Contact Us

TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 6

Translation and Transliteration of 

1When men began to increase on earth and daughters were born to them,

vai-HI, KEE he-KHEL ha-ADAM la-ROV al-PE-ne ha-a-DA-ma, u-va-NOT yu-le-DU la-HEM

אוַֽיְהִי֙ כִּֽי־הֵחֵ֣ל הָֽאָדָ֔ם לָרֹ֖ב עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה וּבָנ֖וֹת יֻלְּד֥וּ לָהֶֽם׃

2the divine beings saw how beautiful the daughters of men were and took wives from among those that pleased them.

vai-yir-U v'-nay ha-e-lo-HEEM et b'-not ha-a-DAM, kee to-VOT he-Na, vai-yik-KHU la-HEM na-SHEEM mi-KOL a-SHER ba-KHA-ru

בוַיִּרְא֤וּ בְנֵי־הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־בְּנ֣וֹת הָֽאָדָ֔ם כִּ֥י טֹבֹ֖ת הֵ֑נָּה וַיִּקְח֤וּ לָהֶם֙ נָשִׁ֔ים מִכֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּחָֽרוּ׃

3Hashem said, “My breath shall not abide in man forever, since he too is flesh; let the days allowed him be one hundred and twenty years.”

va-YO-mer a-do-NAI lo ya-DON ru-KHEE va-a-DAM l'-o-LAM b'-sha-GAM HU va-SAR v'-ha-YU ya-MAV may-AH v'-e-s'-REEM sha-NAH

גוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֗ה לֹֽא־יָד֨וֹן רוּחִ֤י בָֽאָדָם֙ לְעֹלָ֔ם בְּשַׁגַּ֖ם ה֣וּא בָשָׂ֑ר וְהָי֣וּ יָמָ֔יו מֵאָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים שָׁנָֽה׃

4It was then, and later too, that the Nephilim appeared on earth—when the divine beings cohabited with the daughters of men, who bore them offspring. They were the heroes of old, the men of renown.

ha-ne-fi-LIM ha-YU va-A-retz ba-ya-MIM ha-HEM, v'-GAM a-kha-RAY-khen a-SHER ya-VO-u b'-NAY ha-e-lo-HEEM el b'-NOT ha-a-DAM, v'-ya-le-DOO la-HEM, HE-ma ha-gi-BO-reem a-SHER me-o-LAM an-SHAY ha-SHEM. (Pe)

דהַנְּפִלִ֞ים הָי֣וּ בָאָ֘רֶץ֮ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵם֒ וְגַ֣ם אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָבֹ֜אוּ בְּנֵ֤י הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־בְּנ֣וֹת הָֽאָדָ֔ם וְיָלְד֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם הֵ֧מָּה הַגִּבֹּרִ֛ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר מֵעוֹלָ֖ם אַנְשֵׁ֥י הַשֵּֽׁם׃

5Hashem saw how great was man's wickedness on earth, and how every plan devised by his mind was nothing but evil all the time.

vai-YAR a-do-NAI KEE ra-BA ra-AT ha-a-DAM ba-A-retz v'-KOL yay-TSER ma-kh'-SH'-vot li-BO rak ra KOL ha-YOM

הוַיַּ֣רְא יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֥י רַבָּ֛ה רָעַ֥ת הָאָדָ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְכׇל־יֵ֙צֶר֙ מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ת לִבּ֔וֹ רַ֥ק רַ֖ע כׇּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃

6And Hashem regretted that He had made man on earth, and His heart was saddened.

va-YI-na-KHEM a-do-NAI kee-a-SAH et-ha-a-DAM ba-A-retz va-yit-a-TZEIV el li-BO

ווַיִּנָּ֣חֶם יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּֽי־עָשָׂ֥ה אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּתְעַצֵּ֖ב אֶל־לִבּֽוֹ׃

7Hashem said, “I will blot out from the earth the men whom I created—men together with beasts, creeping things, and birds of the sky; for I regret that I made them.”

vai-YO-mer a-do-NAI em-KHE et ha-a-DAM a-SHER ba-RA-tee may-AL pe-NAY ha-a-DA-mah may-a-DAM ad b'-HE-mah ad RE-mes v'-ad-of ha-sha-MA-yim kee ni-KHAM-tee kee a-see-TEEM

זוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶמְחֶ֨ה אֶת־הָאָדָ֤ם אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָ֙אתִי֙ מֵעַל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה מֵֽאָדָם֙ עַד־בְּהֵמָ֔ה עַד־רֶ֖מֶשׂ וְעַד־ע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם כִּ֥י נִחַ֖מְתִּי כִּ֥י עֲשִׂיתִֽם׃

8But Noach found favor with Hashem.

v'-NO-akh ma-TZA KHEYN b'-ay-NAY a-do-NAI.

חוְנֹ֕חַ מָ֥צָא חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃

9This is the line of Noach.—Noach was a righteous man; he was blameless in his age; Noach walked with Hashem.—

AY-leh to-LE-doth NO-akh, NO-akh EESH tza-DEEK ta-MEEM ha-YAH b'-do-RO-tav, et ha-E-lo-HEEM hit-ha-LEKH-NO-akh.

טאֵ֚לֶּה תּוֹלְדֹ֣ת נֹ֔חַ נֹ֗חַ אִ֥ישׁ צַדִּ֛יק תָּמִ֥ים הָיָ֖ה בְּדֹֽרֹתָ֑יו אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים הִֽתְהַלֶּךְ־נֹֽחַ׃

10Noach begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

vai-YO-led NO-akh sh'-LO-sha va-NEEM, et SHEM, et-KHAM, v'-et YA-fet

יוַיּ֥וֹלֶד נֹ֖חַ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה בָנִ֑ים אֶת־שֵׁ֖ם אֶת־חָ֥ם וְאֶת־יָֽפֶת׃

11The earth became corrupt before Hashem; the earth was filled with lawlessness.

va-ti-sha-KHET ha-A-retz lif-NEI ha-e-lo-HEEM va-ti-ma-LEI ha-A-retz cha-MAS

יאוַתִּשָּׁחֵ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ לִפְנֵ֣י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַתִּמָּלֵ֥א הָאָ֖רֶץ חָמָֽס׃

12When Hashem saw how corrupt the earth was, for all flesh had corrupted its ways on earth,

vai-YAR e-lo-HIM et ha-A-retz v'-hi-NEH nish-KHA-tah, KEE his-KHEET kol ba-SAR et dar-KO al ha-A-retz. (SAH)

יבוַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ וְהִנֵּ֣ה נִשְׁחָ֑תָה כִּֽי־הִשְׁחִ֧ית כׇּל־בָּשָׂ֛ר אֶת־דַּרְכּ֖וֹ עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

13Hashem said to Noach, “I have decided to put an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with lawlessness because of them: I am about to destroy them with the earth.

va-YO-mer e-lo-HEEM l'-NO-akh KAYTZ kol ba-SAR BA l'-fa-NAI kee ma-l'-AH ha-A-retz kha-MAS mi-p'-nay-HEM v'-hi-n'-NEE mash-khee-TAM et ha-A-retz

יגוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֜ים לְנֹ֗חַ קֵ֤ץ כׇּל־בָּשָׂר֙ בָּ֣א לְפָנַ֔י כִּֽי־מָלְאָ֥ה הָאָ֛רֶץ חָמָ֖ס מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וְהִנְנִ֥י מַשְׁחִיתָ֖ם אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

 6:13 I am about to destroy them with the earth

Rabbi Shnuer Z. Liadi (1745-1813)

According to one opinion in the Talmud (Zevachim 113b), the effects of the flood were less severe in the Land of Israel. Why did Hashem choose to spare this particular land? Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of the Chabad Hasidic dynasty in eighteenth century Russia, concludes that the purpose of the flood was to purify the world of its corruption. The flood, then, served as a kind of mikveh, a ritual bath, to bring about a process of purification. However, since Eretz Yisrael is intrinsically pure, it is impossible to corrupt and, therefore, did not need this type of purification. In fact, whenever the Torah discusses sins that can cause exile, it says that the land will purge itself of the sinners. Eretz Yisrael cannot be corrupted and does not tolerate impurity on its soil.

14Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make it an ark with compartments, and cover it inside and out with pitch.

a-SEH le-KHA tay-VAT a-tzay-GO-fer ki-NIM ta-a-SEH et ha-tay-VAH v'-kha-far-TAH o-TAH mi-BA-yit u-mi-KHUtz ba-KO-fer

ידעֲשֵׂ֤ה לְךָ֙ תֵּבַ֣ת עֲצֵי־גֹ֔פֶר קִנִּ֖ים תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֶת־הַתֵּבָ֑ה וְכָֽפַרְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֛הּ מִבַּ֥יִת וּמִח֖וּץ בַּכֹּֽפֶר׃

15This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark shall be three hundred amot, its width fifty amot, and its height thirty amot.

v'-ZEH a-SHER ta-a-SEH o-TAH sh'-LOSH may-OT a-MAH o-REKH ha-tay-VAH kha-mee-SHEEM a-MAH ra-KH'-BAH u-sh'-LO-sheem a-MAH ko-MAH

טווְזֶ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֹתָ֑הּ שְׁלֹ֧שׁ מֵא֣וֹת אַמָּ֗ה אֹ֚רֶךְ הַתֵּבָ֔ה חֲמִשִּׁ֤ים אַמָּה֙ רׇחְבָּ֔הּ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים אַמָּ֖ה קוֹמָתָֽהּ׃

16Make an opening for daylight in the ark, and terminate it within an amah of the top.Put the entrance to the ark in its side; make it with bottom, second, and third decks.

t'-ZOHAR ta-a-SEH la-t'-VAH v'-el a-MAH t'-kha-LE-nah mil-ma-LAH u-fe-TAKH ha-t'-VAH b'-tzi-DAH ta-SEEYM ta-kh'-TIYM u-sh'-li-SHEEM ta-a-SE-ha

טזצֹ֣הַר ׀ תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה לַתֵּבָ֗ה וְאֶל־אַמָּה֙ תְּכַלֶּ֣נָּה מִלְמַ֔עְלָה וּפֶ֥תַח הַתֵּבָ֖ה בְּצִדָּ֣הּ תָּשִׂ֑ים תַּחְתִּיִּ֛ם שְׁנִיִּ֥ם וּשְׁלִשִׁ֖ים תַּֽעֲשֶֽׂהָ׃

17“For My part, I am about to bring the Flood—waters upon the earth—to destroy all flesh under the sky in which there is breath of life; everything on earth shall perish.

va-a-NEE, hi-NI, may-VEE et ha-ma-BUL ma-YIM al ha-A-retz, l'-sha-KHAYT kol ba-SAR a-SHER bo, ru-akh kha-YIM mi-TA-khat ha-sha-MA-yim, kol a-SHER ba-A-retz yig-VA

יזוַאֲנִ֗י הִנְנִי֩ מֵבִ֨יא אֶת־הַמַּבּ֥וּל מַ֙יִם֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ לְשַׁחֵ֣ת כׇּל־בָּשָׂ֗ר אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ֙ ר֣וּחַ חַיִּ֔ים מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־בָּאָ֖רֶץ יִגְוָֽע׃

18But I will establish My covenant with you, and you shall enter the ark, with your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives.

va-ha-ki-MO-tee et b'-ree-TEE i-taKH, u-va-A-ta el ha-tay-VAH, a-TA u-va-NE-kha v'-ish-TE-kha u-n'-SHEI-va-NE-kha i-taKH

יחוַהֲקִמֹתִ֥י אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֖י אִתָּ֑ךְ וּבָאתָ֙ אֶל־הַתֵּבָ֔ה אַתָּ֕ה וּבָנֶ֛יךָ וְאִשְׁתְּךָ֥ וּנְשֵֽׁי־בָנֶ֖יךָ אִתָּֽךְ׃

19And of all that lives, of all flesh, you shall take two of each into the ark to keep alive with you; they shall be male and female.

u-mi-KOL-ha-KHAI mi-KOL-ba-SAR sh'-NA-yim mi-KOL-ta-VI el ha-TE-va l'-ha-cha-YOT i-TAKH za-KHAR u-ne-KE-va yi-HU

יטוּמִכׇּל־הָ֠חַ֠י מִֽכׇּל־בָּשָׂ֞ר שְׁנַ֧יִם מִכֹּ֛ל תָּבִ֥יא אֶל־הַתֵּבָ֖ה לְהַחֲיֹ֣ת אִתָּ֑ךְ זָכָ֥ר וּנְקֵבָ֖ה יִֽהְיֽוּ׃

20From birds of every kind, cattle of every kind, every kind of creeping thing on earth, two of each shall come to you to stay alive.

me-ha-oF le-mi-NE-hu u-min ha-be-HE-ma le-mi-NAH, mi-KOL re-MES ha-a-da-MAH le-mi-NE-hu, sh'-NA-yim mi-KOL ya-BO-u e-LE-kha le-ha-KHA-yot

כמֵהָע֣וֹף לְמִינֵ֗הוּ וּמִן־הַבְּהֵמָה֙ לְמִינָ֔הּ מִכֹּ֛ל רֶ֥מֶשׂ הָֽאֲדָמָ֖ה לְמִינֵ֑הוּ שְׁנַ֧יִם מִכֹּ֛ל יָבֹ֥אוּ אֵלֶ֖יךָ לְהַֽחֲיֽוֹת׃

21For your part, take of everything that is eaten and store it away, to serve as food for you and for them.”

v'-a-TAH kakh-l'-KHA mi-KOL ma-a-KHAL a-SHER ye-a-KHEL v'-a-SAFTA e-LE-kha v'-ha-YA l'-KHA v'-la-HEM l'-o-KH-lah

כאוְאַתָּ֣ה קַח־לְךָ֗ מִכׇּל־מַֽאֲכָל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֵֽאָכֵ֔ל וְאָסַפְתָּ֖ אֵלֶ֑יךָ וְהָיָ֥ה לְךָ֛ וְלָהֶ֖ם לְאׇכְלָֽה׃

22Noach did so; just as Hashem commanded him, so he did.

vai-YA-as NO-akh k'-KOL a-SHER tzi-VAH o-TO e-lo-HEEM KEN a-SAH

כבוַיַּ֖עַשׂ נֹ֑חַ כְּ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֥ה אֹת֛וֹ אֱלֹהִ֖ים כֵּ֥ן עָשָֽׂה׃