TORAH

FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES

NEVI'IM

PROPHETS

KETUVIM

WRITINGS

Chapter 1

Translation and Transliteration of

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1Hashem called to Moshe and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying:

vai-YIK-ra el mo-SHE, va-y'-da-BAYR a-do-NAI ay-LAV may-O-hel mo-AYD lay-MOR

אוַיִּקְרָ֖א אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלָ֔יו מֵאֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵ֖ד לֵאמֹֽר׃

2Speak to B'nei Yisrael, and say to them: When any of you presents an offering of cattle to Hashem, he shall choose his offering from the herd or from the flock.

da-BAYR el b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL v'-a-mar-TA a-lay-HEM a-DAM kee yak-REEV mi-KEM kor-BAN la-do-NAI min ha-b'-hay-MAH min ha-ba-KAR u-min ha-TZON tak-REE-vu et kor-ban-KHEM

בדַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אָדָ֗ם כִּֽי־יַקְרִ֥יב מִכֶּ֛ם קׇרְבָּ֖ן לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה מִן־הַבְּהֵמָ֗ה מִן־הַבָּקָר֙ וּמִן־הַצֹּ֔אן תַּקְרִ֖יבוּ אֶת־קׇרְבַּנְכֶֽם׃

1:2 When any of you presents an offering of cattle to Hashem

Sefer Vayikra describes the various offerings that were brought in the Beit Hamikdash in great detail. The Hebrew term for ‘offering,’ korban (קרבן), comes from the word karov (ק-ר-ב), meaning ‘close,’ since the offerings are meant to bring people closer to the Eternal One. For this reason, the common English translation of korban, ‘sacrifice,’ is insufficient, as it does not accurately portray the essence of the word. While the person bringing the offering might be giving something from his personal possessions, he gains much more than he gives. Now that we no longer have korbanot, prayer is the primary vehicle through which we come close to our Father in Heaven.

3If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall make his offering a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, for acceptance in his behalf before Hashem.

im-o-LAH kor-BA-no min ha-ba-KAR za-KHAR ta-MEEM yak-REE-VE-nu el pe-TAKH o-HEL mo-ED yak-REEV o-TO li-r'-TZO-no li-f'-NAY a-do-NAI

גאִם־עֹלָ֤ה קׇרְבָּנוֹ֙ מִן־הַבָּקָ֔ר זָכָ֥ר תָּמִ֖ים יַקְרִיבֶ֑נּוּ אֶל־פֶּ֜תַח אֹ֤הֶל מוֹעֵד֙ יַקְרִ֣יב אֹת֔וֹ לִרְצֹנ֖וֹ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃

4He shall lay his hand upon the head of the burnt offering, that it may be acceptable in his behalf, in expiation for him.

v'-sa-MACH ya-DO al ROSH ha-o-LAH v'-nir-TZA LO l'-ka-PER a-LAV

דוְסָמַ֣ךְ יָד֔וֹ עַ֖ל רֹ֣אשׁ הָעֹלָ֑ה וְנִרְצָ֥ה ל֖וֹ לְכַפֵּ֥ר עָלָֽיו׃

5The bull shall be slaughtered before Hashem; and Aharon's sons, the Kohanim, shall offer the blood, dashing the blood against all sides of the mizbayach which is at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.

v'-sha-KHAT et-ben ha-ba-KAR lif-NEI a-do-NAI v'-hi-k'-REE-vu b'-nay a-ha-RON ha-ko-ha-NEEM et ha-DAHM v'-zo-r'-KU et ha-DAHM al ha-miz-BAY-akh sa-VEEV a-SHER pe-TAKH ohel mo-EID

הוְשָׁחַ֛ט אֶת־בֶּ֥ן הַבָּקָ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְ֠הִקְרִ֠יבוּ בְּנֵ֨י אַהֲרֹ֤ן הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ אֶת־הַדָּ֔ם וְזָרְק֨וּ אֶת־הַדָּ֤ם עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ סָבִ֔יב אֲשֶׁר־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

6The burnt offering shall be flayed and cut up into sections.

v'-hif-SHEET et-ha-o-LAH v'-ni-TAKH o-TAH li-n'-ta-KHE-ha

ווְהִפְשִׁ֖יט אֶת־הָעֹלָ֑ה וְנִתַּ֥ח אֹתָ֖הּ לִנְתָחֶֽיהָ׃

7The sons of Aharon the Kohen shall put fire on the mizbayach and lay out wood upon the fire;

v'-na-t'-NU b'-nay a-ha-ron ha-ko-HAYN AYSH al ha-miz-BAY-akh v'-a-r'-KHU ay-TZEEM al ha-AYSH

זוְ֠נָתְנ֠וּ בְּנֵ֨י אַהֲרֹ֧ן הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֵ֖שׁ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וְעָרְכ֥וּ עֵצִ֖ים עַל־הָאֵֽשׁ׃

8and Aharon's sons, the Kohanim, shall lay out the sections, with the head and the suet, on the wood that is on the fire upon the mizbayach.

v'-a-r'-KHU b'-nay a-ha-RON ha-ko-HE-neem et ha-ne-ta-KHEEM et-ha-ROSH v'-et-ha-PA-der al ha-e-TZEEM a-SHER al ha-EESH a-SHER al ha-miz-BAY-akh

חוְעָרְכ֗וּ בְּנֵ֤י אַהֲרֹן֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים אֵ֚ת הַנְּתָחִ֔ים אֶת־הָרֹ֖אשׁ וְאֶת־הַפָּ֑דֶר עַל־הָעֵצִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הָאֵ֔שׁ אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

9Its entrails and legs shall be washed with water, and the Kohen shall turn the whole into smoke on the mizbayach as a burnt offering, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to Hashem.

v'-ki-RO-vo u-k'-ra-AV yir-KHATZ ba-ma-YIM, v'-hik-TIR ha-ko-HAYN et ha-KOL ha-miz-BAY-khah, o-LAH i-SHEH ray-akh-ni-KHO-akh la-a-do-NAI.

טוְקִרְבּ֥וֹ וּכְרָעָ֖יו יִרְחַ֣ץ בַּמָּ֑יִם וְהִקְטִ֨יר הַכֹּהֵ֤ן אֶת־הַכֹּל֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה עֹלָ֛ה אִשֵּׁ֥ה רֵֽיחַ־נִיח֖וֹחַ לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃

10If his offering for a burnt offering is from the flock, of sheep or of goats, he shall make his offering a male without blemish.

v'-im min ha-tzo-AN kor-BA-no min ha-ke-sa-VIM o min ha-a-zi-ZEEM l'-o-LAH za-KHAR ta-MEEM yak-ree-VE-nu

יוְאִם־מִן־הַצֹּ֨אן קׇרְבָּנ֧וֹ מִן־הַכְּשָׂבִ֛ים א֥וֹ מִן־הָעִזִּ֖ים לְעֹלָ֑ה זָכָ֥ר תָּמִ֖ים יַקְרִיבֶֽנּוּ׃

11It shall be slaughtered before Hashem on the north side of the mizbayach, and Aharon's sons, the Kohanim, shall dash its blood against all sides of the mizbayach.

v'-sha-KHAT o-TO al YE-rekh ha-miz-BAY-akh tza-fo-NAH lif-NEY a-do-NAI v'-zor-KU b'-NAY a-ha-RON ha-ko-ha-NEEM et da-MO al ha-miz-BAY-akh sa-VEEV

יאוְשָׁחַ֨ט אֹת֜וֹ עַ֣ל יֶ֧רֶךְ הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ צָפֹ֖נָה לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְזָרְק֡וּ בְּנֵי֩ אַהֲרֹ֨ן הַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים אֶת־דָּמ֛וֹ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ סָבִֽיב׃

12When it has been cut up into sections, the Kohen shall lay them out, with the head and the suet, on the wood that is on the fire upon the mizbayach.

v'-ni-TAKH o-TO lin-ta-KHAV v'-et ro-SHO v'-et pi-DRO v'-a-RAKH ha-ko-HAYN o-TAM al ha-E-tzeem a-SHER al ha-EYSH a-SHER al ha-miz-BAY-akh

יבוְנִתַּ֤ח אֹתוֹ֙ לִנְתָחָ֔יו וְאֶת־רֹאשׁ֖וֹ וְאֶת־פִּדְר֑וֹ וְעָרַ֤ךְ הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֹתָ֔ם עַל־הָֽעֵצִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הָאֵ֔שׁ אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

13The entrails and the legs shall be washed with water; the Kohen shall offer up and turn the whole into smoke on the mizbayach. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, of pleasing odor to Hashem.

v'-ha-KE-rev v'-ha-k'-ra-a-YIM yir-KHATZ ba-ma-YIM v'-hi-k'-REEV ha-ko-HAYN et ha-KOL v'-hi-k'-TEER ha-miz-BAY-khah o-LAH HU i-SHEH ray-akh ni-KHO-akh la-a-do-NAI.

יגוְהַקֶּ֥רֶב וְהַכְּרָעַ֖יִם יִרְחַ֣ץ בַּמָּ֑יִם וְהִקְרִ֨יב הַכֹּהֵ֤ן אֶת־הַכֹּל֙ וְהִקְטִ֣יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה עֹלָ֣ה ה֗וּא אִשֵּׁ֛ה רֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַיהֹוָֽה׃

14If his offering to Hashem is a burnt offering of birds, he shall choose his offering from turtledoves or pigeons.

v'-im min-ha-oF o-LAH kor-BA-no la-do-NAI v'-hik-REEV min-ha-to-RIM o v'-nay ha-yo-NAH et kor-BA-no

ידוְאִ֧ם מִן־הָע֛וֹף עֹלָ֥ה קׇרְבָּנ֖וֹ לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וְהִקְרִ֣יב מִן־הַתֹּרִ֗ים א֛וֹ מִן־בְּנֵ֥י הַיּוֹנָ֖ה אֶת־קׇרְבָּנֽוֹ׃

15The Kohen shall bring it to the mizbayach, pinch off its head, and turn it into smoke on the mizbayach; and its blood shall be drained out against the side of the mizbayach.

v'-hi-k'-REE-vo ha-ko-HAYN el ha-miz-BAY-akh u-ma-LAK et ro-SHO v'-hi-k'-TEER ha-miz-BAY-khah v'-nim-TZA da-MO al k'-EER ha-miz-BAY-akh

טווְהִקְרִיב֤וֹ הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וּמָלַק֙ אֶת־רֹאשׁ֔וֹ וְהִקְטִ֖יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה וְנִמְצָ֣ה דָמ֔וֹ עַ֖ל קִ֥יר הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

16He shall remove its crop with its contents, and cast it into the place of the ashes, at the east side of the mizbayach.

v'-he-SIR et-mur-A-to b'-no-TZA-tah v'-hish-LIKH o-TAH e-TSEL ha-miz-BAY-akh ke-DEM-ah el-m'-KOM ha-DA-shen

טזוְהֵסִ֥יר אֶת־מֻרְאָת֖וֹ בְּנֹצָתָ֑הּ וְהִשְׁלִ֨יךְ אֹתָ֜הּ אֵ֤צֶל הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ קֵ֔דְמָה אֶל־מְק֖וֹם הַדָּֽשֶׁן׃

17The Kohen shall tear it open by its wings, without severing it, and turn it into smoke on the mizbayach, upon the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, of pleasing odor to Hashem.

v'-shi-SA o-TO vikh-na-FAV lo yav-DEEL, v'-hik-TEER o-TO ha-ko-HAYN ha-miz-BAY-khah al ha-E-tzeem a-SHER al ha-EYSH, o-LAH HU i-SHEH ray-AKH ni-KHO-akh la-a-do-NAI. (S)

יזוְשִׁסַּ֨ע אֹת֣וֹ בִכְנָפָיו֮ לֹ֣א יַבְדִּיל֒ וְהִקְטִ֨יר אֹת֤וֹ הַכֹּהֵן֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה עַל־הָעֵצִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הָאֵ֑שׁ עֹלָ֣ה ה֗וּא אִשֵּׁ֛ה רֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַיהֹוָֽה׃