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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 18

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying:

va-y'-da-BAYR a-do-NAI el mo-SHEH lay-MOR

אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

2Speak to B'nei Yisrael and say to them: I Hashem am your God.

da-BER el b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL v'-a-MAR-ta a-LE-hem a-NEE a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-khem

בדַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

3You shall not copy the practices of the land of Egypt where you dwelt, or of the land of Canaan to which I am taking you; nor shall you follow their laws.

k'-ma-a-SAY e-retz mitz-RA-yim a-SHER y'-shav-tem BA LO ta-a-SU u-kh'-ma-a-SAY e-retz k'-NA-an a-SHER a-NEE may-VEE et-KHEM SHA-ma LO ta-a-SU uv-khu-ko-tay-HEM lo tay-LAY-khu

גכְּמַעֲשֵׂ֧ה אֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֛יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְשַׁבְתֶּם־בָּ֖הּ לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֑וּ וּכְמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה אֶֽרֶץ־כְּנַ֡עַן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲנִי֩ מֵבִ֨יא אֶתְכֶ֥ם שָׁ֙מָּה֙ לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֔וּ וּבְחֻקֹּתֵיהֶ֖ם לֹ֥א תֵלֵֽכוּ׃

 18:3   Or of the land of Canaan 

This verse warns the Israelites to avoid the negative behaviors (such as incest and child sacrifices) that were prevalent in Canaan. The chapter ends with an incredible, spiritual statement. It warns that Eretz Yisrael itself is so pure that it cannot tolerate abominable behavior, and will therefore expel any nation that defiles itself and the land, including the Jewish people. Ultimately, the Jews were indeed expelled from the land because of their sins. In modern times, even as we are grateful that Hashem has returned the Children of Israel to the land, this warning must be taken to heart. The land must be kept pure, and the people’s behavior must adhere to the teachings of the Bible.

4My rules alone shall you observe, and faithfully follow My laws: I Hashem am your God.

et-mish-PA-tai ta-a-SU v'-et-khu-KO-tai tish-m'-RU la-LE-khet ba-HEM a-NEE a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-khem

דאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֧י תַּעֲשׂ֛וּ וְאֶת־חֻקֹּתַ֥י תִּשְׁמְר֖וּ לָלֶ֣כֶת בָּהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

5You shall keep My laws and My rules, by the pursuit of which man shall live: I am Hashem.

u-sh'-mar-TEM et-khu-KO-tai v'-et-mish-PA-tai a-SHER ya-a-SEH o-TAM ha-a-DAM va-KHAI ba-HEM a-NEE a-do-NAI.

הוּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֤ם אֶת־חֻקֹּתַי֙ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָ֛ם הָאָדָ֖ם וָחַ֣י בָּהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָֽה׃

6None of you shall come near anyone of his own flesh to uncover nakedness: I am Hashem.

eeSH eeSH el kol-she-AYR b'-sa-RO lo tik-r'-VU l'-ga-LOT er-VAH a-NEE a-do-NAI.

ואִ֥ישׁ אִישׁ֙ אֶל־כׇּל־שְׁאֵ֣ר בְּשָׂר֔וֹ לֹ֥א תִקְרְב֖וּ לְגַלּ֣וֹת עֶרְוָ֑ה אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָֽה׃

7Your father's nakedness, that is, the nakedness of your mother, you shall not uncover; she is your mother—you shall not uncover her nakedness.

er-VAT a-VEE-kha v'-er-VAT i-ME-kha lo te-ga-LEH, i-ME-kha hee lo te-ga-LEH er-va-TAH. (S)

זעֶרְוַ֥ת אָבִ֛יךָ וְעֶרְוַ֥ת אִמְּךָ֖ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה אִמְּךָ֣ הִ֔וא לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃

8Do not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife; it is the nakedness of your father.

er-VAT e-SHET a-VEE-kha lo te-ga-LEH er-VAT a-VEE-kha hi-VU. (S)

חעֶרְוַ֥ת אֵֽשֶׁת־אָבִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה עֶרְוַ֥ת אָבִ֖יךָ הִֽוא׃

9The nakedness of your sister—your father's daughter or your mother's, whether born into the household or outside—do not uncover their nakedness.

er-VAT a-KHO-t'-KHA bat a-vee-KHA o bat i-ME-kha mo-LE-det BA-yit o mo-LE-det KHUTZ lo t'-ga-LEH er-va-TAN.

טעֶרְוַ֨ת אֲחֽוֹתְךָ֤ בַת־אָבִ֙יךָ֙ א֣וֹ בַת־אִמֶּ֔ךָ מוֹלֶ֣דֶת בַּ֔יִת א֖וֹ מוֹלֶ֣דֶת ח֑וּץ לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָֽן׃

10The nakedness of your son's daughter, or of your daughter's daughter—do not uncover their nakedness; for their nakedness is yours.

er-VAT bat-bi-N'KHA o vat-bi-t'-KHA lo t'-ga-LEH er-va-TAN, KEE er-va-T'-KHA he-Na.

יעֶרְוַ֤ת בַּת־בִּנְךָ֙ א֣וֹ בַֽת־בִּתְּךָ֔ לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָ֑ן כִּ֥י עֶרְוָתְךָ֖ הֵֽנָּה׃

11The nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, who has born into your father's household—she is your sister; do not uncover her nakedness.

er-VAT bat-EY-shet a-VEE-kha mo-LE-det a-VEE-kha a-KHO-te-KHA hee lo te-ga-LEH er-va-TAH. (S)

יאעֶרְוַ֨ת בַּת־אֵ֤שֶׁת אָבִ֙יךָ֙ מוֹלֶ֣דֶת אָבִ֔יךָ אֲחוֹתְךָ֖ הִ֑וא לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃

12Do not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister; she is your father's flesh.

er-VAT a-KHOT a-ve-KHA lo te-ga-LEH, she-ER a-ve-KHA he-VU. (Se)

יבעֶרְוַ֥ת אֲחוֹת־אָבִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה שְׁאֵ֥ר אָבִ֖יךָ הִֽוא׃

13Do not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister; for she is your mother's flesh.

er-VAT a-KHOT i-ME-kha lo te-ga-LEH, ki-SHE-er i-ME-kha hi. (S)

יגעֶרְוַ֥ת אֲחֽוֹת־אִמְּךָ֖ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה כִּֽי־שְׁאֵ֥ר אִמְּךָ֖ הִֽוא׃

14Do not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother: do not approach his wife; she is your aunt.

er-VAT a-KHEE a-VEE-kha lo t'-ga-LEH el ish-TO lo tik-RAV do-da-TE-kha hee. (S)

ידעֶרְוַ֥ת אֲחִֽי־אָבִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה אֶל־אִשְׁתּוֹ֙ לֹ֣א תִקְרָ֔ב דֹּדָֽתְךָ֖ הִֽוא׃

15Do not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law: she is your son's wife; you shall not uncover her nakedness.

er-VAT ka-la-TE-kha lo t'-ga-LEH, E-SHET bin-KHA hee lo t'-ga-LEH er-va-TAH. (S)

טועֶרְוַ֥ת כַּלָּֽתְךָ֖ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה אֵ֤שֶׁת בִּנְךָ֙ הִ֔וא לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃

16Do not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife; it is the nakedness of your brother.

er-VAT e-SHET a-KHEE-kha lo te-ga-LEH er-VAT a-KHEE-kha he-VU

טזעֶרְוַ֥ת אֵֽשֶׁת־אָחִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה עֶרְוַ֥ת אָחִ֖יךָ הִֽוא׃

17Do not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter; nor shall you marry her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter and uncover her nakedness: they are kindred; it is depravity.

er-VAT i-SHA u-bi-TAH lo te-ga-LEH et-BAT b'-NAH v'-et-BAT bi-TAH lo ti-KAkh l'-ga-LOT er-va-TAH sha-a-RAH HE-nah zi-MAH he-VU

יזעֶרְוַ֥ת אִשָּׁ֛ה וּבִתָּ֖הּ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה אֶֽת־בַּת־בְּנָ֞הּ וְאֶת־בַּת־בִּתָּ֗הּ לֹ֤א תִקַּח֙ לְגַלּ֣וֹת עֶרְוָתָ֔הּ שַׁאֲרָ֥ה הֵ֖נָּה זִמָּ֥ה הִֽוא׃

18Do not marry a woman as a rival to her sister and uncover her nakedness in the other's lifetime.

v'-i-SHA el a-KHO-tah lo ti-KAKH, litz-ROR l'-ga-LOT er-va-TAH a-LE-ha b'-cha-YE-ha

יחוְאִשָּׁ֥ה אֶל־אֲחֹתָ֖הּ לֹ֣א תִקָּ֑ח לִצְרֹ֗ר לְגַלּ֧וֹת עֶרְוָתָ֛הּ עָלֶ֖יהָ בְּחַיֶּֽיהָ׃

19Do not come near a woman during her period of uncleanness to uncover her nakedness.

v'-el i-SHA b'-ni-DAT tum-a-TAH lo tik-RAV l'-ga-LOT er-va-TAH

יטוְאֶל־אִשָּׁ֖ה בְּנִדַּ֣ת טֻמְאָתָ֑הּ לֹ֣א תִקְרַ֔ב לְגַלּ֖וֹת עֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃

20Do not have carnal relations with your neighbor's wife and defile yourself with her.

v'-el e-SHET a-mee-TE-kha lo ti-TEN sh'-ko-VE-te-kha l'-za-RA l'-to-m'-AH-va-ha

כוְאֶל־אֵ֙שֶׁת֙ עֲמִֽיתְךָ֔ לֹא־תִתֵּ֥ן שְׁכׇבְתְּךָ֖ לְזָ֑רַע לְטׇמְאָה־בָֽהּ׃

21Do not allow any of your offspring to be offered up to Molech, and do not profane the name of your God: I am Hashem.

u-mi-ZAR-a-KHA lo ti-TEN l'-ha-a-VEER la-MO-lekh, v'-lo te-kha-LEL et-SHEM e-lo-HE-kha, a-NEE a-do-NAI.

כאוּמִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֥ לֹא־תִתֵּ֖ן לְהַעֲבִ֣יר לַמֹּ֑לֶךְ וְלֹ֧א תְחַלֵּ֛ל אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃

22Do not lie with a male as one lies with a woman; it is an abhorrence.

v'-ET za-KHAR lo tish-KAV mish-k'-VEI i-SHAH to-EY-VAH hee

כבוְאֶ֨ת־זָכָ֔ר לֹ֥א תִשְׁכַּ֖ב מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אִשָּׁ֑ה תּוֹעֵבָ֖ה הִֽוא׃

23Do not have carnal relations with any beast and defile yourself thereby; and let no woman lend herself to a beast to mate with it; it is perversion.

u-v'-KOL b'-HE-ma LO ti-TEN sh'-kav-TE-kha l'-to-m'-a va-HA v'-i-SHA LO ta-a-MOD lif-NEI b'-HE-ma l'-ri-va-AH TE-vel HU

כגוּבְכׇל־בְּהֵמָ֛ה לֹא־תִתֵּ֥ן שְׁכׇבְתְּךָ֖ לְטׇמְאָה־בָ֑הּ וְאִשָּׁ֗ה לֹֽא־תַעֲמֹ֞ד לִפְנֵ֧י בְהֵמָ֛ה לְרִבְעָ֖הּ תֶּ֥בֶל הֽוּא׃

24Do not defile yourselves in any of those ways, for it is by such that the nations that I am casting out before you defiled themselves.

al-ti-tam-MU b'-kol-E-leh, KEE b'-kol-E-leh nit-m'-U ha-go-YIM, a-SHER a-NEE m'-sha-LAY-akh mi-p'-NE-khem

כדאַל־תִּֽטַּמְּא֖וּ בְּכׇל־אֵ֑לֶּה כִּ֤י בְכׇל־אֵ֙לֶּה֙ נִטְמְא֣וּ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֥י מְשַׁלֵּ֖חַ מִפְּנֵיכֶֽם׃

25Thus the land became defiled; and I called it to account for its iniquity, and the land spewed out its inhabitants.

va-tit-MA ha-A-retz va-ef-KOD a-VO-na al-YA va-TA-k'- ha-A-retz et yo-she-VE-ha

כהוַתִּטְמָ֣א הָאָ֔רֶץ וָאֶפְקֹ֥ד עֲוֺנָ֖הּ עָלֶ֑יהָ וַתָּקִ֥א הָאָ֖רֶץ אֶת־יֹשְׁבֶֽיהָ׃

26But you must keep My laws and My rules, and you must not do any of those abhorrent things, neither the citizen nor the stranger who resides among you;

u-sh'-mar-TEM a-TEM et khuk-KO-tai v'-et mish-PA-tai v'-lo ta-a-SU mi-KOL ha-to-E-vot ha-E-leh ha-ez-RAKH v'-ha-GER ha-GAR b'-to-KHE-khem

כווּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֣ם אַתֶּ֗ם אֶת־חֻקֹּתַי֙ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֔י וְלֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֔וּ מִכֹּ֥ל הַתּוֹעֵבֹ֖ת הָאֵ֑לֶּה הָֽאֶזְרָ֔ח וְהַגֵּ֖ר הַגָּ֥ר בְּתוֹכְכֶֽם׃

27for all those abhorrent things were done by the people who were in the land before you, and the land became defiled.

KI et-KOL ha-TO-e-VOT ha-EL a-SHU an-SHEI ha-A-retz a-SHER lif-NEI-khem va-TIT-ma ha-A-retz

כזכִּ֚י אֶת־כׇּל־הַתּוֹעֵבֹ֣ת הָאֵ֔ל עָשׂ֥וּ אַנְשֵֽׁי־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לִפְנֵיכֶ֑ם וַתִּטְמָ֖א הָאָֽרֶץ׃

28So let not the land spew you out for defiling it, as it spewed out the nation that came before you.

v'-LO ta-KI-a ha-A-retz et-KHEM b'-ta-ma-a-KHEM o-TAH ka-a-SHER ka-AH et ha-GOY a-SHER lif-NE-khem

כחוְלֹֽא־תָקִ֤יא הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֶתְכֶ֔ם בְּטַֽמַּאֲכֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑הּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר קָאָ֛ה אֶת־הַגּ֖וֹי אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִפְנֵיכֶֽם׃

29All who do any of those abhorrent things—such persons shall be cut off from their people.

KI kol-a-SHER ya-a-SEH mi-KOL ha-TO-e-VOT ha-E-leh v'-nikh-re-TU ha-ne-fa-SHOt ha-o-SOT mi-KE-rev a-MAM

כטכִּ֚י כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה מִכֹּ֥ל הַתּוֹעֵבֹ֖ת הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְנִכְרְת֛וּ הַנְּפָשׁ֥וֹת הָעֹשֹׂ֖ת מִקֶּ֥רֶב עַמָּֽם׃

30You shall keep My charge not to engage in any of the abhorrent practices that were carried on before you, and you shall not defile yourselves through them: I Hashem am your God.

u-sh'-mar-TEM et-mish-mar-TEE l'-vil-TI a-SOT may-khu-KOT ha-to-E-vot a-SHER na-a-SU lif-NAY-khem v'-lo ti-ta-m'-U ba-HEM a-NEE a-do-NAI e-lo-HEI-khem.

לוּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֣ם אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֗י לְבִלְתִּ֨י עֲשׂ֜וֹת מֵחֻקּ֤וֹת הַתּֽוֹעֵבֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַעֲשׂ֣וּ לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תִֽטַּמְּא֖וּ בָּהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃