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

Shemot Chapter 3

א וּמֹשֶׁה הָיָה רֹעֶה אֶת-צֹאן יִתְרוֹ חֹתְנוֹ--כֹּהֵן מִדְיָן וַיִּנְהַג אֶת-הַצֹּאן אַחַר הַמִּדְבָּר וַיָּבֹא אֶל-הַר הָאֱלֹהִים חֹרֵבָה

UMoshe hayah ro'eh et-tzon Yitro chotno kohen Midyan vayinhag et-hatzon achar hamidbar vayavo el-har ha'Elokim Chorevah.

1. Moshe was tending the sheep of his father-in-law Yitro, priest of Midyan. He led the flock to the edge of the desert and came to G-d's Mountain, Chorev.

ב וַיֵּרָא מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה אֵלָיו בְּלַבַּת-אֵשׁ--מִתּוֹךְ הַסְּנֶה וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה הַסְּנֶה בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ וְהַסְּנֶה אֵינֶנּוּ אֻכָּל

Vayera mal'ach HASHEM elav belabat-esh mitoch hasneh vayar vehineh hasneh boer ba'esh vehasneh einenu ukal.

2. HASHEM's angel appeared to him in the heart of a fire from the midst of a bush. Lo and behold, the bush was burning in fire, but the bush was not consumed.

ג וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה--אָסֻרָה-נָּא וְאֶרְאֶה אֶת-הַמַּרְאֶה הַגָּדֹל הַזֶּה: מַדּוּעַ לֹא-יִבְעַר הַסְּנֶה

Vayomer Moshe asurah-na ve'er'eh et-hamar'eh hagadol hazeh madua lo-yiv'ar hasneh.

3. Moshe said, "I will turn aside and see this great sight. Why doesn't the bush burn?"

ד וַיַּרְא יְהוָה כִּי סָר לִרְאוֹת וַיִּקְרָא אֵלָיו אֱלֹהִים מִתּוֹךְ הַסְּנֶה וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה מֹשֶׁה--וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּנִי

Vayar HASHEM ki sar lir'ot vayikra elav Elokim mitoch hasneh vayomer Moshe Moshe vayomer hineni.

4. HASHEM saw that he had turned aside to see, and G-d called to him from the midst of the bush. He said, "Moshe Moshe!" [Moshe] replied, "Here I am."

ה וַיֹּאמֶר אַל-תִּקְרַב הֲלֹם שַׁל-נְעָלֶיךָ מֵעַל רַגְלֶיךָ--כִּי הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עוֹמֵד עָלָיו אַדְמַת-קֹדֶשׁ הוּא

Vayomer al-tikrav halom shal-ne'aleicha me'al ragleicha ki hamakom asher atah omed alav admat-kodesh hu.

5. [G-d] said, "Do not come closer. Remove your shoes from your feet, for the place upon which you are standing is holy ground."

ו וַיֹּאמֶר אָנֹכִי אֱלֹהֵי אָבִיךָ אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב וַיַּסְתֵּר מֹשֶׁה פָּנָיו כִּי יָרֵא מֵהַבִּיט אֶל-הָאֱלֹהִים

Vayomer anochi Elokei avicha Elokei Avraham Elokei Yitschak ve'Elokei Ya'akov vayaster Moshe panav ki yare mehabit el-ha'Elokim.

6. [G-d] said, "I am the G-d of your father, the G-d of Avraham, G-d of Yitzchak, and G-d of Yaakov." Moshe hid is face, for he was afraid to look at G-d.

ז וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה רָאֹה רָאִיתִי אֶת-עֳנִי עַמִּי אֲשֶׁר בְּמִצְרָיִם וְאֶת-צַעֲקָתָם שָׁמַעְתִּי מִפְּנֵי נֹגְשָׂיו כִּי יָדַעְתִּי אֶת-מַכְאֹבָיו

Vayomer HASHEM ra'oh ra'iti et-oni ami asher beMitzrayim ve'et tza'akatam shamati mipenei nogsav ki yadati et-mach'ovav.

7. HASHEM said, "I have indeed seen the suffering of My people who are in Egypt. I have heard their cries, because of their slave-drivers, and I know their pain.

ח וָאֵרֵד לְהַצִּילוֹ מִיַּד מִצְרַיִם וּלְהַעֲלֹתוֹ מִן-הָאָרֶץ הַהִוא אֶל-אֶרֶץ טוֹבָה וּרְחָבָה אֶל-אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ--אֶל-מְקוֹם הַכְּנַעֲנִי וְהַחִתִּי וְהָאֱמֹרִי וְהַפְּרִזִּי וְהַחִוִּי וְהַיְבוּסִי

Va'ered lehatzilo miyad Mitzrayim uleha'aloto min-ha'aretz hahi el-eretz tovah urechavah el-eretz zavat chalav udevash el-mekom haKna'ani vehaChitti veha'Emori vehaPrizi vehaChivi vehaYevusi.

8. I have come down to rescue them from the hand of Egypt, and to bring them up from the land, to a good, spacious land, to the land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Kenaani, the Chitti, the Amori, the Perizzi, the Chivi, and the Yevusi.

ט וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה צַעֲקַת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּאָה אֵלָי וְגַם-רָאִיתִי אֶת-הַלַּחַץ אֲשֶׁר מִצְרַיִם לֹחֲצִים אֹתָם

Ve'atah hineh tza'akat benei Yisra'el ba'ah elai vegam-ra'iti et-halachatz asher Mitzrayim lochatzim otam

9. Right now, behold, the cry of the Children of Yisrael is coming to Me. I have also seen the pressure that Egypt is applying to them.

י וְעַתָּה לְכָה וְאֶשְׁלָחֲךָ אֶל-פַּרְעֹה וְהוֹצֵא אֶת-עַמִּי בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָיִם

Ve'atah lecha ve'eshlachacha el-Par'oh vehotze et-ami venei Yisra'el mi-Mitzrayim.

10. Now go. I will send you to Pharaoh. Bring My people, the Children of Yisrael, out of Egypt.

יא וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-הָאֱלֹהִים מִי אָנֹכִי כִּי אֵלֵךְ אֶל-פַּרְעֹה וְכִי אוֹצִיא אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָיִם

Vayomer Moshe el-ha'Elokim mi anochi ki elech el-Par'oh vechi otzi et-benei Yisra'el mi-Mitzrayim.

11. Moshe said to G-d, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the Children of Yisrael out of Egypt?"

יב וַיֹּאמֶר כִּי-אֶהְיֶה עִמָּךְ וְזֶה-לְּךָ הָאוֹת כִּי אָנֹכִי שְׁלַחְתִּיךָ: בְּהוֹצִיאֲךָ אֶת-הָעָם מִמִּצְרַיִם תַּעַבְדוּן אֶת-הָאֱלֹהִים עַל הָהָר הַזֶּה

Vayomer ki eheyeh imach vezeh-lecha ha'ot ki anochi shlachticha behotzi'acha et-ha'am mi-Mitzrayim ta'avdun et-ha'Elokim al hahar hazeh

12. [G-d] said, "Because I will be with you. This shall be your sign that I have sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, you shall all become G-d's servants on this moutain."

יג וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-הָאֱלֹהִים הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי בָא אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתִּי לָהֶם אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם שְׁלָחַנִי אֲלֵיכֶם; וְאָמְרוּ-לִי מַה-שְּׁמוֹ מָה אֹמַר אֲלֵהֶם

Vayomer Moshe el-ha'Elokim hineh anochi va el-benei Yisra'el ve'amarti lahem Elokei avoteichem shlachani aleichem ve'amru-li mah-shmo mah omar alehem.

13. Moshe said to G-d, "Fine! I will come to the Children of Yisrael and say to them, 'The G-d of your fathers sent me to you.' They will immediately ask me, 'What is His Name?' What shall I say to them?"

יד וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל-מֹשֶׁה אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה וַיֹּאמֶר כֹּה תֹאמַר לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶהְיֶה שְׁלָחַנִי אֲלֵיכֶם

Vayomer Elokim el-Moshe eheyeh asher eheyeh vayomer koh tomar livnei Yisra'el eheyeh shlachani aleichem.

14. G-d said to Moshe, "I will be Who I will be." He said, "This is what you shall say to the Children of Yisrael: 'I will be' sent me to you."

טו וַיֹּאמֶר עוֹד אֱלֹהִים אֶל-מֹשֶׁה כֹּה-תֹאמַר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב שְׁלָחַנִי אֲלֵיכֶם זֶה-שְּׁמִי לְעֹלָם וְזֶה זִכְרִי לְדֹר דֹּר

Vayomer od Elokim el-Moshe koh tomar el-benei Yisra'el HASHEM Elokei avoteichem Elokei Avraham Elokei Yitzchak ve'Elokei Ya'akov shlachani aleichem zeh-shemi le'olam vezeh zichri ledor dor.

15. G-d then said to Moshe, "This is what you shall say to the Children of Yisrael: 'HASHEM, G-d of your fathers, the G-d of Avraham, G-d of Yitzchak, and G-d of Yaakov, sent me toyou.' This is My Name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered for all generations."

טז לֵךְ וְאָסַפְתָּ אֶת-זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם נִרְאָה אֵלַי אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב לֵאמֹר: פָּקֹד פָּקַדְתִּי אֶתְכֶם וְאֶת-הֶעָשׂוּי לָכֶם בְּמִצְרָיִם

Lech ve'asafta et-ziknei Yisra'el ve'amarta alehem HASHEM Elokei avoteichem nir'ah elai Elokei Avraham Yitxchak veYa'akov lemor pakod pakadeti etchem ve'et-he'asui lachem beMitzrayim.

16. "Go gather the elders of Yisrael, and say to them, 'HASHEM, G-d of your fathers, appeared to me - G-d of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov - saying: I have definitely kept you in mind, along with what has been done to you in Egypt.

יז וָאֹמַר אַעֲלֶה אֶתְכֶם מֵעֳנִי מִצְרַיִם אֶל-אֶרֶץ הַכְּנַעֲנִי וְהַחִתִּי וְהָאֱמֹרִי וְהַפְּרִזִּי וְהַחִוִּי וְהַיְבוּסִי--אֶל-אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ

Va'omar a'aleh etchem me'oni Mitzrayim el-eretz haKna'ani vehaChitti veha'Emori vehaPrizzi vehaChivi vehaYevusi el-eretz zavat chalav udvash.

17. "I said that I would bring you up out of the wertchedness of Egypt, tothe land of the Kenaani, the Chitti, the Amori, the Perizzi, the Chivi, and the Yevusi - to a land flowing with milk and honey.'"

יח וְשָׁמְעוּ לְקֹלֶךָ וּבָאתָ אַתָּה וְזִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל-מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם וַאֲמַרְתֶּם אֵלָיו יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִיִּים נִקְרָה עָלֵינוּ וְעַתָּה נֵלְכָה-נָּא דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים בַּמִּדְבָּר וְנִזְבְּחָה לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ

Veshame'u lekolecha uvata atah veziknei Yisra'el el-melech Mitzrayim va'amartem elav HASHEM Elokei ha'Ivri'im nikra aleinu ve'atah nelchah-na derech shloshet yamim bamidbar venizbecha l'HASHEM Elokeinu.

18. "They will listen to you. You and the elders of Yisrael will comet the king of Egypt, and you will say to him, 'HASHEM, G-d of the Hebrews, revealed Himself to us. Now, we request, allow us to take a three day journey into the desert, to sacrifice to HASHEM our G-d.'

יט וַאֲנִי יָדַעְתִּי--כִּי לֹא-יִתֵּן אֶתְכֶם מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם לַהֲלֹךְ: וְלֹא בְּיָד חֲזָקָה

Va'ani yadati ki lo-yiten etchem melech Mitzrayim lahaloch velo beyad chazakah.

19. I know in advance that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go, not with a strong hand.

כ וְשָׁלַחְתִּי אֶת-יָדִי וְהִכֵּיתִי אֶת-מִצְרַיִם בְּכֹל נִפְלְאֹתַי אֲשֶׁר אֶעֱשֶׂה בְּקִרְבּוֹ וְאַחֲרֵי-כֵן יְשַׁלַּח אֶתְכֶם

Veshalachti et-yadi vehikeyti et-Mitzrayim bechol nifle'otai asher e'eseh bekirbo ve'acharei-chen yeshalach etchem.

20. But I will send forth My Hand, and strike down Egypt with all My wonders that I will do in their midst; then he will send you."

כא וְנָתַתִּי אֶת-חֵן הָעָם-הַזֶּה בְּעֵינֵי מִצְרָיִם וְהָיָה כִּי תֵלֵכוּן לֹא תֵלְכוּ רֵיקָם

Venatati et-chen ha'am-hazeh be'einei Mitzrayim vehayah ki telechun lo telchu reikam.

21. "I will give this people status in the eyes of Egypt, and when you finally leave, you will not go empty-handed.

כב וְשָׁאֲלָה אִשָּׁה מִשְּׁכֶנְתָּהּ וּמִגָּרַת בֵּיתָהּ כְּלֵי-כֶסֶף וּכְלֵי זָהָב וּשְׂמָלֹת וְשַׂמְתֶּם עַל-בְּנֵיכֶם וְעַל-בְּנֹתֵיכֶם, וְנִצַּלְתֶּם אֶת-מִצְרָיִם

Vesha'alah ishah mishchentah umigarat beitah klei-chesef uchlei zahav usmalot vesamtem al-beneichem ve'al-benoteichem venitzaltem et-Mitzrayim.

22. Every woman will borrow from her neighbor - next door or in the same house - utensils of gold and silver and clothing, and you shall place them on your sons and daughters. You will thus exhaust Egypt."