Genesis 12 בְּרֵאשִׁית פרק י״ב

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Genesis 12 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶל־אַבְרָםel-Av/RAMto Abramלֶךְ־לְךָlekh-le/KHAgo youמֵאַרְצְךָme/ar/tse/KHAfrom your landוּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָu/mim/mo/lad/te/KHAand from your kindredוּמִבֵּיתu/mib/BETand from the house ofאָבִיךָa/VI/khayour fatherאֶל־הָאָרֶץel-ha/A/retsto the landאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatאַרְאֶךָּ׃ar/EK/kaI will show you

   Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

2. 2

   וְאֶעֶשְׂךָve/e/es/KHAand I will make youלְגוֹיle/GOYa nationגָּדוֹלga/DOLgreatוַאֲבָרֶכְךָva/a/va/rekh/KHAand I will bless youוַאֲגַדְּלָהva/a/gad/de/LAand I will make greatשְׁמֶךָshe/ME/khayour nameוֶהְיֵהveh/YEand beבְּרָכָה׃be/ra/KHAa blessing

   And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3. 3

   וַאֲבָרְכָהva/a/va/re/KHAand I will blessמְבָרְכֶיךָme/va/re/KHE/khathose who bless youוּמְקַלֶּלְךָu/me/kal/lel/KHAand him who curses youאָאֹרa/ORI will curseוְנִבְרְכוּve/niv/re/KHUand shall be blessedבְךָve/KHAin youכֹּלkolallמִשְׁפְּחֹתmish/pe/CHOTthe families ofהָאֲדָמָה׃ha/a/da/MAthe earth

   And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4. 4

   וַיֵּלֶךְvay/YE/lekhand wentאַבְרָםAv/RAMAbramכַּאֲשֶׁרka/a/SHERasדִּבֶּרdib/BERhad spokenאֵלָיוe/LAYVto himיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוַיֵּלֶךְvay/YE/lekhand wentאִתּוֹit/TOwith himלוֹטLotLotוְאַבְרָםve/Av/RAMand Abramבֶּן־חָמֵשׁben-cha/MESHa son of fiveשָׁנִיםsha/NIMyearsוְשִׁבְעִיםve/shiv/IMand seventyשָׁנָהsha/NAyearsבְּצֵאתוֹbe/tse/TOwhen he went outמֵחָרָן׃me/Cha/RANfrom Haran

   So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

5. 5

   וַיִּקַּחvay/yik/KACHand tookאַבְרָםAv/RAMAbramאֶת־שָׂרַיet-Sa/RAYSaraiאִשְׁתּוֹish/TOhis wifeוְאֶת־לוֹטve/ET-lotand Lotבֶּן־אָחִיוben-a/CHIVhis brother's sonוְאֶת־כׇּל־רְכוּשָׁםve/ET-kol-re/khu/SHAMand all their possessionsאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatרָכָשׁוּra/KHA/shuthey had gatheredוְאֶת־הַנֶּפֶשׁve/ET-han/NE/feshand the soulsאֲשֶׁר־עָשׂוּa/SHER-a/SUthat they had madeבְחָרָןve/Cha/RANin Haranוַיֵּצְאוּvay/yets/Uand they went forthלָלֶכֶתla/LE/khetto goאַרְצָהAR/tsainto the land ofכְּנַעַןKe/NA/anCanaanוַיָּבֹאוּvay/ya/VO/uand they cameאַרְצָהAR/tsainto the land ofכְּנָעַן׃Ke/NA/anCanaan

   And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

6. 6

   וַיַּעֲבֹרvay/ya/a/VORand passed throughאַבְרָםAv/RAMAbramבָּאָרֶץba/A/retsin the landעַדaduntoמְקוֹםme/KOMthe place ofשְׁכֶםShe/KHEMShechemעַדaduntoאֵלוֹןe/LONthe oak ofמוֹרֶהMo/REMorehוְהַכְּנַעֲנִיve/hak/Ke/na/a/NIand the Canaaniteאָזazthen wasבָּאָרֶץ׃ba/A/retsin the land

   And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

7. 7

   וַיֵּרָאvay/ye/RAand appearedיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶל־אַבְרָםel-Av/RAMto Abramוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidלְזַרְעֲךָle/zar/a/KHAto your seedאֶתֵּןet/TENI will giveאֶת־הָאָרֶץet-ha/A/retsthe landהַזֹּאתhaz/ZOTthisוַיִּבֶןvay/YI/venand builtשָׁםshamthereמִזְבֵּחַmiz/BE/achan altarלַיהֹוָהla-Adonaito the LORDהַנִּרְאֶהhan/nir/Ewho had appearedאֵלָיו׃e/LAYVto him

   And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

8. 8

   וַיַּעְתֵּקvay/ya/TEKand he removedמִשָּׁםmish/SHAMfrom thereהָהָרָהha/HA/rato the mountainמִקֶּדֶםmik/KE/demon the east ofלְבֵית־אֵלLe/VET-elBeth-elוַיֵּטvay/YETand he pitchedאׇהֳלֹהo/ho/LOhis tentבֵּית־אֵלBet-elBeth-elמִיָּםmiy/YAMon the westוְהָעַיve/Ha/AYand Aiמִקֶּדֶםmik/KE/demon the eastוַיִּבֶן־שָׁםvay/YI/ven-shamand he built thereמִזְבֵּחַmiz/BE/achan altarלַיהֹוָהla-Adonaito the LORDוַיִּקְרָאvay/yik/RAand calledבְּשֵׁםbe/SHEMupon the name ofיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

   And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

9. 9

   וַיִּסַּעvay/yis/SAand he journeyedאַבְרָםAv/RAMAbramהָלוֹךְha/LOKHgoingוְנָסוֹעַve/na/SO/aand journeyingהַנֶּגְבָּה׃han/NEG/batoward the Negev

   And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

10. 10

    וַיְהִיvay/HIand there wasרָעָבra/AVa famineבָּאָרֶץba/A/retsin the landוַיֵּרֶדvay/YE/redand went downאַבְרָםAv/RAMAbramמִצְרַיְמָהMits/RAY/mato Egyptלָגוּרla/GURto sojournשָׁםshamthereכִּי־כָבֵדki-kha/VEDfor heavy wasהָרָעָבha/ra/AVthe famineבָּאָרֶץ׃ba/A/retsin the land

    And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

11. 11

    וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passכַּאֲשֶׁרka/a/SHERasהִקְרִיבhik/RIVhe came nearלָבוֹאla/VOto enterמִצְרָיְמָהMits/RAY/mato Egyptוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאֶל־שָׂרַיel-Sa/RAYto Saraiאִשְׁתּוֹish/TOhis wifeהִנֵּה־נָאhin/NE-nabehold nowיָדַעְתִּיya/DA/tiI knowכִּיkithatאִשָּׁהish/SHAa womanיְפַת־מַרְאֶהye/FAT-mar/Efair of appearanceאָתְּ׃attyou are

    And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

12. 12

    וְהָיָהve/ha/YAand it shall beכִּי־יִרְאוּki-yir/Uwhen shall seeאֹתָךְo/TAKHyouהַמִּצְרִיםham/Mits/RIMthe Egyptiansוְאָמְרוּve/a/me/RUthat they shall sayאִשְׁתּוֹish/TOhis wifeזֹאתzotthis isוְהָרְגוּve/ha/re/GUand they will slayאֹתִיo/TImeוְאֹתָךְve/o/TAKHand youיְחַיּוּ׃ye/chay/YUthey will save alive

    Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

13. 13

    אִמְרִי־נָאim/RI-nasay I prayאֲחֹתִיa/cho/TImy sisterאָתְּattyou areלְמַעַןle/MA/anin order thatיִיטַב־לִיyi/TAV-liit may be well with meבַעֲבוּרֵךְva/a/vu/REKHfor your sakeוְחָיְתָהve/cha/ye/TAand shall liveנַפְשִׁיnaf/SHImy soulבִּגְלָלֵךְ׃big/la/LEKHbecause of you

    Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

14. 14

    וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passכְּבוֹאke/VOwhen cameאַבְרָםAv/RAMAbramמִצְרָיְמָהMits/RAY/mato Egyptוַיִּרְאוּvay/yir/Uand they sawהַמִּצְרִיםham/Mits/RIMthe Egyptiansאֶת־הָאִשָּׁהet-ha/ish/SHAthe womanכִּי־יָפָהki-ya/FAthat fairהִואhivshe wasמְאֹד׃me/ODexceedingly

    And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

15. 15

    וַיִּרְאוּvay/yir/Uand they sawאֹתָהּo/TAherשָׂרֵיsa/REthe princes ofפַרְעֹהFar/OPharaohוַיְהַלְלוּvay/hal/LUand praisedאֹתָהּo/TAherאֶל־פַּרְעֹהel-Par/Oto Pharaohוַתֻּקַּחvat/tuk/KACHand she was takenהָאִשָּׁהha/ish/SHAthe womanבֵּיתbetthe house ofפַּרְעֹה׃Par/OPharaoh

    The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.

16. 16

    וּלְאַבְרָםu/Le/av/RAMand to Abramהֵיטִיבhe/TIVhe dealt wellבַּעֲבוּרָהּba/a/vu/RAfor her sakeוַיְהִי־לוֹvay/HI-loand he hadצֹאן־וּבָקָרtson-u/va/KARflocks and herdsוַחֲמֹרִיםva/cha/mo/RIMand he-assesוַעֲבָדִיםva/a/va/DIMand menservantsוּשְׁפָחֹתu/she/fa/CHOTand maidservantsוַאֲתֹנֹתva/a/to/NOTand she-assesוּגְמַלִּים׃u/ge/mal/LIMand camels

    And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

17. 17

    וַיְנַגַּעvay/nag/GAand plaguedיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶת־פַּרְעֹהet-Par/OPharaohנְגָעִיםne/ga/IMwith plaguesגְּדֹלִיםge/do/LIMgreatוְאֶת־בֵּיתוֹve/ET-be/TOand his houseעַל־דְּבַרal-de/VARbecause ofשָׂרַיSa/RAYSaraiאֵשֶׁתE/shetthe wife ofאַבְרָם׃Av/RAMAbram

    And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.

18. 18

    וַיִּקְרָאvay/yik/RAand calledפַרְעֹהFar/OPharaohלְאַבְרָםLe/av/RAMAbramוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidמַה־זֹּאתma-zotwhat is thisעָשִׂיתָa/SI/tahave you doneלִּיlito meלָמָּהLAM/mawhyלֹא־הִגַּדְתָּlo-hig/GAD/tadid you not tellלִּיlito meכִּיkithatאִשְׁתְּךָish/te/KHAyour wifeהִוא׃hivshe was

    And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?

19. 19

    לָמָהla/MAwhyאָמַרְתָּa/MAR/tadid you sayאֲחֹתִיa/cho/TImy sisterהִואhivshe isוָאֶקַּחva/ek/KACHso I might have takenאֹתָהּo/TAherלִיlito meלְאִשָּׁהle/ish/SHAto wifeוְעַתָּהve/at/TAand nowהִנֵּהhin/NEbeholdאִשְׁתְּךָish/te/KHAyour wifeקַחkachtakeוָלֵךְ׃va/LEKHand go

    Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.

20. 20

    וַיְצַוvay/TSAVand commandedעָלָיוa/LAYVconcerning himפַּרְעֹהPar/OPharaohאֲנָשִׁיםa/na/SHIMmenוַיְשַׁלְּחוּvay/shal/le/CHUand they sent awayאֹתוֹo/TOhimוְאֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹve/ET-ish/TOand his wifeוְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ׃ve/ET-kol-a/SHER-loand all that he had

    And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.