TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 2
Translation and Transliteration of
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1A certain man of the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman.
va-y'-khul-lu ha-sha-MA-yim v'-ha-A-retz v'-kol t'-va-A-mam
אוַיְכֻלּ֛וּ הַשָּׁמַ֥יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ וְכׇל־צְבָאָֽם׃
2The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw how beautiful he was, she hid him for three months.
va-Y'-khal e-lo-HEEM ba-YOM ha-sh'-vee-EE m'-la-KH'-to a-SHER a-SA va-yish-BOT ba-YOM ha-sh'-vee-EE mi-KOL m'-la-KH'-to a-SHER a-SA
בוַיְכַ֤ל אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה וַיִּשְׁבֹּת֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מִכׇּל־מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה׃
3When she could hide him no longer, she got a wicker basket for him and caulked it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child into it and placed it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.
vai-va-REKH e-lo-HEEM et YOM ha-sh'-vee-EE va-y'-ka-DAYSH o-TO, kee BO sha-VAT mi-KOL m'-la-KH'-to, a-SHER ba-RA e-lo-HEEM la-a-SOT. (P)
גוַיְבָ֤רֶךְ אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־י֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י וַיְקַדֵּ֖שׁ אֹת֑וֹ כִּ֣י ב֤וֹ שָׁבַת֙ מִכׇּל־מְלַאכְתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃
4And his sister stationed herself at a distance, to learn what would befall him.
AY-leh to-ldot ha-sha-MA-yim v'-ha-A-retz b'-hi-ba-RA-am b'-YOM a-SOT a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM e-RETZ v'-sha-MA-yim
דאֵ֣לֶּה תוֹלְד֧וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ בְּהִבָּֽרְאָ֑ם בְּי֗וֹם עֲשׂ֛וֹת יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶ֥רֶץ וְשָׁמָֽיִם׃
5The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe in the Nile, while her maidens walked along the Nile. She spied the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to fetch it.
v'-KOL see-YAKH ha-sa-DEH TE-REM yi-HE-yah va-A-retz v'-KOL ay-SEV ha-sa-DEH TE-REM yitz-MAKH, KEE lo him-TEER a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM al ha-A-retz v'-a-DAM A-yin la-a-VOD et ha-a-da-MAH
הוְכֹ֣ל ׀ שִׂ֣יחַ הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה טֶ֚רֶם יִֽהְיֶ֣ה בָאָ֔רֶץ וְכׇל־עֵ֥שֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה טֶ֣רֶם יִצְמָ֑ח כִּי֩ לֹ֨א הִמְטִ֜יר יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאָדָ֣ם אַ֔יִן לַֽעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃
6When she opened it, she saw that it was a child, a boy crying. She took pity on it and said, “This must be a Hebrew child.”
v'-ED ya-a-LEH min ha-A-retz v'-hish-KAH et-KOL p'-NEI ha-a-da-MAH
ווְאֵ֖ד יַֽעֲלֶ֣ה מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְהִשְׁקָ֖ה אֶֽת־כׇּל־פְּנֵ֥י הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃
7Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, “Shall I go and get you a Hebrew nurse to suckle the child for you?”
vai-YI-tser a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM et ha-a-DAM a-FAR min ha-a-DA-ma, vai-pa-KH b'-a-PA-v nish-MAT cha-YEEM, vai-YI ha-a-DAM l'-NE-fesh cha-YAH
זוַיִּ֩יצֶר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֗ם עָפָר֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה וַיִּפַּ֥ח בְּאַפָּ֖יו נִשְׁמַ֣ת חַיִּ֑ים וַֽיְהִ֥י הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּֽה׃
8And Pharaoh's daughter answered, “Yes.” So the girl went and called the child's mother.
vai-YI-ta a-do-NAI e-lo-HIM gan b'-E-den mi-KE-dem va-YA-sem SHAM et ha-a-DAM a-SHER ya-TZAR
חוַיִּטַּ֞ע יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהִ֛ים גַּן־בְּעֵ֖דֶן מִקֶּ֑דֶם וַיָּ֣שֶׂם שָׁ֔ם אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָצָֽר׃
9And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will pay your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed it.
vai-YATZ-makh a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM min ha-a-da-MA kol-ETZ nekh-MAD l'-mar-EH v'-TOV l'-ma-a-KHAL v'-ETZ ha-KHA-yim b'-TOKH ha-GAN v'-ETZ ha-DA-at TOV va-RA
טוַיַּצְמַ֞ח יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה כׇּל־עֵ֛ץ נֶחְמָ֥ד לְמַרְאֶ֖ה וְט֣וֹב לְמַאֲכָ֑ל וְעֵ֤ץ הַֽחַיִּים֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַגָּ֔ן וְעֵ֕ץ הַדַּ֖עַת ט֥וֹב וָרָֽע׃
10When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, who made him her son. She named him Moshe, explaining, “I drew him out of the water.”
va-yig-DAL ha-YE-led va-t'-vi-AY-hu l'-vat par-OH vai-hee LAH l'-VAYN va-tik-RA sh'-MO mo-SHEH va-TO-mer KEE min ha-MA-yim m'-shee-TI-hu
יוְנָהָר֙ יֹצֵ֣א מֵעֵ֔דֶן לְהַשְׁק֖וֹת אֶת־הַגָּ֑ן וּמִשָּׁם֙ יִפָּרֵ֔ד וְהָיָ֖ה לְאַרְבָּעָ֥ה רָאשִֽׁים׃
2:10 She named him Moshe
Moshe was the greatest of all of Israel’s leaders, who is known with affection in Jewish tradition as Moshe Rabbeinu (משה רבינו), ‘Moshe our Teacher.’ Although Moshe speaks directly with Hashem, he is identified as the most humble person to ever live (Numbers 12:3). The name Moshe is a constant reminder of his modest origins. According to the Sages of the Midrash, Moshe actually had ten names, but out of appreciation to Pharaoh’s daughter who saved him, he is referred to by the name she gave him: Moshe, which means ‘I have drawn him from the water.’
11Some time after that, when Moshe had grown up, he went out to his kinsfolk and witnessed their labors. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his kinsmen.
SHAYM ha-E-khad PEE-shon, HU ha-so-VAYV ET kol E-retz ha-KHA-vee-LAH, a-SHER-sham ha-ZA-hav.
יאשֵׁ֥ם הָֽאֶחָ֖ד פִּישׁ֑וֹן ה֣וּא הַסֹּבֵ֗ב אֵ֚ת כׇּל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַֽחֲוִילָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֖ם הַזָּהָֽב׃
12He turned this way and that and, seeing no one about, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
u-ZE-hav ha-A-retz ha-HI tov, sham ha-be-DO-lakh v'-e-ven ha-sho-HAM.
יבוּֽזְהַ֛ב הָאָ֥רֶץ הַהִ֖וא ט֑וֹב שָׁ֥ם הַבְּדֹ֖לַח וְאֶ֥בֶן הַשֹּֽׁהַם׃
13When he went out the next day, he found two Hebrews fighting; so he said to the offender, “Why do you strike your fellow?”
v'-SHEM ha-NA-har ha-SHE-ni gi-KHON, HU ha-SO-vev AYT kol E-retz KUSH.
יגוְשֵֽׁם־הַנָּהָ֥ר הַשֵּׁנִ֖י גִּיח֑וֹן ה֣וּא הַסּוֹבֵ֔ב אֵ֖ת כׇּל־אֶ֥רֶץ כּֽוּשׁ׃
14He retorted, “Who made you chief and ruler over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Moshe was frightened, and thought: Then the matter is known!
v'-SHEM ha-NA-har ha-sh'-LEE-shee khee-DE-kel, HU ha-ho-LEKH kid-MAT a-SHUUR, v'-ha-NA-har ha-r'-vee-EE HU f'-RAT
ידוְשֵׁ֨ם הַנָּהָ֤ר הַשְּׁלִישִׁי֙ חִדֶּ֔קֶל ה֥וּא הַֽהֹלֵ֖ךְ קִדְמַ֣ת אַשּׁ֑וּר וְהַנָּהָ֥ר הָֽרְבִיעִ֖י ה֥וּא פְרָֽת׃
15When Pharaoh learned of the matter, he sought to kill Moshe; but Moshe fled from Pharaoh. He arrived in the land of Midian, and sat down beside a well.
va-YI-kakh a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM et ha-a-DAM va-ya-ni-KHE-hu b'-gan E-den l'-ov-DAH u-l'-shom-RAH
טווַיִּקַּ֛ח יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֑ם וַיַּנִּחֵ֣הוּ בְגַן־עֵ֔דֶן לְעׇבְדָ֖הּ וּלְשׇׁמְרָֽהּ׃
16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came to draw water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock;
va-Y'-tsav a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM al ha-a-DAM lay-MOR: mi-KOL aytz ha-GAN a-KHOL to-KHEL
טזוַיְצַו֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים עַל־הָֽאָדָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר מִכֹּ֥ל עֵֽץ־הַגָּ֖ן אָכֹ֥ל תֹּאכֵֽל׃
17but shepherds came and drove them off. Moshe rose to their defense, and he watered their flock.
u-may-AYTZ ha-da-AT tov va-RA lo to-KHAL mi-ME-nu, kee b'-YOM a-khol-KHA mi-ME-nu mot ta-MUT
יזוּמֵעֵ֗ץ הַדַּ֙עַת֙ ט֣וֹב וָרָ֔ע לֹ֥א תֹאכַ֖ל מִמֶּ֑נּוּ כִּ֗י בְּי֛וֹם אֲכׇלְךָ֥ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ מ֥וֹת תָּמֽוּת׃
18When they returned to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come back so soon today?”
va-YO-mer a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM, lo-TOV he-YOT ha-a-DAM l'-va-DO, e-e-SEH-LO e-ZER k'-NEG-do
יחוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים לֹא־ט֛וֹב הֱי֥וֹת הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְבַדּ֑וֹ אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לּ֥וֹ עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ׃
19They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds; he even drew water for us and watered the flock.”
va-to-MAR-na ish mitz-RI hi-tzi-LA-nu mi-YAD ha-RO-eem v'-GAM da-LO LA-nu va-YASHK et ha-TZON
יטוַיִּ֩צֶר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים מִן־הָֽאֲדָמָ֗ה כׇּל־חַיַּ֤ת הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וְאֵת֙ כׇּל־ע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיָּבֵא֙ אֶל־הָ֣אָדָ֔ם לִרְא֖וֹת מַה־יִּקְרָא־ל֑וֹ וְכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִקְרָא־ל֧וֹ הָֽאָדָ֛ם נֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּ֖ה ה֥וּא שְׁמֽוֹ׃
2:19 An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds
Based on this verse, the Sages of the Midrash contrast Yosef and Moshe. Yosef identified himself with Eretz Yisrael, as he says, “I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews” (Genesis 40:15), whereas Moshe does not protest when Jethro’s daughters refer to him as an Egyptian. Yosef therefore merits to be buried in the Land of Israel, while Moshe does not. Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin points out that Moshe’s behavior is understandable, as he was not born in Israel nor had he ever been there. However, once Hashem had promised Avraham that his descendants would inherit the land, it became their homeland. No matter where in the world a Jew may find himself, he is called upon to identify with Eretz Yisrael.
20He said to his daughters, “Where is he then? Why did you leave the man? Ask him in to break bread.”
vai-YIK-ra ha-a-DAM sh'-MOHT l'-KOL ha-b'-HE-mah u-l'-OF ha-sha-MA-yim u-l'-KOL kha-YAT ha-sa-DEH u-l-a-DAM lo-ma-TZA ay-ZER k'-NEG-do
כוַיִּקְרָ֨א הָֽאָדָ֜ם שֵׁמ֗וֹת לְכׇל־הַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּלְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּלְכֹ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּלְאָדָ֕ם לֹֽא־מָצָ֥א עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ׃
21Moshe consented to stay with the man, and he gave Moshe his daughter Tzipora as wife.
vai-ya-FAYL a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM tar-DAY-mah al ha-a-DAM vai-yi-SHAN vai-yi-KAKH a-KHAT mi-tsal-o-TAV vai-yis-GOR ba-SAR takh-TE-nah
כאוַיַּפֵּל֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֧ים ׀ תַּרְדֵּמָ֛ה עַל־הָאָדָ֖ם וַיִּישָׁ֑ן וַיִּקַּ֗ח אַחַת֙ מִצַּלְעֹתָ֔יו וַיִּסְגֹּ֥ר בָּשָׂ֖ר תַּחְתֶּֽנָּה׃
22She bore a son whom he named Gershom, for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”
vai-YI-ven a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM et ha-tse-LA a-SHER la-KAKH min ha-A-DAM l'-i-SHA, vai-vi-E-ha el ha-A-DAM
כבוַיִּ֩בֶן֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֧ים ׀ אֶֽת־הַצֵּלָ֛ע אֲשֶׁר־לָקַ֥ח מִן־הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיְבִאֶ֖הָ אֶל־הָֽאָדָֽם׃
23A long time after that, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites were groaning under the bondage and cried out; and their cry for help from the bondage rose up to Hashem.
vai-YO-mer ha-A-DAM, zo-TA ha-PA-am, ET-zem me-a-TZA-mai, u-va-SAR mi-be-SA-ri, l'-zo-TA yi-ka-RE i-SHA, ki me-EESH lu-k'-HA-zo-TA
כגוַיֹּ֘אמֶר֮ הָֽאָדָם֒ זֹ֣את הַפַּ֗עַם עֶ֚צֶם מֵֽעֲצָמַ֔י וּבָשָׂ֖ר מִבְּשָׂרִ֑י לְזֹאת֙ יִקָּרֵ֣א אִשָּׁ֔ה כִּ֥י מֵאִ֖ישׁ לֻֽקְחָה־זֹּֽאת׃
24Hashem heard their moaning, and Hashem remembered His covenant with Avraham and Yitzchak and Yaakov.
al-KEN ya-a-ZOV-ish et a-VEEV v'-et i-MO, v'-da-VAK b'-ish-TO, v'-ha-YU l'-va-SAR e-KHAD
כדעַל־כֵּן֙ יַֽעֲזׇב־אִ֔ישׁ אֶת־אָבִ֖יו וְאֶת־אִמּ֑וֹ וְדָבַ֣ק בְּאִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וְהָי֖וּ לְבָשָׂ֥ר אֶחָֽד׃
25Hashem looked upon the Israelites, and Hashem took notice of them.
vai-YI-hu sh'-nay-HEM a-ru-MEEM ha-a-DAM v'-ish-TO, v'-lo yit-BO-sha-SHU
כהוַיִּֽהְי֤וּ שְׁנֵיהֶם֙ עֲרוּמִּ֔ים הָֽאָדָ֖ם וְאִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֖א יִתְבֹּשָֽׁשׁוּ׃
