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

Bereishit Chapter 21

א וַיהוָה פָּקַד אֶת-שָׂרָה כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמָר וַיַּעַשׂ יְהוָה לְשָׂרָה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר

Va'HASHEM pakad et-Sarah ka'asher amar vaya'as HASHEM le-Sarah ka'asher diber.

1. HASHEM considered Sarah as He had said, and HASHEM did for Sarah as He had promised.

ב וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד שָׂרָה לְאַבְרָהָם בֵּן לִזְקֻנָיו לַמּוֹעֵד אֲשֶׁר-דִּבֶּר אֹתוֹ אֱלֹהִים

Vatahar vateled Sarah le-Avraham ben lizkunav lamo'ed asher-diber oto Elokim.

2. Sarah became pregnant and gave birth to Avraham's son in his old age, at the fixed time that G-d had declared.

ג וַיִּקְרָא אַבְרָהָם אֶת-שֶׁם-בְּנוֹ הַנּוֹלַד-לוֹ אֲשֶׁר-יָלְדָה-לּוֹ שָׂרָה--יִצְחָק

Vayikra Avraham et-shem-beno hanolad-lo asher-yaldah-lo Sarah Yitzchak.

3. Avraham gave the name Yitzchak to the son born to him, to which Sarah had given birth.

ד וַיָּמָל אַבְרָהָם אֶת-יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ בֶּן-שְׁמֹנַת יָמִים כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֹתוֹ אֱלֹהִים

Vayamol Avraham et-Yitzchak beno ben-shmonat yamim ka'asher tzivah oto Elokim.

4. Avraham circumcised his son Yitzchak when he was eight days old, as G-d commanded him.

ה וְאַבְרָהָם בֶּן-מְאַת שָׁנָה בְּהִוָּלֶד לוֹ אֵת יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ

Ve'Avraham ben-me'at shanah behivaled lo et Yitzchak beno.

5. Avraham was one hundred years old when his son Yitzchak was born.

ו וַתֹּאמֶר שָׂרָה--צְחֹק עָשָׂה לִי אֱלֹהִים כָּל-הַשֹּׁמֵעַ יִצְחַק-לִי

Vatomer Sarah tzechok asah li Elokim kol-hashomea yitzachak-li

6. Sarah said, "G-d has given me laughter. All who hear will laugh for me."

ז וַתֹּאמֶר מִי מִלֵּל לְאַבְרָהָם הֵינִיקָה בָנִים שָׂרָה כִּי-יָלַדְתִּי בֵן לִזְקֻנָיו

Vatomer mi milel le-Avraham heynikah vanim Sarah ki-yaladeti ven lizkunav.

7. She said, "Who would have suggested to Avraham that Sarah would nurse children? But I have given birth to a son in his old age."

ח וַיִּגְדַּל הַיֶּלֶד וַיִּגָּמַל וַיַּעַשׂ אַבְרָהָם מִשְׁתֶּה גָדוֹל בְּיוֹם הִגָּמֵל אֶת-יִצְחָק

Vayigdal hayeled vayigamal vaya'as Avraham mishteh gadol beyom higamel et-Yitzchak.

8. The child grew and was weaned. Avraham held a great feast on the day that Yitzchak was weaned.

ט וַתֵּרֶא שָׂרָה אֶת-בֶּן-הָגָר הַמִּצְרִית אֲשֶׁר-יָלְדָה לְאַבְרָהָם--מְצַחֵק

Vatere Sarah et-ben-Hagar haMitzrit asher-yaldah le-Avraham metzachek.

י וַתֹּאמֶר לְאַבְרָהָם גָּרֵשׁ הָאָמָה הַזֹּאת וְאֶת-בְּנָהּ כִּי לֹא יִירַשׁ בֶּן-הָאָמָה הַזֹּאת עִם-בְּנִי עִם-יִצְחָק

Vatomer le-Avraham garesh ha'amah hazot ve'et-benah ki lo yirash ben-ha'amah hazot im-beni im-Yitzchak.

10. She said to Avraham, "Drive out this slave together with her son. The son of this slave will not share the inheritance with my son Yitzchak."

יא וַיֵּרַע הַדָּבָר מְאֹד בְּעֵינֵי אַבְרָהָם עַל אוֹדֹת בְּנוֹ

Vayera hadavar me'od be'einei Avraham al odot beno.

11. This seemed very bad to Avraham, since it was his son.

יב וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל-אַבְרָהָם אַל-יֵרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ עַל-הַנַּעַר וְעַל-אֲמָתֶךָ--כֹּל אֲשֶׁר תֹּאמַר אֵלֶיךָ שָׂרָה שְׁמַע בְּקֹלָהּ כִּי בְיִצְחָק יִקָּרֵא לְךָ זָרַע

Vayomer Elokim el-Avraham al-yera be'eineicha al-hana'ar ve'al-amatecha kol asher tomar eleicha Sarah shma bekolah ki beYitzchak yikare lecha zara.

12. G-d said to Avraham, "Do not consider this bad for the boy and for your slave woman. Abide by everything that Sarah tells you, since through Yitzchak you will be said to have offpring.

יג וְגַם אֶת-בֶּן-הָאָמָה לְגוֹי אֲשִׂימֶנּוּ כִּי זַרְעֲךָ הוּא

Vegam et-ben-ha'amah legoy asimenu ki zar'acha hu.

13. But I will also make the slave's son into a nation, for he is your offspring."

יד וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר וַיִּקַּח-לֶחֶם וְחֵמַת מַיִם וַיִּתֵּן אֶל-הָגָר שָׂם עַל-שִׁכְמָהּ וְאֶת-הַיֶּלֶד--וַיְשַׁלְּחֶהָ; וַתֵּלֶךְ וַתֵּתַע בְּמִדְבַּר בְּאֵר שָׁבַע

Vayashkem Avraham baboker vayikach-lechem vechemat mayim vayiten el-Hagar sam al-shichmah ve'et-hayeled vayeshalcheha vatelech vateta bemidbar Be'er Shava.

14. Avraham got up early in the morning. He too bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, placing it on her shoulder. He sent her away with the lad. She left and roamed aimlessly in the desert of Beer Sheva.

טו וַיִּכְלוּ הַמַּיִם מִן-הַחֵמֶת וַתַּשְׁלֵךְ אֶת-הַיֶּלֶד תַּחַת אַחַד הַשִּׂיחִם

Vayichlu hamayim min-hachemet vatashlech et-hayeled tachat achad hasichim.

15. The water in the skin became used up, and she threw the lad under one of the bushes.

טז וַתֵּלֶךְ וַתֵּשֶׁב לָהּ מִנֶּגֶד הַרְחֵק כִּמְטַחֲוֵי קֶשֶׁת כִּי אָמְרָה אַל-אֶרְאֶה בְּמוֹת הַיָּלֶד וַתֵּשֶׁב מִנֶּגֶד וַתִּשָּׂא אֶת-קֹלָהּ וַתֵּבְךְּ

Vatelech vateshev lah mineged harchek kimetachavei keshet ki amerah al-er'eh bemot hayaled vateshev mineged vatisa et-kolah vatevk.

16. She went and sat facing him, approximately a bowshot away. She said, "Let me not see the lad die." She sat facing him, and wept in a loud voice.

יז וַיִּשְׁמַע אֱלֹהִים אֶת-קוֹל הַנַּעַר וַיִּקְרָא מַלְאַךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶל-הָגָר מִן-הַשָּׁמַיִם וַיֹּאמֶר לָהּ מַה-לָּךְ הָגָר אַל-תִּירְאִי כִּי-שָׁמַע אֱלֹהִים אֶל-קוֹל הַנַּעַר בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא-שָׁם

Vayishma Elokim et-kol hana'ar vayikra mal'ach Elokim el-Hagar min-hashamayim vayomer lah mah-lach Hagar al-tire'i ki-shama Elokim el-kol hana'ar ba'asher hu-sham.

17. G-d heard the lad's voice. G-d's angel called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is with you Hagar? Do not fear. G-d has heard the lad's voice in the place where he is."

יח קוּמִי שְׂאִי אֶת-הַנַּעַר וְהַחֲזִיקִי אֶת-יָדֵךְ בּוֹ כִּי-לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל אֲשִׂימֶנּוּ

Kumi se'i et-hana'ar vehachasiki et-yadech bo ki-legoy gadol asimenu.

18. "Rise, lift up the lad, and hold him tight with your hand, for I will make of him a great nation."

יט וַיִּפְקַח אֱלֹהִים אֶת-עֵינֶיהָ וַתֵּרֶא בְּאֵר מָיִם וַתֵּלֶךְ וַתְּמַלֵּא אֶת-הַחֵמֶת מַיִם וַתַּשְׁקְ אֶת-הַנָּעַר

Vayifkach Elokim et-eineiha vatere be'er mayim vatelech vatemale et-hachemet mayim vatashk et-hana'ar.

19. G-d opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water and gave the lad to drink.

כ וַיְהִי אֱלֹהִים אֶת-הַנַּעַר וַיִּגְדָּל וַיֵּשֶׁב בַּמִּדְבָּר וַיְהִי רֹבֶה קַשָּׁת

Vayehi Elohkim et-hana'ar vayigdal vayeshev bamidbar vayehi roveh kashat.

20. G-d was with the lad. The lad grew up and he lived in the desert, where he became an expert archer.

כא וַיֵּשֶׁב בְּמִדְבַּר פָּארָן וַתִּקַּח-לוֹ אִמּוֹ אִשָּׁה מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם

Vayeshev bemidbar Paran vatikach-lo imo ishah me'eretz Mitzrayim.

21. He settled in the Paran desert, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

כב וַיְהִי בָּעֵת הַהִוא וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וּפִיכֹל שַׂר-צְבָאוֹ אֶל-אַבְרָהָם לֵאמֹר אֱלֹהִים עִמְּךָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר-אַתָּה עֹשֶׂה

Vayehi ba'et hahi vayomer Avimelech uFichol sar-tzeva'o el-Avraham lemor Elokim imecha bechol asher-atah oseh.

22. At this time, Avimelech and his general Pichol made a statement to Avraham, saying, "G-d is with you in all that you do."

כג וְעַתָּה הִשָּׁבְעָה לִּי בֵאלֹהִים הֵנָּה אִם-תִּשְׁקֹר לִי וּלְנִינִי וּלְנֶכְדִּי כַּחֶסֶד אֲשֶׁר-עָשִׂיתִי עִמְּךָ תַּעֲשֶׂה עִמָּדִי וְעִם-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר-גַּרְתָּה בָּהּ

Ve'atah hishave'ah li be'Elokim henah im-tishkor li ulenini ulenechdi kachesed asher-asiti imcha ta'aseh imadi ve'im ha'aretz asher-gartah bah.

23. "Now swear to me here by G-d that you will not deal falsely with me, my son or my grandson. The kindness that I have shown to you, show to me and to the land in which you lived a while."

כד וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם אָנֹכִי אִשָּׁבֵעַ

Vayomer Avraham anochi ishave'a.

24. Avraham said, "I will swear."

כה וְהוֹכִחַ אַבְרָהָם אֶת-אֲבִימֶלֶךְ עַל-אֹדוֹת בְּאֵר הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר גָּזְלוּ עַבְדֵי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ

Vehochiach Avraham et-Avimelech al-odot be'er hamayim asher gazlu avdei Avimelech.

25. Avraham reprimanded Avimelech regarding the well of water that Avimelech's servants had taken by force.

כו וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִימֶלֶךְ--לֹא יָדַעְתִּי מִי עָשָׂה אֶת-הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וְגַם-אַתָּה לֹא-הִגַּדְתָּ לִּי וְגַם אָנֹכִי לֹא שָׁמַעְתִּי--בִּלְתִּי הַיּוֹם

Vayomer Avimelech lo yadati mi asah et-hadavar hazeh vegam-atah lo-higadeta li vegam anochi lo shamati bilti hayom.

26. Avimelech said, "I don't know who did such a thing. You also never told me, and I also heard nothing until today."

כז וַיִּקַּח אַבְרָהָם צֹאן וּבָקָר וַיִּתֵּן לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ וַיִּכְרְתוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם בְּרִית

Vayikach Avraham tzon uvakar vayiten la-Avimelech vayichretu shneihem brit.

27. Avraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to Avimelech. The two of them then made a covenant [treaty].

כח וַיַּצֵּב אַבְרָהָם אֶת-שֶׁבַע כִּבְשֹׂת הַצֹּאן--לְבַדְּהֶן

Vayatzev Avraham et-sheva kivsot hatzon levadehen.

28. Avraham stood seven female sheep by themselves.

כט וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אֶל-אַבְרָהָם מָה הֵנָּה שֶׁבַע כְּבָשֹׂת הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר הִצַּבְתָּ לְבַדָּנָה

Vayomer Avimelech el-Avraham mah henah sheva kevasot ha'eleh asher hitzavta levadanah.

29. Avimelech said to Avraham, "What is the reason for these seven ewes that you have set apart?"

ל וַיֹּאמֶר--כִּי אֶת-שֶׁבַע כְּבָשֹׂת תִּקַּח מִיָּדִי בַּעֲבוּר תִּהְיֶה-לִּי לְעֵדָה כִּי חָפַרְתִּי אֶת-הַבְּאֵר הַזֹּאת

Vayomer ki et-sheva kevasot tikach miyadi ba'avur tihyeh li le'edah ki chafarti et-habe'er hazot.

30. [Avraham] said, "Take seven ewes from my hand; it will be for me proof that I dug this well."

לא עַל-כֵּן קָרָא לַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא--בְּאֵר שָׁבַע כִּי שָׁם נִשְׁבְּעוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם

Al-ken kara lamakom hahu Be'er Shava ki sham nishbe'u shneihem.

31. That place was therefore called Beer Sheva, since the two had made an oath there.

לב וַיִּכְרְתוּ בְרִית בִּבְאֵר שָׁבַע וַיָּקָם אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וּפִיכֹל שַׂר-צְבָאוֹ וַיָּשֻׁבוּ אֶל-אֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים

Vayichretu verit biVe'er Shava vayakom Avimelech uFichol sar-tzeva'o vayashuvu el-eretz Plishtim.

32. They made a treaty in Beer Sheva. Avimelech and his general Pichol then rose and returned to the land of the Pelishtim.

לג וַיִּטַּע אֶשֶׁל בִּבְאֵר שָׁבַע וַיִּקְרָא-שָׁם--בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה אֵל עוֹלָם

Vayita eshel biVe'er Shava vayikra-sham beshem HASHEM El Olam.

33. [Avraham] planted an eshel tree in Beer Sheva, and there he called in the Name of HASHEM, G-d of the universe.

לד וַיָּגָר אַבְרָהָם בְּאֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים יָמִים רַבִּים

Vayagar Avraham be'eretz Plishtim yamim rabim.

34. Avraham lived in the land of the Pelishtim for many days.