
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 8
Translation and Transliteration of
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1You shall faithfully observe all the Instruction that I enjoin upon you today, that you may thrive and increase and be able to possess the land that Hashem promised on oath to your fathers.
kol ha-mitz-VAH a-SHER a-no-KHEE m'-tza-v'-KHA ha-YOM tish-m'-RUN la-a-SOT l'-MA-an tikh-YUN ur-vee-TEM u-va-TEM vee-rish-TEM et ha-A-retz a-sher nish-BA a-do-NAI la-a-vo-tay-KHEM
אכׇּל־הַמִּצְוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֧י מְצַוְּךָ֛ הַיּ֖וֹם תִּשְׁמְר֣וּן לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת לְמַ֨עַן תִּֽחְי֜וּן וּרְבִיתֶ֗ם וּבָאתֶם֙ וִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֣ם אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥ע יְהֹוָ֖ה לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃
8:1 That you may thrive
The Kli Yakar notes that in Hebrew this verse starts in the singular, “all the Instruction that I enjoin upon you today,” but finishes in the plural, “that you may thrive and increase and be able to possess the land that Hashem promised on oath to your fathers.” He suggests that this is because the positive actions of even a single person can benefit the entire world. An individual following one commandment can bring merit to many, and ensure that they live and thrive. Furthermore, the words in this verse, as in so many others throughout the Bible, directly connect the blessing of life to living in the Land of Israel. It is in every person’s power not only to enable others to live, but to “thrive and increase and be able to possess the land that Hashem promised on oath to your fathers.”
2Remember the long way that Hashem your God has made you travel in the wilderness these past forty years, that He might test you by hardships to learn what was in your hearts: whether you would keep His commandments or not.
v'-za-KHAR-ta et-KOL ha-DE-rekh a-SHER ho-LEEKH-kha a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha ZEH ar-BA-eem sha-NAH ba-mid-BAR l'-ma-AN a-NOT-kha l'-na-SOT-kha la-DA-at et a-SHER bil-va-VE-kha ha-TISH-mor mitz-VO-tav im-LO
בוְזָכַרְתָּ֣ אֶת־כׇּל־הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹלִֽיכְךָ֜ יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ זֶ֛ה אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר לְמַ֨עַן עַנֹּֽתְךָ֜ לְנַסֹּֽתְךָ֗ לָדַ֜עַת אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֧ר בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֛ הֲתִשְׁמֹ֥ר מִצְוֺתָ֖ו אִם־לֹֽא׃
3He subjected you to the hardship of hunger and then gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had ever known, in order to teach you that man does not live on bread alone, but that man may live on anything that Hashem decrees.
vai-ya-a-N'-KHA, vai-YAR-i-VE-kha, vai-ya-a-KHIL-kha et ha-MAN a-SHER lo ya-DA-ta, v'-lo ya-D'-UN a-vo-tay-KHA, l'-ma-an ho-DEE-a-KHA, KEE lo al ha-LE-khem l'-va-DO yi-KHE-yeh ha-a-DAM, KEE al kol mo-TZA fi a-do-NAI yi-KHE-yeh ha-a-DAM
גוַֽיְעַנְּךָ֮ וַיַּרְעִבֶ֒ךָ֒ וַיַּאֲכִֽלְךָ֤ אֶת־הַמָּן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־יָדַ֔עְתָּ וְלֹ֥א יָדְע֖וּן אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ לְמַ֣עַן הוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֗ כִּ֠י לֹ֣א עַל־הַלֶּ֤חֶם לְבַדּוֹ֙ יִחְיֶ֣ה הָֽאָדָ֔ם כִּ֛י עַל־כׇּל־מוֹצָ֥א פִֽי־יְהֹוָ֖ה יִחְיֶ֥ה הָאָדָֽם׃
4The clothes upon you did not wear out, nor did your feet swell these forty years.
SIM-la-te-KHA lo ba-le-TA me-a-LE-kha, v'-rag-le-KHA lo ba-TSE-ka, ZE ar-ba-EEM sha-NAH.
דשִׂמְלָ֨תְךָ֜ לֹ֤א בָֽלְתָה֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ וְרַגְלְךָ֖ לֹ֣א בָצֵ֑קָה זֶ֖ה אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃
5Bear in mind that Hashem your God disciplines you just as a man disciplines his son.
v'-ya-DA-ta im l'-va-VE-kha, kee ka-a-SHER y'-ya-SER eesh et b'-NO, a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha m'-ya-s'-RE-kha
הוְיָדַעְתָּ֖ עִם־לְבָבֶ֑ךָ כִּ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יְיַסֵּ֥ר אִישׁ֙ אֶת־בְּנ֔וֹ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ מְיַסְּרֶֽךָּ׃
6Therefore keep the commandments of Hashem your God: walk in His ways and revere Him.
v'-sha-MAR-ta et-mitz-VO-t a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha la-LE-khet bi-d'-ra-KHAV u-l'-yir-AH o-TO
ווְשָׁ֣מַרְתָּ֔ אֶת־מִצְוֺ֖ת יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לָלֶ֥כֶת בִּדְרָכָ֖יו וּלְיִרְאָ֥ה אֹתֽוֹ׃
7For Hashem your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with streams and springs and fountains issuing from plain and hill;
KEE a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha m'-vee-a-KHA el E-retz to-VAH E-retz NA-kha-lay MA-yim a-ya-NOT ut-ho-MOT yo-tz'-EEM ba-bik-AH u-va-HAR
זכִּ֚י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ מְבִֽיאֲךָ֖ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ טוֹבָ֑ה אֶ֚רֶץ נַ֣חֲלֵי מָ֔יִם עֲיָנֹת֙ וּתְהֹמֹ֔ת יֹצְאִ֥ים בַּבִּקְעָ֖ה וּבָהָֽר׃
8a land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey;
E-retz khi-TAH us-o-RAH v'-GE-fen ut-ay-NAH v'-ree-MON e-retz ZAYT SHE-men ud-VASH
חאֶ֤רֶץ חִטָּה֙ וּשְׂעֹרָ֔ה וְגֶ֥פֶן וּתְאֵנָ֖ה וְרִמּ֑וֹן אֶֽרֶץ־זֵ֥ית שֶׁ֖מֶן וּדְבָֽשׁ׃
8:8 A land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates
The Torah names seven species as the special agricultural products of Eretz Yisrael. Even today, these seven crops can be seen growing all over Israel. In particular, the pomegranate has always been a symbol of beauty. Its unique shape was a favorite design element, appearing on the priestly garments and the pillars at the entrance to the Beit Hamikdash in Yerushalayim.

The seven species

Pomegranates in Beit Dagan
9a land where you may eat food without stint, where you will lack nothing; a land whose rocks are iron and from whose hills you can mine copper.
E-retz a-SHER LO v'-mis-kay-NUT to-khal BA LE-khem lo tekh-SAR KOL BA E-retz a-SHER a-va-NE-ha var-ZEL u-may-ha-ra-RE-ha takh-TZOV n'-KHO-shet
טאֶ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹ֤א בְמִסְכֵּנֻת֙ תֹּֽאכַל־בָּ֣הּ לֶ֔חֶם לֹֽא־תֶחְסַ֥ר כֹּ֖ל בָּ֑הּ אֶ֚רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲבָנֶ֣יהָ בַרְזֶ֔ל וּמֵהֲרָרֶ֖יהָ תַּחְצֹ֥ב נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃
10When you have eaten your fill, give thanks to Hashem your God for the good land which He has given you.
v'-a-KHAL-ta v'-sa-VA-ta u-ve-RAKH-ta et a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha al ha-A-retz ha-TO-va a-SHER na-TAN-la-KH
יוְאָכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבֵֽרַכְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן־לָֽךְ׃
11Take care lest you forget Hashem your God and fail to keep His commandments, His rules, and His laws, which I enjoin upon you today.
hi-SHAM-er l'-KHA pen-tish-KAKH et a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha l'-vil-TI sh'-mo-TAV u-mish-PA-tav v'-khuk-KO-tav a-SHER a-NO-khi m'-tza-VE-kha ha-YOM
יאהִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּן־תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לְבִלְתִּ֨י שְׁמֹ֤ר מִצְוֺתָיו֙ וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֣יו וְחֻקֹּתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּֽוֹם׃
12When you have eaten your fill, and have built fine houses to live in,
pen-to-KHAL v'-sa-VA-ta u-BA-tim to-VIM tiv-NEH v'-ya-SHA-v'ta
יבפֶּן־תֹּאכַ֖ל וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבָתִּ֥ים טֹבִ֛ים תִּבְנֶ֖ה וְיָשָֽׁבְתָּ׃
13and your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold have increased, and everything you own has prospered,
u-v'-ka-r'-KHA v'-tzo-NE-kha yir-b'-YUN v'-khe-SEF v'-za-HAV yir-BE-l'-KHA v'-KOL a-SHER-l'-KHA yir-BE.
יגוּבְקָֽרְךָ֤ וְצֹֽאנְךָ֙ יִרְבְּיֻ֔ן וְכֶ֥סֶף וְזָהָ֖ב יִרְבֶּה־לָּ֑ךְ וְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־לְךָ֖ יִרְבֶּֽה׃
14beware lest* your heart grow haughty and you forget Hashem your God—who freed you from the land of Egypt, the house of bondage;
v'-RAM l'-va-VE-kha v'-sha-KAKH-ta et a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha ha-mo-tzi-a-KHA may-E-retz mitz-RA-yim mi-BAYT a-va-DEEM
ידוְרָ֖ם לְבָבֶ֑ךָ וְשָֽׁכַחְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ הַמּוֹצִיאֲךָ֛ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֥ית עֲבָדִֽים׃
15who led you through the great and terrible wilderness with its seraph serpents and scorpions, a parched land with no water in it, who brought forth water for you from the flinty rock;
ha-mo-LIKH-kha ba-mid-BAR ha-GA-dol v'-ha-no-RA na-KHASH sa-RAF v'-ak-RAV v'-tzi-MA-on a-SHER AYN-ma-YIM ha-mo-TZI l'-KHA ma-YIM mi-TZUR ha-kha-LA-mish
טוהַמּוֹלִ֨יכְךָ֜ בַּמִּדְבָּ֣ר ׀ הַגָּדֹ֣ל וְהַנּוֹרָ֗א נָחָ֤שׁ ׀ שָׂרָף֙ וְעַקְרָ֔ב וְצִמָּא֖וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֵֽין־מָ֑יִם הַמּוֹצִ֤יא לְךָ֙ מַ֔יִם מִצּ֖וּר הַֽחַלָּמִֽישׁ׃
16who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers had never known, in order to test you by hardships only to benefit you in the end
ha-ma-a-KHIL-kha man ba-mid-BAR a-SHER lo ya-d'-UN a-vo-tay-KHA, l'-ma-an a-NOT-kha u-l'-ma-an na-so-TE-kha, l'-heet-V'-kha b'-a-cha-ree-TE-kha
טזהַמַּֽאֲכִ֨לְךָ֥ מָן֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יָדְע֖וּן אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ לְמַ֣עַן עַנֹּֽתְךָ֗ וּלְמַ֙עַן֙ נַסֹּתֶ֔ךָ לְהֵיטִֽבְךָ֖ בְּאַחֲרִיתֶֽךָ׃
17and you say to yourselves, “My own power and the might of my own hand have won this wealth for me.”
v'-a-MAR-ta bi-l'-va-VE-kha, ko-KHEE v'-o-TSEM ya-DEE, a-SA lee et ha-KHA-yil ha-ZEH
יזוְאָמַרְתָּ֖ בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ כֹּחִי֙ וְעֹ֣צֶם יָדִ֔י עָ֥שָׂה לִ֖י אֶת־הַחַ֥יִל הַזֶּֽה׃
18Remember that it is Hashem your God who gives you the power to get wealth, in fulfillment of the covenant that He made on oath with your fathers, as is still the case.
v'-za-KHAR-ta et a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha, KEE HU ha-no-TAYN le-KHA KO-akh la-a-SOT kha-YIL, l'-ma-an ha-KEEM et b'-ree-TO a-SHER nish-BA la-a-vo-TE-kha ka-YOM ha-ZEH. (P)
יחוְזָֽכַרְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ כִּ֣י ה֗וּא הַנֹּתֵ֥ן לְךָ֛ כֹּ֖חַ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת חָ֑יִל לְמַ֨עַן הָקִ֧ים אֶת־בְּרִית֛וֹ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥ע לַאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
19If you do forget Hashem your God and follow other gods to serve them or bow down to them, I warn you this day that you shall certainly perish;
v'-ha-YA im sha-KHO-aKH tish-KAKH et a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha v'-ha-la-KHA a-kha-RAY e-lo-HEEM a-khay-REEM va-a-va-d'-TAM v'-hish-ta-kha-VEE-ta la-HEM ha-i-do-TEE va-KHEM ha-YOM kee a-VOD to-VE-duN
יטוְהָיָ֗ה אִם־שָׁכֹ֤חַ תִּשְׁכַּח֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֗ אַחֲרֵי֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וַעֲבַדְתָּ֖ם וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִ֣יתָ לָהֶ֑ם הַעִדֹ֤תִי בָכֶם֙ הַיּ֔וֹם כִּ֥י אָבֹ֖ד תֹּאבֵדֽוּן׃
20like the nations that Hashem will cause to perish before you, so shall you perish—because you did not heed Hashem your God.
ka-go-YIM a-SHER a-do-NAI ma-a-VEED mi-p'-NE-khem, KEN to-VE-duN, AY-KEV lo tish-m'-UN b'-KOL a-do-NAI e-lo-hay-KHEM. (pey)
ככַּגּוֹיִ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ מַאֲבִ֣יד מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם כֵּ֖ן תֹּאבֵד֑וּן עֵ֚קֶב לֹ֣א תִשְׁמְע֔וּן בְּק֖וֹל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
Unearthing Shevat: The Month of Trees
What the Eagles of Manwë can Teach You About Trust in God
The Fundamental Significance of the Seven Species
An Attitude of Gratitude
Why Does God Test You?
Yom HaAtzmaut: Celebrating Israel's Independence
What do Noah's ark, the Temple lamp and anointing oil have in common?
What can we learn from a grape?
Why do we eat pomegranates on the Jewish New Year?