
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 21
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Hashem took note of Sara as He had promised, and Hashem did for Sara as He had spoken.
va-a-do-NAI pa-KAD et-sa-RAH ka-a-SHER a-MAR, va-YA-as a-do-NAI l'-sa-RAH ka-a-SHER di-BER
אוַֽיהֹוָ֛ה פָּקַ֥ד אֶת־שָׂרָ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמָ֑ר וַיַּ֧עַשׂ יְהֹוָ֛ה לְשָׂרָ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֵּֽר׃
2Sara conceived and bore a son to Avraham in his old age, at the set time of which Hashem had spoken.
va-ta-HAR va-te-LED sa-RAH l'-av-ra-HAM ben liz-ku-NAV la-mo-EYD a-SHER di-BER o-TO e-lo-HEEM
בוַתַּ֩הַר֩ וַתֵּ֨לֶד שָׂרָ֧ה לְאַבְרָהָ֛ם בֵּ֖ן לִזְקֻנָ֑יו לַמּוֹעֵ֕ד אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר אֹת֖וֹ אֱלֹהִֽים׃
3Avraham gave his newborn son, whom Sara had borne him, the name of Yitzchak.
vai-YIK-ra a-v'ra-HAM et-SHEM b'-NO ha-no-LAD-lo a-SHER ya-l'-DA-lo sa-RAH yitz-KHAK
גוַיִּקְרָ֨א אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶֽת־שֶׁם־בְּנ֧וֹ הַנּֽוֹלַד־ל֛וֹ אֲשֶׁר־יָלְדָה־לּ֥וֹ שָׂרָ֖ה יִצְחָֽק׃
4And when his son Yitzchak was eight days old, Avraham circumcised him, as Hashem had commanded him.
va-YA-mol av-ra-HAM et yitz-KHAK b'-no ben sh'-mo-NAT ya-MEEM ka-a-SHER tzi-VAH o-TO e-lo-HEEM
דוַיָּ֤מׇל אַבְרָהָם֙ אֶת־יִצְחָ֣ק בְּנ֔וֹ בֶּן־שְׁמֹנַ֖ת יָמִ֑ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה אֹת֖וֹ אֱלֹהִֽים׃
5Now Avraham was a hundred years old when his son Yitzchak was born to him.
v'-av-ra-HAM ben-m'-AT sha-NAH b'-hi-v'-LED lo et yitz-KHAK b'-no
הוְאַבְרָהָ֖ם בֶּן־מְאַ֣ת שָׁנָ֑ה בְּהִוָּ֣לֶד ל֔וֹ אֵ֖ת יִצְחָ֥ק בְּנֽוֹ׃
6Sara said, “Hashem has brought me laughter; everyone who hears will laugh with me.”
va-TOM-er sa-RAH t'-KHOK a-SAH li e-lo-HEEM kol ha-sho-ME-a yit-SHAK-li
ווַתֹּ֣אמֶר שָׂרָ֔ה צְחֹ֕ק עָ֥שָׂה לִ֖י אֱלֹהִ֑ים כׇּל־הַשֹּׁמֵ֖עַ יִֽצְחַק־לִֽי׃
7And she added, “Who would have said to Avraham That Sara would suckle children! Yet I have borne a son in his old age.”
va-TO-mer, mee mi-LEL l'-av-ra-HAM, hay-NEE-kah va-NEEM sa-RAH, kee ya-LAD-tee VAYN liz-ku-NAV
זוַתֹּ֗אמֶר מִ֤י מִלֵּל֙ לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם הֵינִ֥יקָה בָנִ֖ים שָׂרָ֑ה כִּֽי־יָלַ֥דְתִּי בֵ֖ן לִזְקֻנָֽיו׃
8The child grew up and was weaned, and Avraham held a great feast on the day that Yitzchak was weaned.
vai-YI-g'-DAL ha-YE-led vai-yi-GA-mal, vai-YA-as a-v'ra-HAM mish-TEH ga-DOL b'-YOM hi-GA-mel et yitz-KHAK
חוַיִּגְדַּ֥ל הַיֶּ֖לֶד וַיִּגָּמַ֑ל וַיַּ֤עַשׂ אַבְרָהָם֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה גָד֔וֹל בְּי֖וֹם הִגָּמֵ֥ל אֶת־יִצְחָֽק׃
9Sara saw the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Avraham playing.
va-TE-re SAR-ah et ben ha-GAR ha-mitz-REET a-SHER ya-l'-DAH l'-av-ra-HAM m'-tza-KHEK
טוַתֵּ֨רֶא שָׂרָ֜ה אֶֽת־בֶּן־הָגָ֧ר הַמִּצְרִ֛ית אֲשֶׁר־יָלְדָ֥ה לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם מְצַחֵֽק׃
10She said to Avraham, “Cast out that slave-woman and her son, for the son of that slave shall not share in the inheritance with my son Yitzchak.”
va-TOM-er l'-av-ra-HAM, ga-RAYSH ha-a-MAH ha-ZOT v'-ET b'-NAH, KI LO yi-RASH ben-ha-a-MAH ha-ZOT im b'-NI im-yitz-KHAK.
יוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם גָּרֵ֛שׁ הָאָמָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את וְאֶת־בְּנָ֑הּ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יִירַשׁ֙ בֶּן־הָאָמָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את עִם־בְּנִ֖י עִם־יִצְחָֽק׃
11The matter distressed Avraham greatly, for it concerned a son of his.
vai-YE-ra ha-DA-var m'-OD b'-ay-NAY av-ra-HAM al o-DOT b'-NO
יאוַיֵּ֧רַע הַדָּבָ֛ר מְאֹ֖ד בְּעֵינֵ֣י אַבְרָהָ֑ם עַ֖ל אוֹדֹ֥ת בְּנֽוֹ׃
12But Hashem said to Avraham, “Do not be distressed over the boy or your slave; whatever Sara tells you, do as she says, for it is through Yitzchak that offspring shall be continued for you.
vai-YO-mer e-lo-HEEM el a-v'ra-HAM, al ya-RAY b'-ay-NE-kha al ha-NA-ar v'-al a-ma-TE-kha, KOL a-SHER to-MAR ay-LE-kha sa-RAH, sh'-MA b'-ko-LAH, KEE b'-yitz-KHAK yi-ka-REH le-KHA za-RA
יבוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֗ם אַל־יֵרַ֤ע בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ עַל־הַנַּ֣עַר וְעַל־אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ כֹּל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר תֹּאמַ֥ר אֵלֶ֛יךָ שָׂרָ֖ה שְׁמַ֣ע בְּקֹלָ֑הּ כִּ֣י בְיִצְחָ֔ק יִקָּרֵ֥א לְךָ֖ זָֽרַע׃
13As for the son of the slave-woman, I will make a nation of him, too, for he is your seed.”
v'-GAM et ben ha-a-MAH l'-GOY a-see-ME-nu, KEE zar-a-KHA HU
יגוְגַ֥ם אֶת־בֶּן־הָאָמָ֖ה לְג֣וֹי אֲשִׂימֶ֑נּוּ כִּ֥י זַרְעֲךָ֖ הֽוּא׃
14Early next morning Avraham took some bread and a skin of water, and gave them to Hagar. He placed them over her shoulder, together with the child, and sent her away. And she wandered about in the wilderness of Be'er Sheva.
vai-YASH-kem av-ra-HAM ba-BO-ker va-yi-KAKH-le-KHEM le-KHEM v'-khe-MAT ma-YIM va-yi-TEN el ha-GAR SAM al shikh-MAH v'-et ha-YE-led va-ye-shal-LE-khe-HA va-TE-lekh va-TE-ta b'-mid-BAR b'-EYR sha-VA
ידוַיַּשְׁכֵּ֣ם אַבְרָהָ֣ם ׀ בַּבֹּ֡קֶר וַיִּֽקַּֽח־לֶ֩חֶם֩ וְחֵ֨מַת מַ֜יִם וַיִּתֵּ֣ן אֶל־הָ֠גָ֠ר שָׂ֧ם עַל־שִׁכְמָ֛הּ וְאֶת־הַיֶּ֖לֶד וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֶ֑הָ וַתֵּ֣לֶךְ וַתֵּ֔תַע בְּמִדְבַּ֖ר בְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע׃
15When the water was gone from the skin, she left the child under one of the bushes,
vai-YIKH-lu ha-MA-yim min ha-KHE-met, va-TASH-lekh et ha-YE-led ta-KHAT a-KHAD ha-SEE-khim
טווַיִּכְל֥וּ הַמַּ֖יִם מִן־הַחֵ֑מֶת וַתַּשְׁלֵ֣ךְ אֶת־הַיֶּ֔לֶד תַּ֖חַת אַחַ֥ד הַשִּׂיחִֽם׃
16and went and sat down at a distance, a bowshot away; for she thought, “Let me not look on as the child dies.” And sitting thus afar, she burst into tears.
va-TE-lekh va-TE-shev LAH mi-NE-ged har-KHEKH k'-m'-ta-KHE-vet KE-shet, KI a-M'-RAH al-er-EH b'-MOT ha-YA-led, va-TE-shev mi-NE-ged va-TI-sa et-ko-LAH va-TE-kh.
טזוַתֵּ֩לֶךְ֩ וַתֵּ֨שֶׁב לָ֜הּ מִנֶּ֗גֶד הַרְחֵק֙ כִּמְטַחֲוֵ֣י קֶ֔שֶׁת כִּ֣י אָֽמְרָ֔ה אַל־אֶרְאֶ֖ה בְּמ֣וֹת הַיָּ֑לֶד וַתֵּ֣שֶׁב מִנֶּ֔גֶד וַתִּשָּׂ֥א אֶת־קֹלָ֖הּ וַתֵּֽבְךְּ׃
17Hashem heard the cry of the boy, and an angel of Hashem called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for Hashem has heeded the cry of the boy where he is.
vai-YISH-ma e-lo-HEEM et-KOL ha-NA-ar, vai-YIK-ra mal-akh e-lo-HEEM el ha-GAR min ha-sha-MA-yim, vai-YO-mer LAH, mah-LAKH ha-GAR, al-ti-RA-ee, kee-SHA-ma e-lo-HEEM el-KOL ha-NA-ar, ba-a-SHER HU-SHAM
יזוַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אֱלֹהִים֮ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַנַּ֒עַר֒ וַיִּקְרָא֩ מַלְאַ֨ךְ אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ אֶל־הָגָר֙ מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָ֖הּ מַה־לָּ֣ךְ הָגָ֑ר אַל־תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֧ע אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶל־ק֥וֹל הַנַּ֖עַר בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הוּא־שָֽׁם׃
18Come, lift up the boy and hold him by the hand, for I will make a great nation of him.”
KU-mi SE-i et ha-NA-ar v'-ha-cha-ZI-ki et ya-DEKH BO, KEE-le-GOY ga-DOL a-see-ME-nu.
יחק֚וּמִי שְׂאִ֣י אֶת־הַנַּ֔עַר וְהַחֲזִ֥יקִי אֶת־יָדֵ֖ךְ בּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־לְג֥וֹי גָּד֖וֹל אֲשִׂימֶֽנּוּ׃
19Then Hashem opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water, and let the boy drink.
vai-yif-KAKH e-lo-HEEM et a-YE-ne-HA va-TE-re b'-AYR ma-YIM va-TE-lekh va-te-ma-LE et ha-KHE-met ma-YIM va-TASH-k'-et ha-NA-ar
יטוַיִּפְקַ֤ח אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־עֵינֶ֔יהָ וַתֵּ֖רֶא בְּאֵ֣ר מָ֑יִם וַתֵּ֜לֶךְ וַתְּמַלֵּ֤א אֶת־הַחֵ֙מֶת֙ מַ֔יִם וַתַּ֖שְׁקְ אֶת־הַנָּֽעַר׃
20Hashem was with the boy and he grew up; he dwelt in the wilderness and became a bowman.
vai-HI e-lo-HIM et ha-NA-ar vai-yi-GA-dal vai-YAY-shev ba-mid-BAR vai-HI ro-BEH ka-SHAT
כוַיְהִ֧י אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הַנַּ֖עַר וַיִּגְדָּ֑ל וַיֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר וַיְהִ֖י רֹבֶ֥ה קַשָּֽׁת׃
21He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
vai-YAY-shev b'-mid-BAR pa-RAN, va-ti-KAKH-lo i-MO i-SHA may-E-retz mitz-RA-yim.
כאוַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בְּמִדְבַּ֣ר פָּארָ֑ן וַתִּֽקַּֽח־ל֥וֹ אִמּ֛וֹ אִשָּׁ֖ה מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
22At that time Abimelech and Phicol, chief of his troops, said to Avraham, “Hashem is with you in everything that you do.
vai-HI, ba-ET ha-HU, vai-YO-mer a-vee-ME-lekh u-fi-KHOL sar t'-va-O el av-ra-HAM lay-MOR: e-lo-HEEM im-KHA b'-KOL a-SHER a-TAH o-SEH
כבוַֽיְהִי֙ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔וא וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְ וּפִיכֹל֙ שַׂר־צְבָא֔וֹ אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר אֱלֹהִ֣ים עִמְּךָ֔ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֖ה עֹשֶֽׂה׃
23Therefore swear to me here by Hashem that you will not deal falsely with me or with my kith and kin, but will deal with me and with the land in which you have sojourned as loyally as I have dealt with you.”
v'-a-TAH hi-SHA-va LA-ee b'-e-lo-HEEM he-Na, im tish-KOR LEE u-li-NEE-nee u-li-nekh-DEE, ka-KHE-sed a-SHER a-see-TEE iM-kha, ta-a-SEE i-ma-DEE v'-im ha-A-retz a-SHER ga-RA-ta BAH
כגוְעַתָּ֗ה הִשָּׁ֨בְעָה לִּ֤י בֵֽאלֹהִים֙ הֵ֔נָּה אִם־תִּשְׁקֹ֣ר לִ֔י וּלְנִינִ֖י וּלְנֶכְדִּ֑י כַּחֶ֜סֶד אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֤יתִי עִמְּךָ֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה עִמָּדִ֔י וְעִם־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־גַּ֥רְתָּה בָּֽהּ׃
24And Avraham said, “I swear it.”
vai-YO-mer a-v'ra-HAM a-NO-khee i-sha-VAY-a
כדוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם אָנֹכִ֖י אִשָּׁבֵֽעַ׃
25Then Avraham reproached Abimelech for the well of water which the servants of Abimelech had seized.
v'-ho-KHEE-akh av-ra-HAM et a-vee-ME-lekh al o-DOT b'-AYR ha-MA-yim a-SHER gaz-LU av-DAY a-vee-ME-lekh
כהוְהוֹכִ֥חַ אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶת־אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ עַל־אֹדוֹת֙ בְּאֵ֣ר הַמַּ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר גָּזְל֖וּ עַבְדֵ֥י אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃
26But Abimelech said, “I do not know who did this; you did not tell me, nor have I heard of it until today.”
vai-YO-mer a-vee-ME-lekh lo ya-DA-tee mee a-SAH et ha-DA-var ha-ZEH, v'-GAM a-TAH lo hi-GAD-ta LEE, v'-GAM a-NO-khee lo sha-MA-tee b'-lee-TEE ha-YOM
כווַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי מִ֥י עָשָׂ֖ה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וְגַם־אַתָּ֞ה לֹא־הִגַּ֣דְתָּ לִּ֗י וְגַ֧ם אָנֹכִ֛י לֹ֥א שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי בִּלְתִּ֥י הַיּֽוֹם׃
27Avraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a pact.
vai-YI-kakh av-ra-HAM tzo-AN u-va-KAR vai-YI-ten la-a-vee-ME-lekh vai-yikh-re-TU sh'-nay-HEM b'-REET
כזוַיִּקַּ֤ח אַבְרָהָם֙ צֹ֣אן וּבָקָ֔ר וַיִּתֵּ֖ן לַאֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וַיִּכְרְת֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם בְּרִֽית׃
28Avraham then set seven ewes of the flock by themselves,
va-ya-TZEV av-ra-HAM et SHE-va kiv-SOT ha-tso-AN l'-va-de-HEN
כחוַיַּצֵּ֣ב אַבְרָהָ֗ם אֶת־שֶׁ֛בַע כִּבְשֹׂ֥ת הַצֹּ֖אן לְבַדְּהֶֽן׃
29and Abimelech said to Avraham, “What mean these seven ewes which you have set apart?”
vai-YO-mer a-vee-ME-lekh el a-vra-HAM, ma HE-nah she-VA k'-va-SOT ha-E-leh a-SHER hi-TZAV-ta l'-va-da-NAH
כטוַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֑ם מָ֣ה הֵ֗נָּה שֶׁ֤בַע כְּבָשֹׂת֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִצַּ֖בְתָּ לְבַדָּֽנָה׃
30He replied, “You are to accept these seven ewes from me as proof that I dug this well.”
va-YO-mer KEE et-she-VA k'-va-SOT ti-KAKH mi-YA-dee ba-a-VUR ti-HE-yeh-LEE l'-ay-DAH KEE kha-FAR-tee et ha-b'-AYR ha-ZOT
לוַיֹּ֕אמֶר כִּ֚י אֶת־שֶׁ֣בַע כְּבָשֹׂ֔ת תִּקַּ֖ח מִיָּדִ֑י בַּעֲבוּר֙ תִּֽהְיֶה־לִּ֣י לְעֵדָ֔ה כִּ֥י חָפַ֖רְתִּי אֶת־הַבְּאֵ֥ר הַזֹּֽאת׃
31Hence that place was called Be'er Sheva, for there the two of them swore an oath.
al KAYN ka-RA la-ma-KOM ha-HU b'-AYR SHA-va KEE SHAM nish-b'-U sh'-nay-HEM
לאעַל־כֵּ֗ן קָרָ֛א לַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֖וּא בְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע כִּ֛י שָׁ֥ם נִשְׁבְּע֖וּ שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃
21:31 Hence that place was called Be’er Sheva

Abraham’s well in Beersheva
Avraham names the place where he entered the covenant with Abimelech Be’er Sheva. The name Be’er Sheva (באר שבע), is made up of two Hebrew words. Be’er (באר) means ‘well,’ hinting to the fact that this covenant acknowledged Avraham’s right to the water well. The second part of the word is made up of the root ש-ב-ע, which means both ‘seven’ and ‘oath.’ Thus, Be’er Sheva can mean either ‘well of the seven’ or ‘well of the oath.’ This double meaning hints both to the seven female sheep set aside by Avraham as verification of the oath, and to the oath taken with regard to the well itself.
32When they had concluded the pact at Be'er Sheva, Abimelech and Phicol, chief of his troops, departed and returned to the land of the Philistines.
vai-yikh-ru-TU b'-REET bi-VEYR sha-VA, vai-YA-kom a-vee-ME-lekh u-fi-KHOL sar t'-va-O, vai-YA-shu-VU el e-RETZ p'-lish-TIM
לבוַיִּכְרְת֥וּ בְרִ֖ית בִּבְאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיָּ֣קׇם אֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְ וּפִיכֹל֙ שַׂר־צְבָא֔וֹ וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃
33[Avraham] planted a tamarisk at Be'er Sheva, and invoked there the name of Hashem, the Everlasting God.
va-yi-TA E-shel biv-AYR SHA-va va-YIK-ra SHAM b'-SHAYM a-do-NAI AYL o-LAM
לגוַיִּטַּ֥ע אֶ֖שֶׁל בִּבְאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיִּ֨קְרָא־שָׁ֔ם בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵ֥ל עוֹלָֽם׃
21:33 The name of Hashem, the Everlasting God
The Hebrew word used in this verse for everlasting is olam (עולם), which also means ‘world’ or ‘universe.’ The word olam is closely related to the word ne’elam (נעלם), meaning ‘hidden.’ The phrase “El Olam” (אל עולם), ‘Everlasting God,’ alludes to the fact that Hashem is also King over that which is hidden from us. God has specifically designed a world that is ruled by the laws of nature and hides His presence. It is up to man to see past His mask and reveal the Godliness that is hidden throughout the universe.
34And Avraham resided in the land of the Philistines a long time.
vai-YA-gor av-RA-ham b'-E-rets p'-lish-TEEM ya-MEEM ra-BEEM
לדוַיָּ֧גׇר אַבְרָהָ֛ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים יָמִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃