Psalm 83 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 83:2
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 83
The nations' counsel against Israel
Verse 83:1 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:1] A song. A psalm of Asaph.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:1] A song of a psalm for Asaph.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both name song, psalm, and Asaph; Greek links song and psalm in a genitive construction.
Verse 83:2 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:2] God, let there be no silence with You;
do not be deaf or remain still, God.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:2] God, who will be likened to You?
Do not be silent or remain quiet, God.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew begins by denying God silence; Greek instead asks who can be compared with Him. This changes the opening assertion to divine incomparability, while the subsequent appeal against silence remains.
Verse 83:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:3] For look, Your enemies are in uproar,
and those who hate You have lifted their head.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:3] For look, Your enemies made an uproar,
and those who hate You lifted their head.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The enemies' uproar and raised head correspond; Greek presents the actions as past.
Verse 83:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:4] Against Your people they cunningly devise a secret plan;
they consult together against Your sheltered ones.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:4] Against Your people they cunningly devised a plan,
and they took counsel against Your holy ones.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew calls the threatened people Your hidden or sheltered ones; Greek Your holy ones. Both describe cunning conspiracy.
Verse 83:5 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:5] They said, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation,
so that Israel's name will be remembered no more.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:5] They said, “Come, let us destroy them from being a nation,
and Israel's name shall certainly be remembered no more.”
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both report the conspirators' intent to eliminate Israel's national existence and remembered name.
Verse 83:6 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:6] For they have taken counsel with one heart;
against You they make a covenant:
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:6] For they took counsel together in concord;
against You they made a covenant—
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The united anti-divine covenant corresponds, with Hebrew's shared-heart idiom and Greek concord.
Verse 83:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:7] the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the Hagrites,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:7] the dwellings of the Idumeans and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the Hagarenes,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The corresponding peoples are retained in their source forms: Edom/Idumeans and Hagrites/Hagarenes are not treated as newly discovered separate nations.
Verse 83:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:8] Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:8] Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
and foreigners with those who inhabit Tyre.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew names Philistia; Greek uses allophyloi, foreigners, in the corresponding position. The other names agree.
Verse 83:9 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:9] Assyria too has joined them;
they have become an arm for the sons of Lot.
Selah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:9] For Asshur too came alongside them;
they became a support for the sons of Lot.
Diapsalma.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Assyria/Asshur joins the coalition; Hebrew's arm image corresponds to Greek support. Both performance markers remain.
Verse 83:10 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:10] Do to them as to Midian,
as to Sisera, as to Jabin at the torrent Kishon,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:10] Do to them as to Midian and Sisera,
as Jabin at the torrent Kishon,
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The defeat precedents and torrent correspond; the shortened Greek comparison with Jabin remains intelligible without adding a new historical event.
Verse 83:11 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:11] who were destroyed at En-dor
and became dung for the ground.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:11] they were destroyed at En-dor
and became like dung for the earth.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both retain the named defeat site and dung image. Rabbinic: Rashi on 83:11 expressly leaves uncertain which of the preceding wars belongs to En-dor; the draft does not resolve his uncertainty by invention (RASHI-PS83).
Verse 83:12 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:12] Make them—their nobles—like Oreb and Zeeb,
and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:12] Make their rulers like Oreb and Zeeb,
and Zebah and Zalmunna—all their rulers,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: All four rulers' names are preserved in recognizable forms. Hebrew uses distinct noble/prince terms; Greek repeats rulers and compresses the second comparison.
Verse 83:13 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:13] who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves
of God's dwelling places.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:13] who said, “Let us inherit for ourselves
the sanctuary of God.”
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew has plural dwelling places, Greek a singular sanctuary. Rabbinic: Rashi on 83:13 relates the Hebrew dwellings to God's house, bringing the interpreted referent close to the Greek without changing the Hebrew plurality (RASHI-PS83).
Verse 83:14 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:14] My God, make them like whirling thistle heads,
like stubble before the wind.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:14] My God, make them like a wheel,
like straw before the wind.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew galgal is rendered with Rashi's explanation of wind-driven thorn heads resembling wheels; Greek trochos explicitly names a wheel (RASHI-PS83). The plant identification remains an attributed lexical choice, not a claimed botanical certainty.
Verse 83:15 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:15] As fire burns a forest,
and as flame sets mountains ablaze,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:15] Like fire that will burn through a woodland,
as though a flame should burn up mountains,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The consuming forest and mountain fire corresponds, with different verbal framing.
Verse 83:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:16] so pursue them with Your storm
and terrify them with Your whirlwind.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:16] so You will pursue them with Your storm
and trouble them in Your wrath.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew repeats weather imagery with a whirlwind; Greek names wrath in the second clause. The Hebrew imperfects continue the petition, while Greek states the pursuit prospectively.
Verse 83:17 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:17] Fill their faces with dishonor,
so that they may seek Your name, YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:17] Fill their faces with dishonor,
and they will seek Your name, Lord.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both connect humiliation with seeking God's name; Hebrew is rendered purposively and Greek as a future result.
Verse 83:18 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:18] Let them be ashamed and terrified forever;
let them be abashed and perish.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:18] Let them be ashamed and troubled for an age of an age;
let them be abashed and perish,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The enduring shame and destruction correspond, retaining the Greek age formula.
Verse 83:19 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[83:19] Let them know that You—Your name is YHWH—
You alone are Most High over all the earth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[82:19] and let them know that Your name is Lord;
You alone are Most High over all the earth.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The sole Most High and the divine name conclude both texts; YHWH/Lord follows the respective source.