TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 25

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Avraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.

vai-YO-sef av-ra-HAM va-yi-KAKH i-SHAH u-sh'-MAH ke-TU-rah

אוַיֹּ֧סֶף אַבְרָהָ֛ם וַיִּקַּ֥ח אִשָּׁ֖ה וּשְׁמָ֥הּ קְטוּרָֽה׃

2She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

va-TEL-ed LO et zi-MRAN v'-et-YOK-shan v'-et-m'-DAN v'-et-mid-YAN v'-et-yish-BAK v'-et-SHU-akh

בוַתֵּ֣לֶד ל֗וֹ אֶת־זִמְרָן֙ וְאֶת־יׇקְשָׁ֔ן וְאֶת־מְדָ֖ן וְאֶת־מִדְיָ֑ן וְאֶת־יִשְׁבָּ֖ק וְאֶת־שֽׁוּחַ׃

3Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. The descendants of Dedan were the Assyrians, the Letushim, and the Leummim.

v'-yo-KH'-shan ya-LAD et sh'-VA v'-et d'-DAN u-v'-NAY d'-DAN ha-YU a-SHU-RIM u-l'-TU-shim u-l'-u-MEEM

גוְיׇקְשָׁ֣ן יָלַ֔ד אֶת־שְׁבָ֖א וְאֶת־דְּדָ֑ן וּבְנֵ֣י דְדָ֔ן הָי֛וּ אַשּׁוּרִ֥ם וּלְטוּשִׁ֖ם וּלְאֻמִּֽים׃

4The descendants of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Enoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.

u-v'-nay mid-YAN, ay-FAH va-AY-fer, va-kha-NOCH, va-a-vee-DAH, v'-el-da-AH, kol AY-leh b'-nay k'-tu-RAH.

דוּבְנֵ֣י מִדְיָ֗ן עֵיפָ֤ה וָעֵ֙פֶר֙ וַחֲנֹ֔ךְ וַאֲבִידָ֖ע וְאֶלְדָּעָ֑ה כׇּל־אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י קְטוּרָֽה׃

5Avraham willed all that he owned to Yitzchak;

vai-YI-ten av-ra-HAM et-KOL a-SHER-lo l'-yitz-KHAK

הוַיִּתֵּ֧ן אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֖וֹ לְיִצְחָֽק׃

6but to Avraham's sons by concubines Avraham gave gifts while he was still living, and he sent them away from his son Yitzchak eastward, to the land of the East.

v'-li-v'-NAY ha-pi-LAG-shim a-SHER l'-av-ra-HAM na-TAN av-ra-HAM ma-ta-NOT va-y'-sha-l'-KHEM me-a-AL yitz-KHAK b'-NO b'-o-DE-nu KHA-yi k'-DE-ma el-E-rets KE-dem

ווְלִבְנֵ֤י הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם נָתַ֥ן אַבְרָהָ֖ם מַתָּנֹ֑ת וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֞ם מֵעַ֨ל יִצְחָ֤ק בְּנוֹ֙ בְּעוֹדֶ֣נּוּ חַ֔י קֵ֖דְמָה אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ קֶֽדֶם׃

7This was the total span of Avraham's life: one hundred and seventy-five years.

v'-AY-leh y'-MAY sh'-NAY kha-YAY av-ra-HAM a-SHER kha-YAY m'-AT sha-NAH v'-shiv-EEM sha-NAH v'-kha-MAYSH sha-NEEM

זוְאֵ֗לֶּה יְמֵ֛י שְׁנֵֽי־חַיֵּ֥י אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֲשֶׁר־חָ֑י מְאַ֥ת שָׁנָ֛ה וְשִׁבְעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְחָמֵ֥שׁ שָׁנִֽים׃

8And Avraham breathed his last, dying at a good ripe age, old and contented; and he was gathered to his kin.

va-yig-VA va-YA-mot av-ra-HAM b'-say-VAH to-VAH za-KAYN v'-sa-VAY-a va-yay-A-sef el a-MAV

חוַיִּגְוַ֨ע וַיָּ֧מׇת אַבְרָהָ֛ם בְּשֵׂיבָ֥ה טוֹבָ֖ה זָקֵ֣ן וְשָׂבֵ֑עַ וַיֵּאָ֖סֶף אֶל־עַמָּֽיו׃

9His sons Yitzchak and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre,

va-yik-b'-RU o-TO yitz-KHAK v'-yish-ma-AYL ba-NAV el m'-a-RAT ha-makh-pay-LAH el s'-DAY ef-RON ben TZO-khar ha-khi-TEE a-SHER al p'-NAY mam-RAY

טוַיִּקְבְּר֨וּ אֹת֜וֹ יִצְחָ֤ק וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ בָּנָ֔יו אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֑ה אֶל־שְׂדֵ֞ה עֶפְרֹ֤ן בֶּן־צֹ֙חַר֙ הַֽחִתִּ֔י אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵֽא׃

 25:9   His sons Yitzchak and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah

Cave of the Machpelah in Chevron

The Torah states that Avraham, Sara, Yitzchak, Rivka, Yaakov and Leah are all buried in Machpelah Cave. According to tradition, Adam and Chava were buried there as well. Avraham’s purchase of this property to bury Sara was the first concrete action that established a Jewish connection with a particular site in Eretz Yisrael, and upon his death he is also buried in this place. Although the entire Land of Israel was promised to the Children of Israel, there are three key places that were actually purchased, in order that they could never be accused of having taken possession of them inappropriately. Avraham purchased the Cave of Machpelah, Yaakov bought Yosef’s burial plot in Shechem (Genesis 33:19) and King David paid for the site of the Beit Hamikdash (II Samuel 24:24). While we are fortunate that we can actually visit the Cave of Machpelah today, sadly, Jewish authority over Chevron, Shechem and Har Habayit, is disputed by much of the world. We pray for the time when the biblical record will be recognized and respected by the nations.

10the field that Avraham had bought from the Hittites; there Avraham was buried, and Sara his wife.

ha-SA-deh a-SHER-ka-NAH av-ra-HAM me-ET b'-NAY-khayt, sha-MAH ku-BAR av-ra-HAM v'-sa-RAH ish-TO.

יהַשָּׂדֶ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־קָנָ֥ה אַבְרָהָ֖ם מֵאֵ֣ת בְּנֵי־חֵ֑ת שָׁ֛מָּה קֻבַּ֥ר אַבְרָהָ֖ם וְשָׂרָ֥ה אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃

11After the death of Avraham, Hashem blessed his son Yitzchak. And Yitzchak settled near Beer-lahai-roi.

vai-HI, a-kha-ray mot av-ra-HAM, va-y'-va-REKH e-lo-HEEM et yitz-KHAK b'-NO, va-YAY-shev yitz-KHAK im b'-AYR la-KHAI ro-EE.

יאוַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵי֙ מ֣וֹת אַבְרָהָ֔ם וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־יִצְחָ֣ק בְּנ֑וֹ וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב יִצְחָ֔ק עִם־בְּאֵ֥ר לַחַ֖י רֹאִֽי׃

12This is the line of Ishmael, Avraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sara's slave, bore to Avraham.

v'-AY-leh to-LE-d'-t yish-ma-AYL ben a-v'RA-ham, a-SHER ya-l'-DAH ha-GAR ha-mitz-REEt shif-KHAT sa-RAH l'-av-RA-ham

יבוְאֵ֛לֶּה תֹּלְדֹ֥ת יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל בֶּן־אַבְרָהָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָלְדָ֜ה הָגָ֧ר הַמִּצְרִ֛ית שִׁפְחַ֥ת שָׂרָ֖ה לְאַבְרָהָֽם׃

13These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the first-born of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,

v'-AY-leh sh'-MOHT b'-NAY yish-ma-AYL b'-sh'-mo-TAM l'-to-l'-DO-tam b'-KOR yish-ma-AYL n'-va-YOT v'-kay-DAR v'-ad-b'-AYL u-miv-SAM

יגוְאֵ֗לֶּה שְׁמוֹת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל בִּשְׁמֹתָ֖ם לְתוֹלְדֹתָ֑ם בְּכֹ֤ר יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ נְבָיֹ֔ת וְקֵדָ֥ר וְאַדְבְּאֵ֖ל וּמִבְשָֽׂם׃

14Mishma, Dumah, Massa,

u-mish-MA v'-du-MA u-ma-SA

ידוּמִשְׁמָ֥ע וְדוּמָ֖ה וּמַשָּֽׂא׃

15Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedmah.

KHADAD v'-TEY-MA ye-TUR na-FISH va-KE-demah

טוחֲדַ֣ד וְתֵימָ֔א יְט֥וּר נָפִ֖ישׁ וָקֵֽדְמָה׃

16These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names by their villages and by their encampments: twelve chieftains of as many tribes.

AY-leh HEM b'-NAY yish-ma-AYL v'-AY-leh sh'-mo-TAM b'-cha-tz'-RAY-hem u-v'-tee-ro-TAM sh'-NEEM a-SAR n'-see-AM l'-u-mo-TAM

טזאֵ֣לֶּה הֵ֞ם בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ וְאֵ֣לֶּה שְׁמֹתָ֔ם בְּחַצְרֵיהֶ֖ם וּבְטִֽירֹתָ֑ם שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר נְשִׂיאִ֖ם לְאֻמֹּתָֽם׃

17These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; then he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his kin.

v'-AY-leh sh'-NAY kha-YAY yish-ma-AYL m'-AT sha-NAH u-sh'-LO-sheem sha-NAH v'-SHE-va sha-NEEM va-yig-VA va-ya-MOT va-y'-a-SEF el a-ma-YAV

יזוְאֵ֗לֶּה שְׁנֵי֙ חַיֵּ֣י יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל מְאַ֥ת שָׁנָ֛ה וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים וַיִּגְוַ֣ע וַיָּ֔מׇת וַיֵּאָ֖סֶף אֶל־עַמָּֽיו׃

18They dwelt from Havilah, by Shur, which is close to Egypt, all the way to Assyria; they camped alongside all their kinsmen.

vai-yish-ke-NU me-kha-VEE-lah ad-SHUUR a-SHER al p'-NAY mitz-RA-yim bo-a-KHA a-SHU-RAH al p'-NAY kol-e-KHAV na-FAL

יחוַיִּשְׁכְּנ֨וּ מֵֽחֲוִילָ֜ה עַד־שׁ֗וּר אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י מִצְרַ֔יִם בֹּאֲכָ֖ה אַשּׁ֑וּרָה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י כׇל־אֶחָ֖יו נָפָֽל׃

19This is the story of Yitzchak, son of Avraham. Avraham begot Yitzchak.

v'-AY-leh to-LE-dot yitz-KHAK ben a-v'ra-HAM, a-v'ra-HAM ho-LEED et yitz-KHAK

יטוְאֵ֛לֶּה תּוֹלְדֹ֥ת יִצְחָ֖ק בֶּן־אַבְרָהָ֑ם אַבְרָהָ֖ם הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־יִצְחָֽק׃

20Yitzchak was forty years old when he took to wife Rivka, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean.

vai-YA-hee yitz-KHAK ben-ar-BA-im sha-NAH b'-ka-KH'-to et riv-KAH bat b'-tu-EL ha-a-ra-MEE mi-pa-DAN a-raM a-KHOT la-VAN ha-a-ra-MEE lo l'-i-SHAH

כוַיְהִ֤י יִצְחָק֙ בֶּן־אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה בְּקַחְתּ֣וֹ אֶת־רִבְקָ֗ה בַּת־בְּתוּאֵל֙ הָֽאֲרַמִּ֔י מִפַּדַּ֖ן אֲרָ֑ם אֲח֛וֹת לָבָ֥ן הָאֲרַמִּ֖י ל֥וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

21Yitzchak pleaded with Hashem on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and Hashem responded to his plea, and his wife Rivka conceived.

vai-YET-ar yitz-KHAK la-a-do-NAI l'-no-KHAK ish-TO, kee a-ka-RAH hee, vai-YE-a-TER LO a-do-NAI, va-ta-HAR riv-KAH ish-TO.

כאוַיֶּעְתַּ֨ר יִצְחָ֤ק לַֽיהֹוָה֙ לְנֹ֣כַח אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י עֲקָרָ֖ה הִ֑וא וַיֵּעָ֤תֶר לוֹ֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה וַתַּ֖הַר רִבְקָ֥ה אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃

22But the children struggled in her womb, and she said, “If so, why do I exist?” She went to inquire of Hashem,

vai-yi-t'-ROTZ-tzu ha-ba-NEEM b'-kir-BAH va-TO-mer im-KAYN, la-MAH ZEH a-NO-khee, va-TE-lekh lid-ROSH et a-do-NAI

כבוַיִּתְרֹֽצְצ֤וּ הַבָּנִים֙ בְּקִרְבָּ֔הּ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אִם־כֵּ֔ן לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה אָנֹ֑כִי וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ לִדְרֹ֥שׁ אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה׃

23and Hashem answered her, “Two nations are in your womb, Two separate peoples shall issue from your body; One people shall be mightier than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”

vai-YO-mer a-do-NAI LAH, sh'-NAY (goyim) [go-YIM] b'-vit-NEKH, u-sh'-NAY l'-u-MEEM mi-ME-ay-KHEKH yi-pa-RE-du, u-l'-OM mil-OM ye-e-MATZ, v'-RAV ya-a-VOD tza-EER

כגוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה לָ֗הּ שְׁנֵ֤י (גיים) [גוֹיִם֙] בְּבִטְנֵ֔ךְ וּשְׁנֵ֣י לְאֻמִּ֔ים מִמֵּעַ֖יִךְ יִפָּרֵ֑דוּ וּלְאֹם֙ מִלְאֹ֣ם יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץ וְרַ֖ב יַעֲבֹ֥ד צָעִֽיר׃

24When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb.

vai-yim-le-U ya-ME-ha la-LE-det v'-hi-NEH to-MIM b'-vit-NAH

כדוַיִּמְלְא֥וּ יָמֶ֖יהָ לָלֶ֑דֶת וְהִנֵּ֥ה תוֹמִ֖ם בְּבִטְנָֽהּ׃

25The first one emerged red, like a hairy mantle all over; so they named him Esau.

vai-YAY-tzay ha-ree-SHON ad-mo-NEE, ku-LO k'-a-DE-ret say-AR, va-yik-RE-u sh'-MO e-SAV

כהוַיֵּצֵ֤א הָרִאשׁוֹן֙ אַדְמוֹנִ֔י כֻּלּ֖וֹ כְּאַדֶּ֣רֶת שֵׂעָ֑ר וַיִּקְרְא֥וּ שְׁמ֖וֹ עֵשָֽׂו׃

26Then his brother emerged, holding on to the heel of Esau; so they named him Yaakov. Yitzchak was sixty years old when they were born.

v'-a-kha-RAY-khen ya-TZAY a-KHEE-vu v'-ya-DO o-KHE-zet ba-a-KEV e-SAV va-yi-KRA sh'-MO ya-a-KOV v'-yitz-KHAK ben shi-SHEEM sha-NAH b'-LE-det o-TAM

כווְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֞ן יָצָ֣א אָחִ֗יו וְיָד֤וֹ אֹחֶ֙זֶת֙ בַּעֲקֵ֣ב עֵשָׂ֔ו וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְיִצְחָ֛ק בֶּן־שִׁשִּׁ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה בְּלֶ֥דֶת אֹתָֽם׃

27When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the outdoors; but Yaakov was a mild man who stayed in camp.

vai-YIG-de-LU ha-ne-a-REEM va-Y'-hee EY-sav EESH yo-DAY-a TZA-yid EESH sa-DEH v'-ya-a-KOV EESH TAM yo-SHAYV o-ha-LEEM

כזוַֽיִּגְדְּלוּ֙ הַנְּעָרִ֔ים וַיְהִ֣י עֵשָׂ֗ו אִ֛ישׁ יֹדֵ֥עַ צַ֖יִד אִ֣ישׁ שָׂדֶ֑ה וְיַעֲקֹב֙ אִ֣ישׁ תָּ֔ם יֹשֵׁ֖ב אֹהָלִֽים׃

28Yitzchak favored Esau because he had a taste for game; but Rivka favored Yaakov.

vai-ye-a-HAV yitz-KHAK et EY-sav ki-TZAYD b'-pi-YAV v'-riv-KAH o-HE-vet et ya-a-KOV

כחוַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב יִצְחָ֛ק אֶת־עֵשָׂ֖ו כִּי־צַ֣יִד בְּפִ֑יו וְרִבְקָ֖ה אֹהֶ֥בֶת אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹֽב׃

29Once when Yaakov was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the open, famished.

vai-YA-zed ya-a-KOV na-ZEED, vai-YA-vo e-SAV min ha-SA-deh, v'-HU a-YEF

כטוַיָּ֥זֶד יַעֲקֹ֖ב נָזִ֑יד וַיָּבֹ֥א עֵשָׂ֛ו מִן־הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה וְה֥וּא עָיֵֽף׃

30And Esau said to Yaakov, “Give me some of that red stuff to gulp down, for I am famished”—which is why he was named Edom.

vai-YO-mer e-SAV el ya-a-KOV, hal-i-TE-ni NA min ha-a-DOM ha-a-DOM ha-ZEH, KEE a-YEF a-NO-khi, al-KEN ka-RA sh'-MO e-DOM

לוַיֹּ֨אמֶר עֵשָׂ֜ו אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֗ב הַלְעִיטֵ֤נִי נָא֙ מִן־הָאָדֹ֤ם הָאָדֹם֙ הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֥י עָיֵ֖ף אָנֹ֑כִי עַל־כֵּ֥ן קָרָֽא־שְׁמ֖וֹ אֱדֽוֹם׃

31Yaakov said, “First sell me your birthright.”

va-YO-mer ya-a-KOV, mikh-RAH kha-YOM et b'-kho-RA-t'-KHA li

לאוַיֹּ֖אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֑ב מִכְרָ֥ה כַיּ֛וֹם אֶת־בְּכֹרָֽתְךָ֖ לִֽי׃

32And Esau said, “I am at the point of death, so of what use is my birthright to me?”

vai-YO-mer EY-sav, hi-NEH a-NO-khee ho-LEKH la-MUHT, v'-la-MAH-zeh LEE b'-kho-RAH

לבוַיֹּ֣אמֶר עֵשָׂ֔ו הִנֵּ֛ה אָנֹכִ֥י הוֹלֵ֖ךְ לָמ֑וּת וְלָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה לִ֖י בְּכֹרָֽה׃

33But Yaakov said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Yaakov.

vai-YO-mer ya-a-KOV, hi-sha-VE-a LEE ka-YOM, vai-yi-sha-VA LO, vai-yim-KOR et b'-kho-RA-to l'-ya-a-KOV

לגוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֗ב הִשָּׁ֤בְעָה לִּי֙ כַּיּ֔וֹם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֖ע ל֑וֹ וַיִּמְכֹּ֥ר אֶת־בְּכֹרָת֖וֹ לְיַעֲקֹֽב׃

34Yaakov then gave Esau bread and lentil stew; he ate and drank, and he rose and went away. Thus did Esau spurn the birthright.

v'-ya-a-KOV na-TAN l'-ay-SAV LE-khem un-ZEED a-da-SHEEM va-YO-khal va-YAYSH-t'- va-YA-kom va-yay-LAKH va-YI-vez ay-SAV et ha-b'-kho-RAH.

לדוְיַעֲקֹ֞ב נָתַ֣ן לְעֵשָׂ֗ו לֶ֚חֶם וּנְזִ֣יד עֲדָשִׁ֔ים וַיֹּ֣אכַל וַיֵּ֔שְׁתְּ וַיָּ֖קׇם וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ וַיִּ֥בֶז עֵשָׂ֖ו אֶת־הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃