Psalm 48 — 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 48
The city of our God
Verse 48:1 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[48:1] A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[47:1] A psalm of song for the sons of Korah, on the second day of the week.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek adds the weekday designation.
Verse 48:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[48:2] Great is YHWH and greatly praised
in our God's city, His holy mountain.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[47:2] Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
in our God's city, His holy mountain,
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The opening praise agrees.
Verse 48:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[48:3] Beautiful in branching, the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, the far northern reaches,
the city of the great King.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[47:3] taking good root for the exultation of all the earth.
Zion's mountains, the sides of the north,
the city of the great King.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew branching follows Rashi; elevation or region is another reading. Greek has a difficult rooting clause and plural mountains, not the Hebrew nominal description (RASHI-PS48, 48:3). Category basis: Branching/elevation versus rooting and singular/plural mountains are particular image/construction differences within the common praise of Zion; no addition or major consequence is established.
Verse 48:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[48:4] God is known in her citadels as a high refuge.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[47:4] God is known in her citadels when He supports her.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew names God as refuge; Greek identifies the action through which He is known.
Verse 48:5 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[48:5] For look, the kings assembled;
they passed onward together.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[47:5] For look, the kings gathered;
they came together.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The royal coalition agrees.
Verse 48:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[48:6] They saw and were amazed;
they were alarmed and hurried away.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[47:6] They saw and thus marveled;
they were troubled and shaken.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew ends in hurried retreat; Greek in shaking.
Verse 48:7 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[48:7] Trembling seized them there,
anguish like a woman giving birth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[47:7] Trembling seized them;
there were pangs like a woman giving birth.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The labor-pain image agrees.
Verse 48:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[48:8] With an east wind You shatter the ships of Tarshish.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[47:8] With a violent wind You will shatter the ships of Tarshish.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew specifies the wind's direction; Greek its force.
Verse 48:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[48:9] As we heard, so we have seen
in YHWH of hosts' city, in our God's city;
God will establish her forever. Selah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[47:9] Just as we heard, so we saw
in the city of the Lord of powers, in our God's city;
God founded her forever. Diapsalma.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew anticipates enduring establishment; Greek reports the founding as accomplished.
Verse 48:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[48:10] We waited, God, for Your steadfast love
in the midst of Your temple.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[47:10] We received Your mercy, God,
in the midst of Your sanctuary.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew waiting follows Rashi, who also reports a meditation interpretation; Greek speaks of receiving (RASHI-PS48, 48:10).
Verse 48:11 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[48:11] As Your name, God, so Your praise reaches the ends of the earth;
Your right hand is full of righteousness.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[47:11] According to Your name, God,
so also Your praise reaches the earth's limits;
Your right hand is full of righteousness.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The extent of praise and righteous right hand agree.
Verse 48:12 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[48:12] Let Mount Zion rejoice;
let Judah's daughters exult because of Your judgments.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[47:12] Let Mount Zion rejoice;
let Judea's daughters exult because of Your judgments, Lord.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek adds Lord and has Judea's regional form. Reception: Rashi identifies the daughters as the other towns of Judah (RASHI-PS48, 48:12).
Verse 48:13 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[48:13] Walk around Zion and encircle her;
count her towers.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[47:13] Encircle Zion and encompass her;
recount in her towers,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew commands counting towers; Greek narrating in them.
Verse 48:14 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[48:14] Set your heart upon her rampart;
raise her citadels,
so that you may tell a later generation.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[47:14] set your hearts upon her strength
and divide her citadels,
so that you may tell another generation.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew raising follows Rashi; considering or traversing is another proposal. Greek's dividing command remains distinct rather than being normalized to inspection (RASHI-PS48, 48:14). Category basis: Raising versus dividing the citadels changes a particular command. The city-focused setting and purpose of telling the next generation agree, and no added material governs.
Verse 48:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[48:15] For this is God, our God forever and ever;
He will guide us as in youth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[47:15] For this is God, our God
forever and for age upon age;
He will shepherd us through the ages.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew as in youth follows Rashi's interpretation of the difficult al-muth; he also reports an eternity reading. Greek explicitly promises shepherding through the ages (RASHI-PS48, 48:15).