Psalm 99 — The holy King answers His people — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 99:1
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 99 — The holy King answers His people
Verse 99:1 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[99:1] YHWH reigns! Let peoples tremble.
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[98:1] A psalm of David.
The Lord has become King! Let peoples be angry.
He sits upon the cherubim; let the earth be shaken.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek adds the David psalm heading, absent from Hebrew, and explicitly calls the peoples to be angry where Hebrew depicts trembling or agitation. Both retain the cherubim throne and the earth's shaking; the anger clause is not harmonized to reverent fear.
Verse 99:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[99:2] YHWH is great in Zion;
He is exalted above all the peoples.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[98:2] The Lord is great in Zion
and exalted above all the peoples.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Divine greatness in Zion and exaltation over all peoples agree.
Verse 99:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[99:3] Let them thank Your name, great and fearsome;
holy is He.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[98:3] Let them give thanks to Your great name,
for it is fearsome and holy.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek neuter fearsome and holy grammatically describes the name. Hebrew masculine holy is He is rendered with God as the referent, but the masculine noun name also permits holy is it. That Hebrew antecedent remains open rather than being settled from Greek alone.
Verse 99:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[99:4] The King's strength loves justice.
You established equity;
justice and righteousness in Jacob You have done.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[98:4] The King's honor loves judgment.
You prepared uprightness;
judgment and righteousness in Jacob You have done.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek the King's honor replaces Hebrew the King's strength. Both personify the royal attribute as loving judgment, then address God as the establisher and doer of justice. The unusual opening is retained rather than expanded to a mighty king who loves justice.
Verse 99:5 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[99:5] Exalt YHWH our God
and bow down at His footstool;
holy is He.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[98:5] Exalt the Lord our God
and bow down at His footstool,
for He is holy.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek adds for and uses masculine holy, identifying God rather than the grammatically neuter footstool. Hebrew holy is He likewise is rendered of God, although its masculine footstool leaves an alternative grammatical attachment possible. At His footstool gives the cultic direction without making the footstool a separate deity.
Verse 99:6 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[99:6] Moses and Aaron were among His priests,
and Samuel among those who call on His name.
They called to YHWH, and He would answer them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[98:6] Moses and Aaron were among His priests,
and Samuel among those who call on His name.
They called upon the Lord, and He heard them,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The three named servants and their invocation agree. Greek hearing corresponds to Hebrew answering; Greek continues into the cloud-pillar clause of the next verse.
Verse 99:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[99:7] In a pillar of cloud He would speak to them.
They kept His testimonies
and the statute He gave them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[98:7] He spoke to them in a pillar of cloud.
They kept His testimonies
and the ordinances He gave them.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek plural ordinances replaces Hebrew singular statute. The cloud, speech and keeping of the testimonies agree.
Verse 99:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[99:8] YHWH our God, You answered them;
You were a forgiving God to them,
yet One who took vengeance for their deeds.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[98:8] Lord our God, You heard them;
God, You were gracious to them
and took vengeance for all their practices.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek adds all to the practices for which vengeance is taken and uses gracious or propitious where Hebrew describes bearing away guilt. Both preserve favor together with vengeance. Hebrew yet renders the conjunction's contextual contrast; the identity of their is not expanded into named offenders.
Verse 99:9 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[99:9] Exalt YHWH our God
and bow down toward His holy mountain,
for holy is YHWH our God.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[98:9] Exalt the Lord our God
and bow down toward His holy mountain,
for holy is the Lord our God.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The exhortation, direction toward the holy mountain and explicit divine holiness agree.