Revised Literal Translation

Exodus 4

1And Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mo.ShehH4872answeredוַיַּ֤עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030and saidוַיֹּ֔אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,But, behold, they will not believeיַאֲמִ֣ינוּya.'a.Mi.nuH539me, nor hearkenיִשְׁמְע֖וּyish.me.'UH8085unto my voiceבְּקֹלִ֑יbe.ko.LiH6963:for they will sayיֹֽאמְר֔וּyo.me.RuH559,Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068hath not appearedנִרְאָ֥הnir.'AhH7200unto thee.

2And Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, What isthat in thine handבְיָדֶ֑ךָve.ya.De.khaH3027?And he saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,A rodמַטֶּֽה׃ma.TehH4294.

3And he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559,Castהַשְׁלִיכֵ֣הוּhash.li.Khe.huH7993it on the groundאַ֔רְצָה'Ar.tzahH776.And he castוַיַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥הוּvai.yash.li.Khe.huH7993it on the groundאַ֖רְצָה'Ar.tzahH776,and it became a serpentלְנָחָ֑שׁle.na.ChashH5175;and Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872fledוַיָּ֥נָסvai.Ya.nosH5127from beforeמִפָּנָֽיו׃mi.pa.NavH6440it.

4And Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872,Put forthשְׁלַח֙she.LachH7971thine handיָֽדְךָ֔ya.de.KhaH3027,and takeוֶאֱחֹ֖זve.'e.ChozH270it by the tailבִּזְנָב֑וֹbiz.na.VoH2180.And he put forthוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971his handיָדוֹ֙ya.DoH3027,and caughtוַיַּ֣חֲזֶקvai.Ya.cha.zekH2388it, and it became a rodלְמַטֶּ֖הle.ma.TehH4294in his handבְּכַפּֽוֹ׃be.kha.PoH3709:

5That they may believeיַאֲמִ֔ינוּya.'a.Mi.nuH539that Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of their fathersאֲבֹתָ֑ם'a.vo.TamH1,the Godאֱלֹהֵ֧י'e.lo.HeiH430of Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֛ם'av.ra.HamH85,the Godאֱלֹהֵ֥י'e.lo.HeiH430of Isaacיִצְחָ֖קyitz.ChakH3327,and the Godוֵאלֹהֵ֥יve.lo.HeiH430of Jacobיַעֲקֹֽב׃ya.'a.KoH3290,hath appearedנִרְאָ֥הnir.'AhH7200unto thee.

6And Yhwhיְהוָ֨הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.MerH559furthermoreע֗וֹדodH5750unto him, Putהָֽבֵא־ha.ve'-H935now thine handיָֽדְךָ֙ya.de.KhaH3027into thy bosomבְּחֵיקֶ֔ךָbe.chei.Ke.chaH2436.And he putוַיָּבֵ֥אvai.ya.Ve'H935his handיָד֖וֹya.DoH3027into his bosomבְּחֵיק֑וֹbe.chei.KoH2436:and when he tookוַיּ֣וֹצִאָ֔הּvai.Yo.tzi.'AhH3318it out, behold, his handיָד֖וֹya.DoH3027wasleprousמְצֹרַ֥עַתme.tzo.Ra.'atH6879as snowכַּשָּֽׁלֶג׃ka.Sha.legH7950.

7And he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,PutH7725thine handיָֽדְךָ֙ya.de.KhaH3027into thy bosomחֵיקֶ֔ךָchei.Ke.chaH2436againH7725.And he putH7725his handיָד֖וֹya.DoH3027into his bosomחֵיק֑וֹchei.KoH2436againH7725;and pluckedוַיּֽוֹצִאָהּ֙vai.yo.tzi.'AhH3318it out of his bosomמֵֽחֵיק֔וֹme.chei.KoH2436,and, behold, it was turned againH7725as his otherfleshכִּבְשָׂרֽוֹ׃kiv.sa.RoH1320.

8And it shall come to pass, if they will not believeיַאֲמִ֣ינוּya.'a.Mi.nuH539thee, neither hearkenיִשְׁמְע֔וּyish.me.'UH8085to the voiceלְקֹ֖לle.KolH6963of the firstהָרִאשׁ֑וֹןha.ri.ShonH7223signהָאֹ֣תha.'OtH226,that they will believeוְהֶֽאֱמִ֔ינוּve.he.'e.Mi.nuH539the voiceלְקֹ֖לle.KolH6963of the latterהָאַחֲרֽוֹן׃ha.'a.cha.RonH314signהָאֹ֥תha.'OtH226.

9And it shall come to pass, if they will not believeיַאֲמִ֡ינוּya.'a.Mi.nuH539also these twoלִשְׁנֵ֨יlish.NeiH8147signsהָאֹת֜וֹתha.'o.TotH226,neither hearkenיִשְׁמְעוּן֙yish.me.'UnH8085unto thy voiceלְקֹלֶ֔ךָle.ko.Le.chaH6963,that thou shalt takeוְלָקַחְתָּ֙ve.la.kach.TaH3947of the waterמִמֵּימֵ֣יmi.mei.MeiH4325of the riverהַיְאֹ֔רhay.'OrH2975,and pourוְשָׁפַכְתָּ֖ve.sha.fakh.TaH8210itupon the dryהַיַּבָּשָׁ֑הhai.ya.ba.ShahH3004land:and the waterהַמַּ֙יִם֙ha.Ma.yimH4325which thou takestתִּקַּ֣חti.KachH3947out of the riverהַיְאֹ֔רhay.'OrH2975shall become bloodלְדָ֖םle.DamH1818upon the dryבַּיַּבָּֽשֶׁת׃bai.ya.Ba.shetH3006land.

10And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֣הmo.ShehH4872saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Yhwhיְהוָה֮Yah.wehH3068,Oבִּ֣יbiH994my Lordאֲדֹנָי֒'a.do.NaiH136,Iאִ֨ישׁ'ishH376amnot eloquentדְּבָרִ֜יםde.va.RimH1697,neither heretoforeמִתְּמוֹל֙ מִשִּׁלְשֹׁ֔םmi.te.mOl mi.shil.ShomH8543 H8032,nor sinceמֵאָ֥זme.'AzH227thou hast spokenדַּבֶּרְךָda.ber.khaH1696unto thy servantעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ'av.De.khaH5650: but I amslowכְבַד־khe.vad-H3515of speechפֶּ֛הpehH6310,and of a slowוּכְבַ֥דu.khe.VadH3515tongueלָשׁ֖וֹןla.ShonH3956.

11And Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, Who hath madeשָׂ֣םsamH7760man’sלָֽאָדָם֒la.'a.DamH120mouthפֶּה֮pehH6310?or who makethיָשׂ֣וּםya.SumH7760the dumbאִלֵּ֔ם'i.LemH483,or deafחֵרֵ֔שׁche.ReshH2795,or the seeingפִקֵּ֖חַfi.Ke.achH6493,or the blindעִוֵּ֑ר'i.VerH5787?have not I Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068?

12Now therefore goH3212,and I will be with thy mouthפִּ֔יךָPi.khaH6310,and teachוְהוֹרֵיתִ֖יךָve.ho.rei.Ti.khaH3384thee what thou shalt sayתְּדַבֵּֽר׃te.da.BerH1696.

13And he saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Oבִּ֣יbiH994my Lordאֲדֹנָ֑י'a.do.NaiH136,sendשְֽׁלַֽח־she.lach-H7971,I pray thee, by the handבְּיַד־be.yad-H3027of him whomthou wilt sendתִּשְׁלָֽח׃tish.LachH7971.

14And the angerאַ֨ף'afH639of Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068was kindledוַיִּֽחַר־vai.yi.char-H2734against Mosesבְּמֹשֶׁ֗הbe.mo.ShehH4872,and he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, Isnot Aaronאַהֲרֹ֤ן'a.ha.RonH175the Leviteהַלֵּוִ֔יha.le.ViH3881thy brotherאָחִ֙יךָ֙'a.Chi.khaH251?I knowיָדַ֕עְתִּיya.Da'.tiH3045that he can speakדַבֵּ֥רda.BerH1696wellיְדַבֵּ֖רye.da.BerH1696.And also, behold, he cometh forthיֹצֵ֣אyo.Tze'H3318to meetH7125thee: and when he seethוְרָאֲךָ֖ve.ra.'a.KhaH7200thee, he will be gladוְשָׂמַ֥חve.sa.MachH8055in his heartבְּלִבּֽוֹ׃be.li.BoH3820.

15And thou shalt speakוְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ve.di.bar.TaH1696unto him, and putוְשַׂמְתָּ֥ve.sam.TaH7760wordsהַדְּבָרִ֖יםha.de.va.RimH1697in his mouthבְּפִ֑יוbe.FivH6310:and I will be with thy mouthפִּ֙יךָ֙pi.khaH6310,and with his mouthפִּ֔יהוּPi.huH6310,and will teachוְהוֹרֵיתִ֣יve.ho.rei.TiH3384you what ye shall doתַּעֲשֽׂוּן׃ta.'a.SunH6213.

16And he shall be thy spokesmanוְדִבֶּר־ve.di.ber-H1696unto the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971: and he shall be, evenhe shall be to thee instead of a mouthלְפֶ֔הle.PehH6310,and thou shalt be to him instead of Godלֵֽאלֹהִֽים׃Le.lo.HimH430.

17And thou shalt takeתִּקַּ֣חti.KachH3947this rodהַמַּטֶּ֥הha.ma.TehH4294in thine handבְּיָדֶ֑ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027,wherewith thou shalt doתַּעֲשֶׂה־ta.'a.seh-H6213signsהָאֹתֹֽת׃ פha.'o.TotH226.

18And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֜הmo.ShehH4872wentH3212and returnedוַיָּ֣שָׁב׀vai.Ya.shovH7725to Jethroיֶ֣תֶרYe.terH3500his father in lawחֹֽתְנ֗וֹcho.te.NoH2859,and saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, Let me goH3212,I pray thee, and returnוְאָשׁ֙וּבָה֙ve.'a.Shu.vahH7725unto my brethrenאַחַ֣י'a.ChaiH251which arein Egyptבְּמִצְרַ֔יִםbe.mitz.Ra.yimH4714,and seeוְאֶרְאֶ֖הve.'er.'EhH7200whether they be yetהַעוֹדָ֣םha.'o.DamH5750aliveחַיִּ֑יםchai.YimH2416.And Jethroיִתְר֛וֹyit.RoH3503saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Mosesלְמֹשֶׁ֖הle.mo.ShehH4872,GoH3212in peaceלְשָׁלֽוֹם׃le.sha.LomH7965.

19And Yhwhיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mo.ShehH4872in Midianבְּמִדְיָ֔ןbe.mid.YanH4080,GoH3212,returnשֻׁ֣בshuvH7725into Egyptמִצְרָ֑יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714:for all the menהָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔יםha.'a.na.ShimH582are deadמֵ֙תוּ֙me.tuH4191which soughtהַֽמְבַקְשִׁ֖יםham.vak.ShimH1245thy lifeנַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃naf.She.khaH5315.

20And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֜הmo.ShehH4872tookוַיִּקַּ֨חvai.yi.KachH3947his wifeאִשְׁתּ֣וֹ'ish.ToH802and his sonsבָּנָ֗יוba.NavH1121,and setוַיַּרְכִּבֵם֙vai.yar.ki.VemH7392them upon a donkeyהַחֲמֹ֔רha.cha.MorH2543,and he returnedוַיָּ֖שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725to the landאַ֣רְצָה'Ar.tzahH776of Egyptמִצְרָ֑יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714:and Mosesמֹשֶׁ֛הmo.ShehH4872tookוַיִּקַּ֥חvai.yi.KachH3947the rodמַטֵּ֥הma.TehH4294of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430in his handבְּיָדֽוֹ׃be.ya.DoH3027.

21And Yhwhיְהוָה֮Yah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Mosesמֹשֶׁה֒mo.ShehH4872,When thou goestH3212to returnלָשׁ֣וּבla.ShuvH7725into Egyptמִצְרַ֔יְמָהmitz.Ray.mahH4714,seeרְאֵ֗הre.'EhH7200that thou doוַעֲשִׂיתָ֖םva.'a.si.TamH6213all those wondersהַמֹּֽפְתִים֙ha.mo.fe.TimH4159beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440Pharaohפַרְעֹ֑הfar.'OhH6547,which I have putשַׂ֣מְתִּיSam.tiH7760in thine handבְיָדֶ֔ךָve.ya.De.khaH3027:but I will hardenאֲחַזֵּ֣ק'a.cha.ZekH2388his heartלִבּ֔וֹli.BoH3820,that he shall not let the peopleהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971goיְשַׁלַּ֖חye.sha.LachH7971.

22And thou shalt sayוְאָמַרְתָּ֖ve.'a.mar.TaH559unto Pharaohפַּרְעֹ֑הpar.'OhH6547,Thus saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478ismy sonבְּנִ֥יbe.NiH1121, evenmy firstbornבְכֹרִ֖יve.kho.RiH1060:

23And I sayוָאֹמַ֣רva.'o.MarH559unto thee, Let my sonבְּנִי֙be.NiH1121goשַׁלַּ֤חsha.LachH7971,that he may serveוְיַֽעַבְדֵ֔נִיve.ya.'av.De.niH5647me: and if thou refuseוַתְּמָאֵ֖ןva.te.ma.'EnH3985to let him goלְשַׁלְּח֑וֹle.sha.le.ChoH7971,behold, I will slayהֹרֵ֔גho.RegH2026thy sonבִּנְךָ֖bin.KhaH1121, eventhy firstbornבְּכֹרֶֽךָ׃be.kho.Re.khaH1060.

24And it came to pass by the wayבַדֶּ֖רֶךְva.De.rekhH1870in the innבַּמָּל֑וֹןba.ma.LonH4411,that Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068metוַיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֣הוּvai.yif.ge.She.huH6298him, and soughtוַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁvay.va.KeshH1245to killהֲמִיתֽוֹ׃ha.mi.ToH4191him.

25Then Zipporahצִפֹּרָ֜הtzi.po.RahH6855tookוַתִּקַּ֨חva.ti.KachH3947a sharp stoneצֹ֗רTzorH6864,and cut offוַתִּכְרֹת֙va.tikh.RotH3772the foreskinעָרְלַ֣ת'a.re.LatH6190of her sonבְּנָ֔הּbe.NahH1121,and castוַתַּגַּ֖עva.ta.Ga'H5060itat his feetלְרַגְלָ֑יוle.rag.LavH7272,and saidוַתֹּ֕אמֶרva.To.merH559,Surely a bloodyדָּמִ֛יםda.MimH1818husbandחֲתַן־cha.tan-H2860art thou to me.

26So he let him goוַיִּ֖רֶףvai.Yi.refH7503:then she saidאָֽמְרָ֔ה'a.me.RahH559,A bloodyדָּמִ֖יםda.MimH1818husbandחֲתַ֥ןcha.TanH2860thou art,because of the circumcisionלַמּוּלֹֽת׃ פla.mu.LotH4139.

27And Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Aaronאַהֲרֹ֔ן'a.ha.RonH175,GoH3212into the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּ֑רָהha.mid.Ba.rahH4057to meetH7125Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872.And he wentH3212,and metוַֽיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֛הוּvai.yif.ge.She.huH6298him in the mountבְּהַ֥רbe.HarH2022of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430,and kissedוַיִּשַּׁק־vai.yi.shak-H5401him.

28And Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mo.ShehH4872toldוַיַּגֵּ֤דvai.ya.GedH5046Aaronלְאַֽהֲרֹ֔ןle.'a.ha.RonH175all the wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068who had sentשְׁלָח֑וֹshe.la.ChoH7971him, and all the signsהָאֹתֹ֖תha.'o.TotH226which he had commandedצִוָּֽהוּ׃tzi.Va.huH6680him.

29And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872and Aaronוְאַהֲרֹ֑ןve.'a.ha.RonH175wentH3212and gathered togetherוַיַּ֣אַסְפ֔וּvai.Ya.'as.FuH622all the eldersזִקְנֵ֖יzik.NeiH2205of the childrenבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478:

30And Aaronאַהֲרֹ֔ן'a.ha.RonH175spakeוַיְדַבֵּ֣רvay.da.BerH1696all the wordsהַדְּבָרִ֔יםha.de.va.RimH1697which Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068had spokenדִּבֶּ֥רdi.BerH1696unto Mosesמֹשֶׁ֑הmo.ShehH4872,and didוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213the signsהָאֹתֹ֖תha.'o.TotH226in the sightלְעֵינֵ֥יle.'ei.NeiH5869of the peopleהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971.

31And the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971believedוַֽיַּאֲמֵ֖ןvai.ya.'a.MenH539:and when they heardוַֽיִּשְׁמְע֡וּvai.yish.me.'UH8085that Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068had visitedפָקַ֨דfa.KadH6485the childrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and that he had lookedרָאָה֙ra.'AhH7200upon their afflictionעָנְיָ֔ם'a.ne.YamH6040,then they bowed their headsוַֽיִּקְּד֖וּvai.yi.ke.DuH6915and worshippedוַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּֽוּ׃vai.Yish.ta.cha.VuH7812.

Commentaries on Exodus 4