Revised Literal Translation

Genesis 18

1And Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068appearedוַיֵּרָ֤אvai.ye.Ra'H7200unto him in the plainsבְּאֵלֹנֵ֖יbe.'e.lo.NeiH436of Mamreמַמְרֵ֑אmam.Re'H4471:and he satיֹשֵׁ֥בyo.ShevH3427in the tentהָאֹ֖הֶלha.'O.helH168doorפֶּֽתַח־pe.tach-H6607in the heatכְּחֹ֥םke.ChomH2527of the dayהַיּֽוֹם׃hai.YomH3117;

2And he lift upוַיִּשָּׂ֤אvai.yi.Sa'H5375his eyesעֵינָיו֙'ei.NavH5869and lookedוַיַּ֔רְאvai.Yar'H7200,and, lo, threeשְׁלֹשָׁ֣הshe.lo.ShahH7969menאֲנָשִׁ֔ים'a.na.ShimH582stoodנִצָּבִ֖יםni.tza.VimH5324by him: and when he sawוַיַּ֗רְאvai.Yar'H7200them,he ranוַיָּ֤רָץvai.Ya.rotzH7323to meetH7125them from the tentהָאֹ֔הֶלha.'O.helH168doorמִפֶּ֣תַחmi.Pe.tachH6607,and bowedוַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּvai.yish.Ta.chuH7812himself toward the groundאָֽרְצָה׃'A.re.tzahH776,

3And saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559,My LordH136,if now I have foundמָצָ֤אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672favourחֵן֙chenH2580in thy sightבְּעֵינֶ֔יךָbe.'ei.Nei.khaH5869,pass not awayתַעֲבֹ֖רta.'a.VorH5674,I pray thee, from thy servantעַבְדֶּֽךָ׃'av.De.khaH5650:

4Let a littleמְעַט־me.'at-H4592waterמַ֔יִםMa.yimH4325,I pray youנָ֣אna'H4994,be fetchedיֻקַּֽח־yu.kach-H3947,and washוְרַחֲצ֖וּve.ra.cha.TzuH7364your feetרַגְלֵיכֶ֑םrag.lei.KhemH7272,and rest yourselvesוְהִֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּve.hi.sha.'a.NuH8172under the treeהָעֵֽץ׃ha.'EtzH6086:

5And I will fetchוְאֶקְחָ֨הve.'ek.ChahH3947a morselפַת־fat-H6595of breadלֶ֜חֶםLe.chemH3899,and comfort yeוְסַעֲד֤וּve.sa.'a.DuH5582your heartsלִבְּכֶם֙li.be.KhemH3820;after thatאַחַ֣ר'a.CharH310ye shall pass onתַּעֲבֹ֔רוּta.'a.Vo.ruH5674:for therefore are ye comeעֲבַרְתֶּ֖ם'a.var.TemH5674toH5921your servantעַבְדְּכֶ֑ם'av.de.KhemH5650.And they saidדִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃di.Bar.taH1696,So doתַּעֲשֶׂ֖הta.'a.SehH6213,as thou hast saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559.

6And Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֛ם'av.ra.HamH85hastenedוַיְמַהֵ֧רvay.ma.HerH4116into the tentהָאֹ֖הֱלָהha.'O.he.lahH168unto Sarahשָׂרָ֑הsa.RahH8283,and saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Make ready quicklyמַהֲרִ֞יma.ha.RiH4116threeשְׁלֹ֤שׁshe.LoshH7969measuresסְאִים֙se.'ImH5429of fineסֹ֔לֶתSo.letH5560mealקֶ֣מַחKe.machH7058,kneadל֖וּשִׁיLu.shiH3888it,and makeוַעֲשִׂ֥יva.'a.SiH6213cakesעֻגֽוֹת׃u.GotH5692upon the hearthH6213.

7And Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamH85ranרָ֣ץratzH7323unto the herdהַבָּקָ֖רha.ba.KarH1241,and fetchtוַיִּקַּ֨חvai.yi.KachH3947a calfבֶּן־ בָּקָ֜רben- ba.KarH1241 H1121tenderרַ֤ךְrakhH7390and goodוָטוֹב֙va.tOvH2896,and gaveוַיִּתֵּ֣ןvai.yi.TenH5414itunto a young manהַנַּ֔עַרha.Na.'arH5288;and he hastedוַיְמַהֵ֖רvay.ma.HerH4116to dressלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213it.

8And he tookוַיִּקַּ֨חvai.yi.KachH3947butterחֶמְאָ֜הchem.'AhH2529,and milkוְחָלָ֗בve.cha.LavH2461,and the calfוּבֶן־ הַבָּקָר֙u.ven- ha.ba.KarH1241 H1121which he had dressedעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213,and setוַיִּתֵּ֖ןvai.yi.TenH5414itbefore themלִפְנֵיהֶ֑םlif.nei.HemH6440;and he stoodעֹמֵ֧ד'o.MedH5975by them under the treeהָעֵ֖ץha.'EtzH6086,and they did eatוַיֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃vai.yo.Khe.luH398.

9And they saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559unto him, Whereאַיֵּ֖ה'ai.YehH346isSarahשָׂרָ֣הsa.RahH8283thy wifeאִשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ'ish.Te.khaH802?And he saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Behold, in the tentבָאֹֽהֶל׃va.'O.helH168.

10And he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,I will certainlyשׁ֣וֹבShovH7725returnאָשׁ֤וּב'a.ShuvH7725unto thee according to the timeכָּעֵ֣תka.'EtH6256of lifeחַיָּ֔הchai.YahH2416;and, lo, Sarahלְשָׂרָ֣הle.sa.RahH8283thy wifeאִשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ'ish.Te.khaH802shall have a sonבֵ֖ןvenH1121.And Sarahוְשָׂרָ֥הve.sa.RahH8283heardשֹׁמַ֛עַתsho.Ma.'atH8085itin the tentהָאֹ֖הֶלha.'O.helH168doorפֶּ֥תַחPe.tachH6607, which wasbehind himאַחֲרָֽיו׃'a.cha.RavH310.

11Now Abrahamוְאַבְרָהָ֤םve.'av.ra.HamH85and Sarahוְשָׂרָה֙ve.sa.RahH8283wereoldזְקֵנִ֔יםze.ke.NimH2205andwell strickenבָּאִ֖יםba.'ImH935in ageבַּיָּמִ֑יםbai.ya.MimH3117; andit ceasedחָדַל֙cha.DalH2308to be with Sarahלְשָׂרָ֔הle.sa.RahH8283after the mannerאֹ֖רַח'O.rachH734of womenכַּנָּשִֽׁים׃ka.na.ShimH802.

12Therefore Sarahשָׂרָ֖הsa.RahH8283laughedוַתִּצְחַ֥קva.titz.ChakH6711within herselfבְּקִרְבָּ֣הּbe.kir.BahH7130,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,Afterאַחֲרֵ֤י'a.cha.ReiH310I am waxed oldבְלֹתִי֙ve.lo.TiH1086shall I have pleasureעֶדְנָ֔ה'ed.NahH5730,my lordוַֽאדֹנִ֖יva.do.NiH113being old alsoזָקֵֽן׃za.KenH2204?

13And Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamH85,Whereforeלָ֣מָּהLa.mahH4100did Sarahשָׂרָ֜הsa.RahH8283laughצָחֲקָ֨הtza.cha.KahH6711,sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559,Shall I of a suretyאֻמְנָ֛ם'um.NamH552bearאֵלֵ֖ד'e.LedH3205a child, whichוַאֲנִ֥יva.'a.NiH589am oldזָקַֽנְתִּי׃za.Kan.tiH2204?

14IsH6381any thingדָּבָ֑רda.VarH1697too hardH6381for Yhwhמֵיְהוָ֖הme.Yah.wehH3068?At the time appointedלַמּוֹעֵ֞דla.mo.'EdH4150I will returnאָשׁ֥וּב'a.ShuvH7725unto thee, according to the timeכָּעֵ֥תka.'EtH6256of lifeחַיָּ֖הchai.YahH2416,and Sarahוּלְשָׂרָ֥הu.le.sa.RahH8283shall have a sonבֵֽן׃VenH1121.

15Then Sarahשָׂרָ֧ה׀sa.RahH8283deniedוַתְּכַחֵ֨שׁva.te.kha.CheshH3584,sayingלֵאמֹ֛רle.MorH559,I laughedצָחַ֖קְתִּיtza.Chak.tiH6711not; for she was afraidיָרֵ֑אָהya.Re.'ahH3372.And he saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶר׀vai.Yo.merH559,NayH3808;but thou didst laughצָחָֽקְתְּ׃tza.Cha.ketH6711.

16And the menהָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔יםha.'a.na.ShimH582rose upוַיָּקֻ֤מוּvai.ya.Ku.muH6965from thence, and lookedוַיַּשְׁקִ֖פוּvai.yash.Ki.fuH8259towardפְּנֵ֣יpe.NeiH6440Sodomסְדֹ֑םse.DomH5467:and Abrahamוְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔םve.'Av.ra.HamH85wentהֹלֵ֥ךְho.LekhH1980with them to bring them on the wayלְשַׁלְּחָֽם׃le.sha.le.ChamH7971.

17And Yhwhוַֽיהֹוָ֖הva.Yah.wehH3068saidאָמָ֑ר'a.MarH559,Shall I hideהַֽמְכַסֶּ֤הham.kha.SehH3680from Abrahamמֵֽאַבְרָהָ֔םme.'av.ra.HamH85that thing whichאֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834I doעֹשֶֽׂה׃'o.SehH6213;

18Seeing that Abrahamוְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔םve.'Av.ra.HamH85shall surely become a greatגָּד֖וֹלga.DolH1419and mightyוְעָצ֑וּםve.'a.TzumH6099nationלְג֥וֹיle.GoyH1471,and all the nationsגּוֹיֵ֥יgo.YeiH1471of the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776shall be blessedוְנִ֨בְרְכוּve.Niv.re.khuH1288in him?

19For I knowיְדַעְתִּ֗יוye.da'.TivH3045him, thatH834he will commandיְצַוֶּ֜הye.tza.VehH6680his childrenבָּנָ֤יוba.NavH1121and his householdבֵּיתוֹ֙bei.ToH1004after himאַחֲרָ֔יו'a.cha.RavH310,and they shall keepוְשָֽׁמְרוּ֙ve.sha.me.RuH8104the wayדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,to doלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213justiceצְדָקָ֖הtze.da.KahH6666and judgmentוּמִשְׁפָּ֑טu.mish.PatH4941;that Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068may bringהָבִ֤יאha.Vi'H935upon Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֔ם'av.ra.HamH85that which he hath spokenדִּבֶּ֖רdi.BerH1696of him.

20And Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Because the cryזַעֲקַ֛תza.'a.KatH2201of Sodomסְדֹ֥םse.DomH5467and Gomorrahוַעֲמֹרָ֖הva.'a.mo.RahH6017is greatH7227,and because their sinוְחַ֨טָּאתָ֔םve.Cha.ta.TamH2403is veryמְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966grievousכָבְדָ֖הkha.ve.DahH3513;

21I will go downאֵֽרֲדָה־'e.ra.dah-H3381now, and seeוְאֶרְאֶ֔הve.'er.'EhH7200whether they have doneעָשׂ֣וּ׀'a.SuH6213altogetherכָּלָ֑הka.LahH3617according to the cryהַכְּצַעֲקָתָ֛הּha.ke.tza.'a.ka.TahH6818of it, which is comeהַבָּ֥אָהha.Ba.'ahH935unto me; and if not, I will knowאֵדָֽעָה׃'e.Da.'ahH3045.

22And the menהָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔יםha.'a.na.ShimH582turned their facesוַיִּפְנ֤וּvai.yif.NuH6437from thence, and wentH3212toward Sodomסְדֹ֑מָהse.Do.mahH5467:but Abrahamוְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔םve.'Av.ra.HamH85stoodעֹמֵ֖ד'o.MedH5975yetעוֹדֶ֥נּוּo.De.nuH5750beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

23And Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֖ם'av.ra.HamH85drew nearוַיִּגַּ֥שׁvai.yi.GashH5066,and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559,Wilt thou also destroyתִּסְפֶּ֔הtis.PehH5595the righteousצַדִּ֖יקtza.DikH6662withעִם־'im-H5973the wickedרָשָֽׁע׃ra.Sha'H7563?

24Peradventure there beיֵ֛שׁyeshH3426fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםcha.mi.ShimH2572righteousצַדִּיקִ֖םtza.di.KimH6662withinבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892:wilt thou also destroyתִּסְפֶּה֙tis.PehH5595and not spareתִשָּׂ֣אti.Sa'H5375the placeלַמָּק֔וֹםla.ma.KomH4725forלְמַ֛עַןle.Ma.'anH4616the fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםcha.mi.ShimH2572righteousהַצַּדִּיקִ֖םha.tza.di.KimH6662that arethereinבְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃be.kir.BahH7130?

25That be farחָלִ֨לָהcha.Li.lahH2486from thee to doמֵעֲשֹׂ֣ת׀me.'a.SotH6213after this mannerכַּדָּבָ֣רka.da.VarH1697,to slayלְהָמִ֤יתle.ha.MitH4191the righteousצַדִּיק֙tza.DikH6662with the wickedרָשָׁ֔עra.Sha'H7563:and that the righteousכַצַּדִּ֖יקkha.tza.DikH6662should be as the wickedכָּרָשָׁ֑עka.ra.Sha'H7563,that be farחָלִ֣לָהcha.Li.lahH2486from thee: Shall not the Judgeהֲשֹׁפֵט֙ha.sho.FetH8199of all the earthהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776doיַעֲשֶׂ֖הya.'a.SehH6213rightמִשְׁפָּֽט׃mish.PatH4941?

26And Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,If I findאֶמְצָ֥א'em.Tza'H4672in Sodomבִסְדֹ֛םvis.DomH5467fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםcha.mi.ShimH2572righteousצַדִּיקִ֖םtza.di.KimH6662withinבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892,then I will spareוְנָשָׂ֥אתִיve.na.Sa.tiH5375all the placeהַמָּק֖וֹםha.ma.KomH4725for their sakes.

27And Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֖ם'av.ra.HamH85answeredוַיַּ֥עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559,Behold now, I have taken upon meהוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ho.'Al.tiH2974to speakלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696unto the Lordאֲדֹנָ֔י'a.do.NaiH136,whichוְאָנֹכִ֖יve.'a.no.KhiH595am butdustעָפָ֥ר'a.FarH6083and ashesוָאֵֽפֶר׃va.'E.ferH665:

28Peradventure there shall lackיַחְסְר֞וּןyach.se.RunH2637fiveחֲמִשָּׁ֔הcha.mi.ShahH2568of the fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֤יםcha.mi.ShimH2572righteousהַצַּדִּיקִם֙ha.tza.di.KimH6662:wilt thou destroyהֲתַשְׁחִ֥יתha.tash.ChitH7843all the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892for lack offiveבַּחֲמִשָּׁ֖הba.cha.mi.ShahH2568?And he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559,If I findאֶמְצָ֣א'em.Tza'H4672there fortyאַרְבָּעִ֖ים'ar.ba.'ImH705and fiveוַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃va.cha.mi.ShahH2568,I will not destroyאַשְׁחִ֔ית'ash.ChitH7843it.

29And he spakeלְדַבֵּ֤רle.da.BerH1696unto him yet againוַיֹּ֨סֶףvai.Yo.sefH3254,and saidוַיֹּאמַ֔רvai.yo.MarH559,Peradventure there shall be fortyאַרְבָּעִ֑ים'ar.ba.'ImH705foundיִמָּצְא֥וּןyi.ma.tze.'UnH4672there. And he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559,I will not doאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה'e.'e.SehH6213itfor forty’sהָאַרְבָּעִֽים׃ha.'ar.ba.'ImH705sake.

30And he saidוַ֠יֹּאמֶרVai.yo.merH559unto him,Ohנָ֞אna'H4994let not the Lordלַֽאדֹנָי֙la.do.NaiH136be angryיִ֤חַרYi.charH2734,and I will speakוַאֲדַבֵּ֔רָהva.'a.da.Be.rahH1696:Peradventure there shall thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֑יםshe.lo.ShimH7970be foundיִמָּצְא֥וּןyi.ma.tze.'UnH4672there. And he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559,I will not doאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה'e.'e.SehH6213it,if I findאֶמְצָ֥א'em.Tza'H4672thirtyשְׁלֹשִֽׁים׃she.lo.ShimH7970there.

31And he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Behold now, I have taken upon meהוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ho.'Al.tiH2974to speakלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696unto the Lordאֲדֹנָ֔י'a.do.NaiH136:Peradventure there shall be twentyעֶשְׂרִ֑ים'es.RimH6242foundיִמָּצְא֥וּןyi.ma.tze.'UnH4672there. And he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559,I will not destroyאַשְׁחִ֔ית'ash.ChitH7843itfor twenty’sהָֽעֶשְׂרִֽים׃Ha.'es.RimH6242sake.

32And he saidוַ֠יֹּאמֶרVai.yo.merH559,Oh let not the Lordלַֽאדֹנָי֙la.do.NaiH136be angryיִ֤חַרYi.charH2734,and I will speakוַאֲדַבְּרָ֣הva.'a.da.be.RahH1696yetאַךְ־'akh-H389but this onceהַפַּ֔עַםha.Pa.'amH6471:Peradventure tenעֲשָׂרָ֑ה'a.sa.RahH6235shall be foundיִמָּצְא֥וּןyi.ma.tze.'UnH4672there. And he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559,I will not destroyאַשְׁחִ֔ית'ash.ChitH7843itfor ten’sהָעֲשָׂרָֽה׃ha.'a.sa.RahH6235sake.

33And Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068went his wayH3212,as soon asכַּאֲשֶׁ֣רka.'a.SherH834he had leftכִּלָּ֔הki.LahH3615communingלְדַבֵּ֖רle.da.BerH1696with Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamH85:and Abrahamוְאַבְרָהָ֖םve.'av.ra.HamH85returnedשָׁ֥בshavH7725unto his placeלִמְקֹמֽוֹ׃lim.ko.MoH4725.

Commentaries on Genesis 18