The Tower of Babel
(Deuteronomy 32:8; Acts 2:1–13)

1 וַֽיְהִ֥י (And had) כָל־ (all) הָאָ֖רֶץ (the earth) שָׂפָ֣ה (language) אֶחָ֑ת (one) וּדְבָרִ֖ים (and speech) אֲחָדִֽים׃ (one).

2 וַֽיְהִ֖י (And it came to pass), בְּנָסְעָ֣ם (as they journeyed) מִקֶּ֑דֶם (from the east), וַֽיִּמְצְא֥וּ (that they found) בִקְעָ֛ה (a plain) בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (in the land) שִׁנְעָ֖ר (of Shinar), וַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּ (and they dwelt) שָֽׁם׃ (there).

3 וַיֹּאמְר֞וּ (And they said) אִ֣ישׁ (each man) אֶל־ (to) רֵעֵ֗הוּ (his brother), הָ֚בָה (Come), נִלְבְּנָ֣ה (let us make) לְבֵנִ֔ים (bricks) וְנִשְׂרְפָ֖ה (and burn them) לִשְׂרֵפָ֑ה (for burning). וַתְּהִ֨י (And they had) לָהֶ֤ם (to them) הַלְּבֵנָה֙ (the brick) לְאָ֔בֶן (for stone), וְהַ֣חֵמָ֔ר (and the tar) הָיָ֥ה (was) לָהֶ֖ם (to them) לַחֹֽמֶר׃ (for the mortar).

4 וַיֹּאמְר֞וּ (And they said), הָ֣בָה׀ (Come), נִבְנֶה־ (let us build) לָּ֣נוּ (for ourselves) עִ֗יר (a city) וּמִגְדָּל֙ (and a tower), וְרֹאשׁ֣וֹ (and its top) בַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (in the heavens); וְנַֽעֲשֶׂה־ (and let us make) לָּ֖נוּ (for ourselves) שֵׁ֑ם (a name), פֶּן־ (lest) נָפ֖וּץ (we be scattered) עַל־ (over) פְּנֵ֥י (the face) כָל־ (of all) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (the earth).

5 וַיֵּ֣רֶד (And came down) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) לִרְאֹ֥ת (to see) אֶת־ (-) הָעִ֖יר (the city) וְאֶת־ (and) הַמִּגְדָּ֑ל (the tower) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) בָּנ֖וּ (had built) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) הָאָדָֽם׃ (of men).

6 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), הֵ֣ן (Behold), עַ֤ם (the people are) אֶחָד֙ (one), וְשָׂפָ֤ה (and language) אַחַת֙ (one) לְכֻלָּ֔ם (they have all), וְזֶ֖ה (and this) הַחִלָּ֣ם (they have begun) לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת (to do). וְעַתָּה֙ (And now) לֹֽא־ (nothing) יִבָּצֵ֣ר (will be restrained) מֵהֶ֔ם (from them); כֹּ֛ל (all) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) יָזְמ֖וּ (they devise) לַֽעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ (to do).

7 הָ֚בָה (Come), נֵֽרְדָ֔ה (let Us go down) וְנָבְלָ֥ה (and confuse) שָׁ֖ם (there) שְׂפָתָ֑ם (their language), אֲשֶׁר֙ (so that) לֹ֣א (not) יִשְׁמְע֔וּ (may understand) אִ֖ישׁ (one man) שְׂפַ֥ת (the language) רֵעֵֽהוּ׃ (of his companion).

8 וַיָּ֨פֶץ (And scattered) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֹתָ֛ם (them) מִשָּׁ֖ם (from there) עַל־ (over) פְּנֵ֣י (the face) כָל־ (of all) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the earth); וַֽיַּחְדְּל֖וּ (and they ceased) לִבְנֹ֥ת (to build) הָעִֽיר׃ (the city).

9 עַל־ (Upon) כֵּ֞ן (thus) קָרָ֤א (is called) שְׁמָהּ֙ (its name) בָּבֶ֔ל (Babel); כִּי־ (for) שָׁ֛ם (there) בָּלַ֥ל (confused) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) שְׂפַ֣ת (the language) כָּל־ (of all) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the earth), וּמִשָּׁם֙ (and from there) הֱפִיצָ֣ם (scattered them) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) עַל־ (over) פְּנֵ֖י (the face) כָּל־ (of all) הָאָֽרֶץ׃פ (the earth).

Genealogy from Shem to Abram
(1 Chronicles 1:17–27)

10 אֵ֚לֶּה (These are) תּוֹלְדֹ֣ת (the generations) שֵׁ֔ם (of Shem). שֵׁ֚ם (Shem) בֶּן־ (was a son) מְאַ֣ת (of a hundred) שָׁנָ֔ה (years), וַיּ֖וֹלֶד (and he begat) אֶת־ (-) אַרְפַּכְשָׁ֑ד (Arphaxad) שְׁנָתַ֖יִם (two years) אַחַ֥ר (after) הַמַּבּֽוּל׃ (the flood).

11 וַֽיְחִי־ (And lived) שֵׁ֗ם (Shem) אַֽחֲרֵי֙ (after) הוֹלִיד֣וֹ (he begat) אֶת־ (-) אַרְפַּכְשָׁ֔ד (Arphaxad) חֲמֵ֥שׁ (five) מֵא֖וֹת (hundred) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיּ֥וֹלֶד (and he begat) בָּנִ֖ים (sons) וּבָנֽוֹת׃ס (and daughters).

12 וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֣ד (And Arphaxad) חַ֔י (lived) חָמֵ֥שׁ (five) וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים (and thirty) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיּ֖וֹלֶד (and he begat) אֶת־ (-) שָֽׁלַח׃ (Shelah).

13 וַֽיְחִ֣י (And lived) אַרְפַּכְשַׁ֗ד (Arphaxad) אַֽחֲרֵי֙ (after) הוֹלִיד֣וֹ (he begat) אֶת־ (-) שֶׁ֔לַח (Shelah) שָׁלֹ֣שׁ (three) שָׁנִ֔ים (years) וְאַרְבַּ֥ע (and four) מֵא֖וֹת (hundred) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיּ֥וֹלֶד (and he begat) בָּנִ֖ים (sons) וּבָנֽוֹת׃ס (and daughters).

14 וְשֶׁ֥לַח (And Shelah) חַ֖י (lived) שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים (thirty) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיּ֖וֹלֶד (and he begat) אֶת־ (-) עֵֽבֶר׃ (Eber).

15 וַֽיְחִי־ (And lived) שֶׁ֗לַח (Shelah) אַחֲרֵי֙ (after) הוֹלִיד֣וֹ (he begat) אֶת־ (-) עֵ֔בֶר (Eber) שָׁלֹ֣שׁ (three) שָׁנִ֔ים (years) וְאַרְבַּ֥ע (and four) מֵא֖וֹת (hundred) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיּ֥וֹלֶד (and he begat) בָּנִ֖ים (sons) וּבָנֽוֹת׃ס (and daughters).

16 וַֽיְחִי־ (And lived) עֵ֕בֶר (Eber) אַרְבַּ֥ע (four) וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים (and thirty) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיּ֖וֹלֶד (and he begat) אֶת־ (-) פָּֽלֶג׃ (Peleg).

17 וַֽיְחִי־ (And lived) עֵ֗בֶר (Eber) אַחֲרֵי֙ (after) הוֹלִיד֣וֹ (he begat) אֶת־ (-) פֶּ֔לֶג (Peleg) שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים (thirty) שָׁנָ֔ה (years) וְאַרְבַּ֥ע (and four) מֵא֖וֹת (hundred) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיּ֥וֹלֶד (and he begat) בָּנִ֖ים (sons) וּבָנֽוֹת׃ס (and daughters).

18 וַֽיְחִי־ (And lived) פֶ֖לֶג (Peleg) שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים (thirty) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיּ֖וֹלֶד (and he begat) אֶת־ (-) רְעֽוּ׃ (Reu).

19 וַֽיְחִי־ (And lived) פֶ֗לֶג (Peleg) אַחֲרֵי֙ (after) הוֹלִיד֣וֹ (he begat) אֶת־ (-) רְע֔וּ (Reu) תֵּ֥שַׁע (nine) שָׁנִ֖ים (years) וּמָאתַ֣יִם (and two hundred) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיּ֥וֹלֶד (and he begat) בָּנִ֖ים (sons) וּבָנֽוֹת׃ס (and daughters).

20 וַיְחִ֣י (And lived) רְע֔וּ (Reu) שְׁתַּ֥יִם (two) וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים (and thirty) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיּ֖וֹלֶד (and he begat) אֶת־ (-) שְׂרֽוּג׃ (Serug).

21 וַיְחִ֣י (And lived) רְע֗וּ (Reu) אַחֲרֵי֙ (after) הוֹלִיד֣וֹ (he begat) אֶת־ (-) שְׂר֔וּג (Serug) שֶׁ֥בַע (seven) שָׁנִ֖ים (years) וּמָאתַ֣יִם (and two hundred) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיּ֥וֹלֶד (and he begat) בָּנִ֖ים (sons) וּבָנֽוֹת׃ס (and daughters).

22 וַיְחִ֥י (And lived) שְׂר֖וּג (Serug) שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים (thirty) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיּ֖וֹלֶד (and he begat) אֶת־ (-) נָחֽוֹר׃ (Nahor).

23 וַיְחִ֣י (And lived) שְׂר֗וּג (Serug) אַחֲרֵ֛י (after) הוֹלִיד֥וֹ (he begat) אֶת־ (-) נָח֖וֹר (Nahor) מָאתַ֣יִם (two hundred) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיּ֥וֹלֶד (and he begat) בָּנִ֖ים (sons) וּבָנֽוֹת׃ס (and daughters).

24 וַיְחִ֣י (And lived) נָח֔וֹר (Nahor) תֵּ֥שַׁע (nine) וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים (and twenty) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיּ֖וֹלֶד (and he begat) אֶת־ (-) תָּֽרַח׃ (Terah).

25 וַיְחִ֣י (And lived) נָח֗וֹר (Nahor) אַחֲרֵי֙ (after) הוֹלִיד֣וֹ (he begat) אֶת־ (-) תֶּ֔רַח (Terah) תְּשַֽׁע־ (nine) עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה (and ten) שָׁנָ֖ה (years) וּמְאַ֣ת (and a hundred) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיּ֥וֹלֶד (and he begat) בָּנִ֖ים (sons) וּבָנֽוֹת׃ס (and daughters).

26 וַֽיְחִי־ (And lived) תֶ֖רַח (Terah) שִׁבְעִ֣ים (seventy) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיּ֙וֹלֶד֙ (and he begat) אֶת־ (-) אַבְרָ֔ם (Abram), אֶת־ (-) נָח֖וֹר (Nahor), וְאֶת־ (and) הָרָֽן׃ (Haran).

Terah’s Descendants

27 וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (And these are) תּוֹלְדֹ֣ת (the generations) תֶּ֔רַח (of Terah): תֶּ֚רַח (Terah) הוֹלִ֣יד (begat) אֶת־ (-) אַבְרָ֔ם (Abram), אֶת־ (-) נָח֖וֹר (Nahor), וְאֶת־ (and) הָרָ֑ן (Haran). וְהָרָ֖ן (And Haran) הוֹלִ֥יד (begat) אֶת־ (-) לֽוֹט׃ (Lot).

28 וַיָּ֣מָת (And died) הָרָ֔ן (Haran) עַל־ (before) פְּנֵ֖י (the face) תֶּ֣רַח (of Terah) אָבִ֑יו (his father), בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (in the land) מוֹלַדְתּ֖וֹ (of his birth), בְּא֥וּר (in Ur) כַּשְׂדִּֽים׃ (of the Chaldeans).

29 וַיִּקַּ֨ח (And took) אַבְרָ֧ם (Abram) וְנָח֛וֹר (and Nahor) לָהֶ֖ם (for themselves) נָשִׁ֑ים (wives); שֵׁ֤ם (the name) אֵֽשֶׁת־ (of the wife) אַבְרָם֙ (of Abram) שָׂרָ֔י (was Sarai); וְשֵׁ֤ם (and the name) אֵֽשֶׁת־ (of the wife), נָחוֹר֙ (of Nahor) מִלְכָּ֔ה (was Milcah) בַּת־ (the daughter) הָרָ֥ן (of Haran), אֲבִֽי־ (the father) מִלְכָּ֖ה (of Milcah) וַֽאֲבִ֥י (and the father) יִסְכָּֽה׃ (of Iscah).

30 וַתְּהִ֥י (And was) שָׂרַ֖י (Sarai) עֲקָרָ֑ה (barren); אֵ֥ין (no) לָ֖הּ (she had) וָלָֽד׃ (child).

31 וַיִּקַּ֨ח (And took) תֶּ֜רַח (Terah) אֶת־ (-) אַבְרָ֣ם (Abram) בְּנ֗וֹ (his son), וְאֶת־ (and) ל֤וֹט (Lot) בֶּן־ (son) הָרָן֙ (of Haran) בֶּן־ (the son) בְּנ֔וֹ (of his son), וְאֵת֙ (and) שָׂרַ֣י (Sarai) כַּלָּת֔וֹ (his daughter-in-law), אֵ֖שֶׁת (the wife) אַבְרָ֣ם (of Abram) בְּנ֑וֹ (his son), וַיֵּצְא֨וּ (and they went out) אִתָּ֜ם (with them) מֵא֣וּר (from Ur) כַּשְׂדִּ֗ים (of the Chaldeans), לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ (to go) אַ֣רְצָה (to the land) כְּנַ֔עַן (of Canaan). וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ (And they came) עַד־ (as far as) חָרָ֖ן (Haran) וַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּ (and they dwelt) שָֽׁם׃ (there).

32 וַיִּהְי֣וּ (And were) יְמֵי־ (the days) תֶ֔רַח (of Terah) חָמֵ֥שׁ (five) שָׁנִ֖ים (years) וּמָאתַ֣יִם (and two hundred) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיָּ֥מָת (and died) תֶּ֖רַח (Terah) בְּחָרָֽן׃ס (in Haran).