Leviticus — Samaritan Pentateuch
17 variants • 0 high significance • 4 moderate
Overview
Summary
Leviticus contains the fewest significant SP variants of any Pentateuchal book. The majority of differences are orthographic (plene vs. defective spelling) or involve minor grammatical adjustments. Because Leviticus is primarily legal-ritual material with little narrative, SP's characteristic harmonistic expansions and Gerizim insertions have less opportunity to operate. The sanctuary is referred to as the 'tent of meeting' throughout, which both traditions share.
Notable Variants
The most notable variants involve sacrificial terminology, the occasional smoothing of grammatical difficulties, and a handful of places where SP adjusts language about 'the place the LORD will choose' (though this phrase appears less frequently in Leviticus than in Deuteronomy). Some skin-disease legislation in chapters 13-14 shows minor terminological differences.
Theological Significance
Leviticus variants are theologically minor. The ritual system described is essentially identical in MT and SP. This convergence is significant in itself: it demonstrates that the Samaritan and Jewish communities shared the same sacrificial theology, diverging primarily on WHERE sacrifices should be offered (Gerizim vs. Jerusalem), not on HOW they should be performed.
Masoretic (MT)
וַיִּקְרָא אֶל־מֹשֶׁה
And He called to Moses
Samaritan (SP)
ויקרא אל משה
And He called to Moses
MT has a small aleph in ויקרא (a scribal tradition); SP writes the word normally. Both read the same text.
Masoretic (MT)
רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ לַיהוָה
a pleasing aroma to the LORD
Samaritan (SP)
ריח ניחח ליהוה
a pleasing aroma to the LORD
The 'pleasing aroma' formula is identical in MT and SP throughout Leviticus. This shared sacrificial vocabulary confirms that both traditions understood offerings the same way.
Masoretic (MT)
אֶל־מָקוֹם טָהוֹר אֶל־שֶׁפֶךְ הַדָּשֶׁן
to a clean place, to the ash heap
Samaritan (SP)
אל מקום טהור אל שפך הדשן
to a clean place, to the ash heap
The ash-disposal instructions agree. SP does not add any Gerizim reference to this passage.
Masoretic (MT)
Fat and blood prohibition — standard form
(Standard dietary prohibition)
Samaritan (SP)
Fat and blood prohibition — minor grammatical variants
(Same prohibition with minor grammatical smoothing)
SP smooths a few grammatical constructions in the fat/blood prohibition but makes no substantive changes.
Masoretic (MT)
וַיִּשָּׂא אַהֲרֹן אֶת־יָדָיו אֶל־הָעָם וַיְבָרֲכֵם
And Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them
Samaritan (SP)
וישא אהרן את ידו אל העם ויברכם
And Aaron lifted his hand toward the people and blessed them
SP reads singular 'hand' (ידו) where MT reads plural 'hands' (ידיו). This may reflect a different priestly blessing gesture in Samaritan tradition, or it may be a simple scribal variant.
Masoretic (MT)
רָאשֵׁיכֶם אַל־תִּפְרָעוּ
Do not uncover your heads
Samaritan (SP)
ראשיכם אל תפרעו
Do not uncover your heads
The Nadab and Abihu aftermath instructions agree between MT and SP.
Masoretic (MT)
כֹּל הוֹלֵךְ עַל־גָּחוֹן
whatever goes on its belly
Samaritan (SP)
כל הולך על גחון
whatever goes on its belly
MT has an enlarged vav in גָּחוֹן (a scribal tradition marking the middle letter of the Torah); SP writes normally. Content is identical.
Masoretic (MT)
שְׂאֵת אוֹ־סַפַּחַת אוֹ בַהֶרֶת
a swelling or a scab or a bright spot
Samaritan (SP)
שאת או ספחת או בהרת
a swelling or a scab or a bright spot
The skin-disease diagnostic terminology is identical. Both traditions share the same medical-ritual vocabulary.
Masoretic (MT)
כִּי תָבֹאוּ אֶל־אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן
When you come to the land of Canaan
Samaritan (SP)
כי תבאו אל ארץ כנען
When you come to the land of Canaan
House-mold legislation agrees between MT and SP. The 'land of Canaan' designation is shared by both traditions.
Masoretic (MT)
אֶל־פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד
to the entrance of the tent of meeting
Samaritan (SP)
אל פתח אהל מועד
to the entrance of the tent of meeting
The centralization of slaughter at the tent of meeting agrees in both traditions. SP reads the tent of meeting as located at Gerizim (after the conquest), but the Leviticus text itself is identical.
Masoretic (MT)
וְלֹא תְחַלֵּל אֶת־שֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ
and do not profane the name of your God
Samaritan (SP)
ולא תחלל את שם אלהיך
and do not profane the name of your God
The Molech prohibition is identical in MT and SP.
Masoretic (MT)
וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ
And you shall love your neighbor as yourself
Samaritan (SP)
ואהבת לרעך כמוך
And you shall love your neighbor as yourself
The love command is identical. Samaritan ethics embraces this command, though 'neighbor' is understood within the Samaritan community context.
Masoretic (MT)
מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת
on the day after the Sabbath
Samaritan (SP)
ממחרת השבת
on the day after the Sabbath
The omer-waving date formula is identical. However, Samaritan and Jewish calendrical interpretation differs: Samaritans always count from the literal Sabbath (Saturday) during Passover week, meaning Shavuot always falls on a Sunday. Rabbinic tradition understands 'Sabbath' as the first day of Passover.
Masoretic (MT)
וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם ... פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים
And you shall take for yourselves ... fruit of a goodly tree, branches of palms
Samaritan (SP)
ולקחתם לכם ... פרי עץ הדר כפת תמרים
And you shall take for yourselves ... fruit of a goodly tree, branches of palms
Sukkot legislation agrees. The four species are the same in both traditions.
Masoretic (MT)
וּקְרָאתֶם דְּרוֹר בָּאָרֶץ
And you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land
Samaritan (SP)
וקראתם דרור בארץ
And you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land
The Jubilee legislation is identical in MT and SP. No variants of significance.
Masoretic (MT)
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
I am the LORD your God
Samaritan (SP)
אנכי יהוה אלהיכם
I am the LORD your God
SP reads אנכי (anokhi) where MT reads אני (ani) for 'I.' This is a characteristic SP preference throughout the Pentateuch — SP tends to use the longer, more archaic form.
Masoretic (MT)
בְּהַר סִינַי
at Mount Sinai
Samaritan (SP)
בהר סיני
at Mount Sinai
SP agrees with MT on the Sinai location. Samaritan tradition does not contest the Sinai revelation but insists that the subsequent chosen place is Gerizim, not Jerusalem.