Leviticus 1 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Reading text of Leviticus 1 · Leviticus: all chapters · Leviticus 2 compared →
Same 0 Similar 5 Different 10 Divergent 1 Disparate 1
Disparate in this chapter: 1:15
Each verse is rendered independently from the Hebrew (Rabbinic reading tradition) and from the Greek (Saints reading tradition). The badge classifies the relationship between the two readings; the note beneath records the source document’s comparison and attributed interpretation. Each column retains its own verse references where numbering differs.
From the herd · 1:1–9
1:1 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:1 He called to Moses, and YHWH spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying:
Greek · Saints priority
1:1 He summoned Moses, and the Lord spoke to him from the Tent of Testimony, saying:
The tent is named for meeting in Hebrew and testimony in Greek; the setting corresponds.
Rabbinic reception. Rashi reads the preceding call as an expression of divine affection. This is his interpretation of the manner of revelation, not an added adjective in either source text. Rashi, Leviticus 1:1
1:2 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:2 Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them: When anyone among you brings an offering to YHWH, you shall bring your offering from the livestock, from the herd or the flock.
Greek · Saints priority
1:2 Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them: If anyone among you brings gifts to the Lord, you shall bring your gifts from the livestock, from the cattle or the flock.
Hebrew “offering†and Greek “gifts†describe the presentation; Greek uses the plural.
Rabbinic reception. Rashi’s homily on “a human being†invokes Adam to teach that an offering must not be stolen. The ethical application is not an extra clause in this verse. Rashi, Leviticus 1:2
1:3 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:3 If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall bring an unblemished male. He shall bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, for acceptance before YHWH.
Greek · Saints priority
1:3 If his gift is a whole burnt offering from the cattle, he shall bring an unblemished male. He shall bring it to the door of the Tent of Testimony, acceptable before the Lord.
“For acceptance†concerns the offering’s acceptability; it need not mean that the animal is offered voluntarily.
1:4 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:4 He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him, to make atonement for him.
Greek · Saints priority
1:4 He shall lay his hand on the head of the offering, and it shall be acceptable for him, to make propitiation for him.
Greek calls the victim an offering here. “Atonement†and “propitiation†reflect contextual rendering choices, not proof that the rites have opposed purposes.
1:5 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:5 He shall slaughter the young bull before YHWH. Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall present the blood and dash the blood all around against the altar at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.
Greek · Saints priority
1:5 They shall slaughter the calf before the Lord. Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall present the blood and pour the blood all around against the altar at the doors of the Tent of Testimony.
The slaughtering subject is singular in Hebrew, plural in Greek; blood is dashed / poured. Greek does not explicitly identify its plural subject as priests.
1:6 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:6 He shall skin the burnt offering and cut it into its pieces.
Greek · Saints priority
1:6 They shall skin the whole burnt offering and divide it limb by limb.
Singular / plural agency continues; the division is expressed anatomically in Greek.
1:7 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:7 The sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.
Greek · Saints priority
1:7 The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall put fire on the altar and pile wood on the fire.
Hebrew’s singular priest identifies Aaron; Greek’s plural identifies his sons.
1:8 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:8 Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the suet on the wood that is on the fire on the altar.
Greek · Saints priority
1:8 Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall pile the divided parts, the head, and the suet on the wood that is on the fire on the altar.
The same parts and altar arrangement are prescribed.
1:9 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:9 He shall wash its entrails and legs with water, and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar: a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing aroma to YHWH.
Greek · Saints priority
1:9 They shall wash its entrails and legs with water, and the priests shall place all of it on the altar: an offering, a sacrifice, a fragrant aroma to the Lord.
Singular / plural agents; Hebrew explicitly commands burning, Greek placing. The Greek context still supplies an altar fire; it does not prescribe an unburned sacrifice.
From the flock · 1:10–13
1:10 Divergent
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:10 If his offering is from the flock, from the sheep or the goats, as a burnt offering, he shall bring an unblemished male.
Greek · Saints priority
1:10 If his gift to the Lord is from the flock, from lambs and kids, for a whole burnt offering, he shall bring an unblemished male and lay his hand on its head.
Greek expressly includes hand-laying in this rule; Hebrew has no corresponding clause here. Compare 1:4; do not insert the clause into Hebrew.
1:11 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:11 He shall slaughter it on the north side of the altar before YHWH, and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall dash its blood all around against the altar.
Greek · Saints priority
1:11 They shall slaughter it on the north side of the altar before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall pour its blood all around against the altar.
The singular / plural agent and dash / pour distinctions recur.
1:12 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:12 He shall cut it into its pieces, with its head and its suet, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood that is on the fire on the altar.
Greek · Saints priority
1:12 They shall divide it limb by limb, with its head and its suet, and the priests shall pile them on the wood that is on the fire on the altar.
Both the dividing and arranging agents are plural in Greek.
1:13 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:13 He shall wash the entrails and legs with water. The priest shall present all of it and burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing aroma to YHWH.
Greek · Saints priority
1:13 They shall wash the entrails and legs with water. The priest shall present all of it and place it on the altar. It is an offering, a sacrifice, a fragrant aroma to the Lord.
Greek changes the washing subject and uses “placeâ€; Hebrew specifies burning.
Bird offerings · 1:14–17
1:14 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:14 If his offering to YHWH is a burnt offering of birds, he shall bring his offering from the turtledoves or the young pigeons.
Greek · Saints priority
1:14 If you bring a gift to the Lord as an offering of birds, he shall bring his gift from the turtledoves or the pigeons.
Hebrew explicitly specifies young pigeons. Greek shifts from “you†to “heâ€; the shift is retained.
1:15 Disparate
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:15 The priest shall bring it to the altar, pinch off its head, and burn it on the altar. Its blood shall be drained out against the side of the altar.
Greek · Saints priority
1:15 The priest shall bring it to the altar and pinch off its head, and the priest shall place it on the altar. He shall drain out the blood at the base of the altar.
The prescribed blood location is the altar’s side in Hebrew, its base in Greek. This is a material ritual difference; Greek also says “place†where Hebrew says “burn.â€
1:16 Similar
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:16 He shall remove its crop with its feathers and throw it beside the altar on the east, at the place for ashes.
Greek · Saints priority
1:16 He shall remove its crop with its feathers and throw it beside the altar toward the east, at the place for ashes.
The location and action correspond. The Hebrew expression rendered “with its feathers†is lexically difficult; this follows its traditional contextual sense.
1:17 Different
Hebrew · Rabbinic priority
1:17 He shall tear it open by its wings without dividing it. The priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing aroma to YHWH.
Greek · Saints priority
1:17 He shall break it open by its wings without dividing it. The priest shall place it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is an offering, a sacrifice, a fragrant aroma to the Lord.
The fire remains explicit in both; the priest’s commanded action is burn / place.
Reading text of Leviticus 1 · Leviticus: all chapters · Leviticus 2 compared →
Saints Translation · Companion comparison edition · working draft awaiting specialist review.