
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 3
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild beasts that Hashem had made. He said to the woman, “Did Hashem really say: You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?”
v'-ha-na-KHASH ha-YAH a-RUM mi-KOL kha-YAT ha-SA-deh a-SHER a-SA a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM, va-YO-mer el ha-i-SHA, af KEE-a-MAR e-lo-HEEM, lo to-KHE-lu mi-KOL aytz ha-GAN.
אוְהַנָּחָשׁ֙ הָיָ֣ה עָר֔וּם מִכֹּל֙ חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה אַ֚ף כִּֽי־אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֔ים לֹ֣א תֹֽאכְל֔וּ מִכֹּ֖ל עֵ֥ץ הַגָּֽן׃
2The woman replied to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the other trees of the garden.
va-TOM-er ha-i-SHA el ha-NA-khash mi-p'-REE etz-ha-GAN no-KHEL
בוַתֹּ֥אמֶר הָֽאִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־הַנָּחָ֑שׁ מִפְּרִ֥י עֵֽץ־הַגָּ֖ן נֹאכֵֽל׃
3It is only about fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that Hashem said: ‘You shall not eat of it or touch it, lest you die.'”
u-mi-p'-REE ha-ETZ a-SHER b'-toKH ha-GAN, a-MAR e-lo-HEEM, lo to-KHE-lu mi-me-NU, v'-lo ti-g'-U BO, pen t'-mu-TUN.
גוּמִפְּרִ֣י הָעֵץ֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּתוֹךְ־הַגָּן֒ אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֗ים לֹ֤א תֹֽאכְלוּ֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְלֹ֥א תִגְּע֖וּ בּ֑וֹ פֶּן־תְּמֻתֽוּן׃
4And the serpent said to the woman, “You are not going to die,
vai-YO-mer ha-NA-khash el ha-i-SHA: lo MOT t'-mu-TUN
דוַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַנָּחָ֖שׁ אֶל־הָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה לֹֽא־מ֖וֹת תְּמֻתֽוּן׃
5but Hashem knows that as soon as you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like divine beings who know good and bad.”
KI yo-DE-a e-lo-HIM, KI b'-YOM a-KOL-khem mi-ME-nu v'-ni-f'-KHU e-YE-nay-KHEM, vi-h'-yi-TEM k'-e-lo-HIM yo-D'-ay TOV va-RA.
הכִּ֚י יֹדֵ֣עַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים כִּ֗י בְּיוֹם֙ אֲכׇלְכֶ֣ם מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְנִפְקְח֖וּ עֵֽינֵיכֶ֑ם וִהְיִיתֶם֙ כֵּֽאלֹהִ֔ים יֹדְעֵ֖י ט֥וֹב וָרָֽע׃
6When the woman saw that the tree was good for eating and a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable as a source of wisdom, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave some to her husband, and he ate.
va-TE-ret ha-i-SHA ki TOV ha-ETZ l'-ma-a-KHAL v'-ki ta-a-VA-hu la-EY-nayim v'-nekh-MAD ha-ETZ l'-ha-s'-KEEL va-TI-kakh mi-pir-YO va-TO-khal va-TI-TEYN gam l'-i-SHAH i-MAH va-YO-khal
ווַתֵּ֣רֶא הָֽאִשָּׁ֡ה כִּ֣י טוֹב֩ הָעֵ֨ץ לְמַאֲכָ֜ל וְכִ֧י תַֽאֲוָה־ה֣וּא לָעֵינַ֗יִם וְנֶחְמָ֤ד הָעֵץ֙ לְהַשְׂכִּ֔יל וַתִּקַּ֥ח מִפִּרְי֖וֹ וַתֹּאכַ֑ל וַתִּתֵּ֧ן גַּם־לְאִישָׁ֛הּ עִמָּ֖הּ וַיֹּאכַֽל׃
7Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they perceived that they were naked; and they sewed together fig leaves and made themselves loincloths.
va-ti-pa-KAKH-nah ay-NAY sh'-nay-HEM va-y'-DU kee ay-ru-MIM HEM va-yi-t'-PRU a-LEH t'-ay-NAH va-ya-a-SU la-HEM cha-go-ROT
זוַתִּפָּקַ֙חְנָה֙ עֵינֵ֣י שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיֵּ֣דְע֔וּ כִּ֥י עֵֽירֻמִּ֖ם הֵ֑ם וַֽיִּתְפְּרוּ֙ עֲלֵ֣ה תְאֵנָ֔ה וַיַּעֲשׂ֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם חֲגֹרֹֽת׃
8They heard the sound of Hashem moving about in the garden at the breezy time of day; and the man and his wife hid from Hashem among the trees of the garden.
vai-yish-M'U et-KOL a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM mit-ha-LEKH ba-GAN l'-RU-akh ha-YOM, vai-yit-cha-BAY ha-A-dam v'-ish-TO mi-p'-NAY a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM b'-TOCH aTZ ha-GAN.
חוַֽיִּשְׁמְע֞וּ אֶת־ק֨וֹל יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהִ֛ים מִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ בַּגָּ֖ן לְר֣וּחַ הַיּ֑וֹם וַיִּתְחַבֵּ֨א הָֽאָדָ֜ם וְאִשְׁתּ֗וֹ מִפְּנֵי֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים בְּת֖וֹךְ עֵ֥ץ הַגָּֽן׃
9Hashem called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
vai-YIK-ra a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM el ha-a-DAM, vai-YO-mer LO a-y'-KAH
טוַיִּקְרָ֛א יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־הָֽאָדָ֑ם וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ אַיֶּֽכָּה׃
10He replied, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
vai-YO-mer et-KOL-kha sha-MA-tee ba-GAN va-a-ee-RA kee-E-rom a-NO-khee va-a-KHA-ve
יוַיֹּ֕אמֶר אֶת־קֹלְךָ֥ שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי בַּגָּ֑ן וָאִירָ֛א כִּֽי־עֵירֹ֥ם אָנֹ֖כִי וָאֵחָבֵֽא׃
11Then He asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat of the tree from which I had forbidden you to eat?”
vai-YO-mer, mee hi-GID l'-KHA, KEE ay-ROM a-TAH, ha-MIN ha-AYTZ a-SHER tzi-VEE-TEE-kha l'-vil-TEE a-KOL mi-ME-nu a-KHAL-ta
יאוַיֹּ֕אמֶר מִ֚י הִגִּ֣יד לְךָ֔ כִּ֥י עֵירֹ֖ם אָ֑תָּה הֲמִן־הָעֵ֗ץ אֲשֶׁ֧ר צִוִּיתִ֛יךָ לְבִלְתִּ֥י אֲכׇל־מִמֶּ֖נּוּ אָכָֽלְתָּ׃
12The man said, “The woman You put at my side—she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
vai-YO-mer ha-A-DAM, ha-EE-SHA a-SHER na-TA-ta i-MA-DAI, hee na-te-NAH-lee min ha-AYTZ va-o-KHEL
יבוַיֹּ֖אמֶר הָֽאָדָ֑ם הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַ֣תָּה עִמָּדִ֔י הִ֛וא נָֽתְנָה־לִּ֥י מִן־הָעֵ֖ץ וָאֹכֵֽל׃
13And Hashem said to the woman, “What is this you have done!” The woman replied, “The serpent duped me, and I ate.”
vai-YO-mer a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM la-i-SHA ma-ZOT a-SEET, va-TO-mer ha-i-SHA ha-NA-khash hi-SHEE-a-NEE va-o-KHEL
יגוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהִ֛ים לָאִשָּׁ֖ה מַה־זֹּ֣את עָשִׂ֑ית וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה הַנָּחָ֥שׁ הִשִּׁיאַ֖נִי וָאֹכֵֽל׃
14Then Hashem said to the serpent, “Because you did this, More cursed shall you be Than all cattle And all the wild beasts: On your belly shall you crawl And dirt shall you eat All the days of your life.
vai-YO-mer a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM el ha-NA-khash: kee a-see-TA ZOT, a-RUR a-TAH mi-KOL ha-be-HE-mah u-mi-KOL kha-YAT ha-sa-DEH, al g'-KHO-ne-KHA tay-LEKH, v'-a-FAR to-KHAL kol y'-MAY kha-YE-kha
ידוַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֥ים ׀ אֶֽל־הַנָּחָשׁ֮ כִּ֣י עָשִׂ֣יתָ זֹּאת֒ אָר֤וּר אַתָּה֙ מִכׇּל־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה וּמִכֹּ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה עַל־גְּחֹנְךָ֣ תֵלֵ֔ךְ וְעָפָ֥ר תֹּאכַ֖ל כׇּל־יְמֵ֥י חַיֶּֽיךָ׃
15I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your offspring and hers; They shall strike at your head, And you shall strike at their heel.”
v'-ei-VAH a-SHEET bein-KHA u-vein ha-i-SHAH u-vein zar-a-KHA u-vein zar-AH, HU ye-shu-F'KHA rosh v'-a-TAH te-shu-FE-nu a-KEV. (S)
טווְאֵיבָ֣ה ׀ אָשִׁ֗ית בֵּֽינְךָ֙ וּבֵ֣ין הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעֲךָ֖ וּבֵ֣ין זַרְעָ֑הּ ה֚וּא יְשׁוּפְךָ֣ רֹ֔אשׁ וְאַתָּ֖ה תְּשׁוּפֶ֥נּוּ עָקֵֽב׃
16And to the woman He said, “I will make most severe Your pangs in childbearing; In pain shall you bear children. Yet your urge shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.”
el-ha-i-SHA a-MAR har-BAH ar-BEH i-tse-vo-NEKH v'-he-ro-NEKH b'-e-TSEV te-LE-di va-NIM v'-el-i-SHEKH te-SHU-ka-TEKH v'-HU yim-SHAL-ba-KH
טזאֶֽל־הָאִשָּׁ֣ה אָמַ֗ר הַרְבָּ֤ה אַרְבֶּה֙ עִצְּבוֹנֵ֣ךְ וְהֵֽרֹנֵ֔ךְ בְּעֶ֖צֶב תֵּֽלְדִ֣י בָנִ֑ים וְאֶל־אִישֵׁךְ֙ תְּשׁ֣וּקָתֵ֔ךְ וְה֖וּא יִמְשׇׁל־בָּֽךְ׃
17To Adam He said, “Because you did as your wife said and ate of the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,' Cursed be the ground because of you; By toil shall you eat of it All the days of your life:
ul-a-DAM a-MAR KEE sha-MA-ta l'-KOL ish-TE-kha va-TO-khal min ha-AYTZ a-SHER tzi-vee-TEE-kha lay-MOR LO to-KHAL mi-ME-nu a-ru-RAH ha-a-da-MAH ba-a-vu-RE-kha b'-i-tza-VON to-kh'-LE-na KOL y'-MAY kha-YE-kha
יזוּלְאָדָ֣ם אָמַ֗ר כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֘עְתָּ֮ לְק֣וֹל אִשְׁתֶּ֒ךָ֒ וַתֹּ֙אכַל֙ מִן־הָעֵ֔ץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר צִוִּיתִ֙יךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֥א תֹאכַ֖ל מִמֶּ֑נּוּ אֲרוּרָ֤ה הָֽאֲדָמָה֙ בַּֽעֲבוּרֶ֔ךָ בְּעִצָּבוֹן֙ תֹּֽאכְלֶ֔נָּה כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֥י חַיֶּֽיךָ׃
3:17 Cursed be the ground because of you

Rabbi Samson R. Hirsch (1808-1888)
The land is cursed ba’avurecha (בעבורך), translated here as ‘because of you.’ However, according to Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, a prolific writer and leader of Orthodox Jewry in 19th century Germany, ba’avurecha means ‘for your sake,’ in order to rectify man’s actions. Following Adam’s sin, the land’s prosperity became a means of measuring man’s adherence to Hashem; for the Jewish nation, this means following the commandments and keeping God’s Torah. When they do so, Hashem shows His approval through the land’s flourishing. This is especially true in Eretz Yisrael. Scholars and historians alike note that while the Jews were in exile, the Land of Israel lay fallow and uninhabitable until they returned, and in just a short time the Jews of Israel, following the commandments set out in the Torah, have turned a wasteland into a blooming, prosperous country.
18Thorns and thistles shall it sprout for you. But your food shall be the grasses of the field;
v'-KOTZ v'-dar-DAR tatz-MEE-akh lakh v'-a-KHAL-ta et-AYT es-EV ha-sa-DEH
יחוְק֥וֹץ וְדַרְדַּ֖ר תַּצְמִ֣יחַֽ לָ֑ךְ וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ אֶת־עֵ֥שֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃
19By the sweat of your brow Shall you get bread to eat, Until you return to the ground— For from it you were taken. For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.”
b'-ZE-at a-PE-kha TO-khal LE-khem, ad shu-VE-kha el ha-a-da-MA, ki mi-ME-nah lu-ka-KH'-ta, ki-a-FAR a-TA, v'-el-a-FAR TA-shuv.
יטבְּזֵעַ֤ת אַפֶּ֙יךָ֙ תֹּ֣אכַל לֶ֔חֶם עַ֤ד שֽׁוּבְךָ֙ אֶל־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה כִּ֥י מִמֶּ֖נָּה לֻקָּ֑חְתָּ כִּֽי־עָפָ֣ר אַ֔תָּה וְאֶל־עָפָ֖ר תָּשֽׁוּב׃
20The man named his wife Chava, because she was the mother of all the living.
vai-YIK-ra ha-A-dam SHEM ish-TO kha-VAH, KEE hee ha-Y'-ta EM kol-KHA-y
כוַיִּקְרָ֧א הָֽאָדָ֛ם שֵׁ֥ם אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ חַוָּ֑ה כִּ֛י הִ֥וא הָֽיְתָ֖ה אֵ֥ם כׇּל־חָֽי׃
21And Hashem made garments of skins for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.
vai-YA-as a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM l'-a-DAM u-l'-ish-TO ko-t'-NOT ohr va-yal-bi-SHEM
כאוַיַּ֩עַשׂ֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים לְאָדָ֧ם וּלְאִשְׁתּ֛וֹ כׇּתְנ֥וֹת ע֖וֹר וַיַּלְבִּשֵֽׁם׃
22And Hashem said, “Now that the man has become like one of us, knowing good and bad, what if he should stretch out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever!”
vai-YO-mer a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM, HEN ha-a-DAM ha-YA k'-a-KHAD mi-ME-nu la-DA-at TOV va-RA, v'-a-TAH pen-yish-LAKH ya-DO v'-la-KAKH gam me-ETZ ha-KHA-yim, v'-a-KHAL va-KHAI l'-o-LAM
כבוַיֹּ֣אמֶר ׀ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֗ים הֵ֤ן הָֽאָדָם֙ הָיָה֙ כְּאַחַ֣ד מִמֶּ֔נּוּ לָדַ֖עַת ט֣וֹב וָרָ֑ע וְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ פֶּן־יִשְׁלַ֣ח יָד֗וֹ וְלָקַח֙ גַּ֚ם מֵעֵ֣ץ הַֽחַיִּ֔ים וְאָכַ֖ל וָחַ֥י לְעֹלָֽם׃
23So Hashem banished him from the garden of Eden, to till the soil from which he was taken.
va-y'-sha-l'-KHE-hu a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM mi-gan E-den la-a-VOD et ha-a-da-MAH a-SHER lu-KAKH mi-SHAM
כגוַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֛הוּ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים מִגַּן־עֵ֑דֶן לַֽעֲבֹד֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֻקַּ֖ח מִשָּֽׁם׃
24He drove the man out, and stationed east of the garden of Eden the cherubim and the fiery ever-turning sword, to guard the way to the tree of life.
vai-ya-GAYR-esh et ha-a-DAM va-ya-SHE-ken mi-KE-dem l'-gan E-den et ha-ke-ru-VIM v'-ET la-HAT ha-khe-REV ha-mit-ha-PE-khet lish-MOR et DE-rekh ETZ ha-kha-YIM. (Seh)
כדוַיְגָ֖רֶשׁ אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֑ם וַיַּשְׁכֵּן֩ מִקֶּ֨דֶם לְגַן־עֵ֜דֶן אֶת־הַכְּרֻבִ֗ים וְאֵ֨ת לַ֤הַט הַחֶ֙רֶב֙ הַמִּתְהַפֶּ֔כֶת לִשְׁמֹ֕ר אֶת־דֶּ֖רֶךְ עֵ֥ץ הַֽחַיִּֽים׃