Deuteronomy 21 דְּבָרִים פרק כ״א

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Deuteronomy 21 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   כִּי־יִמָּצֵאki-yim/ma/TSEif is foundחָלָלcha/LALone slainבָּאֲדָמָהba/a/da/MAin the landאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָe/lo/HE/khayour Godנֹתֵןno/TENis givingלְךָle/KHAfor youלְרִשְׁתָּהּle/rish/TAto possess itנֹפֵלno/FELlyingבַּשָּׂדֶהbas/sa/DEin the fieldלֹאlonotנוֹדַעno/DAknownמִיmiwhoהִכָּהוּ׃hik/KA/hustruck him

   If one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him:

2. 2

   וְיָצְאוּve/ya/tse/Uthen shall go outזְקֵנֶיךָze/ke/NE/khayour eldersוְשֹׁפְטֶיךָve/shof/TE/khaand your judgesוּמָדְדוּu/ma/de/DUand they shall measureאֶל־הֶעָרִיםel-he/a/RIMto the citiesאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichסְבִיבֹתse/vi/VOTaroundהֶחָלָל׃he/cha/LALthe slain

   Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain:

3. 3

   וְהָיָהve/ha/YAand it shall beהָעִירha/IRthe cityהַקְּרֹבָהhak/ke/ro/VAthat is nearestאֶל־הֶחָלָלel-he/cha/LALto the slainוְלָקְחוּve/la/ke/CHUshall takeזִקְנֵיzik/NEthe elders ofהָעִירha/IRthe cityהַהִואha/HIVthatעֶגְלַתeg/LATa heifer ofבָּקָרba/KARthe herdאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichלֹא־עֻבַּדlo-ub/BADhas not been workedבָּהּbawith itאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichלֹא־מָשְׁכָהlo-ma/she/KHAhas not pulledבְּעֹל׃be/OLin a yoke

   And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;

4. 4

   וְהוֹרִדוּve/ho/RI/duand shall bring downזִקְנֵיzik/NEthe elders ofהָעִירha/IRthe cityהַהִואha/HIVthatאֶת־הָעֶגְלָהet-ha/eg/LAthe heiferאֶל־נַחַלel-NA/chalto a valleyאֵיתָןe/TANever-flowingאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichלֹא־יֵעָבֵדlo-ye/a/VEDis not workedבּוֹboin itוְלֹאve/LOand notיִזָּרֵעַyiz/za/RE/asownוְעָרְפוּ־שָׁםve/a/re/FU-shamand shall break the neck thereאֶת־הָעֶגְלָהet-ha/eg/LAof the heiferבַּנָּחַל׃ban/NA/chalin the valley

   And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley:

5. 5

   וְנִגְּשׁוּve/nig/ge/SHUand shall come nearהַכֹּהֲנִיםhak/ko/ha/NIMthe priestsבְּנֵיbe/NEthe sons ofלֵוִיLe/VILeviכִּיkiforבָםvamthemבָּחַרba/CHARhas chosenיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָe/lo/HE/khayour Godלְשׇׁרְתוֹle/shor/TOto minister to Himוּלְבָרֵךְu/le/va/REKHand to blessבְּשֵׁםbe/SHEMin the name ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוְעַל־פִּיהֶםve/AL-pi/HEMand by their wordיִהְיֶהyih/YEshall beכׇּל־רִיבkol-rivevery disputeוְכׇל־נָגַע׃ve/KHOL-na/GAand every stroke

   And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried:

6. 6

   וְכֹלve/KHOLand allזִקְנֵיzik/NEthe elders ofהָעִירha/IRthe cityהַהִואha/HIVthatהַקְּרֹבִיםhak/ke/ro/VIMthat are nearestאֶל־הֶחָלָלel-he/cha/LALto the slainיִרְחֲצוּyir/cha/TSUshall washאֶת־יְדֵיהֶםet-ye/de/HEMtheir handsעַל־הָעֶגְלָהal-ha/eg/LAupon the heiferהָעֲרוּפָהha/a/ru/FAwhose neck was brokenבַנָּחַל׃van/NA/chalin the valley

   And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

7. 7

   וְעָנוּve/a/NUand they shall answerוְאָמְרוּve/a/me/RUand sayיָדֵינוּya/DE/nuour handsלֹאlonot(שפכה)shafakhah[שָׁפְכוּ]sha/fe/KHUhave poured outאֶת־הַדָּםet-had/DAMthe bloodהַזֶּהhaz/ZEthisוְעֵינֵינוּve/e/NE/nuand our eyesלֹאlonotרָאוּ׃ra/Uhave seen

   And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.

8. 8

   כַּפֵּרkap/PERatoneלְעַמְּךָle/am/me/KHAfor Your peopleיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelאֲשֶׁר־פָּדִיתָa/SHER-pa/DI/tawhom You have redeemedיְהֹוָהAdonaiO LORDוְאַל־תִּתֵּןve/AL-tit/TENand do not layדָּםdambloodנָקִיna/KIinnocentבְּקֶרֶבbe/KE/revin the midst ofעַמְּךָam/me/KHAYour peopleיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelוְנִכַּפֵּרve/nik/kap/PERand shall be atonedלָהֶםla/HEMfor themהַדָּם׃had/DAMthe blood

   Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them.

9. 9

   וְאַתָּהve/at/TAso youתְּבַעֵרte/va/ERshall put awayהַדָּםhad/DAMthe bloodהַנָּקִיhan/na/KIthe innocentמִקִּרְבֶּךָmik/kir/BE/khafrom among youכִּי־תַעֲשֶׂהki-ta/a/SEwhen you doהַיָּשָׁרhay/ya/SHARwhat is rightבְּעֵינֵיbe/e/NEin the eyes ofיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

   So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.

10. 10

    כִּי־תֵצֵאki-te/TSEwhen you go outלַמִּלְחָמָהlam/mil/cha/MAto warעַל־אֹיְבֶיךָal-oy/VE/khaagainst your enemiesוּנְתָנוֹu/ne/ta/NOand gives themיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָe/lo/HE/khayour Godבְּיָדֶךָbe/ya/DE/khainto your handוְשָׁבִיתָve/sha/VI/taand you take captiveשִׁבְיוֹ׃shiv/YOits captives

    When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,

11. 11

    וְרָאִיתָve/ra/I/taand seeבַּשִּׁבְיָהbash/shiv/YAamong the captivesאֵשֶׁתE/sheta womanיְפַת־תֹּאַרye/FAT-TO/arbeautiful of formוְחָשַׁקְתָּve/cha/shak/TAand you desireבָהּvaherוְלָקַחְתָּve/la/kach/TAand would takeלְךָle/KHAfor yourselfלְאִשָּׁה׃le/ish/SHAas wife

    And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;

12. 12

    וַהֲבֵאתָהּva/ha/ve/TAthen you shall bring herאֶל־תּוֹךְel-tokhintoבֵּיתֶךָbe/TE/khayour houseוְגִלְּחָהve/gil/le/CHAand she shall shaveאֶת־רֹאשָׁהּet-ro/SHAher headוְעָשְׂתָהve/a/se/TAand pareאֶת־צִפׇּרְנֶיהָ׃et-tsip/por/ne/HAher nails

    Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails;

13. 13

    וְהֵסִירָהve/he/si/RAand she shall put offאֶת־שִׂמְלַתet-sim/LATthe garment ofשִׁבְיָהּshiv/YAher captivityמֵעָלֶיהָme/a/LE/hafrom herוְיָשְׁבָהve/ya/she/VAand shall remainבְּבֵיתֶךָbe/ve/TE/khain your houseוּבָכְתָהu/va/khe/TAand weep forאֶת־אָבִיהָet-a/VI/haher fatherוְאֶת־אִמָּהּve/ET-im/MAand her motherיֶרַחYE/racha month ofיָמִיםya/MIMdaysוְאַחַרve/a/CHARand afterכֵּןkenthatתָּבוֹאta/VOyou may go inאֵלֶיהָe/LE/hato herוּבְעַלְתָּהּu/ve/al/TAand be her husbandוְהָיְתָהve/ha/ye/TAand she shall beלְךָle/KHAto youלְאִשָּׁה׃le/ish/SHAas wife

    And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife.

14. 14

    וְהָיָהve/ha/YAand it shall beאִם־לֹאim-loif notחָפַצְתָּcha/FATS/tayou delightבָּהּbain herוְשִׁלַּחְתָּהּve/shil/lach/TAthen you shall let her goלְנַפְשָׁהּle/naf/SHAwhere she willוּמָכֹרu/ma/KHORbut sellלֹא־תִמְכְּרֶנָּהlo-tim/ke/REN/nayou shall not sell herבַּכָּסֶףbak/KA/seffor moneyלֹא־תִתְעַמֵּרlo-tit/am/MERyou shall not treat as a slaveבָּהּbaherתַּחַתTA/chatbecauseאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatעִנִּיתָהּ׃in/ni/TAyou have humbled her

    And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.

15. 15

    כִּי־תִהְיֶיןָki-tih/YE/naif hasלְאִישׁle/ISHa manשְׁתֵּיshtetwoנָשִׁיםna/SHIMwivesהָאַחַתha/a/CHATthe oneאֲהוּבָהa/hu/VAlovedוְהָאַחַתve/ha/a/CHATand the otherשְׂנוּאָהse/nu/Ahatedוְיָלְדוּ־לוֹve/ya/le/DU-loand they have borne himבָנִיםva/NIMsonsהָאֲהוּבָהha/a/hu/VAboth the lovedוְהַשְּׂנוּאָהve/has/se/nu/Aand the hatedוְהָיָהve/ha/YAand isהַבֵּןhab/BENthe sonהַבְּכֹרhab/be/KHORthe firstbornלַשְּׂנִיאָה׃las/se/ni/Aof the hated

    If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:

16. 16

    וְהָיָהve/ha/YAthen it shall beבְּיוֹםbe/YOMin the day ofהַנְחִילוֹhan/chi/LOhe makes inheritאֶת־בָּנָיוet-ba/NAYVhis sonsאֵת־אֲשֶׁר־יִהְיֶהet-a/SHER-yih/YEwhat shall beלוֹlohisלֹאlonotיוּכַלyu/KHALhe mayלְבַכֵּרle/vak/KERmake firstbornאֶת־בֶּן־הָאֲהוּבָהet-ben-ha/a/hu/VAthe son of the lovedעַל־פְּנֵיal-pe/NEbeforeבֶן־הַשְּׂנוּאָהven-has/se/nu/Athe son of the hatedהַבְּכֹר׃hab/be/KHORthe firstborn

    Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:

17. 17

    כִּיkibutאֶת־הַבְּכֹרet-hab/be/KHORthe firstbornבֶּן־הַשְּׂנוּאָהben-has/se/nu/Athe son of the hatedיַכִּירyak/KIRhe shall acknowledgeלָתֶתLA/tetby givingלוֹloto himפִּיpia portion ofשְׁנַיִםshe/NA/yimtwoבְּכֹלbe/KHOLof allאֲשֶׁר־יִמָּצֵאa/SHER-yim/ma/TSEthat is foundלוֹlowith himכִּי־הוּאki-hufor he isרֵאשִׁיתre/SHITthe beginning ofאֹנוֹo/NOhis strengthלוֹlohis isמִשְׁפַּטmish/PATthe right ofהַבְּכֹרָה׃hab/be/kho/RAthe firstborn

    But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

18. 18

    כִּי־יִהְיֶהki-yih/YEif hasלְאִישׁle/ISHa manבֵּןbena sonסוֹרֵרso/RERstubbornוּמוֹרֶהu/mo/REand rebelliousאֵינֶנּוּe/NEN/nuwho will notשֹׁמֵעַsho/ME/ahearkenבְּקוֹלbe/KOLto the voice ofאָבִיוa/VIVhis fatherוּבְקוֹלu/ve/KOLor the voice ofאִמּוֹim/MOhis motherוְיִסְּרוּve/yis/se/RUand they disciplineאֹתוֹo/TOhimוְלֹאve/LOand notיִשְׁמַעyish/MAhe will hearkenאֲלֵיהֶם׃a/le/HEMto them

    If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

19. 19

    וְתָפְשׂוּve/TAF/suthen shall lay holdבוֹvoof himאָבִיוa/VIVhis fatherוְאִמּוֹve/im/MOand his motherוְהוֹצִיאוּve/ho/TSI/uand bring outאֹתוֹo/TOhimאֶל־זִקְנֵיel-zik/NEto the elders ofעִירוֹi/ROhis cityוְאֶל־שַׁעַרve/EL-SHA/arand to the gate ofמְקֹמוֹ׃me/ko/MOhis place

    Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

20. 20

    וְאָמְרוּve/a/me/RUand they shall sayאֶל־זִקְנֵיel-zik/NEto the elders ofעִירוֹi/ROhis cityבְּנֵנוּbe/NE/nuour sonזֶהzethisסוֹרֵרso/RERstubbornוּמֹרֶהu/mo/REand rebelliousאֵינֶנּוּe/NEN/nuhe will notשֹׁמֵעַsho/ME/ahearkenבְּקֹלֵנוּbe/ko/LE/nuto our voiceזוֹלֵלzo/LELa gluttonוְסֹבֵא׃ve/so/VEand a drunkard

    And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

21. 21

    וּרְגָמֻהוּu/re/ga/mu/HUand shall stone himכׇּל־אַנְשֵׁיkol-an/SHEall the men ofעִירוֹi/ROhis cityבָאֲבָנִיםva/a/va/NIMwith stonesוָמֵתva/METthat he dieוּבִעַרְתָּu/vi/ar/TAso you shall put awayהָרָעha/RAthe evilמִקִּרְבֶּךָmik/kir/BE/khafrom among youוְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵלve/KHOL-yis/ra/ELand all Israelיִשְׁמְעוּyish/me/Ushall hearוְיִרָאוּ׃ve/yi/RA/uand fear

    And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

22. 22

    וְכִי־יִהְיֶהve/KHI-yih/YEand if there isבְאִישׁve/ISHin a manחֵטְאcheta sinמִשְׁפַּט־מָוֶתmish/PAT-MA/vetworthy of deathוְהוּמָתve/hu/MATand he is put to deathוְתָלִיתָve/ta/LI/taand you hangאֹתוֹo/TOhimעַל־עֵץ׃al-etson a tree

    And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:

23. 23

    לֹא־תָלִיןlo-ta/LINshall not remain all nightנִבְלָתוֹniv/la/TOhis bodyעַל־הָעֵץal-ha/ETSon the treeכִּי־קָבוֹרki-ka/VORbut buryתִּקְבְּרֶנּוּtik/be/REN/nuyou shall bury himבַּיּוֹםbay/YOMon the dayהַהוּאha/HUthatכִּי־קִלְלַתki-kil/LATfor the curse ofאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodתָּלוּיta/LUYis he who is hangedוְלֹאve/LOand notתְטַמֵּאte/tam/MEyou shall defileאֶת־אַדְמָתְךָet-ad/ma/te/KHAyour landאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָe/lo/HE/khayour Godנֹתֵןno/TENis givingלְךָle/KHAfor youנַחֲלָה׃na/cha/LAas an inheritance

    His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.