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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 20

Translation and Transliteration of 

1And Hashem spoke to Moshe:

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

אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

2Say further to B'nei Yisrael: Anyone among the Israelites, or among the strangers residing in Yisrael, who gives any of his offspring to Molech, shall be put to death; the people of the land shall pelt him with stones.

v'-el b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL to-MAR: eesh eesh mi-b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL u-min ha-GER ha-GAR b'-yis-ra-AYL a-SHER yi-TAYN mi-zar-O la-mo-LEKH, MOT yu-MAT, am ha-A-retz yir-ge-MU-hu va-a-VEN.

בוְאֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ תֹּאמַר֒ אִ֣ישׁ אִישׁ֩ מִבְּנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל וּמִן־הַגֵּ֣ר ׀ הַגָּ֣ר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִתֵּ֧ן מִזַּרְע֛וֹ לַמֹּ֖לֶךְ מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑ת עַ֥ם הָאָ֖רֶץ יִרְגְּמֻ֥הוּ בָאָֽבֶן׃

3And I will set My face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he gave of his offspring to Molech and so defiled My sanctuary and profaned My holy name.

va-a-NEE e-TAYN et-PA-nai ba-ISH ha-HU v'-hikh-ra-TEE o-TO mi-KE-rev a-MO kee mi-ZA-ro na-TAN la-MO-lekh l'-ma-AN ta-MAY et-mik-DA-shee u-l'-kha-LAYT et-SHEM kod-SHEE

גוַאֲנִ֞י אֶתֵּ֤ן אֶת־פָּנַי֙ בָּאִ֣ישׁ הַה֔וּא וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י אֹת֖וֹ מִקֶּ֣רֶב עַמּ֑וֹ כִּ֤י מִזַּרְעוֹ֙ נָתַ֣ן לַמֹּ֔לֶךְ לְמַ֗עַן טַמֵּא֙ אֶת־מִקְדָּשִׁ֔י וּלְחַלֵּ֖ל אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם קׇדְשִֽׁי׃

4And if the people of the land should shut their eyes to that man when he gives of his offspring to Molech, and should not put him to death,

v'-im ha-a-LEM ya-li-MU am ha-A-retz et-ei-NEI-hem min ha-Ish ha-HU b'-ti-TO mi-zar-O la-MO-lekh l'-vil-TI ha-MIT o-TO

דוְאִ֡ם הַעְלֵ֣ם יַעְלִ֩ימֽוּ֩ עַ֨ם הָאָ֜רֶץ אֶת־עֵֽינֵיהֶם֙ מִן־הָאִ֣ישׁ הַה֔וּא בְּתִתּ֥וֹ מִזַּרְע֖וֹ לַמֹּ֑לֶךְ לְבִלְתִּ֖י הָמִ֥ית אֹתֽוֹ׃

5I Myself will set My face against that man and his kin, and will cut off from among their people both him and all who follow him in going astray after Molech.

v'-sam-TEE a-NEE et pa-NAI ba-ISH ha-HU u-ve-mish-pakh-TO v'-hikh-ra-TEE o-TO v'-ET kol ha-zo-NEEM a-kha-RAV liz-NOT a-kha-RAY ha-m'-LEKH mi-KE-rev a-MAM

הוְשַׂמְתִּ֨י אֲנִ֧י אֶת־פָּנַ֛י בָּאִ֥ישׁ הַה֖וּא וּבְמִשְׁפַּחְתּ֑וֹ וְהִכְרַתִּ֨י אֹת֜וֹ וְאֵ֣ת ׀ כׇּל־הַזֹּנִ֣ים אַחֲרָ֗יו לִזְנ֛וֹת אַחֲרֵ֥י הַמֹּ֖לֶךְ מִקֶּ֥רֶב עַמָּֽם׃

6And if any person turns to ghosts and familiar spirits and goes astray after them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from among his people.

v'-ha-NE-fesh a-SHER tif-NEH el ha-o-VOT v'-el ha-yi-de-o-NEEM liz-NOT a-cha-RE-hem, v'-na-ta-TEE et pa-NAI ba-NE-fesh ha-HEE v'-hikh-ra-TEE o-TO mi-KE-rev a-MO.

ווְהַנֶּ֗פֶשׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּפְנֶ֤ה אֶל־הָֽאֹבֹת֙ וְאֶל־הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים לִזְנֹ֖ת אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם וְנָתַתִּ֤י אֶת־פָּנַי֙ בַּנֶּ֣פֶשׁ הַהִ֔וא וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י אֹת֖וֹ מִקֶּ֥רֶב עַמּֽוֹ׃

7You shall sanctify yourselves and be holy, for I Hashem am your God.

v'-hi-t'-ka-DISH-tem vi-h'-yi-TEM k'-do-SHEEM kee a-NEE a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-khem

זוְהִ֨תְקַדִּשְׁתֶּ֔ם וִהְיִיתֶ֖ם קְדֹשִׁ֑ים כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

8You shall faithfully observe My laws: I Hashem make you holy.

u-sh'-mar-TEM et-khu-KO-tai va-a-see-TEM o-TAM a-NEE a-do-NAI m'-ka-DISH-khem

חוּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֙ אֶת־חֻקֹּתַ֔י וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶֽם׃

9If anyone insults his father or his mother, he shall be put to death; he has insulted his father and his mother—his bloodguilt is upon him.

ki-ish ish a-SHER ye-ka-LEL et a-VEEV v'-et i-MO mot yu-MAT, a-VEEV v'-i-MO ki-LEL da-MAV BO

טכִּֽי־אִ֣ישׁ אִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְקַלֵּ֧ל אֶת־אָבִ֛יו וְאֶת־אִמּ֖וֹ מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑ת אָבִ֧יו וְאִמּ֛וֹ קִלֵּ֖ל דָּמָ֥יו בּֽוֹ׃

10If a man commits adultery with a married woman, committing adultery with another man's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death.

v'-ISH a-SHER yin-AF et-EY-shet EESH a-SHER yin-AF et-EY-shet re-EY-hu, MOT-yu-MAT ha-NO-ef v'-ha-NO-a-FET.

יוְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִנְאַף֙ אֶת־אֵ֣שֶׁת אִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִנְאַ֖ף אֶת־אֵ֣שֶׁת רֵעֵ֑הוּ מֽוֹת־יוּמַ֥ת הַנֹּאֵ֖ף וְהַנֹּאָֽפֶת׃

11If a man lies with his father's wife, it is the nakedness of his father that he has uncovered; the two shall be put to death—their bloodguilt is upon them.

v'-ISH a-SHER yish-KAV et EY-shet a-VEEV er-VAT a-VEEV gi-LAH, MOT yu-M'-TU sh'-NE-hem d'-ME-hem BAM.

יאוְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִשְׁכַּב֙ אֶת־אֵ֣שֶׁת אָבִ֔יו עֶרְוַ֥ת אָבִ֖יו גִּלָּ֑ה מֽוֹת־יוּמְת֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם דְּמֵיהֶ֥ם בָּֽם׃

12If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall be put to death; they have committed incest—their bloodguilt is upon them.

v'-ISH a-SHER yish-KAV et-ka-LA-to MOT yu-m'-TU sh'-NE-hem TE-vel a-SU d'-ME-hem BAM

יבוְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִשְׁכַּב֙ אֶת־כַּלָּת֔וֹ מ֥וֹת יוּמְת֖וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם תֶּ֥בֶל עָשׂ֖וּ דְּמֵיהֶ֥ם בָּֽם׃

13If a man lies with a male as one lies with a woman, the two of them have done an abhorrent thing; they shall be put to death—their bloodguilt is upon them.

v'-ISH a-SHER yish-KAV et-za-KHAR mish-k'-VEI i-SHAH to-EY-VAH a-SU sh'-NE-hem MOT yu-MA-tu d'-ME-hem BAM

יגוְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁכַּ֤ב אֶת־זָכָר֙ מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אִשָּׁ֔ה תּוֹעֵבָ֥ה עָשׂ֖וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם מ֥וֹת יוּמָ֖תוּ דְּמֵיהֶ֥ם בָּֽם׃

14If a man marries a woman and her mother, it is depravity; both he and they shall be put to the fire, that there be no depravity among you.

v'-ISH a-SHER yi-KAKH et-i-SHA v'-et-i-MAH zi-MA hi BO-ESH yis-r'-FU o-TO v'-et-HEN v'-lo-ti-HEH zi-MA b'-to-kh'-KHEM

ידוְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִקַּ֧ח אֶת־אִשָּׁ֛ה וְאֶת־אִמָּ֖הּ זִמָּ֣ה הִ֑וא בָּאֵ֞שׁ יִשְׂרְפ֤וּ אֹתוֹ֙ וְאֶתְהֶ֔ן וְלֹא־תִהְיֶ֥ה זִמָּ֖ה בְּתוֹכְכֶֽם׃

15If a man has carnal relations with a beast, he shall be put to death; and you shall kill the beast.

v'-ISH a-SHER yi-TAYN sh'-kho-TO bi-v'-HE-ma MOT yu-MAT, v'-ET ha-b'-HE-ma ta-ha-RO-gu

טווְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִתֵּ֧ן שְׁכׇבְתּ֛וֹ בִּבְהֵמָ֖ה מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑ת וְאֶת־הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה תַּהֲרֹֽגוּ׃

16If a woman approaches any beast to mate with it, you shall kill the woman and the beast; they shall be put to death—their bloodguilt is upon them.

v'-i-SHA a-SHER tik-RAV el-KOL b'-HE-ma l'-ri-VA-a O-ta v'-ha-RA-g'-TA et-ha-i-SHA v'-et-ha-b'-HE-ma MOT yu-MA-tu d'-ME-hem BAM

טזוְאִשָּׁ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּקְרַ֤ב אֶל־כׇּל־בְּהֵמָה֙ לְרִבְעָ֣הֿ אֹתָ֔הּ וְהָרַגְתָּ֥ אֶת־הָאִשָּׁ֖ה וְאֶת־הַבְּהֵמָ֑ה מ֥וֹת יוּמָ֖תוּ דְּמֵיהֶ֥ם בָּֽם׃

17If a man marries his sister, the daughter of either his father or his mother, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace; they shall be excommunicated in the sight of their kinsfolk. He has uncovered the nakedness of his sister, he shall bear his guilt.

v'-ish a-SHER yi-KAKH et a-KHOT bat a-VEE-o o bat i-MO va-RA-a et er-va-TAH v'-hee-tir-EH et er-va-TO khe-SED HU v'-nikh-re-TU l'-ay-NAY b'-nay a-MAM er-vaT a-KHOT-o gi-LAH a-VO-no yi-SA

יזוְאִ֣ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִקַּ֣ח אֶת־אֲחֹת֡וֹ בַּת־אָבִ֣יו א֣וֹ בַת־אִ֠מּ֠וֹ וְרָאָ֨ה אֶת־עֶרְוָתָ֜הּ וְהִֽיא־תִרְאֶ֤ה אֶת־עֶרְוָתוֹ֙ חֶ֣סֶד ה֔וּא וְנִ֨כְרְת֔וּ לְעֵינֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י עַמָּ֑ם עֶרְוַ֧ת אֲחֹת֛וֹ גִּלָּ֖ה עֲוֺנ֥וֹ יִשָּֽׂא׃

18If a man lies with a woman in her infirmity and uncovers her nakedness, he has laid bare her flow and she has exposed her blood flow; both of them shall be cut off from among their people.

v'-ISH a-SHER yish-KAV et-i-SHA da-VAH v'-gi-LAH et-er-va-TAH et-m'-ko-RAH he-e-RAH v'-HEE gi-L'-TAH et-m'-KOR da-ME-ha v'-nikh-re-TU sh'-nay-HEM mi-KE-rev a-MAM

יחוְ֠אִ֠ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִשְׁכַּ֨ב אֶת־אִשָּׁ֜ה דָּוָ֗ה וְגִלָּ֤ה אֶת־עֶרְוָתָהּ֙ אֶת־מְקֹרָ֣הּ הֶֽעֱרָ֔ה וְהִ֕וא גִּלְּתָ֖ה אֶת־מְק֣וֹר דָּמֶ֑יהָ וְנִכְרְת֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם מִקֶּ֥רֶב עַמָּֽם׃

19You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister or of your father's sister, for that is laying bare one's own flesh; they shall bear their guilt.

v'-er-VAT a-KHOT i-ME-kha va-a-KHOT a-VEE-kha lo te-ga-LEH, KEE et-she-E-ro he-e-RAH a-vo-NAM yi-SA-u

יטוְעֶרְוַ֨ת אֲח֧וֹת אִמְּךָ֛ וַאֲח֥וֹת אָבִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה כִּ֧י אֶת־שְׁאֵר֛וֹ הֶעֱרָ֖ה עֲוֺנָ֥ם יִשָּֽׂאוּ׃

20If a man lies with his uncle's wife, it is his uncle's nakedness that he has uncovered. They shall bear their guilt: they shall die childless.

v'-ISH a-SHER yish-KAV et do-DA-to er-VAT do-DO gi-LAH khet-AV yis-SA-u a-ri-RIM ya-MU-tu

כוְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִשְׁכַּב֙ אֶת־דֹּ֣דָת֔וֹ עֶרְוַ֥ת דֹּד֖וֹ גִּלָּ֑ה חֶטְאָ֥ם יִשָּׂ֖אוּ עֲרִירִ֥ים יָמֻֽתוּ׃

21If a man marries the wife of his brother, it is indecency. It is the nakedness of his brother that he has uncovered; they shall remain childless.

v'-ISH a-SHER yi-KAKH et-EY-shet a-KHEEV ni-DA hi ER-vat a-KHEEV gi-LAH a-ri-RIM yi-HU

כאוְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִקַּ֛ח אֶת־אֵ֥שֶׁת אָחִ֖יו נִדָּ֣ה הִ֑וא עֶרְוַ֥ת אָחִ֛יו גִּלָּ֖ה עֲרִירִ֥ים יִהְיֽוּ׃

22You shall faithfully observe all My laws and all My regulations, lest the land to which I bring you to settle in spew you out.

ush-mar-TEM et kol khu-ko-TAI v'-et kol mish-pa-TAI va-a-see-TEM o-TAM v'-lo ta-KEE et-KHEM ha-A-retz a-SHER a-NEE may-VEE et-KHEM SHA-mah la-SHE-vet BAH

כבוּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֤ם אֶת־כׇּל־חֻקֹּתַי֙ וְאֶת־כׇּל־מִשְׁפָּטַ֔י וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם וְלֹא־תָקִ֤יא אֶתְכֶם֙ הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲנִ֜י מֵבִ֥יא אֶתְכֶ֛ם שָׁ֖מָּה לָשֶׁ֥בֶת בָּֽהּ׃

 20:22   Lest the land to which I bring you to settle in spew you out

Following the warning in Chapter 18 against embracing the abominations of the Canaanites lest the Children of Israel be expelled from their land, Chapter 20 gives an example of such abominable behavior, containing a list of forbidden relationships that are detestable in Hashem’s eyes. This verse then says that they must follow the commandments, “lest the land to which I bring you to settle in spew you out.” This expression attributes human-like sensitivity to the Land of Israel; it cannot stomach impurity and abomination, and thus engaging in illicit relationships will result in exile from the land. This is a further example of the reality that the gift of Eretz Yisrael is dependent on maintaining a high level of purity and faith, since the land’s sanctity cannot tolerate immorality.

23You shall not follow the practices of the nation that I am driving out before you. For it is because they did all these things that I abhorred them

v'-LO te-l'-KHU b'-khuk-KOT ha-go-YO a-SHER a-NEE m'-sha-LAY-akh mi-p'-NE-khem, KEE et-KOL e-LEH a-SU va-a-KUTZ BAM

כגוְלֹ֤א תֵֽלְכוּ֙ בְּחֻקֹּ֣ת הַגּ֔וֹי אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֥י מְשַׁלֵּ֖חַ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֑ם כִּ֤י אֶת־כׇּל־אֵ֙לֶּה֙ עָשׂ֔וּ וָאָקֻ֖ץ בָּֽם׃

24and said to you: You shall possess their land, for I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey. I Hashem am your God who has set you apart from other peoples.

va-o-MAR la-KHEM a-TEM tee-r'-SHU et ad-ma-TAM va-a-NEE et-NE-na la-KHEM la-RE-shet o-TAH E-retz za-VAT kha-LAV ud-VASH a-NEE a-do-NAI e-lo-hay-KHEM a-sher hiv-DAL-tee et-KHEM min ha-a-MEEM

כדוָאֹמַ֣ר לָכֶ֗ם אַתֶּם֮ תִּֽירְשׁ֣וּ אֶת־אַדְמָתָם֒ וַאֲנִ֞י אֶתְּנֶ֤נָּה לָכֶם֙ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אֹתָ֔הּ אֶ֛רֶץ זָבַ֥ת חָלָ֖ב וּדְבָ֑שׁ אֲנִי֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־הִבְדַּ֥לְתִּי אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִן־הָֽעַמִּֽים׃

25So you shall set apart the clean beast from the unclean, the unclean bird from the clean. You shall not draw abomination upon yourselves through beast or bird or anything with which the ground is alive, which I have set apart for you to treat as unclean.

v'-hi-v'-DAL-tem BAYN ha-b'-HE-ma ha-t'-ho-RAH la-t'-m'-AH, u-vayn ha-oF ha-ta-MAY la-ta-HOR, v'-LO t'-sha-K'-tzu et naf-sho-TAY-khem ba-b'-HE-ma u-va-oF, u-v'-KOL a-SHER tir-MOS ha-a-da-MAH a-SHER hi-v'-DAL-tee la-KHEM l'-ta-MAY

כהוְהִבְדַּלְתֶּ֞ם בֵּֽין־הַבְּהֵמָ֤ה הַטְּהֹרָה֙ לַטְּמֵאָ֔ה וּבֵין־הָע֥וֹף הַטָּמֵ֖א לַטָּהֹ֑ר וְלֹֽא־תְשַׁקְּצ֨וּ אֶת־נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֜ם בַּבְּהֵמָ֣ה וּבָע֗וֹף וּבְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּרְמֹ֣שׂ הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־הִבְדַּ֥לְתִּי לָכֶ֖ם לְטַמֵּֽא׃

26You shall be holy to Me, for I Hashem am holy, and I have set you apart from other peoples to be Mine.

v'-hi-YI-tem li k'-do-SHEEM, kee ka-DOSH a-NEE a-do-NAI, va-a-VDIL et-KHEM min ha-a-MEEM li-YOT li

כווִהְיִ֤יתֶם לִי֙ קְדֹשִׁ֔ים כִּ֥י קָד֖וֹשׁ אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וָאַבְדִּ֥ל אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִן־הָֽעַמִּ֖ים לִהְי֥וֹת לִֽי׃

27A man or a woman who has a ghost or a familiar spirit shall be put to death; they shall be pelted with stones—their bloodguilt shall be upon them.

v'-ISH o-o-ISH-AH kee-y'-HE-yeh va-HEM o-V o yid-D'-o-NEE mot yu-ma-TOO ba-E-ven yir-g'-MU o-TAM d'-ME-hem BAM

כזוְאִ֣ישׁ אֽוֹ־אִשָּׁ֗ה כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֨ה בָהֶ֥ם א֛וֹב א֥וֹ יִדְּעֹנִ֖י מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑תוּ בָּאֶ֛בֶן יִרְגְּמ֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם דְּמֵיהֶ֥ם בָּֽם׃