Psalm 29 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 29:6
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 29
The voice over the waters
Verse 29:1 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[29:1] A psalm of David.
Ascribe to YHWH, sons of divine beings;
ascribe to YHWH glory and strength.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[28:1] A psalm of David, for the departure of the tent.
Bring to the Lord, sons of God;
bring to the Lord young rams;
bring to the Lord glory and honor.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek adds a tent-departure designation and a full command to bring young rams. Hebrew sons of elim is retained as divine beings, with mighty ones another possible interpretation. Greek explicitly has sons of God, followed by sons of rams.
Verse 29:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[29:2] Ascribe to YHWH the glory of His name;
bow down to YHWH in holy splendor.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[28:2] Bring to the Lord glory for His name;
bow down to the Lord in His holy courtyard.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew’s holy splendor or adornment differs from Greek’s explicit sanctuary courtyard.
Verse 29:3 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[29:3] YHWH’s voice is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders;
YHWH is over many waters.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[28:3] The Lord’s voice is over the waters;
the God of glory thundered;
the Lord is over many waters.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both identify the divine voice with the thunder over abundant waters.
Verse 29:4 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[29:4] YHWH’s voice is in power;
YHWH’s voice is in splendor.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[28:4] The Lord’s voice is in strength;
the Lord’s voice is in magnificence.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The repeated voice formula and its power and majesty agree.
Verse 29:5 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[29:5] YHWH’s voice breaks cedars;
YHWH shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[28:5] The voice of the Lord, who crushes cedars;
and the Lord will crush Lebanon’s cedars,
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both proclaim the destruction of Lebanon’s cedars by divine power.
Verse 29:6 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[29:6] He makes them skip like a calf,
Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[28:6] and He will grind them fine—Lebanon like the calf—
and the beloved like a young one-horned animal.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew makes Lebanon and Sirion leap; Greek grinds the cedars or Lebanon fine and replaces Sirion with the beloved. Greek’s compressed calf–Lebanon sequence and unexpressed verb in its final clause remain provisional. No personal identity for the beloved is supplied.
Verse 29:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[29:7] YHWH’s voice hews out flames of fire.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[28:7] The voice of the Lord, who cleaves a flame of fire.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both picture the divine voice cutting fiery flame; Hebrew has plural flames.
Verse 29:8 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[29:8] YHWH’s voice makes the wilderness writhe;
YHWH makes the wilderness of Kadesh writhe.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[28:8] The voice of the Lord, who shakes the wilderness;
and the Lord will shake the wilderness of Kadesh.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The same wilderness is convulsed, with Hebrew labor-like writhing and Greek shaking.
Verse 29:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[29:9] YHWH’s voice makes the does give birth
and strips the forests bare;
in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[28:9] The voice of the Lord, who makes deer ready;
and He will uncover forests;
in His temple everyone speaks glory.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew explicitly evokes the does’ travail; Greek katartizomai concerns making ready or bringing to completion, without an explicit birth verb. Its precise zoological force remains open. The bared forests and temple acclamation agree.
Verse 29:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[29:10] YHWH sat enthroned over the flood;
YHWH sits as King forever.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[28:10] The Lord will settle the flood,
and the Lord sits as King forever.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew depicts God’s sitting at or over the flood; Greek makes the flood the object of settling. Both affirm enduring kingship.
Verse 29:11 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[29:11] YHWH will give strength to His people;
YHWH will bless His people with peace.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[28:11] The Lord will give strength to His people;
the Lord will bless His people with peace.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The storm psalm ends with the same promise of strength and peace for God’s people.