Hebrew Torah  - Transliterated & Translated - Verse by Verse & with Commentary

Bereishit Chapter 11

א וַיְהִי כָל-הָאָרֶץ שָׂפָה אֶחָת וּדְבָרִים אֲחָדִים

Vayehi chol-ha'aretz safah echat udevarim achadim.

1. The entire earth had one language with uniform words.

ב וַיְהִי בְּנָסְעָם מִקֶּדֶם וַיִּמְצְאוּ בִקְעָה בְּאֶרֶץ שִׁנְעָר וַיֵּשְׁבוּ שָׁם

Vayehi benos'am mikedem vayimtze'u vik'ah be'eretz Shin'ar vayeshvu sham.

2. When they migrated from the east, they found a valley in the land of Shinar, and they settled there.

ג וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִישׁ אֶל-רֵעֵהוּ הָבָה נִלְבְּנָה לְבֵנִים וְנִשְׂרְפָה לִשְׂרֵפָה וַתְּהִי לָהֶם הַלְּבֵנָה לְאָבֶן וְהַחֵמָר הָיָה לָהֶם לַחֹמֶר

Vayomeru ish el-re'ehu havah nilbenah levenim venisrefah lisrefah vatehi lahem halvenah le'aven vehachemar hayah lahem lachomer.

3. They said to one another, "Come, let us mold bricks and fire it." Then they had bricks to use as stone, and asphalt for mortar.

ד וַיֹּאמְרוּ הָבָה נִבְנֶה-לָּנוּ עִיר וּמִגְדָּל וְרֹאשׁוֹ בַשָּׁמַיִם וְנַעֲשֶׂה-לָּנוּ שֵׁם: פֶּן-נָפוּץ עַל-פְּנֵי כָל-הָאָרֶץ

Vayomeru havah nivneh-lanu ir umigdal verosho bashamayim vena'aseh-lanu shem pen-nafutz al-penei kol-ha'aretz.

4. They said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top shall reach the sky. Let us make ourselves a name, that we not be scattered all over the face of the earth."

ה וַיֵּרֶד יְהוָה לִרְאֹת אֶת-הָעִיר וְאֶת-הַמִּגְדָּל אֲשֶׁר בָּנוּ בְּנֵי הָאָדָם

Vayered HASHEM lir'ot et-ha'ir ve'et-hamigdal asher banu benei ha'adam.

5. HASHEM descended to see the city and he tower that the sons of man had built.

ו וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה הֵן עַם אֶחָד וְשָׂפָה אַחַת לְכֻלָּם, וְזֶה הַחִלָּם לַעֲשׂוֹת וְעַתָּה לֹא-יִבָּצֵר מֵהֶם כֹּל אֲשֶׁר יָזְמוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת

Vayomer HASHEM hen am echad vesafah achat lechulam vezeh hachilam la'asot ve'atah lo-yibatzer mehem kol asher yazmu la'asot.

6. HASHEM said, "They are a single people, all having one language; this is the first thing they are doing. Now nothing they plan to do will be unattainable for them.

ז הָבָה נֵרְדָה וְנָבְלָה שָׁם שְׂפָתָם--אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִשְׁמְעוּ אִישׁ שְׂפַת רֵעֵהוּ

Havah nerdah venavlah sham sefatam asher lo yishme'u ish sfat re'ehu.

7. Come, let us descend and confuse their speech, so that one person will not understand the speech of another."

ח וַיָּפֶץ יְהוָה אֹתָם מִשָּׁם עַל-פְּנֵי כָל-הָאָרֶץ וַיַּחְדְּלוּ לִבְנֹת הָעִיר

Vayafetz HASHEM otam misham al-penei chol-ha'aretz vayachdelu livnot ha'ir.

8. From there, HASHEM scattered them all over the face of the earth, and they stopped building the city.

ט עַל-כֵּן קָרָא שְׁמָהּ בָּבֶל כִּי-שָׁם בָּלַל יְהוָה שְׂפַת כָּל-הָאָרֶץ; וּמִשָּׁם הֱפִיצָם יְהוָה עַל-פְּנֵי כָּל-הָאָרֶץ

Al-ken kara shemah Bavel ki-sham balal HASHEM sfat kol-ha'aretz umisham hefitzam HASHEM al-penei kol-ha'aretz.

9. He named it Bavel, because this was the place where HASHEM confused the language of the earth, and from there HASHEM dispersed humanity all over the face of the earth.

י אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת שֵׁם--שֵׁם בֶּן-מְאַת שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד אֶת-אַרְפַּכְשָׁד: שְׁנָתַיִם אַחַר הַמַּבּוּל

Eleh toldot Shem Shem ben-me'at shanah vayoled et-Arpachshad shnatayim achar hamabul.

10. These are the chronicles of Shem: Shem was 100 years old when he had a son Arpachshad, two years after the Flood.

יא וַיְחִי-שֵׁם אַחֲרֵי הוֹלִידוֹ אֶת-אַרְפַּכְשָׁד חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה; וַיּוֹלֶד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת

Veyechi-Shem acharei holido et-Arpachshad chamesh me'ot shanah vayoled banim uvanot.

11. Afer he had Arpachshad, Shem live 500 years, and he had sons and daughters.

יב וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁד חַי חָמֵשׁ וּשְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד אֶת-שָׁלַח

Ve'Arpachshad chai chamesh ushloshim shanah vayoled et-Shalach

12. Arpachshad lived 35 years and he had a son Shelach.

יג וַיְחִי אַרְפַּכְשַׁד אַחֲרֵי הוֹלִידוֹ אֶת-שֶׁלַח שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת

Vayechi Arpachshad acharei holido et-Shelach shalosh shanim ve'arba me'ot shanah vayoled banim uvanot.

13. After he had Shelach, Arpachshad lived 403 years, and he had sons and daughters.

יד וְשֶׁלַח חַי שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד אֶת-עֵבֶר

VeShelach chai shloshim shanah vayoled et-Ever.

14. Shelach lived 30 years and he had a son Ever.

טו וַיְחִי-שֶׁלַח אַחֲרֵי הוֹלִידוֹ אֶת-עֵבֶר שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת

Vayechi-Shelach acharei holido et-Ever shalosh shanim ve'arba me'ot shanah vayoled banim uvanot.

15. After he had Ever, Shelach lived 403 years, and he had sons and daughters.

טז וַיְחִי-עֵבֶר אַרְבַּע וּשְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד אֶת-פָּלֶג

Vayechi Ever arba ushloshim shanah vayoled et-Paleg.

16. Ever lived 34 years and he had a son Peleg.

יז וַיְחִי-עֵבֶר אַחֲרֵי הוֹלִידוֹ אֶת-פֶּלֶג שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת

Vayechi-Ever acharei holido et-Peleg shloshim shanah ve'arba me'ot shanah vayoled banim uvanot.

17. After he had Peleg, Ever lived 430 years, and he had sons and daughters.

יח וַיְחִי-פֶלֶג שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד אֶת-רְעוּ

Vayechi-Feleg shloshim shanah vayoled et-Re'u.

18. Peleg lived 30 years and he ad a son Re'u.

יט וַיְחִי-פֶלֶג אַחֲרֵי הוֹלִידוֹ אֶת-רְעוּ תֵּשַׁע שָׁנִים וּמָאתַיִם שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת

Vayechi-Feleg acharei holido et-Re'u tesha shanim umatayim shanah vayoled banim uvanot.

19. After he had Re'u, Peleg lived 209 years, and he had sons and daughters.

כ וַיְחִי רְעוּ שְׁתַּיִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד אֶת-שְׂרוּג

Vayechi Re'u shtayim ushloshim shanah vayoled et-Srug.

20. Re'u lived 32 years and he had a son Serug.

כא וַיְחִי רְעוּ אַחֲרֵי הוֹלִידוֹ אֶת-שְׂרוּג שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים וּמָאתַיִם שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת

Vayechi Re'u acharei holido et-Srug sheva shanim umatayim shanah vayoled banim uvanot.

21. After he had Serug, Re'u lived 207 years, and he had sons and daughters.

כב וַיְחִי שְׂרוּג שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד אֶת-נָחוֹר

Vayechi Srug shloshim shanah vayoled et-Nachor.

22. Serug lived 30 years and he had a son Nachor.

כג וַיְחִי שְׂרוּג אַחֲרֵי הוֹלִידוֹ אֶת-נָחוֹר--מָאתַיִם שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת

Vayechi Srug acharei holido et-Nachor matayim shanah vayoled banim uvanot.

23. After he had Nachor, Serug lived 200 years, and he had sons and daugthers.

כד וַיְחִי נָחוֹר תֵּשַׁע וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד אֶת-תָּרַח

Vayechi Nachor tesha ve'esrim shanah vayoled et-Tarach.

24. Nachor lived 29 years, and he had a son Terach.

כה וַיְחִי נָחוֹר אַחֲרֵי הוֹלִידוֹ אֶת-תֶּרַח תְּשַׁע-עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה וּמְאַת שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת

Vayechi Nachor acharei holido et-Terach tesha-esreh shanah ume'at shanah vayoled banim uvanot.

25. After he had Terach, Nachor lived 119 years, and he had sons and daughters.

כו וַיְחִי-תֶרַח שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד אֶת-אַבְרָם אֶת-נָחוֹר וְאֶת-הָרָן

Vayechi Terach shive'im shanah vayoled et-Avram et-Nachor ve'et-Haran.

26. Terach lived 70 years, and he fathered Avram, Nachor and Haran.

כז וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת תֶּרַח--תֶּרַח הוֹלִיד אֶת-אַבְרָם אֶת-נָחוֹר וְאֶת-הָרָן וְהָרָן הוֹלִיד אֶת-לוֹט

Ve'eleh toldot Terach Terach holid et-Avram et-Nachor ve'et Haran veHaran holid et-Lot

27. These are the chronicles of Terach. Terach fathered Avram, Nachor and Haran, and Haran had a son, Lot.

כח וַיָּמָת הָרָן עַל-פְּנֵי תֶּרַח אָבִיו בְּאֶרֶץ מוֹלַדְתּוֹ בְּאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים

Vayamot Haran al-penei Terach aviv be'eretz moladeto beUr Kasdim.

28. Haran died in the presence of Terach his father, in the land of his birth, in Ur Kasdim.

כט וַיִּקַּח אַבְרָם וְנָחוֹר לָהֶם נָשִׁים: שֵׁם אֵשֶׁת-אַבְרָם שָׂרָי וְשֵׁם אֵשֶׁת-נָחוֹר מִלְכָּה בַּת-הָרָן אֲבִי-מִלְכָּה וַאֲבִי יִסְכָּה

Vayikach Avram veNachor lahem nashim shem eshet-Avram Sarai veshem eshet-Nachor Milkah bat-Haran avi-Milkah va'avi Yiskah.

29. Avram and Nachor married. The name of Avram's wife was Sarai. The name of Nachor's wife was Milkah, daughter of Haran, the father of Milkah and Yiskah.

ל וַתְּהִי שָׂרַי עֲקָרָה: אֵין לָהּ וָלָד

Vatehi Sarai akarah ein lah valad.

30. Sarai was sterile; she had no child.

לא וַיִּקַּח תֶּרַח אֶת-אַבְרָם בְּנוֹ וְאֶת-לוֹט בֶּן-הָרָן בֶּן-בְּנוֹ וְאֵת שָׂרַי כַּלָּתוֹ אֵשֶׁת אַבְרָם בְּנוֹ וַיֵּצְאוּ אִתָּם מֵאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים לָלֶכֶת אַרְצָה כְּנַעַן וַיָּבֹאוּ עַד-חָרָן וַיֵּשְׁבוּ שָׁם

Vayikach Terach et-Avram beno ve'et Lot ben-Haran ben-beno ve'et Sarai kalato eshet Avram beno vayetze'u itam meUr Kasdim lalechet artzah Kena'an vayavo'u ad-Charan vayeshvu sham.

31. Terach took his son Avram, his grandson Lot (son of Haran), and his daughter-in-law Sarai (Avram's wife), and with them he left Ur Kasdim, heading toward the land of Kana'an. They came to Charan and settled there.

לב וַיִּהְיוּ יְמֵי-תֶרַח חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים וּמָאתַיִם שָׁנָה וַיָּמָת תֶּרַח בְּחָרָן

Vayihi'u yemei-Terach chamesh shanim umatayim shanah vayamot Terach beCharan.

32. All the days of Terach were 205 years, and Terach died in Charan.