Psalm 126 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 126:1
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 126
Sowing tears and gathering joy
Verse 126:1 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[126:1] A song of the ascents.
When YHWH restored Zion’s fortunes,
we were like dreamers.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[125:1] A song of the ascents.
When the Lord turned back Zion’s captivity,
we became like those comforted.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew like dreamers differs substantially from Greek like those comforted. Hebrew restoration language can concern fortunes or captives; Greek explicitly names captivity. Neither experience is harmonized into the other.
Verse 126:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[126:2] Then our mouth was filled with laughter
and our tongue with a shout of joy.
Then they said among the nations,
“YHWH has done great things with these.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[125:2] Then our mouth was filled with joy
and our tongue with exultation.
Then they will say among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things with them.”
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew laughter differs from Greek joy. Hebrew’s narrative yiqtol forms are construed retrospectively, while Greek explicitly has future they will say after past was filled; the tense mixture is retained.
Verse 126:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[126:3] YHWH has done great things with us;
we were glad.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[125:3] The Lord has done great things with us;
we became glad.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both affirm great divine action with us and the resulting gladness.
Verse 126:4 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[126:4] Restore our fortunes, YHWH,
like streambeds in the Negev.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[125:4] Turn back our captivity, Lord,
like torrents in the south.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Hebrew the Negev names the southern dry region; Greek the south generalizes it. Fortunes/captivity and channels/torrents preserve the column-specific language without inventing rain in the base.
Verse 126:5 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[126:5] Those sowing in tears
will reap with a shout of joy.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[125:5] Those sowing in tears
will reap with exultation.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The sowing-to-reaping reversal from tears to joy is equivalent.
Verse 126:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[126:6] He goes on his way weeping,
carrying the seed supply;
he will surely come with a shout of joy,
carrying his sheaves.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[125:6] Going, they went and wept,
carrying their seeds;
but coming, they will arrive with exultation,
carrying their sheaves.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew presents a singular sower with emphatic going and coming; Greek uses plural sowers and explicit past going/future arrival. Hebrew meshekh of seed is provisionally seed supply; bag, load, and drawn-out scattering require lexical review.