God’s Promise to Isaac
(Genesis 12:1–9)

1 וַיְהִ֤י (And there was) רָעָב֙ (a famine) בָּאָ֔רֶץ (in the land), מִלְּבַד֙ (besides) הָרָעָ֣ב (the famine) הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן (first) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) הָיָ֖ה (had occurred) בִּימֵ֣י (in the days) אַבְרָהָ֑ם (of Abraham). וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ (And went) יִצְחָ֛ק (Isaac) אֶל־ (to) אֲבִימֶּ֥לֶךְ (Abimelech) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (of the Philistines) גְּרָֽרָה׃ (in Gerar).

2 וַיֵּרָ֤א (And appeared) אֵלָיו֙ (to him) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (and said), אַל־ (Not) תֵּרֵ֣ד (do go down) מִצְרָ֑יְמָה (to Egypt); שְׁכֹ֣ן (dwell) בָּאָ֔רֶץ (in the land) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (of which) אֹמַ֥ר (I shall tell) אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ (to you).

3 גּ֚וּר (Sojourn) בָּאָ֣רֶץ (in the land) הַזֹּ֔את (this), וְאֶֽהְיֶ֥ה (and I will be) עִמְּךָ֖ (with you) וַאֲבָרְכֶ֑ךָּ (and I will bless you). כִּֽי־ (For) לְךָ֣ (to you) וּֽלְזַרְעֲךָ֗ (and to your seed) אֶתֵּן֙ (I will give) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָֽאֲרָצֹ֣ת (the lands) הָאֵ֔ל (these), וַהֲקִֽמֹתִי֙ (and I will confirm) אֶת־ (-) הַשְּׁבֻעָ֔ה (the oath) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתִּי (I swore) לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם (to Abraham) אָבִֽיךָ׃ (your father).

4 וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֤י (And I will multiply) אֶֽת־ (-) זַרְעֲךָ֙ (your seed) כְּכוֹכְבֵ֣י (as the stars) הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (of the heavens), וְנָתַתִּ֣י (and I will give) לְזַרְעֲךָ֔ (to your seed) אֵ֥ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הָאֲרָצֹ֖ת (the lands) הָאֵ֑ל (these). וְהִתְבָּרֲכ֣וּ (And shall be blessed) בְזַרְעֲךָ֔ (in your seed) כֹּ֖ל (all) גּוֹיֵ֥י (the nations) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the earth),

5 עֵ֕קֶב (because) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) שָׁמַ֥ע (listened) אַבְרָהָ֖ם (Abraham) בְּקֹלִ֑י (to My voice) וַיִּשְׁמֹר֙ (and kept) מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֔י (My charge), מִצְוֺתַ֖י (My commandments), חֻקּוֹתַ֥י (My statutes), וְתוֹרֹתָֽי׃ (and My laws).

Isaac Deceives Abimelech

6 וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (And dwelt) יִצְחָ֖ק (Isaac) בִּגְרָֽר׃ (in Gerar).

7 וַֽיִּשְׁאֲל֞וּ (And asked) אַנְשֵׁ֤י (the men) הַמָּקוֹם֙ (of that place) לְאִשְׁתּ֔וֹ (about his wife), וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (and he said), אֲחֹ֣תִי (My sister) הִ֑וא (she is). כִּ֤י (For) יָרֵא֙ (he was afraid) לֵאמֹ֣ר (to say), אִשְׁתִּ֔י (She is my wife), פֶּן־ (lest) יַֽהַרְגֻ֜נִי (kill me) אַנְשֵׁ֤י (the men) הַמָּקוֹם֙ (of the place) עַל־ (on account) רִבְקָ֔ה (of Rebekah), כִּֽי־ (because) טוֹבַ֥ת (beautiful) מַרְאֶ֖ה (of appearance) הִֽיא׃ (she is).

8 וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), כִּ֣י (when) אָֽרְכוּ־ (had been prolonged) ל֥וֹ (to him) שָׁם֙ (there) הַיָּמִ֔ים (the days), וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ף (that looked) אֲבִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙ (Abimelech) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (of the Philistines) בְּעַ֖ד (through) הַֽחַלּ֑וֹן (the window), וַיַּ֗רְא (and he saw), וְהִנֵּ֤ה (and behold) יִצְחָק֙ (Isaac) מְצַחֵ֔ק (was caressing) אֵ֖ת (-) רִבְקָ֥ה (Rebekah) אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ (his wife).

9 וַיִּקְרָ֨א (And called) אֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ (Abimelech) לְיִצְחָ֗ק (to Isaac), וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and said), אַ֣ךְ (Surely), הִנֵּ֤ה (behold), אִשְׁתְּךָ֙ (your wife) הִ֔וא (she is)! וְאֵ֥יךְ (And how) אָמַ֖רְתָּ (did you say) אֲחֹ֣תִי (My sister) הִ֑וא (she is)? וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֵלָיו֙ (to him) יִצְחָ֔ק (Isaac), כִּ֣י (Because) אָמַ֔רְתִּי (I said), פֶּן־ (lest) אָמ֖וּת (I die) עָלֶֽיהָ׃ (on account of her).

10 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ (Abimelech), מַה־ (What is) זֹּ֖את (this) עָשִׂ֣יתָ (you have done) לָּ֑נוּ (to us)? כִּ֠מְעַט (Almost) שָׁכַ֞ב (had lain with) אַחַ֤ד (one) הָעָם֙ (of the people) אֶת־ (-) אִשְׁתֶּ֔ךָ (your wife), וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ (and you would have brought) עָלֵ֖ינוּ (upon us) אָשָֽׁם׃ (guilt).

11 וַיְצַ֣ו (And commanded) אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ (Abimelech) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֖ם (the people), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הַנֹּגֵ֜עַ (The one who touches) בָּאִ֥ישׁ (the man) הַזֶּ֛ה (this) וּבְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ (or his wife) מ֥וֹת (dying) יוּמָֽת׃ (he will die).

Isaac’s Prosperity

12 וַיִּזְרַ֤ע (And sowed) יִצְחָק֙ (Isaac) בָּאָ֣רֶץ (in the land) הַהִ֔וא (that), וַיִּמְצָ֛א (and he reaped) בַּשָּׁנָ֥ה (in the year) הַהִ֖וא (that) מֵאָ֣ה (a hundred) שְׁעָרִ֑ים (fold); וַֽיְבָרֲכֵ֖הוּ (and blessed him) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

13 וַיִּגְדַּ֖ל (And became great) הָאִ֑ישׁ (the man), וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ (and he went on), הָלוֹךְ֙ (going on) וְגָדֵ֔ל (and becoming greater), עַ֥ד (until) כִּֽי־ (that) גָדַ֖ל (he became great) מְאֹֽד׃ (very).

14 וַֽיְהִי־ (And he had) ל֤וֹ (-) מִקְנֵה־ (a possession) צֹאן֙ (of flock), וּמִקְנֵ֣ה (and a possession) בָקָ֔ר (of cattle), וַעֲבֻדָּ֖ה (and service) רַבָּ֑ה (much); וַיְקַנְא֥וּ (and envied) אֹת֖וֹ (him) פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ (the Philistines).

15 וְכָל־ (And all) הַבְּאֵרֹ֗ת (the wells) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) חָֽפְרוּ֙ (had dug) עַבְדֵ֣י (the servants) אָבִ֔יו (of his father) בִּימֵ֖י (in the days) אַבְרָהָ֣ם (of Abraham) אָבִ֑יו (his father), סִתְּמ֣וּם (stopped them up) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (the Philistines) וַיְמַלְא֖וּם (and filled them) עָפָֽר׃ (with earth).

16 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ (Abimelech) אֶל־ (to) יִצְחָ֑ק (Isaac), לֵ֚ךְ (Go) מֵֽעִמָּ֔נוּ (from us), כִּֽי־ (for) עָצַֽמְתָּ־ (you have become mightier) מִמֶּ֖נּוּ (than we) מְאֹֽד׃ (much).

17 וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (And departed) מִשָּׁ֖ם (from there) יִצְחָ֑ק (Isaac), וַיִּ֥חַן (and camped) בְּנַֽחַל־ (in the Valley) גְּרָ֖ר (of Gerar), וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (and dwelt) שָֽׁם׃ (there).

18 וַיָּ֨שָׁב (And returned) יִצְחָ֜ק (Isaac) וַיַּחְפֹּ֣ר׀ (and dug) אֶת־ (-) בְּאֵרֹ֣ת (the wells) הַמַּ֗יִם (of water), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) חָֽפְרוּ֙ (they had dug) בִּימֵי֙ (in the days) אַבְרָהָ֣ם (of Abraham) אָבִ֔יו (his father); וַיְסַתְּמ֣וּם (and had stopped them up) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (the Philistines) אַחֲרֵ֖י (after) מ֣וֹת (the death) אַבְרָהָ֑ם (of Abraham). וַיִּקְרָ֤א (And he called) לָהֶן֙ (to them) שֵׁמ֔וֹת (names) כַּשֵּׁמֹ֕ת (according to the names) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) קָרָ֥א (had called) לָהֶ֖ן (them) אָבִֽיו׃ (his father).

19 וַיַּחְפְּר֥וּ (And dug) עַבְדֵֽי־ (servants) יִצְחָ֖ק (Isaac’s) בַּנָּ֑חַל (in the valley), וַיִּ֨מְצְאוּ־ (and found) שָׁ֔ם (there) בְּאֵ֖ר (a well) מַ֥יִם (of water) חַיִּֽים׃ (living).

20 וַיָּרִ֜יבוּ (And strove) רֹעֵ֣י (the shepherds) גְרָ֗ר (of Gerar) עִם־ (with) רֹעֵ֥י (the shepherds) יִצְחָ֛ק (of Isaac), לֵאמֹ֖ר (saying), לָ֣נוּ (Ours) הַמָּ֑יִם (the water is)! וַיִּקְרָ֤א (And he called) שֵֽׁם־ (the name) הַבְּאֵר֙ (of the well) עֵ֔שֶׂק (Esek), כִּ֥י (because) הִֽתְעַשְּׂק֖וּ (they contended) עִמּֽוֹ׃ (with him).

21 וַֽיַּחְפְּרוּ֙ (And they dug) בְּאֵ֣ר (well) אַחֶ֔רֶת (another), וַיָּרִ֖יבוּ (and they strove) גַּם־ (also) עָלֶ֑יהָ (over it). וַיִּקְרָ֥א (And he called) שְׁמָ֖הּ (its name) שִׂטְנָֽה׃ (Sitnah).

22 וַיַּעְתֵּ֣ק (And he moved) מִשָּׁ֗ם (from there) וַיַּחְפֹּר֙ (and dug) בְּאֵ֣ר (well) אַחֶ֔רֶת (another), וְלֹ֥א (and not) רָב֖וּ (they did strive) עָלֶ֑יהָ (over it). וַיִּקְרָ֤א (And he called) שְׁמָהּ֙ (its name) רְחֹב֔וֹת (Rehoboth) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and said), כִּֽי־ (For) עַתָּ֞ה (now) הִרְחִ֧יב (has made room) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) לָ֖נוּ (for us), וּפָרִ֥ינוּ (and we shall be fruitful) בָאָֽרֶץ׃ (in the land).

23 וַיַּ֥עַל (And he went up) מִשָּׁ֖ם (from there) בְּאֵ֥ר (to Beer-) שָֽׁבַע׃ (sheba).

24 וַיֵּרָ֨א (And appeared) אֵלָ֤יו (to him) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) בַּלַּ֣יְלָה (in the night) הַה֔וּא (that), וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and said), אָנֹכִ֕י (I am) אֱלֹהֵ֖י (the God) אַבְרָהָ֣ם (of Abraham) אָבִ֑יךָ (your father); אַל־ (not) תִּירָא֙ (do fear), כִּֽי־ (for) אִתְּךָ֣ (with you) אָנֹ֔כִי (I am), וּבֵֽרַכְתִּ֙יךָ֙ (and I will bless you) וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֣י (and I will multiply) אֶֽת־ (-) זַרְעֲךָ֔ (your seed) בַּעֲב֖וּר (for the sake) אַבְרָהָ֥ם (of Abraham) עַבְדִּֽי׃ (My servant).

25 וַיִּ֧בֶן (And he built) שָׁ֣ם (there) מִזְבֵּ֗חַ (an altar) וַיִּקְרָא֙ (and called) בְּשֵׁ֣ם (on the name) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH). וַיֶּט־ (And he pitched) שָׁ֖ם (there) אָהֳל֑וֹ (his tent), וַיִּכְרוּ־ (and dug) שָׁ֥ם (there) עַבְדֵי־ (the servants) יִצְחָ֖ק (of Isaac) בְּאֵֽר׃ (a well).

Isaac’s Covenant with Abimelech

26 וַאֲבִימֶ֕לֶךְ (And Abimelech) הָלַ֥ךְ (came) אֵלָ֖יו (to him) מִגְּרָ֑ר (from Gerar) וַאֲחֻזַּת֙ (and Ahuzzath) מֵֽרֵעֵ֔הוּ (his companion) וּפִיכֹ֖ל (and Phichol) שַׂר־ (the commander) צְבָאֽוֹ׃ (of his army).

27 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֲלֵהֶם֙ (to them) יִצְחָ֔ק (Isaac), מַדּ֖וּעַ (Why) בָּאתֶ֣ם (have you⁺ come) אֵלָ֑י (to me), וְאַתֶּם֙ (and you⁺) שְׂנֵאתֶ֣ם (you⁺ hated) אֹתִ֔י (me) וַתְּשַׁלְּח֖וּנִי (and you⁺ sent me away) מֵאִתְּכֶֽם׃ (from you⁺).

28 וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (And they said), רָא֣וֹ (Seeing) רָאִינוּ֮ (we have seen) כִּֽי־ (that) הָיָ֣ה (has been) יְהוָ֣ה׀ (YHWH) עִמָּךְ֒ (with you). וַנֹּ֗אמֶר (And we said), תְּהִ֨י (let there be) נָ֥א (please) אָלָ֛ה (an oath) בֵּינוֹתֵ֖ינוּ (between us)— בֵּינֵ֣ינוּ (between us) וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ (and between you)— וְנִכְרְתָ֥ה (and let us cut) בְרִ֖ית (a covenant) עִמָּֽךְ׃ (with you)

29 אִם־ (that) תַּעֲשֵׂ֨ה (you will do) עִמָּ֜נוּ (to us) רָעָ֗ה (no evil), כַּאֲשֶׁר֙ (since) לֹ֣א (not) נְגַֽעֲנ֔וּךָ (we have touched you), וְכַאֲשֶׁ֨ר (and since) עָשִׂ֤ינוּ (we have done) עִמְּךָ֙ (to you) רַק־ (only) ט֔וֹב (good), וַנְּשַׁלֵּֽחֲךָ֖ (and sent you away) בְּשָׁל֑וֹם (in peace). אַתָּ֥ה (You are) עַתָּ֖ה (now) בְּר֥וּךְ (blessed) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH)!

30 וַיַּ֤עַשׂ (And he made) לָהֶם֙ (for them) מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה (a feast), וַיֹּאכְל֖וּ (and they ate) וַיִּשְׁתּֽוּ׃ (and they drank).

31 וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ (And they arose early) בַבֹּ֔קֶר (in the morning) וַיִּשָּׁבְע֖וּ (and they swore) אִ֣ישׁ (a man) לְאָחִ֑יו (to his brother). וַיְשַׁלְּחֵ֣ם (And sent them away) יִצְחָ֔ק (Isaac), וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ (and they departed) מֵאִתּ֖וֹ (from him) בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (in peace).

32 וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on that day) הַה֗וּא (that), וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ (and came) עַבְדֵ֣י (the servants) יִצְחָ֔ק (of Isaac) וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ (and told) ל֔וֹ (to him) עַל־ (about) אֹד֥וֹת (the circumstances) הַבְּאֵ֖ר (of the well) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) חָפָ֑רוּ (they had dug), וַיֹּ֥אמְרוּ (and they said) ל֖וֹ (to him), מָצָ֥אנוּ (We have found) מָֽיִם׃ (water).

33 וַיִּקְרָ֥א (And he called) אֹתָ֖הּ (it) שִׁבְעָ֑ה (Shibah); עַל־ (upon) כֵּ֤ן (thus) שֵׁם־ (the name) הָעִיר֙ (of the city is) בְּאֵ֣ר (Beer-) שֶׁ֔בַע (sheba) עַ֖ד (to) הַיּ֥וֹם (the day) הַזֶּֽה׃ס (this).

Esau’s Wives

34 וַיְהִ֤י (And was) עֵשָׂו֙ (Esau) בֶּן־ (a son) אַרְבָּעִ֣ים (of forty) שָׁנָ֔ה (years), וַיִּקַּ֤ח (and he took) אִשָּׁה֙ (a wife) אֶת־ (-) יְהוּדִ֔ית (Judith) בַּת־ (daughter) בְּאֵרִ֖י (of Beeri) הַֽחִתִּ֑י (the Hittite), וְאֶת־ (and also) בָּ֣שְׂמַ֔ת (Basemath) בַּת־ (the daughter) אֵילֹ֖ן (of Elon) הַֽחִתִּֽי׃ (the Hittite),

35 וַתִּהְיֶ֖יןָ (and they were) מֹ֣רַת (a bitterness) ר֑וּחַ (of spirit) לְיִצְחָ֖ק (to Isaac) וּלְרִבְקָֽה׃ס (and to Rebekah).