Genesis 21 בְּרֵאשִׁית פרק כ״א

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Genesis 21 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיהֹוָהand the LORDפָּקַדHe visitedאֶת־שָׂרָהSarahכַּאֲשֶׁרasאָמָרhe had saidוַיַּעַשׂand didיְהֹוָהthe LORDלְשָׂרָהto Sarahכַּאֲשֶׁרasדִּבֵּר׃spoke

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

2. 2

   וַתַּהַרand she conceivedוַתֵּלֶדand boreשָׂרָהSarahלְאַבְרָהָםunto Abrahamבֵּןa sonלִזְקֻנָיוin his old ageלַמּוֹעֵדto the timeאֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּרwhich spokeאֹתוֹhimאֱלֹהִים׃God

   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

   וַיִּקְרָאand calledאַבְרָהָםAbrahamאֶת־שֶׁם־בְּנוֹthe name of his sonהַנּוֹלַד־לוֹwho was born to himאֲשֶׁר־יָלְדָה־לּוֹwhich she bore upon himשָׂרָהSarahיִצְחָק׃Isaac

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

4. 4

   וַיָּמׇלand he circumcisedאַבְרָהָםAbrahamאֶת־יִצְחָקIsaacבְּנוֹhis sonבֶּן־שְׁמֹנַתat eightיָמִיםdaysכַּאֲשֶׁרasצִוָּהcommandedאֹתוֹhimאֱלֹהִים׃God

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

5. 5

   וְאַבְרָהָםand Abrahamבֶּן־מְאַתson of one hundredשָׁנָהyearsבְּהִוָּלֶדwhen was bornלוֹto himאֵת־יִצְחָקIsaacבְּנוֹ׃his son

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

6. 6

   וַתֹּאמֶרand saidשָׂרָהSarahצְחֹקlaughterעָשָׂהhe madeלִיto meאֱלֹהִיםGodכׇּל־הַשֹּׁמֵעַeveryone who hearsיִצְחַק־לִי׃he will laugh to me

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

7. 7

   וַתֹּאמֶרand saidמִיwhoמִלֵּלwould have saidלְאַבְרָהָםunto Abrahamהֵינִיקָהshe has suckledבָנִיםsonsשָׂרָהSarahכִּי־יָלַדְתִּיbecause I have borneבֵןsonלִזְקֻנָיו׃in 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

   וַיִּגְדַּלand it grewהַיֶּלֶדthe childוַיִּגָּמַלand he was weanedוַיַּעַשׂand he madeאַבְרָהָםAbrahamמִשְׁתֶּהfeastגָדוֹלgreatבְּיוֹםin the day ofהִגָּמֵלwas weanedאֶת־יִצְחָק׃Isaac

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

9. 9

   וַתֵּרֶאand sawשָׂרָהSarahאֶת־בֶּן־הָגָרson of Hagarהַמִּצְרִיתthe Egyptianאֲשֶׁר־יָלְדָהwhich she boreלְאַבְרָהָםunto Abrahamמְצַחֵק׃mocking

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

10. 10

    וַתֹּאמֶרand saidלְאַבְרָהָםunto Abrahamגָּרֵשׁdrive outהָאָמָהthe bondwomanהַזֹּאתthisוְאֶת־בְּנָהּand her sonכִּיforלֹאnotיִירַשׁshould possessבֶּן־הָאָמָהthe son of the bondwomanהַזֹּאתthisעִם־בְּנִיwith my sonעִם־יִצְחָק׃with 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

    וַיֵּרַעwere displeased withהַדָּבָרthe thingמְאֹדexceedinglyבְּעֵינֵיin the eyes ofאַבְרָהָםAbrahamעַלuponאוֹדֹתthe causes ofבְּנוֹ׃his son

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

12. 12

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֱלֹהִיםGodאֶל־אַבְרָהָםunto Abrahamאַל־יֵרַעdo not it be displeasingבְּעֵינֶיךָin your eyesעַל־הַנַּעַרupon the childוְעַל־אֲמָתֶךָand about your bondwomanכֹּלallאֲשֶׁרwhichתֹּאמַרyou sayאֵלֶיךָto youשָׂרָהSarahשְׁמַעhearkenבְּקֹלָהּto her voiceכִּיbecauseבְיִצְחָקin Isaacיִקָּרֵאshall be calledלְךָfor youזָרַע׃seed

    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

    וְגַםand alsoאֶת־בֶּן־הָאָמָהthe son of the bondwomanלְגוֹיa nationאֲשִׂימֶנּוּI will make himכִּיbecauseזַרְעֲךָyour seedהוּא׃he is

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

14. 14

    וַיַּשְׁכֵּםand he rose earlyאַבְרָהָםAbrahamבַּבֹּקֶרin the morningוַיִּקַּח־לֶחֶםand took breadוְחֵמַתand a skin ofמַיִםwaterוַיִּתֵּןand gaveאֶל־הָגָרto Hagarשָׂםputting itעַל־שִׁכְמָהּon her shoulderוְאֶת־הַיֶּלֶדand the childוַיְשַׁלְּחֶהָand he sent away herוַתֵּלֶךְand she wentוַתֵּתַעand she wanderedבְּמִדְבַּרin the wilderness ofבְּאֵרBeer-שָׁבַע׃sheba

    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

    וַיִּכְלוּand they were finishedהַמַּיִםthe watersמִן־הַחֵמֶתfrom the skinוַתַּשְׁלֵךְand she threwאֶת־הַיֶּלֶדthe childתַּחַתunderאַחַדoneהַשִּׂיחִם׃the bushes

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

16. 16

    וַתֵּלֶךְand she wentוַתֵּשֶׁבand she satלָהּto herמִנֶּגֶדfrom beforeהַרְחֵקfar awayכִּמְטַחֲוֵיlike the shooters ofקֶשֶׁתa bowכִּיforאָמְרָהsaidאַל־אֶרְאֶהdo not I shall seeבְּמוֹתin the death ofהַיָּלֶדthe boyוַתֵּשֶׁבand she satמִנֶּגֶדfrom beforeוַתִּשָּׂאand she lifted upאֶת־קֹלָהּher voiceוַתֵּבְךְּ׃and 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

    וַיִּשְׁמַעand heardאֱלֹהִיםGodאֶת־קוֹלthe voice ofהַנַּעַרthe childוַיִּקְרָאand calledמַלְאַךְthe angel ofאֱלֹהִיםGodאֶל־הָגָרto Hagarמִן־הַשָּׁמַיִםfrom the heavensוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלָהּto herמַה־לָּךְwhat to youהָגָרHagarאַל־תִּירְאִיdo not should be afraidכִּי־שָׁמַעbecause heardאֱלֹהִיםGodאֶל־קוֹלto the voice ofהַנַּעַרthe childבַּאֲשֶׁרwhereהוּא־שָׁם׃he 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

    קוּמִיstand upשְׂאִיlift upאֶת־הַנַּעַרthe childוְהַחֲזִיקִיand holdאֶת־יָדֵךְyour handבּוֹin itכִּי־לְגוֹיbecause a nationגָּדוֹלgreatאֲשִׂימֶנּוּ׃I will make him

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

19. 19

    וַיִּפְקַחand openedאֱלֹהִיםGodאֶת־עֵינֶיהָher eyesוַתֵּרֶאand sawבְּאֵרa well ofמָיִםwaterוַתֵּלֶךְand she wentוַתְּמַלֵּאand filledאֶת־הַחֵמֶתthe skinמַיִםwaterוַתַּשְׁקְand she gave a drink toאֶת־הַנָּעַר׃the 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

    וַיְהִיand wasאֱלֹהִיםGodאֶת־הַנַּעַרthe childוַיִּגְדָּלand he grew upוַיֵּשֶׁבand he dweltבַּמִּדְבָּרin the wildernessוַיְהִיand it came to passרֹבֶהan archerקַשָּׁת׃with the bow

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

21. 21

    וַיֵּשֶׁבand he dweltבְּמִדְבַּרin the wilderness ofפָּארָןParanוַתִּקַּח־לוֹand she took himאִמּוֹhis motherאִשָּׁהa womanמֵאֶרֶץfrom the land ofמִצְרָיִם׃Egypt

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

22. 22

    וַיְהִיand it came to passבָּעֵתat the timeהַהִואthatוַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֲבִימֶלֶךְAbimelechוּפִיכֹלand Phicholשַׂר־צְבָאוֹthe captain of his hostאֶל־אַבְרָהָםunto AbrahamלֵאמֹרsayingאֱלֹהִיםGodעִמְּךָwith youבְּכֹלin allאֲשֶׁר־אַתָּהwhich youעֹשֶׂה׃do

    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

    וְעַתָּהand nowהִשָּׁבְעָהswearלִּיto meבֵאלֹהִיםunto Godהֵנָּהhitherאִם־תִּשְׁקֹרif you will deal falselyלִיto meוּלְנִינִיand to my posterityוּלְנֶכְדִּיand to my progenyכַּחֶסֶדaccording to the loyaltyאֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂיתִיwhich I madeעִמְּךָwith youתַּעֲשֶׂהyou makeעִמָּדִיwith meוְעִם־הָאָרֶץand with the earthאֲשֶׁר־גַּרְתָּהwhich you have sojournedבָּהּ׃in 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

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאַבְרָהָםAbrahamאָנֹכִיIאִשָּׁבֵעַ׃I will swear

    And Abraham said, I will swear.

25. 25

    וְהוֹכִחַand he rebukedאַבְרָהָםAbrahamאֶת־אֲבִימֶלֶךְAbimelechעַל־אֹדוֹתconcerningבְּאֵרthe well ofהַמַּיִםthe watersאֲשֶׁרwhichגָּזְלוּhad seizedעַבְדֵיservants ofאֲבִימֶלֶךְ׃Abimelech

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

26. 26

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֲבִימֶלֶךְAbimelechלֹאnotיָדַעְתִּיI knowמִיwhoעָשָׂהhe madeאֶת־הַדָּבָרthe thingהַזֶּהthisוְגַם־אַתָּהand also youלֹא־הִגַּדְתָּnot you declaredלִּיto meוְגַםand alsoאָנֹכִיIלֹאnotשָׁמַעְתִּיheardבִּלְתִּיexceptהַיּוֹם׃the day

    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

    וַיִּקַּחand tookאַבְרָהָםAbrahamצֹאןflocksוּבָקָרand herdsוַיִּתֵּןand gaveלַאֲבִימֶלֶךְto Abimelechוַיִּכְרְתוּand madeשְׁנֵיהֶםthe two of themבְּרִית׃a covenant

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

28. 28

    וַיַּצֵּבand set apartאַבְרָהָםAbrahamאֶת־שֶׁבַעsevenכִּבְשֹׂתewe lambs ofהַצֹּאןthe flockלְבַדְּהֶן׃by themselves

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

29. 29

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֲבִימֶלֶךְAbimelechאֶל־אַבְרָהָםunto Abrahamמָהwhatהֵנָּהtheseשֶׁבַעsevenכְּבָשֹׂתewe lambsהָאֵלֶּהtheseאֲשֶׁרwhichהִצַּבְתָּyou have setלְבַדָּנָה׃by themselves

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

30. 30

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidכִּיbecauseאֶת־שֶׁבַעsevenכְּבָשֹׂתewe lambsתִּקַּחyou shall takeמִיָּדִיat my handבַּעֲבוּרbecause ofתִּהְיֶה־לִּיshall be to meלְעֵדָהa witnessכִּיbecauseחָפַרְתִּיI dugאֶת־הַבְּאֵרthe wellהַזֹּאת׃this

    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־כֵּןthereforeקָרָאcalledלַמָּקוֹםthe placeהַהוּאthatבְּאֵרBeer-שָׁבַעshebaכִּיbecauseשָׁםthereנִשְׁבְּעוּhad swornשְׁנֵיהֶם׃the two

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

32. 32

    וַיִּכְרְתוּand madeבְרִיתa covenantבִּבְאֵרat Beer-שָׁבַעshebaוַיָּקׇםand rose upאֲבִימֶלֶךְAbimelechוּפִיכֹלand Phicholשַׂר־צְבָאוֹthe captain of his hostוַיָּשֻׁבוּand they returnedאֶל־אֶרֶץto the land ofפְּלִשְׁתִּים׃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

    וַיִּטַּעand plantedאֶשֶׁלa tamarisk treeבִּבְאֵרat Beer-שָׁבַעshebaוַיִּקְרָא־שָׁםand he called thereבְּשֵׁםin the name ofיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֵלGodעוֹלָם׃eternal

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

34. 34

    וַיָּגׇרand he sojournedאַבְרָהָםAbrahamבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofפְּלִשְׁתִּיםPhilistinesיָמִיםdaysרַבִּים׃many

    And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.