
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 21
Translation and Transliteration of
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1If, in the land that Hashem your God is assigning you to possess, someone slain is found lying in the open, the identity of the slayer not being known,
kee yi-ma-TZAY kha-LAL ba-a-da-MAH a-SHER a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha no-TAYN l'-KHA l'-rish-TAH no-FAYL ba-sa-DEH LO no-DA MEE hi-KA-hu
אכִּי־יִמָּצֵ֣א חָלָ֗ל בָּאֲדָמָה֙ אֲשֶׁר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ נֹתֵ֤ן לְךָ֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ נֹפֵ֖ל בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה לֹ֥א נוֹדַ֖ע מִ֥י הִכָּֽהוּ׃
21:1 In the land that Hashem your God is assigning you

Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (1903-1993)
The axed heifer is one of the few biblical commandments that can be performed only in Eretz Yisrael even though it is not an agricultural law. Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik explains that the reason for this is that this law is incumbent on the ‘Congregation of Israel,’ not on individual members of the nation, and the Israelites are only considered the ‘Congregation of Israel’ when residing in their land. This highlights the centrality of the Land of Israel to the People of Israel: They are considered the Congregation of Israel in every sense of the term only when they live in their land. The ability to fulfill national biblical commands such as this is one of the reasons it is so important for Jews from all over the world to come on aliya, to move to Israel.
2your elders and magistrates shall go out and measure the distances from the corpse to the nearby towns.
v'-ya-tz'-U z'-kay-NE-kha v'-sho-f'-TE-kha u-ma-d'-DU el he-a-REEM a-SHER s'-vee-VOT he-cha-LAL
בוְיָצְא֥וּ זְקֵנֶ֖יךָ וְשֹׁפְטֶ֑יךָ וּמָדְדוּ֙ אֶל־הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר סְבִיבֹ֥ת הֶחָלָֽל׃
3The elders of the town nearest to the corpse shall then take a heifer which has never been worked, which has never pulled in a yoke;
v'-ha-YA ha-IYR ha-KE-ro-VA el he-KHA-lal v'-la-K'-khu zik-NAY ha-IYR ha-HU e-G'-lat ba-KAR a-SHER lo-u-BAD bah a-SHER lo-ma-SHE-khah b'-OL
גוְהָיָ֣ה הָעִ֔יר הַקְּרֹבָ֖ה אֶל־הֶחָלָ֑ל וְלָֽקְח֡וּ זִקְנֵי֩ הָעִ֨יר הַהִ֜וא עֶגְלַ֣ת בָּקָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־עֻבַּד֙ בָּ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־מָשְׁכָ֖ה בְּעֹֽל׃
4and the elders of that town shall bring the heifer down to an everflowingwadi, which is not tilled or sown. There, in the wadi, they shall break the heifer's neck.
v'-ho-ri-DOO zik-NAY ha-IR ha-HU et ha-e-G'-LA el na-KHAL ay-TAN a-SHER lo ya-a-VED BO v'-lo yiz-RA-ah, v'-ar-FU-sham et ha-e-G'-LA ba-NA-khal
דוְהוֹרִ֡דוּ זִקְנֵי֩ הָעִ֨יר הַהִ֤וא אֶת־הָֽעֶגְלָה֙ אֶל־נַ֣חַל אֵיתָ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־יֵעָבֵ֥ד בּ֖וֹ וְלֹ֣א יִזָּרֵ֑עַ וְעָֽרְפוּ־שָׁ֥ם אֶת־הָעֶגְלָ֖ה בַּנָּֽחַל׃
5The Kohanim, sons of Levi, shall come forward; for Hashem your God has chosen them to minister to Him and to pronounce blessing in the name of Hashem, and every lawsuit and case of assault is subject to their ruling.
v'-ni-g'-SHU ha-ko-ha-NEEM b'-nay le-VEE, kee BAM ba-KHAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha l'-sha-RO-to u-l'-va-REKH b'-SHEM a-do-NAI, v'-al-PI-hem yi-HE-yeh kol-REEV v'-kol-na-GA
הוְנִגְּשׁ֣וּ הַכֹּהֲנִים֮ בְּנֵ֣י לֵוִי֒ כִּ֣י בָ֗ם בָּחַ֞ר יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ לְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹ וּלְבָרֵ֖ךְ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה וְעַל־פִּיהֶ֥ם יִהְיֶ֖ה כׇּל־רִ֥יב וְכׇל־נָֽגַע׃
6Then all the elders of the town nearest to the corpse shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the wadi.
v'-KOL zi-K'-nay ha-IR ha-HU ha-ke-RO-vim el he-cha-LAL yir-cha-TZU et-y'-de-HEM al ha-e-g'-LAH ha-a-ru-FAH ba-NA-khal
ווְכֹ֗ל זִקְנֵי֙ הָעִ֣יר הַהִ֔וא הַקְּרֹבִ֖ים אֶל־הֶחָלָ֑ל יִרְחֲצוּ֙ אֶת־יְדֵיהֶ֔ם עַל־הָעֶגְלָ֖ה הָעֲרוּפָ֥ה בַנָּֽחַל׃
7And they shall make this declaration: “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it done.
v'-a-NU v'-a-M'-RU ya-DAY-nu lo (sha-FO-kha) [sha-FO-khu] et ha-DAHM ha-ZEH v'-ay-NAY-nu lo ra-U
זוְעָנ֖וּ וְאָמְר֑וּ יָדֵ֗ינוּ לֹ֤א (שפכה) [שָֽׁפְכוּ֙] אֶת־הַדָּ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה וְעֵינֵ֖ינוּ לֹ֥א רָאֽוּ׃
8Absolve, Hashem, Your people Yisrael whom You redeemed, and do not let guilt for the blood of the innocent remain among Your people Yisrael.” And they will be absolved of bloodguilt.
ka-PER l'-a-m'-KHA yis-ra-AYL a-SHER pa-DEE-ta a-do-NAI v'-al ti-TAYN dam na-KEE b'-KE-rev a-m'-KHA yis-ra-AYL v'-ni-ka-PER la-HEM ha-DAM
חכַּפֵּר֩ לְעַמְּךָ֨ יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל אֲשֶׁר־פָּדִ֙יתָ֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה וְאַל־תִּתֵּן֙ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֔י בְּקֶ֖רֶב עַמְּךָ֣ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְנִכַּפֵּ֥ר לָהֶ֖ם הַדָּֽם׃
9Thus you will remove from your midst guilt for the blood of the innocent, for you will be doing what is right in the sight of Hashem.
v'-a-TAH t'-va-ER ha-DAM ha-NA-KEE mi-kiR-BE-kha, kee-ta-a-SEH ha-ya-SHAR b'-ay-NAY a-do-NAI. (s)
טוְאַתָּ֗ה תְּבַעֵ֛ר הַדָּ֥ם הַנָּקִ֖י מִקִּרְבֶּ֑ךָ כִּֽי־תַעֲשֶׂ֥ה הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃
10When you take the field against your enemies, and Hashem your God delivers them into your power and you take some of them captive,
ki-te-TZE la-mil-KHA-ma al-o-y'-VE-kha u-ne-TA-no a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha b'-ya-DE-kha v'-sha-VEE-ta shiv-YO
יכִּֽי־תֵצֵ֥א לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ וּנְתָנ֞וֹ יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ בְּיָדֶ֖ךָ וְשָׁבִ֥יתָ שִׁבְיֽוֹ׃
11and you see among the captives a beautiful woman and you desire her and would take her to wife,
v'-ra-EE-ta ba-shi-VYAH, E-SHET y'-FAT-to-AR, v'-kha-SHAK-ta VAH, v'-la-KAKH-ta L'-KHA l'-i-SHAH
יאוְרָאִ֙יתָ֙ בַּשִּׁבְיָ֔ה אֵ֖שֶׁת יְפַת־תֹּ֑אַר וְחָשַׁקְתָּ֣ בָ֔הּ וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ לְךָ֖ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
12you shall bring her into your house, and she shall trim her hair, pare her nails,
va-ha-VE-tah el tokh BEY-te-KHA v'-gil-KHA et ro-SHAH v'-a-SHAH et tzi-POR-ne-HA
יבוַהֲבֵאתָ֖הּ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ וְגִלְּחָה֙ אֶת־רֹאשָׁ֔הּ וְעָשְׂתָ֖ה אֶת־צִפׇּרְנֶֽיהָ׃
13and discard her captive's garb. She shall spend a month's time in your house lamenting her father and mother; after that you may come to her and possess her, and she shall be your wife.
v'-he-see-RAH et-sim-LAT shiv-YAH may-a-LE-ha v'-ya-SHE-vah b'-vei-TE-kha u-va-KH'-ta et a-VEE-ha v'-et i-MAH ye-RAKH ya-MEEM v'-a-KHAR KHEYN ta-VO e-LE-ha u-ve-AL-ta-HA v'-ha-Y'-ta L'-KHA l'-i-SHA
יגוְהֵסִ֩ירָה֩ אֶת־שִׂמְלַ֨ת שִׁבְיָ֜הּ מֵעָלֶ֗יהָ וְיָֽשְׁבָה֙ בְּבֵיתֶ֔ךָ וּבָ֥כְתָ֛ה אֶת־אָבִ֥יהָ וְאֶת־אִמָּ֖הּ יֶ֣רַח יָמִ֑ים וְאַ֨חַר כֵּ֜ן תָּב֤וֹא אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ וּבְעַלְתָּ֔הּ וְהָיְתָ֥ה לְךָ֖ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
14Then, should you no longer want her, you must release her outright. You must not sell her for money: since you had your will of her, you must not enslave her.
v'-ha-YA im-lo kha-FATZ-ta bah v'-shi-la-KH-tah le-naf-SHAH u-ma-KHOR lo-tim-KE-re-NAH ba-ka-SEF lo-tit-a-MER bah ta-KHAT a-SHER i-NI-ta-H
ידוְהָיָ֞ה אִם־לֹ֧א חָפַ֣צְתָּ בָּ֗הּ וְשִׁלַּחְתָּהּ֙ לְנַפְשָׁ֔הּ וּמָכֹ֥ר לֹא־תִמְכְּרֶ֖נָּה בַּכָּ֑סֶף לֹא־תִתְעַמֵּ֣ר בָּ֔הּ תַּ֖חַת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עִנִּיתָֽהּ׃
15If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, but the first-born is the son of the unloved one
ki-tih-YE-nah l'-EESH sh'-TAY na-SHEEM ha-a-KHAT a-hu-VAH v'-ha-a-KHAT s'-nu-AH v'-ya-l'-DU lo va-NEEM ha-a-hu-VAH v'-ha-s'-nu-AH v'-ha-YA ha-BEN ha-b'-KHOHR la-s'-ni-AH
טוכִּֽי־תִהְיֶ֨יןָ לְאִ֜ישׁ שְׁתֵּ֣י נָשִׁ֗ים הָאַחַ֤ת אֲהוּבָה֙ וְהָאַחַ֣ת שְׂנוּאָ֔ה וְיָֽלְדוּ־ל֣וֹ בָנִ֔ים הָאֲהוּבָ֖ה וְהַשְּׂנוּאָ֑ה וְהָיָ֛ה הַבֵּ֥ן הַבְּכֹ֖ר לַשְּׂנִיאָֽה׃
16when he wills his property to his sons, he may not treat as first-born the son of the loved one in disregard of the son of the unloved one who is older.
v'-ha-YA b'-YOM ha-n'-khee-LO et ba-NAV, AYT a-SHER yi-HE-yeh LO, lo yu-KHAL l'-va-KAYR et ben ha-a-hu-VAH al p'-NAY ben ha-s'-nu-AH ha-b'-KOR.
טזוְהָיָ֗ה בְּיוֹם֙ הַנְחִיל֣וֹ אֶת־בָּנָ֔יו אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־יִהְיֶ֖ה ל֑וֹ לֹ֣א יוּכַ֗ל לְבַכֵּר֙ אֶת־בֶּן־הָ֣אֲהוּבָ֔ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י בֶן־הַשְּׂנוּאָ֖ה הַבְּכֹֽר׃
17Instead, he must accept the first-born, the son of the unloved one, and allot to him a double portion of all he possesses; since he is the first fruit of his vigor, the birthright is his due.
ki et ha-be-KHOR ben ha-se-nu-AH ya-KIR la-TEt lo pi sh'-NA-yim b'-KOL a-SHER yi-MA-tze LO ki-HU re-SHEET o-NO lo mish-PAT ha-be-KHO-rah. (s)
יזכִּי֩ אֶת־הַבְּכֹ֨ר בֶּן־הַשְּׂנוּאָ֜ה יַכִּ֗יר לָ֤תֶת לוֹ֙ פִּ֣י שְׁנַ֔יִם בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יִמָּצֵ֖א ל֑וֹ כִּי־הוּא֙ רֵאשִׁ֣ית אֹנ֔וֹ ל֖וֹ מִשְׁפַּ֥ט הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃
18If a man has a wayward and defiant son, who does not heed his father or mother and does not obey them even after they discipline him,
ki-yi-HEH l'-EESH ben so-RAYR u-mo-REH, AY-ne-nu sho-MAY-a b'-KOL a-VEEV u-b'-KOL i-MO, v'-yi-se-RO o-TO v'-lo yish-MA a-lay-HEM.
יחכִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֣ה לְאִ֗ישׁ בֵּ֚ן סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמוֹרֶ֔ה אֵינֶ֣נּוּ שֹׁמֵ֔עַ בְּק֥וֹל אָבִ֖יו וּבְק֣וֹל אִמּ֑וֹ וְיִסְּר֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמַ֖ע אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
19his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his town at the public place of his community.
v'-taf-SU vo a-VEE-vo v'-i-MO v'-ho-tzi-U o-TO el zi-k'-NAY i-RO v'-el sha-AR m'-KO-mo
יטוְתָ֥פְשׂוּ ב֖וֹ אָבִ֣יו וְאִמּ֑וֹ וְהוֹצִ֧יאוּ אֹת֛וֹ אֶל־זִקְנֵ֥י עִיר֖וֹ וְאֶל־שַׁ֥עַר מְקֹמֽוֹ׃
20They shall say to the elders of his town, “This son of ours is disloyal and defiant; he does not heed us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.”
v'-a-M'-RU el zi-k'-NAY ee-RO b'-nay-NOO zeh so-RAYR u-mo-REH, AY-ne-NOO sho-MAY-a b'-ko-LAY-noo, zo-LAYL v'-so-VAY
כוְאָמְר֞וּ אֶל־זִקְנֵ֣י עִיר֗וֹ בְּנֵ֤נוּ זֶה֙ סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמֹרֶ֔ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ שֹׁמֵ֖עַ בְּקֹלֵ֑נוּ זוֹלֵ֖ל וְסֹבֵֽא׃
21Thereupon the men of his town shall stone him to death. Thus you will sweep out evil from your midst: all Yisrael will hear and be afraid.
u-r'-ga-MU-hu kol-an-SHEI i-RO va-a-va-NEEM va-MET u-vi-a-r'-TA ha-RA mi-kiR'-BE-kha v'-kol yis-ra-AYL yish-M'-U v'-yi-RA-U. (S)
כאוּ֠רְגָמֻ֠הוּ כׇּל־אַנְשֵׁ֨י עִיר֤וֹ בָֽאֲבָנִים֙ וָמֵ֔ת וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִקִּרְבֶּ֑ךָ וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִשְׁמְע֥וּ וְיִרָֽאוּ׃
22If a man is guilty of a capital offense and is put to death, and you impale him on a stake,
v'-khee yi-HEH v'-EESH KHET mish-PAT-MA-vet v'-hu-MAT, v'-ta-LEE-ta o-TO al-Etz
כבוְכִֽי־יִהְיֶ֣ה בְאִ֗ישׁ חֵ֛טְא מִשְׁפַּט־מָ֖וֶת וְהוּמָ֑ת וְתָלִ֥יתָ אֹת֖וֹ עַל־עֵֽץ׃
23you must not let his corpse remain on the stake overnight, but must bury him the same day. For an impaled body is an affront to Hashem: you shall not defile the land that Hashem your God is giving you to possess.
lo-ta-LEEN niv-LA-to al ha-AYTZ, ki-ka-VOR tik-B'-RE-nu ba-YOM ha-HU, ki-ki-LAT e-lo-HEEM ta-LOO-y, v'-lo te-ta-MAY et ad-ma-TE-kha, a-SHER a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha no-TAYN le-KHA na-KHA-la. (SeLaH)
כגלֹא־תָלִ֨ין נִבְלָת֜וֹ עַל־הָעֵ֗ץ כִּֽי־קָב֤וֹר תִּקְבְּרֶ֙נּוּ֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא כִּֽי־קִלְלַ֥ת אֱלֹהִ֖ים תָּל֑וּי וְלֹ֤א תְטַמֵּא֙ אֶת־אַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ נַחֲלָֽה׃