TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 6
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Then Hashem said to Moshe, “You shall soon see what I will do to Pharaoh: he shall let them go because of a greater might; indeed, because of a greater might he shall drive them from his land.”
vai-HI, KEE he-KHEL ha-ADAM la-ROV al-PE-ne ha-a-DA-ma, u-va-NOT yu-le-DU la-HEM
אוַֽיְהִי֙ כִּֽי־הֵחֵ֣ל הָֽאָדָ֔ם לָרֹ֖ב עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה וּבָנ֖וֹת יֻלְּד֥וּ לָהֶֽם׃
2Hashem spoke to Moshe and said to him, “I am Hashem.
vai-YI-ru v'-NAY ha-e-lo-HEEM et b'-NOT ha-a-DAM, KEE to-VOT he-NAY, va-yik-KHU la-HEM na-SHEEM mi-KOL a-SHER ba-KHA-ru
בוַיִּרְא֤וּ בְנֵי־הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־בְּנ֣וֹת הָֽאָדָ֔ם כִּ֥י טֹבֹ֖ת הֵ֑נָּה וַיִּקְח֤וּ לָהֶם֙ נָשִׁ֔ים מִכֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּחָֽרוּ׃
3I appeared to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov as El Shaddai, but I did not make Myself known to them by My name Hashem
va-YO-mer a-do-NAI lo ya-DON ru-KHEE va-a-DAM l'-o-LAM b'-sha-GAM HU va-SAR v'-ha-YU ya-MAV may-AH v'-e-s'-REEM sha-NAH
גוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֗ה לֹֽא־יָד֨וֹן רוּחִ֤י בָֽאָדָם֙ לְעֹלָ֔ם בְּשַׁגַּ֖ם ה֣וּא בָשָׂ֑ר וְהָי֣וּ יָמָ֔יו מֵאָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים שָׁנָֽה׃
4I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners.
v'-GAM ha-ki-MO-tee et b'-ree-TEE i-TAM la-TAYT la-HEM et E-retz k'-NA-an AYT E-retz m'-gu-ray-HEM a-sher GA-ru VAH
דהַנְּפִלִ֞ים הָי֣וּ בָאָ֘רֶץ֮ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵם֒ וְגַ֣ם אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָבֹ֜אוּ בְּנֵ֤י הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־בְּנ֣וֹת הָֽאָדָ֔ם וְיָלְד֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם הֵ֧מָּה הַגִּבֹּרִ֛ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר מֵעוֹלָ֖ם אַנְשֵׁ֥י הַשֵּֽׁם׃
5I have now heard the moaning of the Israelites because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant.
vai-YAR a-do-NAI KI ra-BA ra-AT ha-a-DAM ba-A-retz v'-KOL yay-TSER ma-kh'-SH'-vot li-VO rak ra KOL ha-YOM
הוַיַּ֣רְא יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֥י רַבָּ֛ה רָעַ֥ת הָאָדָ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְכׇל־יֵ֙צֶר֙ מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ת לִבּ֔וֹ רַ֥ק רַ֖ע כׇּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃
6Say, therefore, to B'nei Yisrael: I am Hashem. I will free you from the labors of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and through extraordinary chastisements.
va-YI-na-KHEM a-do-NAI kee-a-SAH et ha-a-DAM ba-A-retz va-yit-a-TZEIV el li-BO
ווַיִּנָּ֣חֶם יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּֽי־עָשָׂ֥ה אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּתְעַצֵּ֖ב אֶל־לִבּֽוֹ׃
7And I will take you to be My people, and I will be your God. And you shall know that I, Hashem, am your God who freed you from the labors of the Egyptians.
vai-YO-mer a-do-NAI em-KHE et ha-a-DAM a-SHER ba-RA-tee may-AL pe-NAY ha-a-DA-mah may-a-DAM ad b'-HE-mah ad RE-mes v'-ad-of ha-sha-MA-yim, KEE ni-KHAM-tee KEE a-see-TEEM
זוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶמְחֶ֨ה אֶת־הָאָדָ֤ם אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָ֙אתִי֙ מֵעַל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה מֵֽאָדָם֙ עַד־בְּהֵמָ֔ה עַד־רֶ֖מֶשׂ וְעַד־ע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם כִּ֥י נִחַ֖מְתִּי כִּ֥י עֲשִׂיתִֽם׃
8I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, and I will give it to you for a possession, I Hashem.”
v'-hay-vay-TEE et-KHEM el ha-A-retz a-SHER na-SA-tee et ya-DEE la-TAYT o-TAH l'-av-ra-HAM l'-yitz-KHAK ul-ya-a-KOV v'-na-ta-TEE o-TAH la-KHEM mo-ra-SHAH a-NEE a-do-NAI
חוְנֹ֕חַ מָ֥צָא חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃
6:8 I will bring you into the land
Four cups of wine for the Pesach seder
Four cups of wine are drunk at the Passover Seder, corresponding to the four expressions of redemption used in this verse to describe the exodus from Egypt: “Free,” “deliver,” “redeem,” and “take” (verses 6-8). A close reading of this chapter, however, uncovers that there is a fifth expression, “I will bring you,” found in the following verse. Why, then, do we not have five cups of wine at the Seder? The Talmud (Pesachim 118) explain that while the first four expressions of redemption from Egypt have in fact been realized, the fifth expression, “I will bring you into the land” has not yet been completely fulfilled. Only when all the Jews return to Israel and Mashiach comes to Jerusalem will we rejoice with a fifth cup.
6:8 I will give it to you for a possession
Biblical Hebrew has two words relating to bequests: Morasha (מורשה), and yerusha (ירושה). Morasha, the Hebrew word for ‘possession’ in this verse, is generally translated as ‘heritage,’ while yerusha is translated as ‘inheritance.’ The use of different words suggests a difference in meaning. An inheritance is simply passed on from the previous generation, while a heritage requires the receiver’s active involvement and participation, like a family business which the founder’s children must work hard to maintain. An inheritance may be squandered; a heritage must be preserved intact for the next generation. This certainly explains why the verse uses the word morasha with regard to Eretz Yisrael. The land requires our active involvement to maintain and preserve it, and it is not ours to squander.
9But when Moshe told this to the Israelites, they would not listen to Moshe, their spirits crushed by cruel bondage.
AY-leh to-LE-doth NO-akh, NO-akh EESH tza-DEEK ta-MEEM ha-YA ba-do-RO-tav, et ha-E-lo-HEEM hit-ha-LEKH-NO-akh.
טאֵ֚לֶּה תּוֹלְדֹ֣ת נֹ֔חַ נֹ֗חַ אִ֥ישׁ צַדִּ֛יק תָּמִ֥ים הָיָ֖ה בְּדֹֽרֹתָ֑יו אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים הִֽתְהַלֶּךְ־נֹֽחַ׃
10Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying,
va-YO-led NO-akh sh'-LO-sha va-NEEM, et-SHEM et-KHAM v'-et-YA-fet.
יוַיּ֥וֹלֶד נֹ֖חַ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה בָנִ֑ים אֶת־שֵׁ֖ם אֶת־חָ֥ם וְאֶת־יָֽפֶת׃
11“Go and tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites depart from his land.”
va-ti-sha-KHET ha-A-retz lif-NEI ha-e-lo-HEEM va-ti-ma-LEI ha-A-retz cha-MAS
יאוַתִּשָּׁחֵ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ לִפְנֵ֣י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַתִּמָּלֵ֥א הָאָ֖רֶץ חָמָֽס׃
12But Moshe appealed to Hashem, saying, “The Israelites would not listen to me; how then should Pharaoh heed me, a man of impeded speech!”
vai-YAR e-lo-HIM et ha-A-retz v'-hi-NEH nish-KHA-tah, KEE his-KHEET kol ba-SAR et dar-KO al ha-A-retz. (SeLaH)
יבוַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ וְהִנֵּ֣ה נִשְׁחָ֑תָה כִּֽי־הִשְׁחִ֧ית כׇּל־בָּשָׂ֛ר אֶת־דַּרְכּ֖וֹ עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
13So Hashem spoke to both Moshe and Aharon in regard to the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, instructing them to deliver the Israelites from the land of Egypt.
vai-YO-mer e-lo-HEEM l'-NO-akh KAYTS kol-BA-sar BA l'-fa-NAI, kee-ma-LO-ha ha-A-rets KHA-mas mi-p'-NE-hem, v'-hin-NEE mash-KHEE-tam et-ha-A-rets
יגוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֜ים לְנֹ֗חַ קֵ֤ץ כׇּל־בָּשָׂר֙ בָּ֣א לְפָנַ֔י כִּֽי־מָלְאָ֥ה הָאָ֛רֶץ חָמָ֖ס מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וְהִנְנִ֥י מַשְׁחִיתָ֖ם אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
14The following are the heads of their respective clans. The sons of Reuven, Yisrael's first-born: Enoch and Pallu, Chetzron and Carmi; those are the families of Reuven.
a-SEH le-KHA tay-VAT a-tzay-GO-fer ki-NIM ta-a-SEH et ha-tay-VAH v'-kha-FAR-ta O-tah mi-BA-yit u-mi-KHUtz ba-KO-fer
ידעֲשֵׂ֤ה לְךָ֙ תֵּבַ֣ת עֲצֵי־גֹ֔פֶר קִנִּ֖ים תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֶת־הַתֵּבָ֑ה וְכָֽפַרְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֛הּ מִבַּ֥יִת וּמִח֖וּץ בַּכֹּֽפֶר׃
15The sons of Shimon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; those are the families of Shimon.
v'-ZEH a-SHER ta-a-SEH o-TAH sh'-LOSH may-OT a-MAH o-REKH ha-tay-VAH kha-mee-SHEEM a-MAH ra-kh'-BAH u-sh'-LO-sheem a-MAH ko-MAH
טווְזֶ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֹתָ֑הּ שְׁלֹ֧שׁ מֵא֣וֹת אַמָּ֗ה אֹ֚רֶךְ הַתֵּבָ֔ה חֲמִשִּׁ֤ים אַמָּה֙ רׇחְבָּ֔הּ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים אַמָּ֖ה קוֹמָתָֽהּ׃
16These are the names of Levi's sons by their lineage: Gershon, Kehat, and Merari; and the span of Levi's life was 137 years.
t'-ZOHAR ta-a-SEH la-t'-VAH v'-el a-MAH t'-kha-LE-nah mil-ma-LAH u-fe-TAKH ha-t'-VAH b'-tzi-DAH ta-SEEYM ta-KH-ti-YIM u-sh'-li-SHEEM ta-a-SE-ha
טזצֹ֣הַר ׀ תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה לַתֵּבָ֗ה וְאֶל־אַמָּה֙ תְּכַלֶּ֣נָּה מִלְמַ֔עְלָה וּפֶ֥תַח הַתֵּבָ֖ה בְּצִדָּ֣הּ תָּשִׂ֑ים תַּחְתִּיִּ֛ם שְׁנִיִּ֥ם וּשְׁלִשִׁ֖ים תַּֽעֲשֶֽׂהָ׃
17The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shim'i, by their families.
va-a-NEE, hi-NI, may-VEE et ha-ma-BUL ma-YIM al ha-A-retz, l'-sha-KHAYT kol ba-SAR a-SHER-BO, ru-akh kha-YIM mi-TA-khat ha-sha-MA-yim, kol a-SHER ba-A-retz yig-VA.
יזוַאֲנִ֗י הִנְנִי֩ מֵבִ֨יא אֶת־הַמַּבּ֥וּל מַ֙יִם֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ לְשַׁחֵ֣ת כׇּל־בָּשָׂ֗ר אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ֙ ר֣וּחַ חַיִּ֔ים מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־בָּאָ֖רֶץ יִגְוָֽע׃
18The sons of Kehat: Amram, Izhar, Chevron, and Uzziel; and the span of Kehat's life was 133 years.
va-ha-ki-MO-tee et b'-ree-TEE i-taKH, u-va-A-ta el ha-tay-VAH, a-TA u-va-NE-kha v'-ish-TE-kha u-n'-SHEI-va-NE-kha i-taKH
יחוַהֲקִמֹתִ֥י אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֖י אִתָּ֑ךְ וּבָאתָ֙ אֶל־הַתֵּבָ֔ה אַתָּ֕ה וּבָנֶ֛יךָ וְאִשְׁתְּךָ֥ וּנְשֵֽׁי־בָנֶ֖יךָ אִתָּֽךְ׃
19The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Leviim by their lineage.
u-mi-KOL-ha-KHAI mi-KOL-ba-SAR sh'-NA-yim mi-KOL-ta-VEE el ha-TE-va l'-ha-cha-YOT i-ta-KH zah-KHAR u-ne-KE-va yi-HU
יטוּמִכׇּל־הָ֠חַ֠י מִֽכׇּל־בָּשָׂ֞ר שְׁנַ֧יִם מִכֹּ֛ל תָּבִ֥יא אֶל־הַתֵּבָ֖ה לְהַחֲיֹ֣ת אִתָּ֑ךְ זָכָ֥ר וּנְקֵבָ֖ה יִֽהְיֽוּ׃
20Amram took to wife his father's sister Yocheved, and she bore him Aharon and Moshe; and the span of Amram's life was 137 years.
me-ha-oF le-mi-NE-hu u-min ha-be-HE-ma le-mi-NAH, mi-KOL re-MES ha-a-da-MAH le-mi-NE-hu, sh'-NA-yim mi-KOL ya-BO-u e-LE-kha le-ha-KHA-yot
כוַיִּקַּ֨ח עַמְרָ֜ם אֶת־יוֹכֶ֤בֶד דֹּֽדָתוֹ֙ ל֣וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֔ה וַתֵּ֣לֶד ל֔וֹ אֶֽת־אַהֲרֹ֖ן וְאֶת־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וּשְׁנֵי֙ חַיֵּ֣י עַמְרָ֔ם שֶׁ֧בַע וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֛ים וּמְאַ֖ת שָׁנָֽה׃
21The sons of Izhar: Korach, Nepheg, and Zichri.
v'-a-TAH kakh-l'-KHA mi-KOL ma-a-KHAL a-SHER ye-a-KHEL v'-a-SAFTA e-LE-kha v'-ha-YA l'-KHA v'-la-HEM l'-o-KH-lah
כאוּבְנֵ֖י יִצְהָ֑ר קֹ֥רַח וָנֶ֖פֶג וְזִכְרִֽי׃
22The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.
vai-YA-as NO-akh k'-KOL a-SHER tzi-VAH o-TO e-lo-HEEM KEN a-SAH
כבוּבְנֵ֖י עֻזִּיאֵ֑ל מִֽישָׁאֵ֥ל וְאֶלְצָפָ֖ן וְסִתְרִֽי׃
23Aharon took to wife Elisheva, daughter of Aminadav and sister of Nachshon, and she bore him Nadav and Avihu, Elazar and Itamar.
vai-YI-kakh a-ha-RON et e-li-SHE-vah bat a-mee-NA-dav a-KHOT na-KHO-shon lo l'-ee-SHA, va-TEL-ed lo et na-DAV v'-et a-vee-HU et el-a-ZAR v'-et ee-ta-MAR
כגוַיִּקַּ֨ח אַהֲרֹ֜ן אֶת־אֱלִישֶׁ֧בַע בַּת־עַמִּינָדָ֛ב אֲח֥וֹת נַחְשׁ֖וֹן ל֣וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַתֵּ֣לֶד ל֗וֹ אֶת־נָדָב֙ וְאֶת־אֲבִיה֔וּא אֶת־אֶלְעָזָ֖ר וְאֶת־אִֽיתָמָֽר׃
24The sons of Korach: Assir, Elkana, and Abiasaph. Those are the families of the Korahites.
u-v'-nay ko-RACH a-SIR v'-el-ka-NA va-a-vee-a-SAph, AY-leh mish-p'-KHOT ha-ko-r'-khi
כדוּבְנֵ֣י קֹ֔רַח אַסִּ֥יר וְאֶלְקָנָ֖ה וַאֲבִיאָסָ֑ף אֵ֖לֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הַקׇּרְחִֽי׃
25And Aharon's son Elazar took to wife one of Putiel's daughters, and she bore him Pinchas. Those are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Leviim by their families.
v'-el-a-ZAR ben a-ha-RON la-KAKH-lo mi-b'-NOT pu-ti-EL lo l'-i-SHAH va-TAY-led lo et pi-N'-khas, AY-leh ra-SHAY a-vo-T ha-l'-vi-YIM l'-mish-p'-kho-TAM.
כהוְאֶלְעָזָ֨ר בֶּֽן־אַהֲרֹ֜ן לָקַֽח־ל֨וֹ מִבְּנ֤וֹת פּֽוּטִיאֵל֙ ל֣וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֔ה וַתֵּ֥לֶד ל֖וֹ אֶת־פִּֽינְחָ֑ס אֵ֗לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֛י אֲב֥וֹת הַלְוִיִּ֖ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם׃
26It is the same Aharon and Moshe to whom Hashem said, “Bring forth the Israelites from the land of Egypt, troop by troop.”
HU a-ha-RON u-MO-sheh a-SHER a-MAR a-do-NAI la-HEM ho-TZI-u et b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL me-E-retz mitz-RA-yim al tzi-v'-O-tam
כוה֥וּא אַהֲרֹ֖ן וּמֹשֶׁ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ לָהֶ֔ם הוֹצִ֜יאוּ אֶת־בְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם עַל־צִבְאֹתָֽם׃
27It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt to free the Israelites from the Egyptians; these are the same Moshe and Aharon.
HEM ha-m'-da-BE-reem el pa-RO me-lekh mitz-RA-yim l'-ho-TZI et b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL mi-mitz-RA-yim, HU mo-SHEH v'-a-ha-RON.
כזהֵ֗ם הַֽמְדַבְּרִים֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֔יִם לְהוֹצִ֥יא אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם ה֥וּא מֹשֶׁ֖ה וְאַהֲרֹֽן׃
28For when Hashem spoke to Moshe in the land of Egypt
vai-HI b'-YOM di-BER a-do-NAI el mo-SHEH b'-E-retz mitz-RA-yim.
כחוַיְהִ֗י בְּי֨וֹם דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
29and Hashem said to Moshe, “I am Hashem; speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I will tell you,”
va-y'-da-BAYR a-do-NAI el mo-SHEH lay-MOR: a-NEE a-do-NAI, da-BAYR el pa-ROH, me-LEKH mitz-RA-yim, AYT kol a-SHER a-NEE do-BAYR ay-LE-kha.
כטוַיְדַבֵּ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹ֖ר אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה דַּבֵּ֗ר אֶל־פַּרְעֹה֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם אֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י דֹּבֵ֥ר אֵלֶֽיךָ׃
30Moshe appealed to Hashem, saying, “See, I am of impeded speech; how then should Pharaoh heed me!”
vai-YO-mer mo-SHEH lif-NAY a-do-NAI, HEN a-NEE a-RAL s'-fa-TA-yim v'-AYKH yish-MA e-LAI par-OH.
לוַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֖ה לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה הֵ֤ן אֲנִי֙ עֲרַ֣ל שְׂפָתַ֔יִם וְאֵ֕יךְ יִשְׁמַ֥ע אֵלַ֖י פַּרְעֹֽה׃
