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

יב וַתֵּלֶד זִלְפָּה שִׁפְחַת לֵאָה בֵּן שֵׁנִי לְיַעֲקֹב

Vateled Zilpah shifchat Leah ben sheni le-Ya'akov.

12. Leah's handmaid Zilpah bore another son to Yaakov.

יג וַתֹּאמֶר לֵאָה--בְּאָשְׁרִי כִּי אִשְּׁרוּנִי בָּנוֹת וַתִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמוֹ אָשֵׁר

Vatomer Leah be'oshri ki ishruni banot vatikra et-shmo Asher.

13. Leah said, "In my good fortune (asher)! The daughters will deem me fortunate!" She named him Asher.

יד וַיֵּלֶךְ רְאוּבֵן בִּימֵי קְצִיר-חִטִּים וַיִּמְצָא דוּדָאִים בַּשָּׂדֶה וַיָּבֵא אֹתָם אֶל-לֵאָה אִמּוֹ וַתֹּאמֶר רָחֵל אֶל-לֵאָה תְּנִי-נָא לִי מִדּוּדָאֵי בְּנֵךְ

Vayelech Re'uven bimei ktzir-chitim vayimtza duda'im basadeh vayave otam el-Leah imo vatomer Rachel el-Leah tni-na li miduda'ei benech.

14. Reuven went [out] in the days of the wheat harvest, and he fund love-flowers in the field. He brought them to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, "Give me some of your son's love-flowers."

טו וַתֹּאמֶר לָהּ הַמְעַט קַחְתֵּךְ אֶת-אִישִׁי וְלָקַחַת גַּם אֶת-דּוּדָאֵי בְּנִי וַתֹּאמֶר רָחֵל לָכֵן יִשְׁכַּב עִמָּךְ הַלַּיְלָה תַּחַת דּוּדָאֵי בְנֵךְ

Vatomer lah hame'at kachtech et-ishi velakachat gam et-duda'ei beni vatomer Rachel lachen yishkav imach halailah tachat duda'ei venech.

15. [Leah] said to her, "Isn't it enough that you took my husband's [love]? You would also take my son's love-flowers?" Rachel said, "All right. He will sleep with ou tonight in exchange for your son's love-flowers."

טז וַיָּבֹא יַעֲקֹב מִן-הַשָּׂדֶה בָּעֶרֶב, וַתֵּצֵא לֵאָה לִקְרָאתוֹ וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלַי תָּבוֹא כִּי שָׂכֹר שְׂכַרְתִּיךָ בְּדוּדָאֵי בְּנִי וַיִּשְׁכַּב עִמָּהּ בַּלַּיְלָה הוּא

Vayavo Ya'akov min-hasadeh ba'erev vatetze Leah likrato vatomer elai tavo ki sachor secharticha beduda'ei beni vayishkav imah balailah hu.

16. Yaakov came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him. She said, "You will come to me. I have hired you with my son's love-flowers." He slept with her that night.

יז וַיִּשְׁמַע אֱלֹהִים אֶל-לֵאָה וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד לְיַעֲקֹב בֵּן חֲמִישִׁי

Vayishma Elokim el-Leah vatahar vateled le-Ya'akov ben-chamishi.

17. G-d heard Leah's [prayer]. She became pregnant and gave birth to a fifth son to Yaakov.

יח וַתֹּאמֶר לֵאָה נָתַן אֱלֹהִים שְׂכָרִי אֲשֶׁר-נָתַתִּי שִׁפְחָתִי לְאִישִׁי וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ יִשָּׂשכָר

Vatomer Leah natan Elokim sechari asher-natati shifchati le'ishi vatikra shmo Yisaschar.

18. Leah said, " G-d has given my reward (sachar) because I have my handmaid to my husband." She named him Yissachar

יט וַתַּהַר עוֹד לֵאָה וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן-שִׁשִּׁי לְיַעֲקֹב

Vatahar od Leah vateled ben shishi le-Ya'akov.

19. Leah became pregnant again, and she bore Yaakov a sixth son.

כ וַתֹּאמֶר לֵאָה זְבָדַנִי אֱלֹהִים אֹתִי זֵבֶד טוֹב--הַפַּעַם יִזְבְּלֵנִי אִישִׁי כִּי-יָלַדְתִּי לוֹ שִׁשָּׁה בָנִים וַתִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמוֹ זְבֻלוּן

Vatomer Leah zvadani Elokim oti zeved tov hapa'am yizbeleni ishi ki-yaladeti lo shishah vanim vatikra et-shmo Zvulun.

20. Leah said, "G-d has given me a good endowment. Now my husband will make his permanent home (zebul) with me, because I bore him six sons." She named him Zevulun.

כא וְאַחַר יָלְדָה בַּת וַתִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמָהּ דִּינָה

Ve'achar yaldah bat vatikra et-shmah Dinah.

21. [Leah] then had a daughter, and she named her Dinah.

כב וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת-רָחֵל וַיִּשְׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ אֱלֹהִים וַיִּפְתַּח אֶת-רַחְמָהּ

Vayizkor Elokim et-Rachel vayishma eleiha Elokim vayiftach et-rachmah.

22. G-d remembered Rachel. G-d heard her [prayer] and opened her womb.

כג וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן וַתֹּאמֶר אָסַף אֱלֹהִים אֶת-חֶרְפָּתִי

Vatahar vateled ben vatomer asaf Elokim et-cherpati.

23. [Rachel] became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She said, "G-d has gathered in (asaf) my humiliation."

כד וַתִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמוֹ יוֹסֵף לֵאמֹר: יֹסֵף יְהוָה לִי בֵּן אַחֵר

Vatikra et-shemo Yosef lemor yosef HASHEM li ben acher.

24. She named him Yosef, saying, "May G-d add on (Yosef) for me another son.

כה וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר יָלְדָה רָחֵל אֶת-יוֹסֵף וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב אֶל-לָבָן שַׁלְּחֵנִי וְאֵלְכָה אֶל-מְקוֹמִי וּלְאַרְצִי

Vayehi ka'asher yaldah Rachel et-Yosef vayomer Ya'akov el-Lavan shalcheni ve'elchah el-mekomi ule'artzi.

25. When Rachel had given birth to Yosef, Yaakov said to Lavan, "Grant me leave. I wish to go to my native region and to my homeland.

כו תְּנָה אֶת-נָשַׁי וְאֶת-יְלָדַי אֲשֶׁר עָבַדְתִּי אֹתְךָ בָּהֵן--וְאֵלֵכָה: כִּי אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶת-עֲבֹדָתִי אֲשֶׁר עֲבַדְתִּיךָ

Tenah et-nashai ve'et-yeladai asher avadeti otecha bahen ve'elechah ki atah yadata et-avodati asher avadeticha.

26. Let me have my wives and children, for whom I served you, and I will go. You are well aware of the service I have rendered you."

כז וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו לָבָן אִם-נָא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ נִחַשְׁתִּי וַיְבָרְכֵנִי יְהוָה בִּגְלָלֶךָ

Vayomer elav Lavan im-na matzati chen be'eineicha nichashti vayevarcheni HASHEM biglalecha.

27. Lavan said to him, "If you please...I have made use of my divination, and [have learned that] G-d has blessed me because of you."

כח וַיֹּאמַר: נָקְבָה שְׂכָרְךָ עָלַי וְאֶתֵּנָה

Vayomar nakvah secharecha alai ve'etenah.

28. Lavan said, "Name your wage to me. I will pay it."

כט וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו--אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר עֲבַדְתִּיךָ וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר-הָיָה מִקְנְךָ אִתִּי

Vayomer elav atah yadata et asher avadeticha ve'et asher-hayah miknecha iti.

29. [Yaakov] said to him, "You know how I worked for you, and how your livestock fared with me."

ל כִּי מְעַט אֲשֶׁר-הָיָה לְךָ לְפָנַי וַיִּפְרֹץ לָרֹב, וַיְבָרֶךְ יְהוָה אֹתְךָ לְרַגְלִי וְעַתָּה מָתַי אֶעֱשֶׂה גַם-אָנֹכִי--לְבֵיתִי

Ki me'at asher-hayah lecha lefanai vayifrotz larov vayevarech HASHEM otcha leragli ve'atah matai e'eseh gam-anochi leveiti.

30. "You had very little before I was here. Since then it has increased and has become very substantial. G-d blesed you through my wanderings. Now, when will I also do something for my own house?"

לא וַיֹּאמֶר מָה אֶתֶּן-לָךְ וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב לֹא-תִתֶּן-לִי מְאוּמָה--אִם-תַּעֲשֶׂה-לִּי הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה אָשׁוּבָה אֶרְעֶה צֹאנְךָ אֶשְׁמֹר

Vayomer mah eten-lach vayomer Ya'akov lo-titen-li me'umah im-ta'aseh-li hadavar hazeh ashuvah er'eh tzoncha eshmor.

31. [Lavan] asked, "What shall I give you?" [Yaakov] replied, "Do not give me anything - as long as you do this one thing for me. I will return, tend your sheep and watch."

לב אֶעֱבֹר בְּכָל-צֹאנְךָ הַיּוֹם הָסֵר מִשָּׁם כָּל-שֶׂה נָקֹד וְטָלוּא וְכָל-שֶׂה-חוּם בַּכְּשָׂבִים וְטָלוּא וְנָקֹד בָּעִזִּים; וְהָיָה שְׂכָרִי

E'evor bechol-tzoncha hayom haser misham kol-seh nakod vetalu vechol-seh-chum baksavim vetalu venakod ba'izim vahayah sechari.

32. Today, I will go through all your flocks. Remove from them every lamb that is spotted or streaked, every borwnish one among the sheep, and every goat that is streaked or spotted. That [kind] will be my wage."

לג וְעָנְתָה-בִּי צִדְקָתִי בְּיוֹם מָחָר כִּי-תָבוֹא עַל-שְׂכָרִי לְפָנֶיךָ: כֹּל אֲשֶׁר-אֵינֶנּוּ נָקֹד וְטָלוּא בָּעִזִּים וְחוּם בַּכְּשָׂבִים--גָּנוּב הוּא אִתִּי

Ve'antah-bi tzidkati beyom machar ki-tavo al-schari lefaneicha kol asher-eineinu nakod vetalu ba'izim vechum baksavim ganuv hu iti.

33. "In the future, let this demonstrate my honesty. My wages will pass by in front of you. Any goat not spotted or streaked, and any sheep that is not brownish, can be considered as stolen if it is in my possession."

לד וַיֹּאמֶר לָבָן הֵן: לוּ יְהִי כִדְבָרֶךָ

Vayomer Lavan hen lu yehi chidvarecha.

34. Lavan said, "Agreed! May your words come true."

לה וַיָּסַר בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אֶת-הַתְּיָשִׁים הָעֲקֻדִּים וְהַטְּלֻאִים וְאֵת כָּל-הָעִזִּים הַנְּקֻדּוֹת וְהַטְּלֻאֹת כֹּל אֲשֶׁר-לָבָן בּוֹ וְכָל-חוּם בַּכְּשָׂבִים וַיִּתֵּן בְּיַד-בָּנָיו

Vayasar bayom hahu et-hateiashim ha'akudim vehatlu'im ve'et kol-ha'izim hanekudot vehatlu'ot kol-asher-Lavan bo vechol-chum baksavim vayiten beyad-banav.

35. That day, [Lavan] segregated the ringed and streaked he-goats, all the spotted and streaked she-goats - every one with a trace of white - and every sheep with brown markings. He gave them to his sons.

לו וַיָּשֶׂם דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים בֵּינוֹ וּבֵין יַעֲקֹב וְיַעֲקֹב רֹעֶה אֶת-צֹאן לָבָן--הַנּוֹתָרֹת

Vayasem derech shloshet yamim beino uvein Ya'akov veYa'akov ro'eh et-tzon Lavan hanotarot.

36. He placed a three days' journey between himself and Yaakov. Yaakov tended Lavan's remaining sheep.

לז וַיִּקַּח-לוֹ יַעֲקֹב מַקַּל לִבְנֶה לַח--וְלוּז וְעַרְמוֹן וַיְפַצֵּל בָּהֵן פְּצָלוֹת לְבָנוֹת--מַחְשֹׂף הַלָּבָן אֲשֶׁר עַל-הַמַּקְלוֹת

Vayikach-lo Ya'akov makal livneh lach veluz ve'armon vayefatzel bahen petzalot levanot machsof halavan asher al-hamaklot.

37. Yaakov took rods of fresh poplar, hazel and chestnut. He peeled white stripes in them by uncovering the white in the rods.

לח וַיַּצֵּג אֶת-הַמַּקְלוֹת אֲשֶׁר פִּצֵּל בָּרְהָטִים בְּשִׁקְתוֹת הַמָּיִם--אֲשֶׁר תָּבֹאןָ הַצֹּאן לִשְׁתּוֹת לְנֹכַח הַצֹּאן וַיֵּחַמְנָה בְּבֹאָן לִשְׁתּוֹת

Vayatzeg et-hamaklot asher pitzel barehatim beshikatot hamayim asher tavona hatzon lishtot lenochach hatzon vayechamnah bevo'an lishtot.

38. He set up the rods that he had peeled near the throughs, the watering recepticles to which the sheep came to drink, facing the sheep. They would mate when they came to drink.

לט וַיֶּחֱמוּ הַצֹּאן אֶל-הַמַּקְלוֹת וַתֵּלַדְןָ הַצֹּאן עֲקֻדִּים נְקֻדִּים וּטְלֻאִים

Vayechemu hatzon el-hamaklot vateladnah hatzon akudim nekudim utlu'im.

39. The sheep mated toward the rods, and the sheep gave birth to streaked, spotted, and ringed [lambs].

מ וְהַכְּשָׂבִים הִפְרִיד יַעֲקֹב וַיִּתֵּן פְּנֵי הַצֹּאן אֶל-עָקֹד וְכָל-חוּם בְּצֹאן לָבָן וַיָּשֶׁת-לוֹ עֲדָרִים לְבַדּוֹ וְלֹא שָׁתָם עַל-צֹאן לָבָן

Vehaksavim hifrid Ya'akov vayiten penei hatzon el-akod vechol-chum betzon Lavan vayashet lo adarim levado velo shatam al-tzon Lavan.

40. Yaakov segregated the lambs. Among Lavan's flocks, he made the sheep face the ringed one and all the brownish ones. He formed special flocks of his own, and did not let them mingle with Lavan's flocks.

מא וְהָיָה בְּכָל-יַחֵם הַצֹּאן הַמְקֻשָּׁרוֹת וְשָׂם יַעֲקֹב אֶת-הַמַּקְלוֹת לְעֵינֵי הַצֹּאן בָּרְהָטִים--לְיַחְמֵנָּה בַּמַּקְלוֹת

Vehayah bechol-yachem hatzon hamekusharot vesam Ya'akov et-hamaklot le'einei hatzon barehatim leyachmenah bamaklot.

41. When the aggressive sheep mated, Yaakov placed the rods before the sheeps' eyes at the troughs, so that they would mate toward the rods.

מב וּבְהַעֲטִיף הַצֹּאן לֹא יָשִׂים וְהָיָה הָעֲטֻפִים לְלָבָן וְהַקְּשֻׁרִים לְיַעֲקֹב

Uveha'atif hatzon lo yasim vehayah ha'atufim le-Lavan vehakshurim le-Ya'akov.

42. But when the sheep were feeble, he did not place [the rods before them]. The feeble ones [thus] went to Lavan, while the aggressive ones went to Yaakov.

מג וַיִּפְרֹץ הָאִישׁ מְאֹד מְאֹד וַיְהִי-לוֹ צֹאן רַבּוֹת וּשְׁפָחוֹת וַעֲבָדִים וּגְמַלִּים וַחֲמֹרִים

Vayifrotz ha'ish me'od me'od vayehi-lo tzon rabot ushfachot va'avadim ugmalim vachamorim.

43. The man became tremendously prosperous. He had many sheep, as well as male and female slaves, camels and donkeys.