Revised Literal Translation

Deuteronomy 21

1If onebe foundיִמָּצֵ֣אyi.ma.Tze'H4672slainחָלָ֗לcha.LalH2491in the landבָּאֲדָמָה֙ba.'a.da.MahH127which Yhwhיְהוָ֨הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430givethנֹתֵ֤ןno.TenH5414thee to possessלְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּle.rish.TahH3423it, lyingנֹפֵ֖לno.FelH5307in the fieldבַּשָּׂדֶ֑הba.sa.DehH7704, andit be not knownנוֹדַ֖עno.Da'H3045who hath slainהִכָּֽהוּ׃hi.Ka.huH5221him:

2Then thy eldersזְקֵנֶ֖יךָze.ke.Nei.chaH2205and thy judgesוְשֹׁפְטֶ֑יךָve.sho.fe.Tei.khaH8199shall come forthוְיָצְא֥וּve.ya.tze.'UH3318,and they shall measureוּמָדְדוּ֙u.ma.de.DuH4058unto the citiesהֶ֣עָרִ֔יםhe.'a.RimH5892which areround aboutסְבִיבֹ֥תse.vi.VotH5439him that is slainהֶחָלָֽל׃he.cha.LalH2491:

3And it shall be, thatthe cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892which isnextהַקְּרֹבָ֖הha.ke.ro.VahH7138unto the slain manהֶחָלָ֑לhe.cha.LalH2491,even the eldersזִקְנֵי֩zik.NeiH2205of that cityהָעִ֨ירha.'IrH5892shall takeוְלָֽקְח֡וּve.la.ke.ChuH3947an heiferעֶגְלַ֣ת בָּקָ֗ר'eg.Lat ba.KarH5697 H1241,which hath not been wrought withעֻבַּד֙'u.BadH5647, andwhich hath not drawnמָשְׁכָ֖הma.she.KhahH4900in the yokeבְּעֹֽל׃be.'OlH5923;

4And the eldersזִקְנֵי֩zik.NeiH2205of that cityהָעִ֨ירha.'IrH5892shall bring downוְהוֹרִ֡דוּve.ho.Ri.duH3381the heiferהָֽעֶגְלָה֙ha.'eg.LahH5697unto a roughאֵיתָ֔ן'ei.TanH386valleyנַ֣חַלNa.chalH5158,which is neither earedיֵעָבֵ֥דye.'a.VedH5647nor sownיִזָּרֵ֑עַyi.za.Re.a'H2232,and shall strike offH6202the heifer’sהָעֶגְלָ֖הha.'eg.LahH5697neckוְעָֽרְפוּ־ve.'a.re.fu-H6202there in the valleyבַּנָּֽחַל׃ba.Na.chalH5158:

5And the priestsהַכֹּהֲנִים֮ha.ko.ha.NimH3548the sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Leviלֵוִי֒le.ViH3878shall come nearוְנִגְּשׁ֣וּve.ni.ge.ShuH5066;for them Yhwhיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙'e.lo.Hei.khaH430hath chosenבָּחַ֞רba.CharH977to ministerלְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹle.Sha.re.ToH8334unto him, and to blessוּלְבָרֵ֖ךְu.le.va.RekhH1288in the nameבְּשֵׁ֣םbe.ShemH8034of Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068;and by their wordפִּיהֶ֥םpi.HemH6310shall every controversyרִ֥יבrivH7379and every strokeנָֽגַע׃Na.ga'H5061be tried:

6And all the eldersזִקְנֵי֙zik.NeiH2205of that cityהָעִ֣ירha.'IrH5892, that arenextהַקְּרֹבִ֖יםha.ke.ro.VimH7138unto the slainהֶחָלָ֑לhe.cha.LalH2491man,shall washיִרְחֲצוּ֙yir.cha.TzuH7364their handsיְדֵיהֶ֔םye.dei.HemH3027over the heiferהָעֶגְלָ֖הha.'eg.LahH5697that is beheadedהָעֲרוּפָ֥הha.'a.ru.FahH6202in the valleyבַנָּֽחַל׃va.Na.chalH5158:

7And they shall answerוְעָנ֖וּve.'a.NuH6030and sayוְאָמְר֑וּve.'a.me.RuH559,Our handsיָדֵ֗ינוּya.Dei.nuH3027have not shedשָֽׁפְכוּ֙sha.fe.khahH8210this bloodהַדָּ֣םha.DamH1818,neither have our eyesוְעֵינֵ֖ינוּve.'ei.Nei.nuH5869seenרָאֽוּ׃ra.'UH7200it.

8Be mercifulכַּפֵּר֩ka.PerH3722,O Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,unto thy peopleלְעַמְּךָ֨le.'a.me.KhaH5971Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֤לYis.ra.'ElH3478,whom thou hast redeemedפָּדִ֙יתָ֙pa.Di.taH6299,and layתִּתֵּן֙ti.TenH5414not innocentנָקִ֔יna.KiH5355bloodדָּ֣םdamH1818unto thy peopleעַמְּךָ֣'a.me.KhaH5971of Israel’sיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478chargeבְּקֶ֖רֶבbe.Ke.revH7130.And the bloodהַדָּֽם׃ha.DamH1818shall be forgivenוְנִכַּפֵּ֥רve.nik.ka.PerH3722them.

9So shalt thou put awayתְּבַעֵ֛רte.va.'ErH1197the guilt ofinnocentהַנָּקִ֖יha.na.KiH5355bloodהַדָּ֥םha.DamH1818from amongמִקִּרְבֶּ֑ךָmi.kir.Be.chaH7130you, when thou shalt doתַעֲשֶׂ֥הta.'a.SehH6213that which isrightהַיָּשָׁ֖רhai.ya.SharH3477in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֥יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃ סYah.wehH3068.

10When thou goest forthתֵצֵ֥אte.Tze'H3318to warלַמִּלְחָמָ֖הla.mil.cha.MahH4421against thine enemiesאֹיְבֶ֑יךָ'o.ye.Vei.khaH341,And Yhwhיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430hath deliveredוּנְתָנ֞וֹu.ne.ta.NoH5414them into thine handsבְּיָדֶ֖ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027,and thou hast takenוְשָׁבִ֥יתָve.sha.Vi.taH7617them captiveשִׁבְיֽוֹ׃shiv.YoH7628,

11And seestוְרָאִיתָ֙ve.ra.'i.TaH7200among the captivesבַּשִּׁבְיָ֔הba.shiv.YahH7633a beautifulיְפַת־ תֹּ֑אַרye.fat- To.'arH3303 H8389womanאֵ֖שֶׁת'E.shetH802,and hast a desireוְחָשַׁקְתָּ֣ve.cha.shak.TaH2836unto her, that thou wouldest have herוְלָקַחְתָּ֥ve.la.kach.TaH3947to thy wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.'i.ShahH802;

12Then thou shalt bringוַהֲבֵאתָ֖הּva.ha.ve.TahH935her homeתּ֣וֹךְTokhH8432to thine houseבֵּיתֶ֑ךָbei.Te.khaH1004;and she shall shaveוְגִלְּחָה֙ve.gi.le.ChahH1548her headרֹאשָׁ֔הּro.ShahH7218,and pareוְעָשְׂתָ֖הve.'a.se.TahH6213her nailsצִפָּרְנֶֽיהָ׃tzi.pa.re.Nei.haH6856;

13And she shall putוְהֵסִ֩ירָה֩ve.he.Si.rahH5493the raimentשִׂמְלַ֨תsim.LatH8071of her captivityשִׁבְיָ֜הּshiv.YahH7628from off her, and shall remainוְיָֽשְׁבָה֙ve.ya.she.VahH3427in thine houseבְּבֵיתֶ֔ךָbe.vei.Te.khaH1004,and bewailוּבָֽכְתָ֛הu.va.khe.TahH1058her fatherאָבִ֥יהָ'a.Vi.haH1and her motherאִמָּ֖הּ'i.MahH517a fullיָמִ֑יםya.MimH3117monthיֶ֣רַחYe.rachH3391:and afterוְאַ֨חַרve.'A.charH310that thou shalt goתָּב֤וֹאta.Vo'H935in unto her, and be her husbandH1166,and she shall be thy wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.'i.ShahH802.

14And it shall be, if thou have no delightחָפַ֣צְתָּcha.Fatz.taH2654in her, then thou shalt let her goוְשִׁלַּחְתָּהּ֙ve.shi.lach.TahH7971whither she willלְנַפְשָׁ֔הּle.naf.ShahH5315;but thou shalt not sellוּמָכֹ֥רu.ma.KhorH4376her at allתִמְכְּרֶ֖נָּהtim.ke.Re.nahH4376for moneyבַּכָּ֑סֶףba.Ka.sefH3701,thou shalt not make merchandiseתִתְעַמֵּ֣רtit.'a.MerH6014of her, becauseאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834thou hast humbledעִנִּיתָֽהּ׃ ס'i.ni.TahH6031her.

15If a manלְאִ֜ישׁle.'IshH376have twoשְׁתֵּ֣יshe.TeiH8147wivesנָשִׁ֗יםna.ShimH802,oneהָאַחַ֤תha.'a.ChatH259belovedאֲהוּבָה֙'a.hu.VahH157,and anotherוְהָאַחַ֣תve.ha.'a.ChatH259hatedשְׂנוּאָ֔הse.nu.'AhH8130,and they have bornוְיָֽלְדוּ־ve.yal.du-H3205him childrenבָנִ֔יםva.NimH1121, boththe belovedהָאֲהוּבָ֖הha.'a.hu.VahH157and the hatedוְהַשְּׂנוּאָ֑הve.ha.se.nu.'AhH8130; and ifthe firstbornהַבְּכ֖וֹרha.be.KhorH1060sonהַבֵּ֥ןha.BenH1121be hers that was hatedלַשְּׂנִיאָֽה׃la.se.ni.'AhH8146:

16Then it shall be, whenבְּיוֹם֙be.yOmH3117he maketh his sonsבָּנָ֔יוba.NavH1121to inheritהַנְחִיל֣וֹhan.chi.LoH5157that which he hath, thathe mayיוּכַ֗לyu.KhalH3201not make the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of the belovedהָ֣אֲהוּבָ֔הha.'a.hu.VahH157firstbornלְבַכֵּר֙le.va.KerH1069beforeפְּנֵ֥יpe.NeiH6440the sonבֶן־ven-H1121of the hatedהַשְּׂנוּאָ֖הha.se.nu.'AhH8130, which is indeedthe firstbornהַבְּכֹֽר׃ha.be.KhorH1060:

17But he shall acknowledgeיַכִּ֗ירya.KirH5234the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of the hatedהַשְּׂנוּאָ֜הha.se.nu.'AhH8130forthe firstbornהַבְּכֹ֨רha.be.KhorH1060,by givingלָ֤תֶתLa.tetH5414him a doubleשְׁנַ֔יִםshe.Na.yimH8147portionפִּ֣יpiH6310of all that he hathיִמָּצֵ֖אyi.ma.Tze'H4672: for he isthe beginningרֵאשִׁ֣יתre.ShitH7225of his strengthאֹנ֔וֹ'o.NoH202;the rightמִשְׁפַּ֥טmish.PatH4941of the firstbornהַבְּכֹרָֽה׃ סha.be.kho.RahH1062is his.

18If a manלְאִ֗ישׁle.'IshH376have a stubbornסוֹרֵ֣רso.RerH5637and rebelliousוּמוֹרֶ֔הu.mo.RehH4784sonבֵּ֚ןbenH1121,which will not obeyשֹׁמֵ֔עַsho.Me.a'H8085the voiceבְּק֥וֹלbe.KolH6963of his fatherאָבִ֖יו'a.VivH1,or the voiceוּבְק֣וֹלu.ve.KolH6963of his motherאִמּ֑וֹ'i.MoH517, and that,when they have chastenedוְיסְּר֣וּve.yi.se.RuH3256him, will not hearkenיִשְׁמַ֖עyish.Ma'H8085unto them:

19Then shall his fatherאָבִ֣יו'a.VivH1and his motherוְאִמּ֑וֹve.'i.MoH517lay holdוְתָ֥פְשׂוּve.Ta.fe.suH8610on him, and bring him outוְהוֹצִ֧יאוּve.ho.Tzi.'uH3318unto the eldersזִקְנֵ֥יzik.NeiH2205of his cityעִיר֖וֹi.RoH5892,and unto the gateשַׁ֥עַרSha.'arH8179of his placeמְקֹמֽוֹ׃me.ko.MoH4725;

20And they shall sayוְאָמְר֞וּve.'a.me.RuH559unto the eldersזִקְנֵ֣יzik.NeiH2205of his cityעִיר֗וֹi.RoH5892,This our sonבְּנֵ֤נוּbe.Ne.nuH1121isstubbornסוֹרֵ֣רso.RerH5637and rebelliousוּמֹרֶ֔הu.mo.RehH4784,he will not obeyשֹׁמֵ֖עַsho.Me.a'H8085our voiceבְּקֹלֵ֑נוּbe.ko.Le.nuH6963; he isa gluttonזוֹלֵ֖לzo.LelH2151,and a drunkardוְסֹבֵֽא׃ve.so.Ve'H5433.

21And all the menאַנְשֵׁ֨י'an.SheiH582of his cityעִיר֤וֹi.RoH5892shall stoneוּ֠רְגָמֻהוּU.re.ga.mu.huH7275him with stonesבָֽאֲבָנִים֙va.'a.va.NimH68,that he dieוָמֵ֔תva.MetH4191:so shalt thou putH1197evilהָרָ֖עha.Ra'H7451awayH1197from amongמִקִּרְבֶּ֑ךָmi.kir.Be.chaH7130you; and all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478shall hearיִשְׁמְע֥וּyish.me.'UH8085,and fearוְיִרָֽאוּ׃ סve.yi.Ra.'uH3372.

22And if a manבְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376have committed a sinחֵ֛טְאchet'H2399worthy ofמִשְׁפַּט־mish.pat-H4941deathמָ֖וֶתMa.vetH4194,and he be to be put to deathוְהוּמָ֑תve.hu.MatH4191,and thou hangוְתָלִ֥יתָve.ta.Li.taH8518him on a treeעֵֽץ׃'EtzH6086:

23His bodyנִבְלָת֜וֹniv.la.ToH5038shall not remain all nightתָלִ֨יןta.LinH3885upon the treeהָעֵ֗ץha.'EtzH6086,but thou shalt in any wiseקָב֤וֹרka.VorH6912buryתִּקְבְּרֶ֙נּוּ֙tik.be.Re.nuH6912him that dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117; (for he that is hangedתָּל֑וּיta.LuiH8518isaccursedקִלְלַ֥תki.LatH7045of Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430;)that thy landאַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔'ad.Ma.te.khaH127be not defiledתְטַמֵּא֙te.ta.Me'H2930,which Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430givethנֹתֵ֥ןno.TenH5414thee foran inheritanceנַחֲלָֽה׃ סna.cha.LahH5159.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 21