
and sweeter than honey and the drippings of honeycombs.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[18:11] desirable beyond gold and much precious stone,
and sweeter than honey and honeycomb.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew repeats gold with a refined variety; Greek adds precious stone. Honeycomb sweetness corresponds.
Verse 19:12 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:12] Moreover, Your servant is warned by them;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[18:12] For indeed, Your servant keeps them;
in keeping them there is great recompense.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew describes the servant as warned or made careful by the judgments; Greek directly asserts that he keeps them. Both affirm reward in observance.
Verse 19:13 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:13] Who can discern errors?
Clear me of hidden faults.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[18:13] Who will understand transgressions?
Cleanse me of my hidden things.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both ask cleansing from unrecognized wrongdoing; Greek explicitly says my. Rabbinic: Rashi on 19:13 explains that even careful observance does not prevent all inadvertent, unnoticed error. [RASHI-PS19]
Verse 19:14 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:14] Also restrain Your servant from willful sins;
do not let them rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
cleared of great transgression.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[18:14] And spare Your servant from others;
if they do not rule over me, then I will be blameless
and cleansed from great sin.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew zedim is provisionally willful sins, with presumptuous people also possible; Greek says others or alien things and turns the plea against domination into a condition. Rabbinic: Rashi on 19:14 understands deliberate offenses. [RASHI-PS19] Saints: Augustine’s Exposition on Psalm 19 §14 applies the Greek-related wording to others’ faults leading the servant astray; this supplies an interpretation, not an explicit Greek noun. [AUG-PS19]
Verse 19:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[19:15] May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable before You,
YHWH, my rock and my redeemer.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[18:15] And the sayings of my mouth will be pleasing,
and the meditation of my heart will be before You continually,
Lord, my helper and my redeemer.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew asks for acceptance and names God as rock; Greek predicts acceptance, adds continually, and names Him helper. Both retain redeemer.