Jacob 1 יעקב פרק א׳

Classical Biblical Hebrew translation, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Jacob 1 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   כִּיforהִנֵּהbeholdעָבְרוּhad passedחֲמִשִּׁיםfiftyוְחָמֵשׁand fiveשָׁנִיםyearsמֵעֵתfrom the timeצֵאתdepartedלֶחִיLehiמִירוּשָׁלַיִםfrom Jerusalemעַל־כֵּןwhereforeצֻוֵּיתִיwas given a commandmentאֲנִיIיַעֲקֹבJacobמֵאֵתbyנֶפִיNephiעַל־הַלּוּחוֹתconcerning the platesהַקְּטַנִּיםthe smallאֲשֶׁרwhichעֲלֵיהֶםupon themחֲרוּתִיםare engravenהַדְּבָרִיםthe thingsהָאֵלֶּה׃these

   For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed away from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; wherefore, Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven.

2. 2

   וַיְצַוAnd commandedנֶפִיNephiעָלַיmeלִכְתֹּבto writeעַל־הַלּוּחוֹתupon the platesהָאֵלֶּהtheseמְעַטsomewhatמִן־הַדְּבָרִיםof the thingsאֲשֶׁרwhichחָשַׁבְתִּיI consideredלִיקָרִיםto be preciousמְאֹדexceedinglyוְלֹאand notאֶגַּעshould I touchכִּי־אִםthat onlyמְעַטa littleבְּתוֹלְדוֹתupon the history ofהָעָם־הַזֶּהthis peopleהַנִּקְרָאwho are calledעַם־נֶפִי׃the people of Nephi

   And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people which are called the people of Nephi.

3. 3

   כִּיforאָמַרhe saidכִּיthatיֵחָרְתוּthey should be engravenתּוֹלְדוֹתthe history ofעַמּוֹhis peopleעַל־לוּחֹתָיוupon his platesהָאֲחֵרִיםthe otherוְכִיand thatאֶשְׁמֹרI should preserveאֶת־הַלּוּחוֹתthe platesהָאֵלֶּהtheseוְאוֹרִידֵםand hand them downלְזַרְעִיunto my seedמִדּוֹרfrom generationלְדוֹר׃to generation

   For he said that the history of his people should be engraven upon his other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation.

4. 4

   וְאִם־יִהְיֶהand if there beדְּרָשׁpreachingקָדוֹשׁholyאוֹorחָזוֹןrevelationגָּדוֹלgreatאוֹorנְבוּאָהprophecyאֶחְרֹתI should engraveאֶת־רָאשֵׁיהֶםthe heads of themעַל־הַלּוּחוֹתupon the platesהָאֵלֶּהtheseוְאֶגַּעand I shall touch uponבָּםthemכַּאֲשֶׁרasאוּכַלI couldלְמַעַןfor the sake ofהַמָּשִׁיחַthe Messiahוּלְמַעַןand for the sake ofעַמֵּנוּ׃our people

   And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people.

5. 5

   כִּיforבֶאֱמוּנָהby faithוּבִדְאָגָהand by anxietyגְדוֹלָהgreatנִגְלָהit had been revealedלָנוּunto usבֶּאֱמֶתtrulyעַל־עַמֵּנוּconcerning our peopleמַה־יִּקְרֶהwhat should happenלָהֶם׃unto them

   For because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had been made manifest unto us concerning our people, what things should happen unto them.

6. 6

   וְגַםand alsoהָיוּthere wereלָנוּunto usחֲזֹנוֹתrevelationsרַבִּיםmanyוְרוּחַand the spirit ofנְבוּאָהprophecyרַבָּהmuchוְעַל־כֵּןwhereforeיָדַעְנוּwe knewעַל־הַמָּשִׁיחַof the Messiahוּמַלְכוּתוֹand his kingdomאֲשֶׁרwhichתָּבֹא׃shall come

   And we also had many revelations, and the spirit of much prophecy; wherefore, we knew of Christ and his kingdom, which should come.

7. 7

   וְעַל־כֵּןwhereforeעָבַדְנוּwe laboredבְּכׇל־כֹּחַwith all mightבְּקֶרֶבamongעַמֵּנוּour peopleלְמַעַןthatנוֹכִיחֵםwe might persuade themלָבוֹאto comeאֶל־הַמָּשִׁיחַunto the Messiahוְלִטְעֹםand to partake ofחֶסֶדthe goodness ofאֱלֹהִיםGodלְמַעַןthatיָבֹאוּthey might enterאֶל־מְנוּחָתוֹinto his restפֶּן־שָׁבוֹעַlest by any meansיִשָּׁבַעhe should swearבְּאַפּוֹin his wrathלְבִלְתִּיthat notבֹאָםthey should enterכַּאֲשֶׁרasבַּמְּרִיבָהin the provocationבִּימֵיin the days ofהַמַּסָּהtemptationבִּהְיוֹתwhile wereבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelבַּמִּדְבָּר׃in the wilderness

   Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest, lest by any means he should swear in his wrath they should not enter in, as in the provocation in the days of temptation while the children of Israel were in the wilderness.

8. 8

   וְעַל־כֵּןwhereforeמִי־יִתֵּןO thatוְנוּכַלthat we couldלְהוֹכִיחַto persuadeאֶת־כׇּל־הָאָדָםall menלְבִלְתִּיnot toמְרֹדrebelבֵּאלֹהִיםagainst Godלְהַכְעִיסוֹto provoke himכִּי־אִםbut ratherיַאֲמִינוּthat would believeכׇל־הָאָדָםall menבַּמָּשִׁיחַin the Messiahוְיִרְאוּand they shall viewאֶת־מוֹתוֹhis deathוְיִסְבְּלוּand they shall sufferאֶת־עֻלּוֹhis yokeוְיִשְׂאוּand they shall bearאֶת־חֶרְפַּתthe shame ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldוְעַל־כֵּןwhereforeלָקַחְתִּיI have takenאֲנִיIיַעֲקֹבJacobעָלַיupon meלְהַשְׁלִיםto fulfillאֶת־מִצְוַתthe commandment ofאָחִיmy brotherנֶפִי׃Nephi

   Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi.

9. 9

   וְעַתָּהand nowהֵחֵלbeganנֶפִיNephiלִזְקֹןto be oldוַיַּרְאand sawכִּיthatקָרוֹבnearלָמוּתto dieוְעַל־כֵּןwhereforeמָשַׁחhe anointedאִישׁa manלִהְיוֹתto beמֶלֶךְa kingוּמוֹשֵׁלand a rulerעַל־עַמּוֹover his peopleכְּפִיaccording toמַמְלְכוֹתthe reigns ofהַמְּלָכִים׃the kings

   Now Nephi began to be old, and he saw that he must soon die; wherefore, he anointed a man to be a king and a ruler over his people now, according to the reigns of the kings.

10. 10

    וַיֶּאֱהֲבוּand lovedהָעָםthe peopleאֶת־נֶפִיNephiאַהֲבָהwith a loveעַזָּהstrongכִּיforהָיָהhe wasמָגֵןa protectorגָּדוֹלgreatלָהֶםunto themוַיָּנֶףand wieldedאֶת־חֶרֶבthe sword ofלָבָןLabanלְהָגֵןto protectעֲלֵיהֶםupon themוַיַּעֲבֹדand he did laborכׇּל־יָמָיוall his daysלְטוֹבָתָם׃for their welfare

    The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban in their defence, and having labored in all his days for their welfare—

11. 11

    וְעַל־כֵּןwhereforeחָפֵץdesiredהָעָםthe peopleלִשְׁמֹרto keepאֶת־שְׁמוֹhis nameלְזִכָּרוֹןin remembranceוְנִקְרָאand was calledכׇל־אֲשֶׁרall whoיִמְלֹךְshould reignתַּחְתָּיוin his steadבְּפִיby the mouth ofהָעָםthe peopleנֶפִיNephiהַשֵּׁנִיthe SecondנֶפִיNephiהַשְּׁלִישִׁיthe Thirdוְכֵןand soהָלְאָהforthכְּפִיaccording toמַמְלְכוֹתthe reigns ofהַמְּלָכִיםthe kingsוְכָכָהand thusנִקְרְאוּthey were calledבְּפִיby the mouth ofהָעָםthe peopleיִהְיֶהshall beשְׁמָםtheir nameאֲשֶׁרwhichיִהְיֶה׃shall be

    Wherefore, the people were desirous to retain in remembrance his name. And whoso should reign in his stead were called by the people, second Nephi, third Nephi, and so forth, according to the reigns of the kings; and thus they were called by the people, let them be of whatever name they would.

12. 12

    וַיְהִיand it happenedכִּי־מֵתthat diedנֶפִי׃Nephi

    And it came to pass that Nephi died.

13. 13

    וְעַתָּהand nowהָעָםthe peopleאֲשֶׁרwhoלֹא־הָיוּwere notלָמָנִיםLamanitesהָיוּwereנֶפִיִּיםNephitesוּבְכׇל־זֹאתand in all thisנִקְרְאוּthey were calledנֶפִיִּיםNephitesיַעֲקֹבִיםJacobitesיוֹסֵפִיםJosephitesזוֹרָמִיםZoramitesלָמָנִיםLamanitesלְמוּאֵלִיםLemuelitesוְיִשְׁמְעֵאלִים׃and Ishmaelites

    Now the people which were not Lamanites were Nephites; nevertheless, they were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.

14. 14

    וְלֹאand notאַבְדִּילshall I distinguishאֲנִיIיַעֲקֹבJacobאוֹתָםthemעוֹדany moreבַּשֵּׁמוֹתby the namesהָאֵלֶּהtheseכִּיbutאֶקְרָאI shall callלָמָנִיםLamanitesלְכׇל־הַמְבַקְשִׁיםall who seekלְהַשְׁמִידto destroyאֶת־עַםthe people ofנֶפִיNephiוְהַיְדִידִיםand the friendsלְנֶפִיof NephiאֶקְרָאI shall callנֶפִיִּיםNephitesאוֹorעַם־נֶפִיthe people of Nephiכְּפִיaccording toמַמְלְכוֹתthe reigns ofהַמְּלָכִים׃the kings

    But I, Jacob, shall not hereafter distinguish them by these names, but I shall call them Lamanites that seek to destroy the people of Nephi, and those who are friendly to Nephi I shall call Nephites, or the people of Nephi, according to the reigns of the kings.

15. 15

    וְעַתָּהand nowהֵחֵלbeganעַם־נֶפִיthe people of Nephiתַּחַתunderמֶמְשֶׁלֶתthe reign ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingהַשֵּׁנִיthe secondלְהַקְשׁוֹתto hardenאֶת־לִבָּםtheir heartsוַיִּתְמַכְּרוּand indulged themselvesמְעַטsomewhatלְמַעֲשִׂיםin practicesרָעִיםevilכְּדָוִדlike Davidמִקֶּדֶםof oldבְּחֶפְצָםin desiringנָשִׁיםwivesוּפִילַגְשִׁיםand concubinesרַבּוֹתmanyוְגַםand alsoשְׁלֹמֹהSolomonבְּנוֹ׃his son

    And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.

16. 16

    וְגַםand alsoהֵחֵלּוּthey beganלְבַקֵּשׁto seekזָהָבgoldוָכֶסֶףand silverלָרֹבin abundanceוַיָּחֵלּוּand beganלְהִתְנַשֵּׂאto be lifted upמְעַטsomewhatבְּגָאוֹן׃in pride

    Yea, and they also began to search much gold and silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in pride.

17. 17

    וְעַל־כֵּןwhereforeנָתַתִּיI gaveאֲנִיIיַעֲקֹבJacobלָהֶםunto themאֶת־הַדְּבָרִיםthe wordsהָאֵלֶּהtheseכַּאֲשֶׁרasלִמַּדְתִּיםI taught themבַּהֵיכׇלin the templeאַחֲרֵיafterקִבְּלִיmy having receivedאֶת־מַשָּׂאִיmy errandמֵאֵתfromיְהוָה׃the Lord

    Wherefore I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I taught them in the temple, having first obtained mine errand from the Lord.

18. 18

    כִּיforהֻקְדַּשְׁנוּwe were consecratedאֲנִיIיַעֲקֹבJacobוְיוֹסֵףand Josephאָחִיmy brotherלְכֹהֲנִיםas priestsוּמוֹרִיםand teachersלָעָםunto the peopleהַזֶּהthisבְּיַדby the hand ofנֶפִי׃Nephi

    For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi.

19. 19

    וַנְּגַדֵּלand we magnifiedאֶת־עֲבוֹדָתֵנוּour officeלַיהוָהunto the Lordוַנִּקַּחand we tookעָלֵינוּupon ourselvesלָשֵׂאתto bearאֶת־חַטֹּאתthe sins ofהָעָםthe peopleעַל־רָאשֵׁינוּupon our headsאִם־לֹאexceptנְלַמְּדֵםwe should teach themאֶת־דְּבַר־אֱלֹהִיםthe word of Godבְּכׇל־חָרִיצוּתwith all diligenceוְעַל־כֵּןwhereforeבַּעֲבוֹדָתֵנוּin our serviceבְּכֹחֵנוּwith our mightלֹאnotבּוֹאcomeיָבוֹאshould comeדָמָםtheir bloodעַל־בְּגָדֵינוּupon our garmentsוְאִם־לֹאand if notכֵןsoבּוֹאcomeיָבוֹאwould comeדָמָםtheir bloodעַל־בְּגָדֵינוּupon our garmentsוְלֹאand notנִמָּצֵאbe foundנְקִיִּיםspotlessבַּיּוֹםat the dayהָאַחֲרוֹן׃the last

    And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.