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Sirach — Chapter 45 — Hebrew–Greek comparison

Moses, Aaron, and Phinehas

Saints Translation · V2 · Hebrew–Greek working comparison

Sirach 45 · 26 source units
Hebrew–English · Literal-Smooth	Greek–English · Literal-Smooth	Classification & Notes
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 44:23, 45:1; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 44:23 · fragmentary Blessing rested upon Israel’s head; He established him in blessing and gave him his inheritance. He set him in tribes, to divide into twelve; and [He brought] forth from him a man who found favor in the eyes of all living. Hebrew witness B · XIV recto, lines 1–13 וברכה נחה על ראש ישראל ויכוננהו בברכה ויתן לו נחלתו ויציבהו לשבטים לחלק שנים עשר [ויוצי]א ממנו איש מוצא חן בעיני כל חי Manuscript transcription Hebrew 45:1 · fragmentary […] God and human beings; Moses—may his memory be for good. Hebrew witness B · B XIV Recto א֯ להים ואנשים ]] [[ משה זכרו לטובה׃ [ — ]°° Manuscript transcription	45:1 From him He brought forth a man of mercy who found favor in the eyes of all flesh, beloved by God and people: Moses, whose remembrance is among blessings.	Similar · Hebrew 44:23 — B blessing versus marginal birthright. The closing man-finding-favor clause aligns Greek 45:1, not the inherited Greek 44:23. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 44:23; 45:1, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Similar · Hebrew 45:1 — The beginning is damaged; the surviving blessing corresponds to Greek. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note 45:1 “From him” continues the preceding reference to Jacob.
Hebrew 45:2 · fragmentary […] God […] and strengthened him in the heights [marginal reading: through terrors]. Hebrew witness B · B XIV Recto א֯ להים <ויכ׳ ייי> ]] [[ ויאמצהו במרומים ׃ <במוראים> Manuscript transcription	45:2 He made him like the holy ones in glory and magnified him through the fears of his enemies.	Different · Hebrew 45:2 — The main Hebrew reads heights; the marginal reading approaches Greek fears. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note 45:2 The plural “fears” is retained; the Greek does not expressly name the deeds that caused them.
Hebrew 45:3 · fragmentary By his [words] […] and strengthened him before a king. God commanded him […] and showed him […]. Hebrew witness B · B XIV Recto [בד]בריו <בדברו> ] °° — [מהר {{ ]] [[ °°°}}ויחזקהו לפני מלך׃ ויצוהו ] א[ל] — [[ ]] °°[ו֯י֯ר֯ ]אהו [ — ]°° [ Manuscript transcription	45:3 By his words He caused signs to cease; He glorified him before kings. He gave him commandments for His people and showed him something of His glory.	Similar · Hebrew 45:3 — Only surviving clauses are translated; Greek supplies a fuller account. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note 45:3 The signs “cease,” κατέπαυσεν, in the accessed text; “perform” is not substituted. “Something of” represents the partitive expression concerning God’s glory.
Hebrew 45:4 · fragmentary In his faithfulness and humility […] God chose him out of all […]. Hebrew witness B · B XIV Recto באמונתו ובעׄ נותו <ובענותנותו> ]] [[] ו[א֯ לׄ הׄ י֯םׄ בחר בו מכל ] °°° — [ Manuscript transcription	45:4 In faithfulness and gentleness He sanctified him; He chose him out of all flesh.	Similar · Hebrew 45:4 — Damage prevents a full comparison. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 45:5 · translated He let him hear His voice and brought him near the thick darkness. He placed in his hand a commandment, a law of life and understanding, to teach Jacob His statutes, and Israel His testimonies and judgments. Hebrew witness B · B XIV Verso וישמיעהו את קולו ]] [[ ויגישהו לערפל׃ וישם <ויתן> בידו מצוה ]] [[ תורת חיים ותבונה ׃ ללמד ביעקב <לי׳> חקיו ]] [[ ועדותיו ומשפטיו לישראל׃ Manuscript transcription	45:5 He let him hear His voice, brought him into the darkness, and gave him commandments face to face, a law of life and knowledge, to teach Jacob the covenant and Israel His judgments.	Different · Hebrew 45:5 — Hebrew has in his hand; Greek has face to face.
Hebrew 45:6 · translated He exalted Aaron, a holy man, of the tribe of Levi. Hebrew witness B · B XIV Verso וירם קדוש את אהרן למטה לוי ]] [[ Manuscript transcription	45:6 He exalted Aaron, a holy man like him, his brother from the tribe of Levi.	Similar · Hebrew 45:6 — Greek additionally calls Aaron his brother and like him.
Hebrew 45:7 · translated He established him as an everlasting statute, placed majesty upon him, and invested him with His glory. He girded him with the strength of a wild ox and clothed him with bells. Hebrew witness B · B XIV Verso וישימהו לחק עולם׃ ויתן עליו הוד <לו הודו> ]] [[ וישרתהו בכבודו ׃ <בברכה> ויאזרהו בתועפות ראם <תאור> ]] [[ וילבישהו פעמונים ׃ <תעופה> Manuscript transcription	45:7 He established him as an everlasting covenant and gave him the priesthood of the people. He blessed him with beautiful attire and girded him with a robe of glory.	Different · Hebrew 45:7 — The wild-ox image differs from the Greek robe of glory; Hebrew marginal alternatives are recorded in the transcription. Inherited Greek note 45:7 The Greek directly places Aaron as the object beside “an everlasting covenant”; the rendering does not silently replace this with “made a covenant with him.”
Hebrew 45:8 · translated He clothed him in complete splendor and adorned him with glory and strength: breeches, tunics, and a robe. Hebrew witness B · B XIV Verso וילבישהו כליל תפארת <תפארתו> ]] [[ ויפארהו בכׄ ]ב[וד ועוז׃ מכנסים כתנות ומעיל ]] [[ Manuscript transcription	45:8 He clothed him with the fullness of splendor and equipped him with mighty garments: breeches, a robe reaching to the feet, and a shoulder piece.	Similar · Hebrew 45:8 — The garment lists differ in detail. Inherited Greek note 45:8 “Shoulder piece” renders ἐπωμίς; no reconstructed Hebrew garment name is inserted into this Greek-only column.
Hebrew 45:9 · translated He encircled him with bells and pomegranates in abundance all around, to give melody to his steps, to make his voice heard in the inner sanctuary, as a remembrance for the children of his people. Hebrew witness B · B XIV Verso ויקיפה֯ ו פעמונים׃ ורמונים המון סביב ]] [[ לתת נעימה בצעדיו׃ להשמיע בדביר קולו ]] [[ לזכרון לבני עמו׃ Manuscript transcription	45:9 He surrounded him with little pomegranates, with many golden bells all around, to sound with his footsteps and make an audible ringing in the sanctuary as a remembrance for the sons of His people;	Similar · Hebrew 45:9 — Greek explicitly calls the bells golden.
Hebrew 45:10 · translated Holy garments of gold, blue, and purple, a designer’s work: breastpiece of judgment, ephod, and girdle. Hebrew witness B · B XIV Verso בגדי קדש זהב תכלת וארגמן ]] [[ מעשה חשב׃ חשן משפט אפוד ואזור Manuscript transcription This Hebrew unit spans Greek 45:10, 45:11; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 45:11 · fragmentary And scarlet, a weaver’s work; precious stones upon the breastpiece, engraved like a seal in [settings]; every precious stone for remembrance, with an engraved inscription according to the number of the [tribes of Israel]. Hebrew witness B · B XIV Verso [[ ]] ושני תולעת מעשה אורג׃ אבני חפץ על החשן ]] [[ פתוחי חותם במל]ואי[ם֯ ׃ כל אבן יקרה לזכרון בכתב חרות ]] [[ למספר ש֯ ]בטי יש[ר֯ אל׃ Manuscript transcription	45:10 with a holy robe of gold, blue, and purple, the work of an embroiderer; with an oracle-piece of judgment, tokens of truth, twisted scarlet, a craftsman’s work;	Different · Hebrew 45:10 — The Hebrew garment terms are more explicit than Greek oracle-piece and tokens of truth; scarlet follows under Hebrew 45:11. Similar · Hebrew 45:11 — The scarlet clause belongs to Greek 45:10; the stone list corresponds to 45:11. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 45:10–11, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note 45:10 The clothing list continues the preceding verbs. “Oracle-piece” and “tokens of truth” preserve λόγειον and δῆλα without claiming that the Hebrew Urim and Thummim have been independently compared.
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 45:10, 45:11; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 45:11 · fragmentary And scarlet, a weaver’s work; precious stones upon the breastpiece, engraved like a seal in [settings]; every precious stone for remembrance, with an engraved inscription according to the number of the [tribes of Israel]. Hebrew witness B · B XIV Verso [[ ]] ושני תולעת מעשה אורג׃ אבני חפץ על החשן ]] [[ פתוחי חותם במל]ואי[ם֯ ׃ כל אבן יקרה לזכרון בכתב חרות ]] [[ למספר ש֯ ]בטי יש[ר֯ אל׃ Manuscript transcription	45:11 with costly stones bearing engraved seals in settings of gold, a stoneworker’s work, as a remembrance in carved writing according to the number of Israel’s tribes;	Similar · Hebrew 45:11 — The scarlet clause belongs to Greek 45:10; the stone list corresponds to 45:11. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 45:10–11, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 45:12 · fragmentary A crown of fine gold, robe and turban, and a plate […] holy; glorious majesty and praise of strength, […] beauty […]. Hebrew witness B · B XIV Verso [[ ]] עטרת פז מעיל ומצנפת וציץ ] °° — [קדש׃ ] ֯הוד כבוד ותהלת עז ]] [[ מחמׄ ד– י[וׄפי׃ Manuscript transcription	45:12 with a golden crown upon the turban, the impression of a seal of holiness, an honor to boast of, a mighty work, beautifully adorned things desired by the eyes.	Similar · Hebrew 45:12 — The damaged ornament list shares the Greek imagery. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 45:13 · fragmentary […] forever […] no stranger […]; […] his sons […] and his sons throughout their generations. Hebrew witness B · B XIV Verso ל °°°° ]ל– [ [[ ]] ] — ל[ע֯ ו֯לם֯ ל]א– [ זר׃ הא֯ מ֯ ן °°° לבניו ]] [[°°°° וכן בניו ל֯ ד֯ ו֯רׄ ותם׃ Manuscript transcription	45:13 Before him there had never been such beautiful things. Forever no outsider put them on, but only his sons and his descendants continually.	Similar · Hebrew 45:13 — The surviving descendants and exclusion of a stranger correspond to Greek; damaged wording is not restored. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note 45:13 The Greek combines an aorist “put on” with “forever”; the temporal compression is retained rather than converted into a different legal formula.
Hebrew 45:14 · fragmentary His [offering] shall be burned wholly, continually, twice each day. Hebrew witness B · B XV Recto ]מנ[חתו כליל תקטר ]] [[ וכל יום תמיד פעמים׃ ] Manuscript transcription	45:14 His sacrifices will be wholly offered twice every day, continually.	Similar · Hebrew 45:14 — The initial noun is partly restored in the transcription. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 45:15 · fragmentary [Moses filled his hand] and anointed him with holy oil. An everlasting covenant became his and his descendants’, as long as the days of heaven: to minister and serve Him as priest, and to bless His people in His name. Hebrew witness B · B XV Recto וי[מלא משה את ידו ]] [[ וימשחהו בשמן הקדש׃ ותהי לו ברית עולם ]] [[ ולזרעו כימי שמים׃ [[ ]] לשרת ולכהן לו ולברך את עמו בשמו׃ Manuscript transcription	45:15 Moses filled his hands and anointed him with holy oil. It became an everlasting covenant for him and his offspring, throughout the days of heaven, to minister to Him, serve as priests, and bless His people in the Name.	Similar · Hebrew 45:15 — Both preserve ordination as filling the hand and the enduring priesthood. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note 45:15 “Filled his hands” is the source’s ordination expression, retained literally. “The Name” has no added proper name in the Greek.
Hebrew 45:16 · translated He chose him from every living being to present burnt offering and fat, to burn a pleasing fragrance and memorial offering, and to make atonement for the children of Israel. Hebrew witness B · B XV Recto ויבחר בו מכל חי ]] [[ להגיש עלה וחלבים׃ ולהקטיר ריח ניחח ואזכרה ]] [[ ולכפר על בני ישראל׃ Manuscript transcription	45:16 He chose him from every living person to present an offering to the Lord, incense and a pleasing fragrance as a remembrance, to make atonement for your people.	Different · Hebrew 45:16 — Hebrew names burnt offering and fat and Israel; Greek has an offering to the Lord and your people. Inherited Greek note 45:16 The final “your” is a second-person shift in the source, not a copying error corrected to “His.”
Hebrew 45:17 · translated He gave him all His commandments and made him ruler in statute and judgment, to teach His people statute and the children of Israel judgment. Hebrew witness B · B XV Recto ויתן לו כל מצותיו ]] [[ וימשילהו בחוק ומשפט׃ וילמד את עמו חק ]] [[ ומשפט את בני יש ראל׃ Manuscript transcription	45:17 In His commandments He gave him authority concerning covenants of judgments, to teach Jacob the testimonies and enlighten Israel through His law.	Similar · Hebrew 45:17 — Greek expands the teaching into testimonies and enlightening by the law.
Hebrew 45:18 · translated Strangers burned with anger against him and envied him in the wilderness: the men of Dathan and Abiram and Korah’s assembly in the fierceness of their anger. Hebrew witness B · B XV Recto ויחרו בו זרים ]] [[ ויקנאו בו במדבר׃ אנשי דתן ואבירם ]] [[ ועדת קרח בעזוז אפם׃ Manuscript transcription	45:18 Outsiders banded together against him and envied him in the wilderness: the men around Dathan and Abiram, and Korah’s assembly in anger and wrath.	Similar · Hebrew 45:18 — The same rebellion is described with differing expressions for anger.
Hebrew 45:19 · translated YHWH saw and became angry, and consumed them in His burning anger. He brought a sign upon them and devoured them in the flame of His fire. Hebrew witness B · B XV Recto וירא ייי ויתאנף ]] [[ ויכלם בחרון אפו׃ ויבא להם אות ]] [[ ויאכלם בשביב אשו׃ Manuscript transcription	45:19 The Lord saw and was not pleased, and they were brought to their end in furious wrath. He worked portents upon them, consuming them in His flaming fire.	Similar · Hebrew 45:19 — The Hebrew explicitly states divine anger.
Hebrew 45:20 · fragmentary […] Aaron His glory, and He gave him his inheritance. […] He gave him bread […] his portion. Hebrew witness B · B XV Recto ]֯ו– °[לאהרן כבודו ]] [[ ויתן לו נחלתו׃ °[ — ]°ש נתן לו לחם חלקו Manuscript transcription	45:20 He added glory to Aaron and gave him an inheritance. He allotted him the firstfruits of the first produce; He prepared bread in abundance first for them.	Similar · Hebrew 45:20 — Damage prevents comparison of the firstfruits wording. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note 45:20 The final phrase ἄρτον πρώτοις ἡτοίμασεν πλησμονήν is compressed and includes plural πρώτοις. The priority and abundance are retained; the exact construction remains a translation question.
Hebrew 45:21 · translated They shall eat YHWH’s offerings by fire, a gift to him and his descendants. Hebrew witness B · B XV Recto [[ ]] אשי ייי יאכלון׃ [ — ] [[ ]] ומתנה לו ולזרעו׃ Manuscript transcription	45:21 For they will eat the Lord’s sacrifices, which He gave both to him and to his offspring.	Similar · Hebrew 45:21 — Hebrew names offerings by fire; Greek sacrifices.
Hebrew 45:22 · fragmentary But […] he shall not inherit, and among them he shall not receive an allotted inheritance. YHWH’s offerings by fire […] […]. Hebrew witness B · B XV Recto ] ׄאך– °°[לא֯ י֯נ֯ חל ]] [[ ובתוכם לא יחלק נחלה׃ אשי י]יי– ][ל– [ [[ ]] ] — °°°°[ל Manuscript transcription	45:22 But he will inherit nothing in the people’s land, and he has no portion among the people, for He Himself is your portion and inheritance.	Similar · Hebrew 45:22 — The final explanation is damaged and is not supplied from Greek. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note 45:22 The shift from “he” to “your” is explicit in Greek.
Hebrew 45:23 · fragmentary And Phinehas son of Eleazar […] in might […], when he was zealous for the God of all and stood in the breach of his people; his heart moved him willingly, and he made atonement for the children of Israel. Hebrew witness B · B XV Recto; B XV Verso ׄוגם פינחס ]ב[ןׄ אלעׄ זׄ רׄ ]] [[ בגבורה ] °°° — °[׃ ֵבקנאו לאלוה ^י^ כל ]] [[ ויעמד בפרץ עמו׃ אשר נדבו לבו ]] [[ ויכפר על בני ישראל Manuscript transcription Additional folio transcriptions: 2	45:23 Phinehas son of Eleazar was third in glory, because he was zealous in the fear of the Lord and stood firm when the people turned away, with the goodness of his soul’s eagerness. He made atonement for Israel.	Different · Hebrew 45:23 — Hebrew God of all and standing in the breach differ from Greek fear of the Lord and standing at the people’s turning away. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 45:24 · translated Therefore He also established a statute for him, a covenant of peace to sustain the sanctuary, so that the high priesthood might belong to him and his descendants forever. Hebrew witness B · B XV Verso לכן גם לו הקים חק ]] [[ ברית שלום לכלכל מקדש׃ [[ ]] אשר תהיה לו ולזרעו כהונה גדולה עד עולם׃ Manuscript transcription	45:24 Therefore a covenant of peace was established for him, to preside over holy things and His people, so that the majesty of the priesthood might belong to him and his offspring forever.	Similar · Hebrew 45:24 — Greek also mentions presiding over His people. Inherited Greek note 45:24 Ἁγίων may refer to holy things or holy persons; the priestly setting supports “holy things,” without excluding the lexical alternative.
Hebrew 45:25 · translated And also His covenant with David, son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah: an inheritance of fire before His glory; Aaron’s inheritance for all his descendants. And now bless the good YHWH, who crowns you with glory. Hebrew witness B · B XV Verso וגם בריתו עם דוד ]] [[ בן ישי למטה יהודה׃ נחלת אש לפני כבודו ]] [[ נחלת אהרן לכל זרעו׃ ועתה ברכו נא את ייי הטוב ]] [[ המעטר אתכם כבוד׃ Manuscript transcription	45:25 There was also a covenant for David son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah: the inheritance of a king passes from son to son alone; Aaron’s inheritance belongs also to his offspring.	Different · Hebrew 45:25 — The Hebrew phrase inheritance of fire is obscure and retained literally; the concluding blessing is absent from the aligned Greek verse. Inherited Greek note 45:25 The contrast in hereditary succession is terse. “Passes” and “belongs” supply verbs for the Greek noun clauses; no detailed constitutional rule is added.
Hebrew 45:26 · translated May He give you wisdom of heart, so that your goodness will not be forgotten, your generations for everlasting generations. Hebrew witness B · B XV Verso ויתן לכם חכמת לב למען לא ישכח טובכם ד֯ ו֯ר֯ ורתכם לדורות עולם׃ Manuscript transcription	45:26 May He give you wisdom in your heart to judge His people in righteousness, so that their good things may not disappear, and their glory may last through their generations.	Different · Hebrew 45:26 — The Hebrew line is textually rough and lacks the Greek explicit charge to judge the people justly. Inherited Greek note 45:26 “May last” supplies the sense of the final verbless phrase; the Greek’s singular “heart” with plural “you” is retained.

Source and numbering

Hebrew English is newly translated from the manuscript-specific transcriptions in The Book of Ben Sira portal. Each translated unit identifies its selected witness and folio. This is a selected-witness working edition, not an exhaustive collation of every manuscript or a reconstruction of lost Hebrew. Brackets and fragmentary status identify uncertainty; no Greek text has been back-translated to fill Hebrew gaps.

The Greek-source English and its notes are inherited from the existing Sirach edition. The comparison categories are provisional editorial assessments against that English; this update is not a fresh verification of every Greek reading or its apparatus.

Working translation preserved from the recovered manuscript of 8 September 2026. Declared source: Septuaginta, Rahlfs–Hanhart, 2006, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, publisher’s Greek main text. Independent linguistic and critical-apparatus review remains outstanding. Source-access and reception claims in the inherited notes have not been freshly revalidated. Chapter and section headings are editorial.

The translator’s prologue is separate from the 51 chapters. Its eight source units map to publisher labels 1, 1a–1g; main-text 1:1 maps to 1h. Source 5:15 includes material often numbered 6:1, so chapter 6 begins at 6:2. Source label gaps are preserved; no text is invented.