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

Bereishit Chapter 18

א וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְהוָה בְּאֵלֹנֵי מַמְרֵא וְהוּא יֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח-הָאֹהֶל כְּחֹם הַיּוֹם

Vayera elav HASHEM be'Elonei Mamre vehu yoshev petach-ha'ohel kechom hayom.

1. Hashem appeared to [Avraham] in the groves of Mamre. He was sitting at the door of the tent in the heat of the day.

ב וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה שְׁלֹשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים נִצָּבִים עָלָיו; וַיַּרְא וַיָּרָץ לִקְרָאתָם מִפֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ אָרְצָה

Vayisa einav vayar vehineh shloshah anashim nitzavim alav vayar vayarotz likratam mipetach ha'ohel vayishtachu artzah.

2. He lifted his eyes, and behold, three men were standing over him. He saw [them] and ran from the door of the tent to greet them, and he bowed down to the earth.

ג וַיֹּאמַר: אֲדֹנָי אִם-נָא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ--אַל-נָא תַעֲבֹר מֵעַל עַבְדֶּךָר

Vayomar HASHEM im-na matzati chen be'eineicha al-na ta'avor me'al avdecha.

3. He said, "My Master, if I find favor in your eyes, do not bypass your servant."

ד יֻקַּח-נָא מְעַט-מַיִם וְרַחֲצוּ רַגְלֵיכֶם; וְהִשָּׁעֲנוּ תַּחַת הָעֵץ

Yukach-na me'at-mayim verachatzu ragleichem vehisha'anu tachat ha'etz.

4. "Let some water be brought and wash your feet. Rest under the tree."

ה וְאֶקְחָה פַת-לֶחֶם וְסַעֲדוּ לִבְּכֶם אַחַר תַּעֲבֹרוּ--כִּי-עַל-כֵּן עֲבַרְתֶּם עַל-עַבְדְּכֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ כֵּן תַּעֲשֶׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ

Ve'ekchah fat-lechem vesa'adu libechem achar ta'avoru ki-al-ken avartem al-avdechem vayomeru ken ta'aseh ka'asher dibarta.

5. "I will fetch a morsel of bread, and you will refresh yourselves, then you will continue on your way. Let this be your reason for passing by your servant." They said, "All right. Do as you have spoken."

ו וַיְמַהֵר אַבְרָהָם הָאֹהֱלָה אֶל-שָׂרָה וַיֹּאמֶר, מַהֲרִי שְׁלֹשׁ סְאִים קֶמַח סֹלֶת--לוּשִׁי וַעֲשִׂי עֻגוֹת

Vayemaher Avraham ha'ohelah el-Sarah vayomer mahari shlosh se'im kemach solet lushi va'asi ugot.

6. Avraham rushed to Sarah's tent and said, "Hurry! Three measures of the finest flour! Knead it and make rolls!"

ז וְאֶל-הַבָּקָר רָץ אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח בֶּן-בָּקָר רַךְ וָטוֹב וַיִּתֵּן אֶל-הַנַּעַר וַיְמַהֵר לַעֲשׂוֹת אֹתוֹ

Ve'el-habakar ratz Avraham vayikach ben-bakar rach vatov vayiten el-hana'ar vayemaher la'asot oto.

7. Avraham ran to the cattle and he took a tender choice calf. He gave it to the lad, and he hurried to prepare it.

ח וַיִּקַּח חֶמְאָה וְחָלָב וּבֶן-הַבָּקָר אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה וַיִּתֵּן לִפְנֵיהֶם; וְהוּא-עֹמֵד עֲלֵיהֶם תַּחַת הָעֵץ וַיֹּאכֵלוּ

Vayikach chem'ah vechalav uven-habakar asher asah vayiten lifneihem ve-hu omed aleihem tachat ha'etz vayochelu.

8. He fetched butter, milk, and the calf that he had prepared, and he placed it before them. He stood over them under the tree, and they ate.

ט וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו אַיֵּה שָׂרָה אִשְׁתֶּךָ וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה בָאֹהֶל

Vayomeru elav ayeh Sarah ishtecha vayomer hineh va'ohel.

9. They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" He said, "Here, in the tent."

י וַיֹּאמֶר שׁוֹב אָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ כָּעֵת חַיָּה וְהִנֵּה-בֵן לְשָׂרָה אִשְׁתֶּךָ וְשָׂרָה שֹׁמַעַת פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל וְהוּא אַחֲרָיו

Vayomer shov ashuv eleicha ka'et chayah vehineh-ven le-Sarah ishtecha veSarah shoma'at petach ha'ohel vehu acharav.

10. He said, "I will return to you next year, and Sarah your wife will have a child." Sarah was listening at the door of the tent, and he was behind it.

יא וְאַבְרָהָם וְשָׂרָה זְקֵנִים בָּאִים בַּיָּמִים חָדַל לִהְיוֹת לְשָׂרָה אֹרַח כַּנָּשִׁים

Ve'Avraham veSarah zekenim ba'im bayamim chadal lihyot le-Sarah orach kanashim.

11. Avraham and Sarah were old, well on in years. Sarah no longer had a woman's periods.

יב וַתִּצְחַק שָׂרָה בְּקִרְבָּהּ לֵאמֹר אַחֲרֵי בְלֹתִי הָיְתָה-לִּי עֶדְנָה וַאדֹנִי זָקֵן

Vatitzchak Sarah bekirbah lemor acharei veloti hayetah-li ednah va'adoni zaken.

12. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "Now that I am worn out, shall I have my heart's desire? My husband is old!"

יג וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-אַבְרָהָם לָמָּה זֶּה צָחֲקָה שָׂרָה לֵאמֹר הַאַף אֻמְנָם אֵלֵד--וַאֲנִי זָקַנְתִּי

Vayomer HASHEM el-Avraham lamah zeh tzachakah Sarah lemor ha'af umnam eled va'ani zakanti.

13. HASHEM said to Avraham, "Why is it that Sarah laughed, saying, 'Will I then also give birth when I am so old?'

יד הֲיִפָּלֵא מֵיְהוָה דָּבָר לַמּוֹעֵד אָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ כָּעֵת חַיָּה--וּלְשָׂרָה בֵן

Hayipale me'HASHEM davar lamo'ed ashuv eleicha ka'et chayah ule-Sarah ven.

14. Is anything too hard for G-d? At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."

טו וַתְּכַחֵשׁ שָׂרָה לֵאמֹר לֹא צָחַקְתִּי כִּי יָרֵאָה וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא כִּי צָחָקְתְּ

Vatechachesh Sarah lemor lo tzachakti ki yare'ah vayomer lo ki tzachakt.

15. Sarah denied it, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. He said, "No, you did laugh."

טז וַיָּקֻמוּ מִשָּׁם הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיַּשְׁקִפוּ עַל-פְּנֵי סְדֹם וְאַבְרָהָם--הֹלֵךְ עִמָּם לְשַׁלְּחָם

Vayakumu misham ha'anashim vayashkifu al-penei Sedom ve'Averaham holech imam leshalecham.

16. The men got up from where they were, and they gazed at Sedom. Avraham went with them to send them on their way.

יז וַיהוָה אָמָר הַמְכַסֶּה אֲנִי מֵאַבְרָהָם אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי עֹשֶׂה

Va'HASHEM amar hamechaseh ani me'Avraham asher ani oseh.

17. HASHEM said, "Shall I then conceal from Avraham what I am about to do?"

יח וְאַבְרָהָם--הָיוֹ יִהְיֶה לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל וְעָצוּם וְנִבְרְכוּ-בוֹ--כֹּל גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ

Ve'Avraham hayoh yihyeh legoy gadol ve'atzum veniverechu-vo kol goyei ha'aretz.

18. Avraham is about to become a great and mighty nation, and through him all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.

יט כִּי יְדַעְתִּיו לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר יְצַוֶּה אֶת-בָּנָיו וְאֶת-בֵּיתוֹ אַחֲרָיו וְשָׁמְרוּ דֶּרֶךְ יְהוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט--לְמַעַן הָבִיא יְהוָה עַל-אַבְרָהָם אֵת אֲשֶׁר-דִּבֶּר עָלָיו

Kiyedativ lema'an asher yetzaveh et-banav ve'et-beito acharav veshameru derech HASHEM la'asot tzedakah umishpat lema'an havi HASHEM al-Averaham et asher-diber alav.

19. For I have known him, so that he will command his children and his household after him, and they will keep HASHEM'S way, doing charity and justice. HASHEM will then achieve for Avraham all that which He has spoken."

כ וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה זַעֲקַת סְדֹם וַעֲמֹרָה כִּי-רָבָּה וְחַטָּאתָם--כִּי כָבְדָה מְאֹד

Vayomer HASHEM za'akat Sdom va'Amorah ki-rabah vechatatam ki chavedah me'od.

20. HASHEM said, "The outcry of Sedom and Amorah is so great, and their sin is so very grave.

כא אֵרְדָה-נָּא וְאֶרְאֶה הַכְּצַעֲקָתָהּ הַבָּאָה אֵלַי עָשׂוּ כָּלָה וְאִם-לֹא אֵדָעָה

Erdah-na ve'er'eh haketza'akatah haba'ah elai asu kalah ve'im-lo eda'ah.

21. I will descend and see. Have they done everything implied by the outcry that comes to Me? If not, I will know."

כב וַיִּפְנוּ מִשָּׁם הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיֵּלְכוּ סְדֹמָה וְאַבְרָהָם--עוֹדֶנּוּ עֹמֵד לִפְנֵי יְהוָה

Vayifnu misham ha'anashim vayelechu Sedomah ve'Averaham odenu omed lifnei HASHEM.

22. The men turned from where they were and headed toward Sedom. Avraham was still standing before HASHEM.

כג וַיִּגַּשׁ אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמַר הַאַף תִּסְפֶּה צַדִּיק עִם-רָשָׁע

Vayigash Avraham vayomar ha'af tispeh tzadik im-rasha.

23. Avraham came forward and said, "Will You actually wipe out the righteous with the wicked?"

כד אוּלַי יֵשׁ חֲמִשִּׁים צַדִּיקִם בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר הַאַף תִּסְפֶּה וְלֹא-תִשָּׂא לַמָּקוֹם לְמַעַן חֲמִשִּׁים הַצַּדִּיקִם אֲשֶׁר בְּקִרְבָּהּ

Ulai yesh chamishim tzadikim betoch ha'ir ha'af tispeh velo-tisa lamakom lema'an chamishim hatzadikim asher bekirbah.

24. "Suppose there are fifty righteous people in the city. Would You still wipe it out and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people inside it?

כה חָלִלָה לְּךָ מֵעֲשֹׂת כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה לְהָמִית צַדִּיק עִם-רָשָׁע וְהָיָה כַצַּדִּיק כָּרָשָׁע חָלִלָה לָּךְ--הֲשֹׁפֵט כָּל-הָאָרֶץ לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה מִשְׁפָּט

Chalilah lecha me'asot kadavar hazeh lehamit tzadik im-rasha vehayah hatzadik karasha chalilah lach hashofet kol-ha'aretz lo ya'aseh mishpat.

25. It would be sacrilege to ascribe to You such an act - to kill the righteous with the wicked, letting righteous and wicked fare alike. It would be sacrilege to ascribe this to You: The Judge of all the earth not acting justly."

כו וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אִם-אֶמְצָא בִסְדֹם חֲמִשִּׁים צַדִּיקִם בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר--וְנָשָׂאתִי לְכָל-הַמָּקוֹם בַּעֲבוּרָם

Vayomer HASHEM im-emtza viSdom chamishim tzadikim betoch ha'ir venasati lechol-hamakom ba'avuram.

26. HASHEM said, "If in Sedom I find fifty righteous within the city, I will spare the entire place for their sake."

כז וַיַּעַן אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמַר הִנֵּה-נָא הוֹאַלְתִּי לְדַבֵּר אֶל-אֲדֹנָי וְאָנֹכִי עָפָר וָאֵפֶר

Vaya'an Avraham vayomar hineh-na ho'alti ledaber el-Adonai ve'anochi afar va'efer.

27. Avraham answered and said, "Here I have begun to speak to my Master. I am dust and ashes.

כח אוּלַי יַחְסְרוּן חֲמִשִּׁים הַצַּדִּיקִם חֲמִשָּׁה--הֲתַשְׁחִית בַּחֲמִשָּׁה אֶת-כָּל-הָעִיר וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אַשְׁחִית אִם-אֶמְצָא שָׁם אַרְבָּעִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה

Ulai yachserun chamishim hatzadikim chamishah hatashchit bachamishah et-kol-ha'ir vayomer lo ashchit im-emtza sham arba'im vachamishah.

28. But suppose that there are five missing from the fifty righteous? Will You destroy all the city because of five?" [G-d] said, "I will not destroy if I find forty-five there."

כט וַיֹּסֶף עוֹד לְדַבֵּר אֵלָיו וַיֹּאמַר אוּלַי יִמָּצְאוּן שָׁם אַרְבָּעִים וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אֶעֱשֶׂה בַּעֲבוּר הָאַרְבָּעִים

Vayosef od ledaber elav vayomar ulai yimatze'un sham arba'im vayomer lo e'eseh ba'avur ha'arba'im.

29. [Avraham] continued to speak to Him and said, "Suppose there are forty there?" [G-d] said, "I will not for the sake of the forty."

ל וַיֹּאמֶר אַל-נָא יִחַר לַאדֹנָי וַאֲדַבֵּרָה--אוּלַי יִמָּצְאוּן שָׁם שְׁלֹשִׁים וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אֶעֱשֶׂה אִם-אֶמְצָא שָׁם שְׁלֹשִׁים

Vayomer al-na yichar la'Adonai va'adaberah ulai yimatz'un sham shloshim vayomer lo e'eseh im-emtza sham shloshim.

30. [Avraham] said, "Let not my Master be angry if I speak. But suppose thirty are found there?" [G-d] said, "I will not act if I find thirty there."

לא וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה-נָא הוֹאַלְתִּי לְדַבֵּר אֶל-אֲדֹנָי--אוּלַי יִמָּצְאוּן שָׁם עֶשְׂרִים וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אַשְׁחִית בַּעֲבוּר הָעֶשְׂרִים

Vayomer hineh-na ho'alti ledaber el-Adonai ulai yimatz'un sham esrim vayomer lo ashchit ba'avur ha'esrim.

31. [Avraham] said, "Here I have begun to speak to my Master. Suppose twenty are found there?" [G-d] said, "I will not destroy for the sake of the twenty."

לב וַיֹּאמֶר אַל-נָא יִחַר לַאדֹנָי וַאֲדַבְּרָה אַךְ-הַפַּעַם--אוּלַי יִמָּצְאוּן שָׁם עֲשָׂרָה וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אַשְׁחִית בַּעֲבוּר הָעֲשָׂרָה

Vayomer al-na yichar l'Adonai va'adabrah ach-hapa'am ulai yimatz'un sham asarah vayomer lo ashchit ba'avur ha'asarah.

32. [Avraham] said, "Let my Master not become angry, but I wish to speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there." [G-d] said, "I will not destroy for the sake of the ten."

לג וַיֵּלֶךְ יְהוָה--כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּלָּה לְדַבֵּר אֶל-אַבְרָהָם וְאַבְרָהָם שָׁב לִמְקֹמוֹ

Vayelech HASHEM ka'asher kilah ledaber el-Avraham ve'Avraham shav limekomo.

33. HASHEM left when He finished speaking to Avraham, and Avraham returned to his place.