TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 2
Translation and Transliteration of
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1The heaven and the earth were finished, and all their array.
va-y'-khul ha-sha-MA-yim v'-ha-A-retz v'-kol t'-va-AM
אוַיְכֻלּ֛וּ הַשָּׁמַ֥יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ וְכׇל־צְבָאָֽם׃
2On the seventh day Hashem finished the work that He had been doing, and He ceased on the seventh day from all the work that He had done.
vai-KHAL e-lo-HEEM ba-YOM ha-sh'-vee-EE me-la-KH'-to a-SHER a-SA vai-YISH-bot ba-YOM ha-sh'-vee-EE mi-KOL me-la-KH'-to a-SHER a-SA
בוַיְכַ֤ל אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה וַיִּשְׁבֹּת֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מִכׇּל־מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה׃
3And Hashem blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because on it Hashem ceased from all the work of creation that He had done.
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. (Selah)
גוַיְבָ֤רֶךְ אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־י֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י וַיְקַדֵּ֖שׁ אֹת֑וֹ כִּ֣י ב֤וֹ שָׁבַת֙ מִכׇּל־מְלַאכְתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃
Torah reading at the Western Wall
2:3 Because on it Hashem ceased from all the work of creation that He had done.
On the seventh day of creation, Hashem (God) ceased the creative process and rested. The seventh day of every week is called Shabbat. On this days, Jews emulate Hashem by ceasing to use creative powers and instead rest. By observing Shabbat, Jews affirm their belief in Hashem as the Creator of the universe who is responsible for all that happens in the world. The Land of Israel also has a Shabbat of its own, once every seven years. By abandoning the fields of Israel once every seven years, allowing them to rest, and putting our sustenance in the hands of Hashem, we affirm our belief that He is intimately involved in everything that happens in our lives. We owe all of our successes to Hashem, and we believe that He will provide for us, even during the Sabbatical year when we are not working the land. On Shabbat, it is customary for Jews to greet each other with the phrase Shabbat Shalom (Have a peaceful Sabbath). Wishing all of our readers a Shabbat Shalom!
4Such is the story of heaven and earth when they were created. When Hashem made earth and heaven—
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׃
5when no shrub of the field was yet on earth and no grasses of the field had yet sprouted, because Hashem had not sent rain upon the earth and there was no man to till the soil,
v'-KHOL SEE-akh ha-sa-DEH TE-rem yih-YEH va-A-retz v'-khol 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׃
2:5 Because Hashem had not sent rain upon the earth
The land was poised to allow its seeds to sprout, but God did not bring forth rain to allow them to grow, because there was no man yet to work the land. Hashem did not bring rain until there was a person who could recognize the necessity for rain, and, says Rashi, pray for rain. During its short rainy season, Eretz Yisrael is dependent on adequate rainfall to produce yearly crops. It is God’s design that the Jews living in Israel are to strengthen their relationship with Him through daily prayer requesting adequate rainfall and a successful agricultural season. Since Hashem desires a deep relationship with man, He incorporated the need for prayer, the ultimate form of dialogue between man and God, within the natural order.
Rashi (1040-1105)
Morning dew near Beit Shemesh
6but a flow would well up from the ground and water the whole surface of the earth—
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׃
7Hashem formed man from the dust of the earth. He blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.
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׃
8Hashem planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and placed there the man whom He had formed.
vai-YI-ta a-do-NAI e-lo-HIM gan b'-EY-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 from the ground Hashem caused to grow every tree that was pleasing to the sight and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and bad.
vai-YATZ-makh a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM min ha-a-DA-mah, kol-AYTZ nekh-MAD le-mar-EH v'-TOV le-ma-a-KHAL, v'-AYTZ ha-KHA-yim b'-TOCH ha-GAN, v'-AYTZ 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׃
10A river issues from Eden to water the garden, and it then divides and becomes four branches.
v'-na-HAR yo-TZE me-E-den l'-hash-KOT et ha-GAN u-mi-SHAM yi-pa-RED v'-ha-YAH l'-ar-ba-AH ra-SHEEM
יוְנָהָר֙ יֹצֵ֣א מֵעֵ֔דֶן לְהַשְׁק֖וֹת אֶת־הַגָּ֑ן וּמִשָּׁם֙ יִפָּרֵ֔ד וְהָיָ֖ה לְאַרְבָּעָ֥ה רָאשִֽׁים׃
11The name of the first is Pishon, the one that winds through the whole land of Havilah, where the gold is.
shaym ha-e-KHAD pee-SHON, HU ha-so-VAYV et kol E-rets ha-kha-VEE-lah, a-SHER-sham ha-za-HAV
יאשֵׁ֥ם הָֽאֶחָ֖ד פִּישׁ֑וֹן ה֣וּא הַסֹּבֵ֗ב אֵ֚ת כׇּל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַֽחֲוִילָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֖ם הַזָּהָֽב׃
12The gold of that land is good; bdellium is there, and lapis lazuli.)
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׃
13The name of the second river is Gichon, the one that winds through the whole land of Cush.
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׃
14The name of the third river is Tigris, the one that flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
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 fe-RAT
ידוְשֵׁ֨ם הַנָּהָ֤ר הַשְּׁלִישִׁי֙ חִדֶּ֔קֶל ה֥וּא הַֽהֹלֵ֖ךְ קִדְמַ֣ת אַשּׁ֑וּר וְהַנָּהָ֥ר הָֽרְבִיעִ֖י ה֥וּא פְרָֽת׃
15Hashem took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden, to till it and tend it.
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׃
16And Hashem commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you are free to eat;
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 as for the tree of knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat of it; for as soon as you eat of it, you shall die.”
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׃
18Hashem said, “It is not good for man to be alone; I will make a fitting helper for him.”
vai-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׃
19And Hashem formed out of the earth all the wild beasts and all the birds of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that would be its name.
vai-YI-tser a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM min ha-a-da-MAH kol-KHAY-yat ha-SA-deh v'-ET kol-OAF ha-sha-MA-yim va-YA-VE el ha-A-dam lir-OT mah yi-k'-RA-lo v'-KOL a-SHER yi-k'-RA-lo ha-A-dam NE-fesh kha-YAH HU sh'-MO
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׃
20And the man gave names to all the cattle and to the birds of the sky and to all the wild beasts; but for Adam no fitting helper was found.
vai-YIK-ra ha-a-DAM sh'-MOHT l'-KOL ha-be-HE-mah u-l'-OF ha-sha-MA-yim u-l'-KOL kha-YAT ha-sa-DEH u-l-a-DAM lo-ma-TZA e-ZER k'-NEG-do
כוַיִּקְרָ֨א הָֽאָדָ֜ם שֵׁמ֗וֹת לְכׇל־הַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּלְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּלְכֹ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּלְאָדָ֕ם לֹֽא־מָצָ֥א עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ׃
21So Hashem cast a deep sleep upon the man; and, while he slept, He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that spot.
vai-YA-pel a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM tar-DAY-ma al ha-A-dam vai-YI-shan vai-YI-kakh a-KHAT mi-tsal-o-TAV vai-YIS-gor ba-SAR takh-TE-na
כאוַיַּפֵּל֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֧ים ׀ תַּרְדֵּמָ֛ה עַל־הָאָדָ֖ם וַיִּישָׁ֑ן וַיִּקַּ֗ח אַחַת֙ מִצַּלְעֹתָ֔יו וַיִּסְגֹּ֥ר בָּשָׂ֖ר תַּחְתֶּֽנָּה׃
22And Hashem fashioned the rib that He had taken from the man into a woman; and He her to the man.
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׃
23Then the man said, “This one at last Is bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh. This one shall be called Woman, For from man was she taken.”
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׃
24Hence a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, so that they become one flesh.
al-KHEN ya-a-ZOV-ish et-a-VEEV v'-et-a-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׃
25The two of them were naked, the man and his wife, yet they felt no shame.
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׃
