VaYera Hebrew Parsha – 4th Aliyah

VaYera (וַיֵּרָא)

Genesis 18:1 – 22:24

Fourth Aliyah



 

19:21
[The angel] replied to him, ‘ I will also give you special consideration in this matter. I will not overturn the city you mentioned.
Vayomer elav hineh nasati faneycha gam ladavar hazeh levilti hofki et-ha’ir asher dibarta.
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו–הִנֵּה נָשָׂאתִי פָנֶיךָ, גַּם לַדָּבָר הַזֶּה: לְבִלְתִּי הָפְכִּי אֶת-הָעִיר, אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ.
 

19:22
But hurry! Run there! I can do nothing until you get there.’ The city was henceforth known as Tzoar (Insignificant).
Maher himalet shamah ki lo uchal la’asot davar ad-boacha shamah al-ken kara shem-ha’ir Tso’ar.
מַהֵר, הִמָּלֵט שָׁמָּה, כִּי לֹא אוּכַל לַעֲשׂוֹת דָּבָר, עַד-בֹּאֲךָ שָׁמָּה; עַל-כֵּן קָרָא שֵׁם-הָעִיר, צוֹעַר.
 

19:23
The sun had risen by the time that Lot arrived in Tzoar.
Hashemesh yatsa al-ha’arets veLot ba Tso’arah.
הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, יָצָא עַל-הָאָרֶץ; וְלוֹט, בָּא צֹעֲרָה.
 

19:24
God made sulphur and fire rain down on Sodom and Gomorrah – it came from God, out of the sky.
Va’Adonay himtir al-Sedom ve’al-Amorah gofrit va’esh me’et Adonay min-hashamayim.
וַיהוָה, הִמְטִיר עַל-סְדֹם וְעַל-עֲמֹרָה–גָּפְרִית וָאֵשׁ: מֵאֵת יְהוָה, מִן-הַשָּׁמָיִם.
 

19:25
He overturned these cities along with the entire plain, [destroying] everyone who lived in the cities and [all] that was growing from the ground.
Vayahafoch et-he’arim ha’El ve’et kol-hakikar ve’et kol-yoshvey he’arim vetsemach ha’adamah.
וַיַּהֲפֹךְ אֶת-הֶעָרִים הָאֵל, וְאֵת כָּל-הַכִּכָּר, וְאֵת כָּל-יֹשְׁבֵי הֶעָרִים, וְצֶמַח הָאֲדָמָה.
 

19:26
[Lot’s] wife looked behind him, and she was turned into a pillar of salt.
Vatabet ishto me’acharav vatehi netsiv melach.
וַתַּבֵּט אִשְׁתּוֹ, מֵאַחֲרָיו; וַתְּהִי, נְצִיב מֶלַח.
 

19:27
Abraham woke up early in the morning, [hurrying back] to the place where he had stood before God.
Vayashkem Avraham baboker el-hamakom asher-amad sham et-peney Adonay.
וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם, בַּבֹּקֶר: אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם–אֲשֶׁר-עָמַד שָׁם, אֶת-פְּנֵי יְהוָה.
 

19:28
He stared at Sodom and Gomorrah and the whole area of the plain, and all he saw was heavy smoke rising from the earth, like the smoke of a lime kiln.
Vayashkef al-peney Sedom va’Amorah ve’al kol-peney erets hakikar vayar vehineh alah kitor ha’arets kekitor hakivshan.
וַיַּשְׁקֵף, עַל-פְּנֵי סְדֹם וַעֲמֹרָה, וְעַל-כָּל-פְּנֵי, אֶרֶץ הַכִּכָּר; וַיַּרְא, וְהִנֵּה עָלָה קִיטֹר הָאָרֶץ, כְּקִיטֹר, הַכִּבְשָׁן.
 

19:29
When God had destroyed the cities of the plain, God had remembered Abraham. Thus, when He overturned the cities in which Lot lived, He allowed Lot to escape the upheaval.
Vayehi beshachet Elohim et-arey hakikar vayizkor Elohim et-Avraham vayeshalach et-Lot mitoch hahafecha bahafoch et-he’arim asher-yashav bahen Lot.
וַיְהִי, בְּשַׁחֵת אֱלֹהִים אֶת-עָרֵי הַכִּכָּר, וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים, אֶת-אַבְרָהָם; וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת-לוֹט, מִתּוֹךְ הַהֲפֵכָה, בַּהֲפֹךְ אֶת-הֶעָרִים, אֲשֶׁר-יָשַׁב בָּהֵן לוֹט.
 

19:30
Lot went up from Tzoar, and settled in the hills together with his two daughters, since he was afraid to remain in Tzoar. He lived in a cave alone with his two daughters.
Vaya’al Lot miTso’ar vayeshev bahar ushtey venotav imo ki yare lashevet beTso’ar vayeshev bame’arah hu ushtey venotav.
יַּעַל לוֹט מִצּוֹעַר וַיֵּשֶׁב בָּהָר, וּשְׁתֵּי בְנֹתָיו עִמּוֹ, כִּי יָרֵא, לָשֶׁבֶת בְּצוֹעַר; וַיֵּשֶׁב, בַּמְּעָרָה–הוּא, וּשְׁתֵּי בְנֹתָיו.
 

19:31
The older girl said to the younger, ‘Our father is growing old, and there is no other man left in the world to marry us in a normal manner.
Vatomer habechirah el-hatse’irah avinu zaken ve’ish eyn ba’arets lavo aleynu kederech kol-ha’arets.
תֹּאמֶר הַבְּכִירָה אֶל-הַצְּעִירָה, אָבִינוּ זָקֵן; וְאִישׁ אֵין בָּאָרֶץ לָבוֹא עָלֵינוּ, כְּדֶרֶךְ כָּל-הָאָרֶץ.
 

19:32
Come, let’s get our father drunk with wine, and sleep with him. We will then survive through children from our father.’
Lechah nashkeh et-avinu yayin venishkevah imo unechayeh me’avinu zara.
לְכָה נַשְׁקֶה אֶת-אָבִינוּ יַיִן, וְנִשְׁכְּבָה עִמּוֹ; וּנְחַיֶּה מֵאָבִינוּ, זָרַע.
 

19:33
That night, they got their father drunk with wine, and the older girl went and slept with her father. He was not aware that she had lain down or gotten up.
Vatashkeynah et-avihen yayin balaylah hu vatavo habechirah vatishkav et-aviha velo-yada beshichvah uvekumah.
וַתַּשְׁקֶיןָ אֶת-אֲבִיהֶן יַיִן, בַּלַּיְלָה הוּא; וַתָּבֹא הַבְּכִירָה וַתִּשְׁכַּב אֶת-אָבִיהָ, וְלֹא-יָדַע בְּשִׁכְבָהּ וּבְקוּמָהּ.
 

19:34
The next day, the older girl said to the younger, ‘Last night it was I who slept with my father. Tonight, let’s get him drunk with wine again. You go sleep with him, and we will survive through children from our father.’
Vayehi mimachorat vatomer habechirah el-hatse’irah hen-shachavti emesh et-avi nashkenu yayin gam-halaylah uvoy shichvi imo unechayeh me’avinu zara.
וַיְהִי, מִמָּחֳרָת, וַתֹּאמֶר הַבְּכִירָה אֶל-הַצְּעִירָה, הֵן-שָׁכַבְתִּי אֶמֶשׁ אֶת-אָבִי; נַשְׁקֶנּוּ יַיִן גַּם-הַלַּיְלָה, וּבֹאִי שִׁכְבִי עִמּוֹ, וּנְחַיֶּה מֵאָבִינוּ, זָרַע.
 

19:35
That night, they again made their father drunk with wine. The younger girl got up and she slept with him. He was not aware that she had lain down or gotten up.
Vatashkeynah gam balaylah hahu et-avihen yayin vatakom hatse’irah vatishkav imo velo-yada beshichvah uvekumah.
וַתַּשְׁקֶיןָ גַּם בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא, אֶת-אֲבִיהֶן–יָיִן; וַתָּקָם הַצְּעִירָה וַתִּשְׁכַּב עִמּוֹ, וְלֹא-יָדַע בְּשִׁכְבָהּ וּבְקֻמָהּ.
 

19:36
Lot’s two daughters became pregnant from their father.
Vatahareynah shtey venot-Lot me-avihen.
וַתַּהֲרֶיןָ שְׁתֵּי בְנוֹת-לוֹט, מֵאֲבִיהֶן.
 

19:37
The older girl had a son, and she named him Moab. He is the ancestor of [the nation] Moab that exists today.
Vateled habechirah ben vatikra shmo Mo’av hu avi-Mo’av ad-hayom.
וַתֵּלֶד הַבְּכִירָה בֵּן, וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ מוֹאָב: הוּא אֲבִי-מוֹאָב, עַד-הַיּוֹם.
 

19:38
The younger girl also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ami. He is the ancestor of the people of Ammon who exist today.
Vehatse’irah gam-hi yaldah ben vatikra shmo Ben-Ami hu avi veney-Amon ad-hayom.
וְהַצְּעִירָה גַם-הִוא יָלְדָה בֵּן, וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ בֶּן-עַמִּי: הוּא אֲבִי בְנֵי-עַמּוֹן, עַד-הַיּוֹם.
 

20:1
Abraham migrated from there to the land of the Negev, and he settled between Kadesh and Shur. He would often visit Gerar.
Vayisa misham Avraham artsah haNegev vayeshev beyn-Kadesh uveyn Shur vayagar biGrar.
וַיִּסַּע מִשָּׁם אַבְרָהָם אַרְצָה הַנֶּגֶב, וַיֵּשֶׁב בֵּין-קָדֵשׁ וּבֵין שׁוּר; וַיָּגָר, בִּגְרָר.
 

20:2
[There] he announced that his wife Sarah was his sister, and Abimelekh, king of Gerar, sent messengers and took Sarah.
Vayomer Avraham el-Sarah ishto achoti hi vayishlach Avimelech melech Grar vayikach et-Sarah.
וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם אֶל-שָׂרָה אִשְׁתּוֹ, אֲחֹתִי הִוא; וַיִּשְׁלַח, אֲבִימֶלֶךְ מֶלֶךְ גְּרָר, וַיִּקַּח, אֶת-שָׂרָה.
 

20:3
God came to Abimelekh in a dream that night. ‘You will die because of the woman you took,’ He said, ‘She is already married.’
Vayavo Elohim el-Avimelech bachalom halaylah vayomer lo hinecha met al-ha’ishah asher-lakachta vehi be’ulat ba’al.
וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים אֶל-אֲבִימֶלֶךְ, בַּחֲלוֹם הַלָּיְלָה; וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ, הִנְּךָ מֵת עַל-הָאִשָּׁה אֲשֶׁר-לָקַחְתָּ, וְהִוא, בְּעֻלַת בָּעַל.
 

20:4
Abimelekh had not come near her. He said, ‘O Lord, will You even kill an innocent nation?
Va’Avimelech lo karav eleyha vayomar Adonay hagoy gam-tsadik taharog.
וַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ, לֹא קָרַב אֵלֶיהָ; וַיֹּאמַר–אֲדֹנָי, הֲגוֹי גַּם-צַדִּיק תַּהֲרֹג.
 

20:5
Didn’t [her husband] tell me that she was his sister? She also claimed that he was her brother. If I did something, it was with an innocent heart and clean hands.’
Halo hu amar-li achoti hi vehi-gam-hi amerah achi hu betom-levavi uvenikyon kapay asiti zot.
הֲלֹא הוּא אָמַר-לִי אֲחֹתִי הִוא, וְהִיא-גַם-הִוא אָמְרָה אָחִי הוּא; בְּתָם-לְבָבִי וּבְנִקְיֹן כַּפַּי, עָשִׂיתִי זֹאת.
 

20:6
God said to him in the dream, ‘I also realize that you have done this with an innocent heart. That is why I prevented you from sinning against Me, not giving you an opportunity to touch her.
Vayomer elav ha’Elohim bachalom gam anochi yadati ki vetom-levavcha asita zot ve’echsoch gam-anochi otcha mechato-li al-ken lo-netaticha linego’ah eleyha.
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הָאֱלֹהִים בַּחֲלֹם, גַּם אָנֹכִי יָדַעְתִּי כִּי בְתָם-לְבָבְךָ עָשִׂיתָ זֹּאת, וָאֶחְשֹׂךְ גַּם-אָנֹכִי אוֹתְךָ, מֵחֲטוֹ-לִי; עַל-כֵּן לֹא-נְתַתִּיךָ, לִנְגֹּעַ אֵלֶיהָ.
 

20:7
Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not return [her], you can be sure that you will die – you and all that is yours.’
Ve’atah ashev eshet-ha’ish ki-navi hu veyitpalel ba’adecha vecheyeh ve’im-eynecha meshiv da ki-mot tamut atah vechol-asher-lach.
וְעַתָּה, הָשֵׁב אֵשֶׁת-הָאִישׁ כִּי-נָבִיא הוּא, וְיִתְפַּלֵּל בַּעַדְךָ, וֶחְיֵה; וְאִם-אֵינְךָ מֵשִׁיב–דַּע כִּי-מוֹת תָּמוּת, אַתָּה וְכָל-אֲשֶׁר-לָךְ.
 

20:8
Abimelekh got up early in the morning, and he summoned all his servants. He discreetly repeated all these words to them, and the men were very frightened.
Vayashkem Avimelech baboker vayikra lechol-avadav vayedaber et-kol-hadevarim ha’eleh be’ozneyhem vayir’u ha’anashim me’od.
וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אֲבִימֶלֶךְ בַּבֹּקֶר, וַיִּקְרָא לְכָל-עֲבָדָיו, וַיְדַבֵּר אֶת-כָּל-הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, בְּאָזְנֵיהֶם; וַיִּירְאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים, מְאֹד.
 

20:9
Abimelekh summoned Abraham and said to him, ‘How could you do this to us? What terrible thing did I do to you that you brought such great guilt upon me and my people? The thing you did to me is simply not done!’
Vayikra Avimelech le-Avraham vayomer lo meh-asita lanu umeh-chatati lach ki-heveta alay ve’al mamlachti chata’ah gedolah ma’asim asher lo-ye’asu asita imadi.
יִּקְרָא אֲבִימֶלֶךְ לְאַבְרָהָם, וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ מֶה-עָשִׂיתָ לָּנוּ וּמֶה-חָטָאתִי לָךְ, כִּי-הֵבֵאתָ עָלַי וְעַל-מַמְלַכְתִּי, חֲטָאָה גְדֹלָה: מַעֲשִׂים אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יֵעָשׂוּ, עָשִׂיתָ עִמָּדִי.
 

20:10
Abimelekh then asked Abraham, ‘What did you see to make you do such a thing?’
Vayomer Avimelech el-Avraham mah ra’ita ki asita et-hadavar hazeh.
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִימֶלֶךְ, אֶל-אַבְרָהָם: מָה רָאִיתָ, כִּי עָשִׂיתָ אֶת-הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה.
 

20:11
Abraham replied, ‘I realized that the one thing missing here is the fear of God. I could be killed because of my wife.
Vayomer Avraham ki amarti rak eyn-yir’at Elohim bamakom hazeh vaharaguni al-devar ishti.
וַיֹּאמֶר, אַבְרָהָם, כִּי אָמַרְתִּי רַק אֵין-יִרְאַת אֱלֹהִים, בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה; וַהֲרָגוּנִי, עַל-דְּבַר אִשְׁתִּי.
 

20:12
In any case, she really is my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother. She [later] became my wife.
Vegam omnah achoti vat-avi hi ach lo vat-imi vatehi-li le’ishah.
וְגַם-אָמְנָה, אֲחֹתִי בַת-אָבִי הִוא–אַךְ, לֹא בַת-אִמִּי; וַתְּהִי-לִי, לְאִשָּׁה.
 

20:13
When God made me wander from my father’s house, I asked her to do me a favor. Wherever we came, she was to say that I was her brother.’
Vayehi ka’asher hite’u oti Elohim mibeyt avi va’omar lah zeh chasdech asher ta’asi imadi el kol-hamakom asher navo shamah imri-li achi hu.
וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר הִתְעוּ אֹתִי, אֱלֹהִים מִבֵּית אָבִי, וָאֹמַר לָהּ, זֶה חַסְדֵּךְ אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשִׂי עִמָּדִי: אֶל כָּל-הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר נָבוֹא שָׁמָּה, אִמְרִי-לִי אָחִי הוּא.
 

20:14
Abimelekh took sheep, cattle, and male and female slaves, and he gave [them] to Abraham. He [also] returned [Abraham’s] wife Sarah to him.
Vayikach Avimelech tson uvakar va’avadim ushfachot vayiten le-Avraham vayashev lo et Sarah ishto.
וַיִּקַּח אֲבִימֶלֶךְ צֹאן וּבָקָר, וַעֲבָדִים וּשְׁפָחֹת, וַיִּתֵּן, לְאַבְרָהָם; וַיָּשֶׁב לוֹ, אֵת שָׂרָה אִשְׁתּוֹ.
 

20:15
Abimelekh said, ‘My whole land is before you. Settle wherever you see fit.’
Vayomer Avimelech hineh artsi lefaneycha batov be’eyneycha shev.
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִימֶלֶךְ, הִנֵּה אַרְצִי לְפָנֶיךָ: בַּטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ, שֵׁב.
 

20:16
To Sarah he said, ‘I am giving your ‘brother’ a thousand pieces of silver. Let it be compensation for you and all who are with you for all that has been done. You can stand up tall.’
Ule-Sarah amar hineh natati elef kesef le’achich hineh hu-lach ksut eynayim lechol asher itach ve’et kol venochachat.
וּלְשָׂרָה אָמַר, הִנֵּה נָתַתִּי אֶלֶף כֶּסֶף לְאָחִיךְ–הִנֵּה הוּא-לָךְ כְּסוּת עֵינַיִם, לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר אִתָּךְ; וְאֵת כֹּל, וְנֹכָחַת.
 

20:17
Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelekh, as well as his wife and slavegirls, so that they were able to have children.
Vayitpalel Avraham el-ha’Elohim vayirpa Elohim et-Avimelech ve’et-ishto ve’amehotav vayeledu
וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אַבְרָהָם, אֶל-הָאֱלֹהִים; וַיִּרְפָּא אֱלֹהִים אֶת-אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְאֶת-אִשְׁתּוֹ, וְאַמְהֹתָיו–וַיֵּלֵדוּ.
 

20:18
God had previously sealed up every womb in Abimelekh’s house, because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.
Ki-atsor atsar Adonay be’ad kol-rechem leveyt Avimelech al-devar Sarah eshet-Avraham.
כִּי-עָצֹר עָצַר יְהוָה, בְּעַד כָּל-רֶחֶם לְבֵית אֲבִימֶלֶךְ, עַל-דְּבַר שָׂרָה, אֵשֶׁת אַבְרָהָם.
 

21:1
God granted special providence to Sarah as He said He would, and God did what He promised for Sarah.
Va’Adonay pakad et-Sarah ka’asher amar vaya’as Adonay le-Sarah ka’asher diber.
וַיהוָה פָּקַד אֶת-שָׂרָה, כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמָר; וַיַּעַשׂ יְהוָה לְשָׂרָה, כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר.
 

21:2
Sarah became pregnant, and she gave birth to Abraham’s son in his old age. It was at the exact time that God had promised it to him.
Vatahar vateled Sarah le-Avraham ben lizkunav lamo’ed asher-diber oto Elohim.
וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד שָׂרָה לְאַבְרָהָם בֵּן, לִזְקֻנָיו, לַמּוֹעֵד, אֲשֶׁר-דִּבֶּר אֹתוֹ אֱלֹהִים.
 

21:3
Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son he had, to whom Sarah had just given birth.
Vayikra Avraham et-shem-beno hanolad-lo asher-yaldah-lo Sarah Yitschak.
וַיִּקְרָא אַבְרָהָם אֶת-שֶׁם-בְּנוֹ הַנּוֹלַד-לוֹ, אֲשֶׁר-יָלְדָה-לּוֹ שָׂרָה–יִצְחָק.
 

21:4
When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded.
Vayamol Avraham et-Yitschak beno ben-shmonat yamim ka’asher tsivah oto Elohim.
וַיָּמָל אַבְרָהָם אֶת-יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ, בֶּן-שְׁמֹנַת יָמִים, כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֹתוֹ, אֱלֹהִים.