Psalm 149 — 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 149
Praise and the written judgment
Verse 149:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[149:1] Praise Yah!
Sing a new song to YHWH,
His praise in the assembly of faithful ones.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[149:1] Hallelujah.
Sing a new song to the Lord,
His praise in the assembly of holy ones.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The assembly and new song agree; Hebrew faithful ones and Greek holy ones differ in emphasis. Greek ekklesia is assembly here; Church would impose a later identification on the base text.
Verse 149:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[149:2] Let Israel rejoice in its Maker;
let Zion’s children exult in their King.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[149:2] Let Israel rejoice in the One who made it,
and let Zion’s children exult in their King.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The displayed Hebrew Maker form is morphologically plural with a singular referent in this context; it is not turned into several creators. Greek explicitly uses a singular Maker. The royal reference remains in both.
Verse 149:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[149:3] Let them praise His name with dancing;
with tambourine and lyre let them make music to Him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[149:3] Let them praise His name in a chorus;
with tambourine and psaltery let them make music to Him.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew dancing and Greek chorus are related but not identical; a Greek chorus can include dance. Lyre becomes psaltery. Instrument labels are approximate conventional terms, not claims about modern orchestration.
Verse 149:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[149:4] For YHWH takes pleasure in His people;
He adorns the humble with salvation.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[149:4] For the Lord takes pleasure in His people,
and He will exalt the meek in salvation.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew adorns becomes Greek exalts, and humble or afflicted becomes meek. Both connect divine favor with salvation.
Verse 149:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[149:5] Let faithful ones exult in glory;
let them sing joyfully on their beds.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[149:5] Holy ones will boast in glory
and rejoice upon their beds.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew exulting song and Greek boasting or glorying and rejoicing differ; Hebrew wishes become Greek future declarations. Beds are retained, not silently reinterpreted as graves or monastic cells.
Verse 149:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[149:6] Exaltations of God in their throats,
and a two-edged sword in their hand,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[149:6] Exaltations of God in their throat,
and two-edged swords in their hands,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Both combine praise with literal weapons. Hebrew collective singular sword and hand become Greek plural swords and hands; throat is collective in both.
Verse 149:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[149:7] to execute vengeance among the nations,
punishments among the peoples,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[149:7] to execute vengeance among the nations,
reproofs among the peoples,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew punitive rebukes and Greek reproofs retain their ranges within a martial context. Neither vengeance is erased or transferred to an allegorical target in the translation.
Verse 149:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[149:8] to bind their kings in fetters
and their nobles in iron chains,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[149:8] to bind their kings in fetters
and their glorious ones in iron handcuffs,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew nobles or honored ones corresponds to Greek glorious ones. Greek specifies hand-fetters; Hebrew uses chains or fetters without that anatomical specificity.
Verse 149:9 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[149:9] to execute upon them the written judgment.
This is splendor for all His faithful ones.
Praise Yah!
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[149:9] to execute upon them a written judgment.
This is glory for all His holy ones.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew adds the final Praise Yah, absent in the displayed Greek. Splendor and glory, faithful and holy ones remain distinct. Neither source names which written judgment is meant; no unsourced document identification is inserted.