
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 33
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Looking up, Yaakov saw Esau coming, accompanied by four hundred men. He divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maids,
vai-YA-sa ya-a-KOV ay-NAV vai-YAR v'-hi-NEH e-SAV BA v'-i-MO ar-BA me-OT eeSH vai-YA-KHAT et ha-ye-la-DEEM al le-AH v'-al ra-KHEL v'-al sh'-TAY ha-sh'-fa-KHOT
אוַיִּשָּׂ֨א יַעֲקֹ֜ב עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ וְהִנֵּ֣ה עֵשָׂ֣ו בָּ֔א וְעִמּ֕וֹ אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת אִ֑ישׁ וַיַּ֣חַץ אֶת־הַיְלָדִ֗ים עַל־לֵאָה֙ וְעַל־רָחֵ֔ל וְעַ֖ל שְׁתֵּ֥י הַשְּׁפָחֽוֹת׃
2putting the maids and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Yosef last.
vai-YA-sem et ha-she-FA-khot v'-et yal-DAY-hen ri-SHO-na v'-et LE-a vee-la-DE-ha a-kha-RO-neem v'-et ra-KHEL v'-et yo-SEF a-kha-RO-neem
בוַיָּ֧שֶׂם אֶת־הַשְּׁפָח֛וֹת וְאֶת־יַלְדֵיהֶ֖ן רִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה וְאֶת־לֵאָ֤ה וִֽילָדֶ֙יהָ֙ אַחֲרֹנִ֔ים וְאֶת־רָחֵ֥ל וְאֶת־יוֹסֵ֖ף אַחֲרֹנִֽים׃
3He himself went on ahead and bowed low to the ground seven times until he was near his brother.
v'-HU a-VAHR li-f'-NE-hem, va-yish-TA-khu a-retz SHE-va p'-a-MEEM, ad gish-TO ad a-KHEE-v
גוְה֖וּא עָבַ֣ר לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּשְׁתַּ֤חוּ אַ֙רְצָה֙ שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֔ים עַד־גִּשְׁתּ֖וֹ עַד־אָחִֽיו׃
4Esau ran to greet him. He embraced him and, falling on his neck, he kissed him; and they wept.
vai-YAR-tz ES-AV lik-RA-to, va-y'-cha-b'-KE-hu, va-yi-POL al tza-va-a-RAV, va-yi-sha-KE-hu, va-yiv-KU
דוַיָּ֨רׇץ עֵשָׂ֤ו לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ וַֽיְחַבְּקֵ֔הוּ וַיִּפֹּ֥ל עַל־צַוָּארָ֖ו וַׄיִּׄשָּׁׄקֵ֑ׄהׄוּׄ וַיִּבְכּֽוּ׃
5Looking about, he saw the women and the children. “Who,” he asked, “are these with you?” He answered, “The children with whom Hashem has favored your servant.”
vai-YI-sa et-EY-naiv va-YAR et-ha-NA-sheem v'-et-ha-ye-la-DEEM va-YO-mer, mee-EY-leh LAKH, va-YO-mar, ha-ye-la-DEEM a-SHER-kha-NAN e-lo-HEEM et-aV-de-KHA
הוַיִּשָּׂ֣א אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּ֤רְא אֶת־הַנָּשִׁים֙ וְאֶת־הַיְלָדִ֔ים וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִי־אֵ֣לֶּה לָּ֑ךְ וַיֹּאמַ֕ר הַיְלָדִ֕ים אֲשֶׁר־חָנַ֥ן אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃
6Then the maids, with their children, came forward and bowed low;
va-ti-GASH-nah ha-she-fa-KHOT he-nah v'-yal-de-hen va-tish-ta-cha-vei-nah
ווַתִּגַּ֧שְׁןָ הַשְּׁפָח֛וֹת הֵ֥נָּה וְיַלְדֵיהֶ֖ן וַתִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶֽיןָ׃
7next Leah, with her children, came forward and bowed low; and last, Yosef and Rachel came forward and bowed low;
va-ti-GASH gam-le-AH vi-la-DE-ha va-yish-ta-cha-VU, v'-a-KHAR ni-GASH yo-SEF v'-ra-CHEL va-yish-ta-cha-VU.
זוַתִּגַּ֧שׁ גַּם־לֵאָ֛ה וִילָדֶ֖יהָ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֑וּ וְאַחַ֗ר נִגַּ֥שׁ יוֹסֵ֛ף וְרָחֵ֖ל וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ׃
8And he asked, “What do you mean by all this company which I have met?” He answered, “To gain my lord's favor.”
vai-YO-mer, mee LE-kha kol ha-ma-kha-NEH ha-ZEH a-SHER pa-GASH-tee, vai-YO-mer, lim-tzo-KHEN b'-ay-NAY a-do-NEE
חוַיֹּ֕אמֶר מִ֥י לְךָ֛ כׇּל־הַמַּחֲנֶ֥ה הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר פָּגָ֑שְׁתִּי וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לִמְצֹא־חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֵ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי׃
9Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; let what you have remain yours.”
vai-YO-mer EY-sav YAYSH-LEE RAV, a-KHEE ye-HEE LE-kha a-SHER-LAKH
טוַיֹּ֥אמֶר עֵשָׂ֖ו יֶשׁ־לִ֣י רָ֑ב אָחִ֕י יְהִ֥י לְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁר־לָֽךְ׃
10But Yaakov said, “No, I pray you; if you would do me this favor, accept from me this gift; for to see your face is like seeing the face of Hashem, and you have received me favorably.
vai-YO-mer ya-a-KOV al-NA im-NA ma-TZA-tee KHEYN b'-ay-NE-kha v'-la-KAKH-ta min-kha-TEE mi-YA-dee kee al-KEN ra-EE-tee fa-NE-kha kir-OT p'-NEY e-lo-HEEM va-tir-TSE-nee
יוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֗ב אַל־נָא֙ אִם־נָ֨א מָצָ֤אתִי חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ מִנְחָתִ֖י מִיָּדִ֑י כִּ֣י עַל־כֵּ֞ן רָאִ֣יתִי פָנֶ֗יךָ כִּרְאֹ֛ת פְּנֵ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים וַתִּרְצֵֽנִי׃
11Please accept my present which has been brought to you, for Hashem has favored me and I have plenty.” And when he urged him, he accepted.
kakh-NA et-bir-KHA-tee a-SHER hu-BA-at LA-kh, kee-kha-NAN-ee e-lo-HEEM, v'-kee YESH-lee-KHOL, va-yif-TZAR-BO va-yi-KAKH
יאקַח־נָ֤א אֶת־בִּרְכָתִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֻבָ֣את לָ֔ךְ כִּֽי־חַנַּ֥נִי אֱלֹהִ֖ים וְכִ֣י יֶשׁ־לִי־כֹ֑ל וַיִּפְצַר־בּ֖וֹ וַיִּקָּֽח׃
12And [Esau] said, “Let us start on our journey, and I will proceed at your pace.”
va-YO-mer nis-AH v'-ne-LE-kha, v'-el-KHA l'-ne-g'-DE-kha.
יבוַיֹּ֖אמֶר נִסְעָ֣ה וְנֵלֵ֑כָה וְאֵלְכָ֖ה לְנֶגְדֶּֽךָ׃
13But he said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds, which are nursing, are a care to me; if they are driven hard a single day, all the flocks will die.
vai-YO-mer e-LAV a-do-NEE yo-DAY-a KEE ha-y'-la-DEEM ra-KEEM v'-ha-tzo-ON v'-ha-ba-KAR a-LOT a-LAI u-d'-fa-KUM YOM e-KHAD va-may-TOO kol ha-tzo-ON
יגוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו אֲדֹנִ֤י יֹדֵ֙עַ֙ כִּֽי־הַיְלָדִ֣ים רַכִּ֔ים וְהַצֹּ֥אן וְהַבָּקָ֖ר עָל֣וֹת עָלָ֑י וּדְפָקוּם֙ י֣וֹם אֶחָ֔ד וָמֵ֖תוּ כׇּל־הַצֹּֽאן׃
14Let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I travel slowly, at the pace of the cattle before me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.”
ya-a-VOR-na a-do-NEE lif-NEI av-DO va-a-NEE et-na-ha-LAH l'-i-TI l'-RE-gel ha-me-la-KHA a-SHER l'-fa-NAI u-l'-RE-gel ha-ye-la-DEEM ad a-SHER a-VO el a-do-NEE se-i-RAH
ידיַעֲבׇר־נָ֥א אֲדֹנִ֖י לִפְנֵ֣י עַבְדּ֑וֹ וַאֲנִ֞י אֶֽתְנָהֲלָ֣ה לְאִטִּ֗י לְרֶ֨גֶל הַמְּלָאכָ֤ה אֲשֶׁר־לְפָנַי֙ וּלְרֶ֣גֶל הַיְלָדִ֔ים עַ֛ד אֲשֶׁר־אָבֹ֥א אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֖י שֵׂעִֽירָה׃
15Then Esau said, “Let me assign to you some of the men who are with me.” But he said, “Oh no, my lord is too kind to me!”
vai-YO-mer e-SAV a-tzee-GA-na NA im-KHA min ha-AAM a-SHER i-TEE, vai-YO-mer: la-MAH ZEH em-TZA-khen b'-ay-NAY a-do-NEE
טווַיֹּ֣אמֶר עֵשָׂ֔ו אַצִּֽיגָה־נָּ֣א עִמְּךָ֔ מִן־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתִּ֑י וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לָ֣מָּה זֶּ֔ה אֶמְצָא־חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֵ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי׃
16So Esau started back that day on his way to Seir.
vai-YA-shov ba-YOM ha-HU E-sav l'-dar-KO se-i-RAH
טזוַיָּ֩שׇׁב֩ בַּיּ֨וֹם הַה֥וּא עֵשָׂ֛ו לְדַרְכּ֖וֹ שֵׂעִֽירָה׃
17But Yaakov journeyed on to Succoth, and built a house for himself and made stalls for his cattle; that is why the place was called Succoth.
v'-ya-a-KOV na-SA su-KO-tah va-YI-ven LO ba-YIT u-l'-mik-NE-hu a-SA su-KO-t al-KEN ka-RA shem ha-ma-KOM su-KOT
יזוְיַעֲקֹב֙ נָסַ֣ע סֻכֹּ֔תָה וַיִּ֥בֶן ל֖וֹ בָּ֑יִת וּלְמִקְנֵ֙הוּ֙ עָשָׂ֣ה סֻכֹּ֔ת עַל־כֵּ֛ן קָרָ֥א שֵׁם־הַמָּק֖וֹם סֻכּֽוֹת׃
18Yaakov arrived safe in the city of Shechem which is in the land of Canaan—having come thus from Paddan-aram—and he encamped before the city.
vai-YA-vo YA-a-KOV sha-LEM ir SHE-khem a-SHER b'-E-rets k'-NA-an b'-BO-o mi-PA-dan a-RAm va-YI-khan et p'-NAY ha-IR
יחוַיָּבֹא֩ יַעֲקֹ֨ב שָׁלֵ֜ם עִ֣יר שְׁכֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן בְּבֹא֖וֹ מִפַּדַּ֣ן אֲרָ֑ם וַיִּ֖חַן אֶת־פְּנֵ֥י הָעִֽיר׃
19The parcel of land where he pitched his tent he purchased from the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred kesitah.
va-YI-ken et khel-KAT ha-sa-DEH a-SHER na-tah SHAM a-ha-LO mi-YAD b'-nay kha-MOR a-VEE sh'-KHEM b'-may-AH k'-see-TAH
יטוַיִּ֜קֶן אֶת־חֶלְקַ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָֽטָה־שָׁם֙ אׇהֳל֔וֹ מִיַּ֥ד בְּנֵֽי־חֲמ֖וֹר אֲבִ֣י שְׁכֶ֑ם בְּמֵאָ֖ה קְשִׂיטָֽה׃
33:19 The parcel of land where he pitched his tent

View of the landscape of Shechem
After escaping unscathed from Esau’s clutches, Yaakov enters Canaan and purchases the land he has chosen to settle. This is a message for all of eternity. To ensure survival amidst countless enemies, the Children of Israel must build up their only true safe haven, the Land of Israel. Like his grandfather Avraham, Yaakov then builds an altar to Hashem. Rav Ovadya Seforno, a sixteenth century Italian commentator, points out that after spending time in exile, Yaakov appreciates that service of Hashem is most fitting in Eretz Yisrael, and he immediately makes every possible effort to worship the one true God of Israel there.
20He set up a mizbayach there, and called it El-elohe-yisrael.
vai-YATZ-ev-SHAM miz-BAY-akh vai-YIK-ra-LO el e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL.
כוַיַּצֶּב־שָׁ֖ם מִזְבֵּ֑חַ וַיִּ֨קְרָא־ל֔וֹ אֵ֖ל אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃