Genesis 21 בְּרֵאשִׁית פרק כ״א

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

1. 1

   וַיהֹוָהve-Adonaiand the LORDפָּקַדpa/KADvisitedאֶת־שָׂרָהet-Sa/RASarahכַּאֲשֶׁרka/a/SHERasאָמָרa/MARHe had saidוַיַּעַשׂvay/YA/asand didיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDלְשָׂרָהle/Sa/RAto Sarahכַּאֲשֶׁרka/a/SHERasדִּבֵּר׃dib/BERHe had spoken

   And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

2. 2

   וַתַּהַרvat/TA/harand she conceivedוַתֵּלֶדvat/TE/ledand boreשָׂרָהSa/RASarahלְאַבְרָהָםle/Av/ra/HAMto Abrahamבֵּןbena sonלִזְקֻנָיוliz/ku/NAYVin his old ageלַמּוֹעֵדlam/mo/EDat the set timeאֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּרa/SHER-dib/BERof which had spokenאֹתוֹo/TOto himאֱלֹהִים׃e/lo/HIMGod

   For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

3. 3

   וַיִּקְרָאvay/yik/RAand calledאַבְרָהָםAv/ra/HAMAbrahamאֶת־שֶׁם־בְּנוֹet-shem-be/NOthe name of his sonהַנּוֹלַד־לוֹhan/no/LAD-lothat was born to himאֲשֶׁר־יָלְדָה־לּוֹa/SHER-ya/le/DA-lowhom bore to himשָׂרָהSa/RASarahיִצְחָק׃Yits/CHAKIsaac

   And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

4. 4

   וַיָּמׇלvay/YA/moland he circumcisedאַבְרָהָםAv/ra/HAMAbrahamאֶת־יִצְחָקet-Yits/CHAKIsaacבְּנוֹbe/NOhis sonבֶּן־שְׁמֹנַתben-she/mo/NATa son of eightיָמִיםya/MIMdaysכַּאֲשֶׁרka/a/SHERasצִוָּהtsiv/VAcommandedאֹתוֹo/TOhimאֱלֹהִים׃e/lo/HIMGod

   And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

5. 5

   וְאַבְרָהָםve/Av/ra/HAMand Abrahamבֶּן־מְאַתben-me/ATa son of a hundredשָׁנָהsha/NAyearsבְּהִוָּלֶדbe/hiv/VA/ledwhen was bornלוֹloto himאֵת־יִצְחָקet-Yits/CHAKIsaacבְּנוֹ׃be/NOhis son

   And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

6. 6

   וַתֹּאמֶרvat/TO/merand saidשָׂרָהSa/RASarahצְחֹקtse/CHOKlaughterעָשָׂהa/SAhas madeלִיlifor meאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodכׇּל־הַשֹּׁמֵעַkol-hash/sho/ME/aall that hearיִצְחַק־לִי׃yits/CHAK-liwill laugh with me

   And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.

7. 7

   וַתֹּאמֶרvat/TO/merand saidמִיmiwhoמִלֵּלmil/LELwould have saidלְאַבְרָהָםle/Av/ra/HAMto Abrahamהֵינִיקָהhe/NI/kashould give suck toבָנִיםva/NIMchildrenשָׂרָהSa/RASarahכִּי־יָלַדְתִּיki-ya/LAD/tifor I have borneבֵןvena sonלִזְקֻנָיו׃liz/ku/NAYVin his old age

   And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

8. 8

   וַיִּגְדַּלvay/yig/DALand grewהַיֶּלֶדhay/YE/ledthe childוַיִּגָּמַלvay/yig/ga/MALand was weanedוַיַּעַשׂvay/YA/asand he madeאַבְרָהָםAv/ra/HAMAbrahamמִשְׁתֶּהmish/TEa feastגָדוֹלga/DOLgreatבְּיוֹםbe/YOMon the dayהִגָּמֵלhig/ga/MELthat was weanedאֶת־יִצְחָק׃et-Yits/CHAKIsaac

   And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.

9. 9

   וַתֵּרֶאvat/TE/reand sawשָׂרָהSa/RASarahאֶת־בֶּן־הָגָרet-Ben-ha/GARthe son of Hagarהַמִּצְרִיתham/Mits/RITthe Egyptianאֲשֶׁר־יָלְדָהa/SHER-ya/le/DAwhom she had borneלְאַבְרָהָםle/Av/ra/HAMto Abrahamמְצַחֵק׃me/tsa/CHEKmocking

   And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

10. 10

    וַתֹּאמֶרvat/TO/merand saidלְאַבְרָהָםle/Av/ra/HAMto Abrahamגָּרֵשׁga/RESHcast outהָאָמָהha/a/MAthe bondwomanהַזֹּאתhaz/ZOTthisוְאֶת־בְּנָהּve/ET-be/NAand her sonכִּיkiforלֹאlonotיִירַשׁYI/rashshall be heirבֶּן־הָאָמָהben-ha/a/MAthe son of the bondwomanהַזֹּאתhaz/ZOTthisעִם־בְּנִיim-be/NIwith my sonעִם־יִצְחָק׃im-Yits/CHAKwith Isaac

    Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

11. 11

    וַיֵּרַעvay/YE/raand was grievousהַדָּבָרhad/da/VARthe thingמְאֹדme/ODexceedinglyבְּעֵינֵיbe/e/NEin the eyes ofאַבְרָהָםAv/ra/HAMAbrahamעַלalbecauseאוֹדֹתo/DOTofבְּנוֹ׃be/NOhis son

    And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

12. 12

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodאֶל־אַבְרָהָםel-Av/ra/HAMto Abrahamאַל־יֵרַעal-ye/RAlet it not be grievousבְּעֵינֶיךָbe/e/NE/khain your eyesעַל־הַנַּעַרal-han/NA/arbecause of the ladוְעַל־אֲמָתֶךָve/AL-a/ma/TE/khaand because of your bondwomanכֹּלkolallאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatתֹּאמַרto/MARhas saidאֵלֶיךָe/LE/khato youשָׂרָהSa/RASarahשְׁמַעshe/MAhearkenבְּקֹלָהּbe/ko/LAto her voiceכִּיkiforבְיִצְחָקve/Yits/CHAKin Isaacיִקָּרֵאyik/ka/REshall be calledלְךָle/KHAto youזָרַע׃ZA/raseed

    And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

13. 13

    וְגַםve/GAMand alsoאֶת־בֶּן־הָאָמָהet-ben-ha/a/MAthe son of the bondwomanלְגוֹיle/GOYa nationאֲשִׂימֶנּוּa/si/MEN/nuI will make himכִּיkibecauseזַרְעֲךָzar/a/KHAyour seedהוּא׃huhe is

    And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

14. 14

    וַיַּשְׁכֵּםvay/yash/KEMand he rose earlyאַבְרָהָםAv/ra/HAMAbrahamבַּבֹּקֶרbab/BO/kerin the morningוַיִּקַּח־לֶחֶםvay/yik/KACH-LE/chemand took breadוְחֵמַתve/CHE/matand a bottle ofמַיִםMA/yimwaterוַיִּתֵּןvay/yit/TENand gaveאֶל־הָגָרel-Ha/GARto Hagarשָׂםsamputting itעַל־שִׁכְמָהּal-shikh/MAon her shoulderוְאֶת־הַיֶּלֶדve/ET-hay/YE/ledand the childוַיְשַׁלְּחֶהָvay/shal/le/CHE/haand sent her awayוַתֵּלֶךְvat/TE/lekhand she wentוַתֵּתַעvat/TE/taand wanderedבְּמִדְבַּרbe/mid/BARin the wilderness ofבְּאֵרBe/ERBeer-שָׁבַע׃SHA/vasheba

    And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.

15. 15

    וַיִּכְלוּvay/yikh/LUand were spentהַמַּיִםham/MA/yimthe watersמִן־הַחֵמֶתmin-ha/CHE/metin the bottleוַתַּשְׁלֵךְvat/tash/LEKHand she castאֶת־הַיֶּלֶדet-hay/YE/ledthe childתַּחַתTA/chatunderאַחַדa/CHADone ofהַשִּׂיחִם׃has/si/CHIMthe bushes

    And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.

16. 16

    וַתֵּלֶךְvat/TE/lekhand she wentוַתֵּשֶׁבvat/TE/shevand she satלָהּlaher downמִנֶּגֶדmin/NE/gedover againstהַרְחֵקhar/CHEKa good way offכִּמְטַחֲוֵיkim/ta/cha/VElike the shooters ofקֶשֶׁתKE/sheta bowכִּיkiforאָמְרָהa/me/RAshe saidאַל־אֶרְאֶהal-er/Elet me not seeבְּמוֹתbe/MOTthe death ofהַיָּלֶדhay/YA/ledthe childוַתֵּשֶׁבvat/TE/shevand she satמִנֶּגֶדmin/NE/gedover againstוַתִּשָּׂאvat/tis/SAand she lifted upאֶת־קֹלָהּet-ko/LAher voiceוַתֵּבְךְּ׃vat/TEVKand she wept

    And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.

17. 17

    וַיִּשְׁמַעvay/yish/MAand heardאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodאֶת־קוֹלet-kolthe voice ofהַנַּעַרhan/NA/arthe ladוַיִּקְרָאvay/yik/RAand calledמַלְאַךְmal/AKHthe angel ofאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodאֶל־הָגָרel-Ha/GARto Hagarמִן־הַשָּׁמַיִםmin-hash/sha/MA/yimout of heavenוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidלָהּlato herמַה־לָּךְma-lakhwhat ails youהָגָרHa/GARHagarאַל־תִּירְאִיal-ti/re/Ifear notכִּי־שָׁמַעki-sha/MAfor has heardאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodאֶל־קוֹלel-kolto the voice ofהַנַּעַרhan/NA/arthe ladבַּאֲשֶׁרba/a/SHERwhereהוּא־שָׁם׃hu-shamhe is

    And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

18. 18

    קוּמִיKU/miariseשְׂאִיse/Ilift upאֶת־הַנַּעַרet-han/NA/arthe ladוְהַחֲזִיקִיve/ha/cha/ZI/kiand holdאֶת־יָדֵךְet-ya/DEKHyour handבּוֹboon himכִּי־לְגוֹיki-le/GOYfor a nationגָּדוֹלga/DOLgreatאֲשִׂימֶנּוּ׃a/si/MEN/nuI will make him

    Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

19. 19

    וַיִּפְקַחvay/yif/KACHand openedאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodאֶת־עֵינֶיהָet-e/NE/haher eyesוַתֵּרֶאvat/TE/reand sawבְּאֵרbe/ERa well ofמָיִםMA/yimwaterוַתֵּלֶךְvat/TE/lekhand she wentוַתְּמַלֵּאvat/te/mal/LEand filledאֶת־הַחֵמֶתet-ha/CHE/metthe skinמַיִםMA/yimwaterוַתַּשְׁקְvat/TASHKand gave to drinkאֶת־הַנָּעַר׃et-han/NA/arthe lad

    And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

20. 20

    וַיְהִיvay/HIand wasאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodאֶת־הַנַּעַרet-han/NA/arwith the ladוַיִּגְדָּלvay/yig/DALand he grewוַיֵּשֶׁבvay/YE/shevand he dweltבַּמִּדְבָּרbam/mid/BARin the wildernessוַיְהִיvay/HIand becameרֹבֶהro/VEan archerקַשָּׁת׃kash/SHATwith the bow

    And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

21. 21

    וַיֵּשֶׁבvay/YE/shevand he dweltבְּמִדְבַּרbe/mid/BARin the wilderness ofפָּארָןPa/RANParanוַתִּקַּח־לוֹvat/tik/KACH-loand took for himאִמּוֹim/MOhis motherאִשָּׁהish/SHAa wifeמֵאֶרֶץme/E/retsfrom the land ofמִצְרָיִם׃Mits/RA/yimEgypt

    And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

22. 22

    וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passבָּעֵתba/ETat the timeהַהִואha/HIVthatוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאֲבִימֶלֶךְA/vi/ME/lekhAbimelechוּפִיכֹלu/Fi/KHOLand Phicholשַׂר־צְבָאוֹsar-tse/va/Othe captain of his hostאֶל־אַבְרָהָםel-Av/ra/HAMto Abrahamלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodעִמְּךָim/me/KHAis with youבְּכֹלbe/KHOLin allאֲשֶׁר־אַתָּהa/SHER-at/TAthat youעֹשֶׂה׃o/SEdo

    And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:

23. 23

    וְעַתָּהve/at/TAand nowהִשָּׁבְעָהhish/SHAV/aswearלִּיlito meבֵאלֹהִיםve/lo/HIMby GodהֵנָּהHEN/nahereאִם־תִּשְׁקֹרim-tish/KORthat you will not deal falselyלִיlito meוּלְנִינִיu/le/ni/NInor with my offspringוּלְנֶכְדִּיu/le/nekh/DInor with my posterityכַּחֶסֶדka/CHE/sedaccording to the kindnessאֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂיתִיa/SHER-a/SI/tithat I have doneעִמְּךָim/me/KHAwith youתַּעֲשֶׂהta/a/SEyou shall doעִמָּדִיim/ma/DIwith meוְעִם־הָאָרֶץve/IM-ha/A/retsand to the landאֲשֶׁר־גַּרְתָּהa/SHER-GAR/tawhere you have sojournedבָּהּ׃bain it

    Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

24. 24

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאַבְרָהָםAv/ra/HAMAbrahamאָנֹכִיa/no/KHIIאִשָּׁבֵעַ׃ish/sha/VE/awill swear

    And Abraham said, I will swear.

25. 25

    וְהוֹכִחַve/ho/KHI/achand reprovedאַבְרָהָםAv/ra/HAMAbrahamאֶת־אֲבִימֶלֶךְet-A/vi/ME/lekhAbimelechעַל־אֹדוֹתal-o/DOTbecause ofבְּאֵרbe/ERa well ofהַמַּיִםham/MA/yimwaterאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichגָּזְלוּga/ze/LUhad violently taken awayעַבְדֵיav/DEthe servants ofאֲבִימֶלֶךְ׃A/vi/ME/lekhAbimelech

    And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.

26. 26

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאֲבִימֶלֶךְA/vi/ME/lekhAbimelechלֹאlonotיָדַעְתִּיya/DA/tiI knowמִיmiwhoעָשָׂהa/SAhas doneאֶת־הַדָּבָרet-had/da/VARthe thingהַזֶּהhaz/ZEthisוְגַם־אַתָּהve/GAM-at/TAand also youלֹא־הִגַּדְתָּlo-hig/GAD/tayou did not tellלִּיlito meוְגַםve/GAMand alsoאָנֹכִיa/no/KHIIלֹאlonotשָׁמַעְתִּיsha/MA/tiheard I of itבִּלְתִּיbil/TIbutהַיּוֹם׃hay/YOMtoday

    And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.

27. 27

    וַיִּקַּחvay/yik/KACHand tookאַבְרָהָםAv/ra/HAMAbrahamצֹאןtsonflocksוּבָקָרu/va/KARand herdsוַיִּתֵּןvay/yit/TENand gave themלַאֲבִימֶלֶךְla/A/vi/ME/lekhto Abimelechוַיִּכְרְתוּvay/yikh/re/TUand madeשְׁנֵיהֶםshe/ne/HEMboth of themבְּרִית׃be/RITa covenant

    And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.

28. 28

    וַיַּצֵּבvay/yats/TSEVand setאַבְרָהָםAv/ra/HAMAbrahamאֶת־שֶׁבַעet-SHE/vasevenכִּבְשֹׂתkiv/SOTewe lambs ofהַצֹּאןhats/TSONthe flockלְבַדְּהֶן׃le/vad/de/HENby themselves

    And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

29. 29

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאֲבִימֶלֶךְA/vi/ME/lekhAbimelechאֶל־אַבְרָהָםel-Av/ra/HAMto AbrahamמָהmawhatהֵנָּהHEN/naare theseשֶׁבַעSHE/vasevenכְּבָשֹׂתke/va/SOTewe lambsהָאֵלֶּהha/EL/letheseאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichהִצַּבְתָּhits/TSAV/tayou have setלְבַדָּנָה׃le/vad/DA/naby themselves

    And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

30. 30

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidכִּיkithatאֶת־שֶׁבַעet-SHE/vasevenכְּבָשֹׂתke/va/SOTewe lambsתִּקַּחtik/KACHyou shall takeמִיָּדִיmiy/ya/DIat my handבַּעֲבוּרba/a/VURthatתִּהְיֶה־לִּיtih/YE-liit may be to meלְעֵדָהle/e/DAa witnessכִּיkithatחָפַרְתִּיcha/FAR/tiI have dugאֶת־הַבְּאֵרet-hab/be/ERthe wellהַזֹּאת׃haz/ZOTthis

    And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

31. 31

    עַל־כֵּןal-kenthereforeקָרָאka/RAcalledלַמָּקוֹםlam/ma/KOMthe placeהַהוּאha/HUthatבְּאֵרBe/ERBeer-שָׁבַעSHA/vashebaכִּיkibecauseשָׁםshamthereנִשְׁבְּעוּnish/be/Uthey sworeשְׁנֵיהֶם׃she/ne/HEMboth of them

    Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them.

32. 32

    וַיִּכְרְתוּvay/yikh/re/TUand madeבְרִיתve/RITa covenantבִּבְאֵרBiv/ERat Beer-שָׁבַעSHA/vashebaוַיָּקׇםvay/YA/komand rose upאֲבִימֶלֶךְA/vi/ME/lekhAbimelechוּפִיכֹלu/Fi/KHOLand Phicholשַׂר־צְבָאוֹsar-tse/va/Othe captain of his hostוַיָּשֻׁבוּvay/ya/SHU/vuand they returnedאֶל־אֶרֶץel-E/retsto the land ofפְּלִשְׁתִּים׃Pe/lish/TIMthe Philistines

    Thus they made a covenant at Beer-sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.

33. 33

    וַיִּטַּעvay/yit/TAand plantedאֶשֶׁלE/shela tamariskבִּבְאֵרBiv/ERat Beer-שָׁבַעSHA/vashebaוַיִּקְרָא־שָׁםvay/yik/RA-shamand he called thereבְּשֵׁםbe/SHEMupon the name ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֵלelGodעוֹלָם׃o/LAMeverlasting

    And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.

34. 34

    וַיָּגׇרvay/YA/gorand he sojournedאַבְרָהָםAv/ra/HAMAbrahamבְּאֶרֶץbe/E/retsin the land ofפְּלִשְׁתִּיםPe/lish/TIMthe Philistinesיָמִיםya/MIMdaysרַבִּים׃rab/BIMmany

    And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.