Psalm 96 — A new song before the coming Judge — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 96:5
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 96 — A new song before the coming Judge
Verse 96:1 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[96:1] Sing to YHWH a new song;
sing to YHWH, all the earth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[95:1] When the house was being built after the captivity; a song of David.
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek adds a heading connecting the song with the house being built after captivity and with David. Neither historical heading nor attribution appears in the Hebrew psalm. The opening invitation itself agrees.
Verse 96:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[96:2] Sing to YHWH; bless His name.
Announce His salvation from day to day.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[95:2] Sing to the Lord; bless His name.
Proclaim the good news of His salvation day after day.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both call for daily announcement of divine salvation and blessing the name. Greek explicitly uses the good-news verb corresponding to Hebrew announce good tidings.
Verse 96:3 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[96:3] Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all the peoples.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[95:3] Announce His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all the peoples.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The glory, wonders and universal audience correspond.
Verse 96:4 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[96:4] For great is YHWH and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[95:4] For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
He is fearsome above all gods.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The divine greatness, praise and supremacy above gods agree. Gods is retained in both columns rather than replaced by angels from another psalm.
Verse 96:5 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[96:5] For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but YHWH made the heavens.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[95:5] For all the gods of the nations are demons,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew elilim disparages the gods as worthless idols; Greek explicitly identifies them as demons. That changes their characterization substantially, while both contrast them with the Creator of the heavens.
Verse 96:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[96:6] Majesty and splendor are before Him;
strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[95:6] Thanksgiving and beauty are before Him;
holiness and magnificence are in His sanctuary.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek thanksgiving replaces majesty, and holiness replaces strength. Beauty and magnificence retain the paired aesthetic language without making the Hebrew and Greek lists identical.
Verse 96:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[96:7] Ascribe to YHWH, families of peoples;
ascribe to YHWH glory and strength.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[95:7] Bring to the Lord, families of nations;
bring to the Lord glory and honor.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew ascribing glory and strength becomes Greek bringing glory and honor. The collective families and divine recipient correspond.
Verse 96:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[96:8] Ascribe to YHWH the glory of His name;
carry an offering and enter His courts.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[95:8] Bring to the Lord glory for His name;
take up sacrifices and enter His courts.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew a singular offering becomes Greek plural sacrifices; Greek explicitly uses bringing in both lines. Both direct entry into the courts.
Verse 96:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[96:9] Bow down to YHWH in holy splendor;
tremble before Him, all the earth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[95:9] Bow down to the Lord in His holy court;
let all the earth be shaken before Him.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek names His holy court where Hebrew speaks of holy splendor. Hebrew splendor may denote holy adornment; no garment is specified in the translation. Trembling and being shaken preserve the respective commands.
Verse 96:10 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[96:10] Say among the nations, “YHWH reigns!”
Indeed, the world stands firm; it will not totter.
He will judge peoples with equity.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[95:10] Say among the nations, “The Lord has become King!”
For He also established the inhabited world, which will not be shaken.
He will judge peoples with uprightness.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek makes God the explicit agent establishing the world; Hebrew describes its stability. The reign, unshaken world and equitable judgment agree. No from-the-tree phrase is present in this declared Greek running text or inserted here.
Verse 96:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[96:11] Let the heavens rejoice and the earth exult;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[95:11] Let the heavens rejoice and the earth exult;
let the sea be shaken, and all that fills it.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek being shaken replaces Hebrew roaring in the sea's response. The heavenly and earthly rejoicing and the sea's fullness agree.
Verse 96:12 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[96:12] Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it;
then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[95:12] The plains will rejoice, and everything in them;
then all the trees of the woodland will exult
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Hebrew singular field becomes plural plains; joyful singing becomes exultation. Both lines lead into the following verse's divine presence.
Verse 96:13 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[96:13] before YHWH, for He is coming,
for He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness
and peoples with His faithfulness.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[95:13] before the Lord, for He is coming,
for He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the inhabited world with righteousness
and peoples with His truth.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both retain the repeated coming announcement and righteous judgment. Hebrew faithfulness and Greek truth preserve the corresponding terms without removing the repetition.