Exodus

Chapter 1

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'e֗lּeh shshemot֙ bּene֣y yishsera'e֔l habּa'i֖ym mitzera֑yemah 'e֣t ya'aqo֔b 'i֥yshsh ubeyt֖o bּaֽ'u׃

Edified Edition (EDE)These are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob) who came to Egypt with their families.

וְאֵ֗לֶּה שְׁמוֹת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַבָּאִ֖ים מִצְרָ֑יְמָה אֵ֣ת יַעֲקֹ֔ב אִ֥ישׁ וּבֵית֖וֹ בָּֽאוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): re'ube֣n shshime'֔on levi֖y viyhudaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The sons were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

רְאוּבֵ֣ן שִׁמְע֔וֹן לֵוִ֖י וִיהוּדָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): yishsּashka֥r zebulu֖n ubeneyamiֽn׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;

יִשָּׂשכָ֥ר זְבוּלֻ֖ן וּבְנְיָמִֽן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): dּa֥n venapetּali֖y gּa֥d ve'ashsheֽr׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

דָּ֥ן וְנַפְתָּלִ֖י גָּ֥ד וְאָשֵֽׁר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vֽayehi֗y kּal-ne֛peshsh yotze'e֥y yeֽreke-ya'aqo֖b shshibe'i֣ym na֑peshsh veyose֖p haya֥h bemitzeraֽyim׃

Edified Edition (EDE)In total, seventy members of Jacob’s direct family arrived in Egypt, where Joseph was already living.

וַֽיְהִ֗י כָּל־נֶ֛פֶשׁ יֹצְאֵ֥י יֶֽרֶךְ־יַעֲקֹ֖ב שִׁבְעִ֣ים נָ֑פֶשׁ וְיוֹסֵ֖ף הָיָ֥ה בְמִצְרָֽיִם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa֤mat yosep֙ vekal-'echa֔yv veko֖l hadּ֥or hahֽu'׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Eventually Joseph died, along with all his brothers and that entire generation.

וַיָּ֤מָת יוֹסֵף֙ וְכָל־אֶחָ֔יו וְכֹ֖ל הַדּ֥וֹר הַהֽוּא׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ubene֣y yishsera'e֗l pּar֧u vaֽyּishsheretz֛u vayּirebּ֥u vayּaֽ'atzem֖u bּime'o֣d me'o֑d vatּimּale֥ ha'a֖retz 'otaֽm׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)But the Israelites were fruitful and multiplied and their numbers grew rapidly. They became so many and so strong that they filled the whole land.

וּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל פָּר֧וּ וַֽיִּשְׁרְצ֛וּ וַיִּרְבּ֥וּ וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּ בִּמְאֹ֣ד מְאֹ֑ד וַתִּמָּלֵ֥א הָאָ֖רֶץ אֹתָֽם׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa֥qam meֽleke-chada֖shsh 'al-mitzera֑yim 'ashshe֥r loֽ'-yada֖ 'et-yoseֽp׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Later, a new king came to power in Egypt who did not know anything about Joseph.

וַיָּ֥קָם מֶֽלֶךְ־חָדָ֖שׁ עַל־מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יָדַ֖ע אֶת־יוֹסֵֽף׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֖'mer 'el-'amּ֑o hinּe֗h 'a֚m bּene֣y yishsera'e֔l ra֥b ve'atz֖um mimּeֽnּu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)He said to his people, "Look, the Israelites have become more numerous and more powerful than we are."

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֶל־עַמּ֑וֹ הִנֵּ֗ה עַ֚ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רַ֥ב וְעָצ֖וּם מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ha֥bah niֽtechakּema֖h l֑o pּen-yirebּe֗h vehaya֞h kּiֽy-tiqere֤'nah milechamah֙ venosa֤p gּam-hu'֙ 'al-shso֣ne'e֔ynu venilecham-bּa֖nu ve'ala֥h min-ha'aֽretz׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"We must be smart about how we handle them. If we don’t, and a war breaks out, they might join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country."

הָ֥בָה נִֽתְחַכְּמָ֖ה ל֑וֹ פֶּן־יִרְבֶּ֗ה וְהָיָ֞ה כִּֽי־תִקְרֶ֤אנָה מִלְחָמָה֙ וְנוֹסַ֤ף גַּם־הוּא֙ עַל־שֹׂ֣נְאֵ֔ינוּ וְנִלְחַם־בָּ֖נוּ וְעָלָ֥ה מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּashsi֤ymu 'alayv֙ shsare֣y misּi֔ym lema֥'an 'anּot֖o bּesibelota֑m vayּi֜ben 'are֤y misekּenot֙ lepare'o֔h 'et-pּito֖m ve'et-ra'ameseֽs׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So the Egyptians appointed cruel slave drivers to mistreat them and force them into hard labour. During this time, the Israelites built the storage cities of Pithom and Raamses for Pharaoh.

וַיָּשִׂ֤ימוּ עָלָיו֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מִסִּ֔ים לְמַ֥עַן עַנֹּת֖וֹ בְּסִבְלֹתָ֑ם וַיִּ֜בֶן עָרֵ֤י מִסְכְּנוֹת֙ לְפַרְעֹ֔ה אֶת־פִּתֹ֖ם וְאֶת־רַעַמְסֵֽס׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): veka'ashsher֙ ye'anּ֣u 'ot֔o kּe֥n yirebּe֖h veke֣n yipero֑tz vayּaqu֕tzu mipּene֖y bּene֥y yishsera'eֽl׃

Edified Edition (EDE)But the more the Egyptians mistreated the Israelites, the more they multiplied and spread. This made the Egyptians even more afraid of them.

וְכַאֲשֶׁר֙ יְעַנּ֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ כֵּ֥ן יִרְבֶּ֖ה וְכֵ֣ן יִפְרֹ֑ץ וַיָּקֻ֕צוּ מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa'abi֧du mitzera֛yim 'et-bּene֥y yishsera'e֖l bּepaֽreke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The Egyptians forced the Israelites to work without mercy.

וַיַּעֲבִ֧דוּ מִצְרַ֛יִם אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּפָֽרֶךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayemarer֨u 'et-chayּeyhe֜m bּa'aboda֣h qashsha֗h bּecho֨mer֙ ubilebeni֔ym ubekal-'aboda֖h bּashsּade֑h 'e֚t kּal-'abo֣data֔m 'ashsher-'abed֥u bahe֖m bּepaֽreke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)They made their lives miserable with bitter, hard work, making mortar and bricks and doing all kinds of field labour. Every job they were forced to do was [1] (brutal and heartless).

וַיְמָרְר֨וּ אֶת־חַיֵּיהֶ֜ם בַּעֲבֹדָ֣ה קָשָׁ֗ה בְּחֹ֨מֶר֙ וּבִלְבֵנִ֔ים וּבְכָל־עֲבֹדָ֖ה בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה אֵ֚ת כָּל־עֲבֹ֣דָתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־עָבְד֥וּ בָהֶ֖ם בְּפָֽרֶךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֨'mer֙ me֣leke mitzera֔yim laֽmeyalּedo֖t haֽ'iberiyּo֑t 'ashshe֨r shshe֤m haֽ'achat֙ shshipera֔h veshshe֥m hashshּeni֖yt pּu'aֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֖ת הָֽעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת אֲשֶׁ֨ר שֵׁ֤ם הָֽאַחַת֙ שִׁפְרָ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית פּוּעָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֗'mer bּeyalּedeken֙ 'et-haֽ'iberiyּ֔ot ure'iyte֖n 'al-ha'abena֑yim 'im-bּe֥n hu'֙ vahamitּe֣n 'ot֔o ve'im-bּa֥t hi֖y vachaֽyah׃

Edified Edition (EDE)He told them, "When you help the Hebrew women give birth, look closely at the baby. If it is a boy, kill him. If it is a girl, let her live."

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בְּיַלֶּדְכֶן֙ אֶת־הָֽעִבְרִיּ֔וֹת וּרְאִיתֶ֖ן עַל־הָאָבְנָ֑יִם אִם־בֵּ֥ן הוּא֙ וַהֲמִתֶּ֣ן אֹת֔וֹ וְאִם־בַּ֥ת הִ֖יא וָחָֽיָה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּiyre֤'na haֽmeyalּedot֙ 'et-ha֣'elohi֔ym velo֣ 'ashs֔u kּa'ashshe֛r dּibּe֥r 'aleyhe֖n me֣leke mitzera֑yim vatּechayּe֖yna 'et-hayeladiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)But the midwives respected and feared God, so they did not follow the king's orders. They allowed the baby boys to live.

וַתִּירֶ֤אןָ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְלֹ֣א עָשׂ֔וּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ן מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַתְּחַיֶּ֖יןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּiqera֤ meֽleke-mitzera֨yim֙ laֽmeyalּedo֔t vayּo֣'mer lahe֔n madּ֥u'a 'ashsiyte֖n hadּaba֣r hazּe֑h vatּechayּe֖yna 'et-hayeladiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The king of Egypt called the midwives in and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?"

וַיִּקְרָ֤א מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֔ת וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ן מַדּ֥וּעַ עֲשִׂיתֶ֖ן הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַתְּחַיֶּ֖יןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּo'ma֤rena haֽmeyalּedot֙ 'el-pּare'o֔h kּi֣y lo֧ kanּashshi֛ym hamּitzeriyּo֖t haֽ'iberiyּo֑t kּiֽy-chay֣ot he֔nּah bּete֨rem tּab֧o 'alehe֛n hameyalּe֖det veyalaֽdu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women. They are strong and give birth so quickly that the babies are born before we even arrive!"

וַתֹּאמַ֤רְןָ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה כִּ֣י לֹ֧א כַנָּשִׁ֛ים הַמִּצְרִיֹּ֖ת הָֽעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת כִּֽי־חָי֣וֹת הֵ֔נָּה בְּטֶ֨רֶם תָּב֧וֹא אֲלֵהֶ֛ן הַמְיַלֶּ֖דֶת וְיָלָֽדוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּe֥yteb 'elohi֖ym laֽmeyalּedo֑t vayּi֧reb ha'a֛m vayּaֽ'atzem֖u me'oֽd׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Because of this, God was kind to the midwives. The Israelite people continued to grow in number and became very powerful.

וַיֵּ֥יטֶב אֱלֹהִ֖ים לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֑ת וַיִּ֧רֶב הָעָ֛ם וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּ מְאֹֽד׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֕y kּiֽy-yaֽre'֥u haֽmeyalּedo֖t 'et-ha'elohi֑ym vayּa֥'ashs lahe֖m bּatּiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)And because the midwives honoured God, He blessed them with families of their own.

וַיְהִ֕י כִּֽי־יָֽרְא֥וּ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֖ת אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ לָהֶ֖ם בָּתִּֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayetza֣v pּare'o֔h lekal-'amּ֖o le'mo֑r kּal-habּe֣n hayּilּ֗od haye'o֨rah֙ tּashsheliyku֔hu vekal-habּa֖t tּechayּֽun׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)Finally, Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Every Hebrew boy that is born must be thrown into the Nile River, but you may let every girl live."

וַיְצַ֣ו פַּרְעֹ֔ה לְכָל־עַמּ֖וֹ לֵאמֹ֑ר כָּל־הַבֵּ֣ן הַיִּלּ֗וֹד הַיְאֹ֨רָה֙ תַּשְׁלִיכֻ֔הוּ וְכָל־הַבַּ֖ת תְּחַיּֽוּן׃ס