VaYera (וַיֵּרָא)
Genesis 18:1 – 22:24
First Aliyah
18:1
God appeared to [Abraham] in the Plains of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of the tent in the hottest part of the day.
God appeared to [Abraham] in the Plains of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of the tent in the hottest part of the day.
Vayera elav Adonay be’Eloney Mamre vehu yoshev petach-ha’ohel kechom hayom.
וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְהוָה, בְּאֵלֹנֵי מַמְרֵא; וְהוּא יֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח-הָאֹהֶל, כְּחֹם הַיּוֹם.
18:2
[Abraham] lifted his eyes and he saw three strangers standing a short distance from him. When he saw [them] from the entrance of his tent, he ran to greet them, bowing down to the ground.
[Abraham] lifted his eyes and he saw three strangers standing a short distance from him. When he saw [them] from the entrance of his tent, he ran to greet them, bowing down to the ground.
Vayisa eynav vayar vehineh shloshah anashim nitsavim alav vayar vayarots likratam mipetach ha’ohel vayishtachu artsah.
וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו, וַיַּרְא, וְהִנֵּה שְׁלֹשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים, נִצָּבִים עָלָיו; וַיַּרְא, וַיָּרָץ לִקְרָאתָם מִפֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל, וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ, אָרְצָה.
18:3
He said, ‘Sir, if you would, do not go on without stopping by me.
He said, ‘Sir, if you would, do not go on without stopping by me.
Vayomar Adonay im-na matsati chen be’eyneycha al-na ta’avor me’al avdecha.
וַיֹּאמַר: אֲדֹנָי, אִם-נָא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ–אַל-נָא תַעֲבֹר, מֵעַל עַבְדֶּךָ.
18:4
Let some water be brought, and wash your feet. Rest under the tree.
Let some water be brought, and wash your feet. Rest under the tree.
Yukach-na me’at-mayim verachatsu ragleychem vehisha’anu tachat ha’ets.
יֻקַּח-נָא מְעַט-מַיִם, וְרַחֲצוּ רַגְלֵיכֶם; וְהִשָּׁעֲנוּ, תַּחַת הָעֵץ.
18:5
I will get a morsel of bread for you to refresh yourselves. Then you can continue on your way. After all, you are passing by my house.’
I will get a morsel of bread for you to refresh yourselves. Then you can continue on your way. After all, you are passing by my house.’
Ve’ekchah fat-lechem vesa’adu libechem achar ta’avoru ki-al-ken avartem al-avdechem vayomeru ken ta’aseh ka’asher dibarta.
וְאֶקְחָה פַת-לֶחֶם וְסַעֲדוּ לִבְּכֶם, אַחַר תַּעֲבֹרוּ–כִּי-עַל-כֵּן עֲבַרְתֶּם, עַל-עַבְדְּכֶם; וַיֹּאמְרוּ, כֵּן תַּעֲשֶׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ.
18:6
Abraham rushed to Sarah’s tent and said, ‘Hurry! Three measures of the finest flour! Knead it and make rolls.’
Abraham rushed to Sarah’s tent and said, ‘Hurry! Three measures of the finest flour! Knead it and make rolls.’
Vayemaher Avraham ha’ohelah el-Sarah vayomer mahari shlosh se’im kemach solet lushi va’asi ugot.
וַיְמַהֵר אַבְרָהָם הָאֹהֱלָה, אֶל-שָׂרָה; וַיֹּאמֶר, מַהֲרִי שְׁלֹשׁ סְאִים קֶמַח סֹלֶת–לוּשִׁי, וַעֲשִׂי עֻגוֹת.
18:7
Abraham ran to the cattle, and chose a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man who rushed to prepare it.
Abraham ran to the cattle, and chose a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man who rushed to prepare it.
Ve’el-habakar rats Avraham vayikach ben-bakar rach vatov vayiten el-hana’ar vayemaher la’asot oto.
וְאֶל-הַבָּקָר, רָץ אַבְרָהָם; וַיִּקַּח בֶּן-בָּקָר רַךְ וָטוֹב, וַיִּתֵּן אֶל-הַנַּעַר, וַיְמַהֵר, לַעֲשׂוֹת אֹתוֹ.
18:8
[Abraham] fetched some cottage cheese and milk, and the calf that he prepared, and he placed it before [his guests]. He stood over them as they ate under the tree.
[Abraham] fetched some cottage cheese and milk, and the calf that he prepared, and he placed it before [his guests]. He stood over them as they ate under the tree.
Vayikach chem’ah vechalav uven-habakar asher asah vayiten lifneyhem ve-hu omed aleyhem tachat ha’ets vayochelu.
וַיִּקַּח חֶמְאָה וְחָלָב, וּבֶן-הַבָּקָר אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה, וַיִּתֵּן, לִפְנֵיהֶם; וְהוּא-עֹמֵד עֲלֵיהֶם תַּחַת הָעֵץ, וַיֹּאכֵלוּ.
18:9
They asked him, ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ ‘Here in the tent,’ he replied.
They asked him, ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ ‘Here in the tent,’ he replied.
Vayomeru elav ayeh Sarah ishtecha vayomer hineh va’ohel.
וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו, אַיֵּה שָׂרָה אִשְׁתֶּךָ; וַיֹּאמֶר, הִנֵּה בָאֹהֶל.
18:10
‘I will return to you this time next year,’ said [one of the men], ‘and your wife Sarah will have a son.’ Sarah was listening behind the entrance of the tent, and he was on the other side.
‘I will return to you this time next year,’ said [one of the men], ‘and your wife Sarah will have a son.’ Sarah was listening behind the entrance of the tent, and he was on the other side.
Vayomer shov ashuv eleycha ka’et chayah vehineh-ven le-Sarah ishtecha veSarah shoma’at petach ha’ohel vehu acharav.
וַיֹּאמֶר, שׁוֹב אָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ כָּעֵת חַיָּה, וְהִנֵּה-בֵן, לְשָׂרָה אִשְׁתֶּךָ; וְשָׂרָה שֹׁמַעַת פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל, וְהוּא אַחֲרָיו.
18:11
Abraham and Sarah were already old, well on in years, and Sarah no longer had female periods.
Abraham and Sarah were already old, well on in years, and Sarah no longer had female periods.
Ve’Avraham veSarah zekenim ba’im bayamim chadal lihyot le-Sarah orach kanashim.
וְאַבְרָהָם וְשָׂרָה זְקֵנִים, בָּאִים בַּיָּמִים; חָדַל לִהְיוֹת לְשָׂרָה, אֹרַח כַּנָּשִׁים.
18:12
She laughed to herself, saying, ‘Now that I am worn out, shall I have my heart’s desire? My husband is old!’
She laughed to herself, saying, ‘Now that I am worn out, shall I have my heart’s desire? My husband is old!’
Vatitschak Sarah bekirbah lemor acharey veloti hayetah-li ednah va’adoni zaken.
וַתִּצְחַק שָׂרָה, בְּקִרְבָּהּ לֵאמֹר: אַחֲרֵי בְלֹתִי הָיְתָה-לִּי עֶדְנָה, וַאדֹנִי זָקֵן.
18:13
God said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really have a child when I am so old?’
God said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really have a child when I am so old?’
Vayomer Adonay el-Avraham lamah zeh tsachakah Sarah lemor ha’af umnam eled va’ani zakanti.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, אֶל-אַבְרָהָם: לָמָּה זֶּה צָחֲקָה שָׂרָה לֵאמֹר, הַאַף אֻמְנָם אֵלֵד–וַאֲנִי זָקַנְתִּי.
18:14
Is anything too difficult for God? At the designated time, I will return, and Sarah will have a son.’
Is anything too difficult for God? At the designated time, I will return, and Sarah will have a son.’
Hayipale me’Adonay davar lamo’ed ashuv eleycha ka’et chayah ule-Sarah ven.
הֲיִפָּלֵא מֵיְהוָה, דָּבָר; לַמּוֹעֵד אָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ, כָּעֵת חַיָּה–וּלְשָׂרָה בֵן.