Psalm 8 — 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.
Psalm 8
The divine name and humanity’s entrusted rule
Verse 8:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[8:1] For the director, upon the Gittith. A psalm of David.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[8:1] For the end, concerning the winepresses. A psalm of David.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew Gittith remains an uncertain musical term; Greek explicitly names plural winepresses. A historical musical derivation is not asserted from the difference.
Verse 8:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[8:2] YHWH our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth,
You who have set Your splendor above the heavens!
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[8:2] Lord our Lord, how wondrous is Your name in all the earth,
for Your magnificence was raised above the heavens.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew’s difficult אֲשֶׁר תְּנָה construction is provisionally rendered as setting splendor, though the pointed form appears imperative and needs further review. Greek explicitly has passive elevation. Majestic and wondrous preserve the distinct descriptions of the name.
Verse 8:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[8:3] From the mouth of infants and nursing children You established strength,
because of Your adversaries,
to still the enemy and the avenger.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[8:3] From the mouth of infants and nursing children You prepared praise,
because of Your enemies,
to bring down the enemy and the avenger.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew עֹז says strength; Greek αἶνον says praise. Their shared infant-mouth image is retained, while the opposed actions are to still and to bring down.
Verse 8:4 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[8:4] When I see Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
the moon and stars which You established,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[8:4] For I will see the heavens, works of Your fingers,
the moon and stars which You founded:
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The celestial works and fingers correspond. Hebrew places the sight within a when construction and calls the heavens Yours; Greek explicitly looks forward and does not repeat that possessive.
Verse 8:5 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[8:5] what is a human being, that You remember him,
and a son of man, that You attend to him?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[8:5] what is a human being, that You remember him,
or a son of man, that You visit him?
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The question concerns human insignificance beside divine remembrance and care. Son of man remains the ordinary human expression here; a later personal application is not inserted into the line.
Verse 8:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[8:6] You made him a little lower than God,
and crowned him with glory and splendor.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[8:6] You made him a little lower than angels;
You crowned him with glory and honor,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew אֱלֹהִים is provisionally God, with divine beings also linguistically possible; Greek explicitly says angels. Little is not forced to mean a short time rather than degree, though that interpretive possibility remains available. Saints: Augustine, Exposition of Psalm 8 §11, applies being lower than angels to Christ’s mortal weakness and Passion, and the crown to resurrection and ascent. This is christological reception, not a replacement of the psalm’s human language. [AUG-PS8]
Verse 8:7 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[8:7] You make him rule over the works of Your hands;
You placed everything beneath his feet:
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[8:7] and appointed him over the works of Your hands;
You subjected everything beneath his feet:
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Humanity’s delegated rule and the subjection image correspond. The works belong to God’s hands in both.
Verse 8:8 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[8:8] sheep and cattle, all of them,
and also the animals of the field,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[8:8] all sheep and cattle,
and also the animals of the plain,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The domestic herds and wider animal domain correspond; Hebrew field and Greek plain retain their ordinary environmental terms.
Verse 8:9 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[8:9] birds of the sky and fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of seas.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[8:9] the birds of heaven and the fish of the sea,
those that travel along the paths of seas.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both include flying and marine life, ending with the sea-path image; the final Hebrew singular participle is read collectively.
Verse 8:10 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[8:10] YHWH our Lord,
how majestic is Your name in all the earth!
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[8:10] Lord our Lord,
how wondrous is Your name in all the earth!
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The refrain corresponds, with Hebrew majestic and Greek wondrous as in verse two.