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sefer shemot
book of exodus

Exodus - Chapter 4

New York

5778 - 2018 -

4:1

When Moses [was able to] reply, he said, 'But they will not believe me. They will not listen to me. They will say, 'God did not appear to you.' '
Vaya'an Moshe vayomer vehen lo-ya'aminu li velo yishme'u bekoli ki yomru lo-nir'ah eleycha Adonay.

אוַיַּ֤עַן משֶׁה֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר וְהֵן֙ לֹא־יַֽאֲמִ֣ינוּ לִ֔י וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמְע֖וּ בְּקֹלִ֑י כִּ֣י יֹֽאמְר֔וּ לֹֽא־נִרְאָ֥ה אֵלֶ֖יךָ יְהֹוָֽה:

4:2

'What is that in your hand?' asked God.

'A staff.'
Vayomer elav Adonay mah-zeh veyadecha vayomer mateh.

בוַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלָ֛יו יְהֹוָ֖ה מַה־זֶּ֣ה (כתיב מזה) בְיָדֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מַטֶּֽה:

4:3

'Throw it on the ground.'

When [Moses] threw it on the ground, it turned into a snake, and Moses ran away from it.
Vayomer hashlichehu artsah vayashlichehu artsah vayehi lenachash vayanas Moshe mipanav.

גוַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הַשְׁלִיכֵ֣הוּ אַ֔רְצָה וַיַּשְׁלִכֵ֥הוּ אַ֖רְצָה וַיְהִ֣י לְנָחָ֑שׁ וַיָּ֥נָס משֶׁ֖ה מִפָּנָֽיו:

4:4

God said to Moses, 'Reach out and grasp its tail.' When [Moses] reached out and grasped [the snake], it turned back into a staff in his hand.
Vayomer Adonay el-Moshe shlach yadecha ve'echoz biznavo vayishlach yado vayachazek bo vayehi lemateh bechapo.

דוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה שְׁלַח֙ יָֽדְךָ֔ וֶֽאֱחֹ֖ז בִּזְנָב֑וֹ וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יָדוֹ֙ וַיַּ֣חֲזֶק בּ֔וֹ וַיְהִ֥י לְמַטֶּ֖ה בְּכַפּֽוֹ:

4:5

'This is so that they will believe that God appeared to you,' [He said]. 'The God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.'
Lema'an ya'aminu ki nir'ah eleycha Adonay Elohey avotam Elohey Avraham Elohey Yitschak v'Elohey Ya'akov.

הלְמַ֣עַן יַֽאֲמִ֔ינוּ כִּֽי־נִרְאָ֥ה אֵלֶ֛יךָ יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֹתָ֑ם אֱלֹהֵ֧י אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִצְחָ֖ק וֵֽאלֹהֵ֥י יַֽעֲקֹֽב:

4:6

God then said to Moses, 'Place your hand [on your chest] inside your robe.'

When [Moses] placed his hand in his robe and removed it from his chest, it was leprous, [as white] as snow.
Vayomer Adonay lo od have-na yadecha becheykecha vayave yado becheyko vayotsi'ah vehineh yado metsora'at kashaleg.

ווַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה ל֜וֹ ע֗וֹד הָֽבֵא־נָ֤א יָֽדְךָ֙ בְּחֵיקֶ֔ךָ וַיָּבֵ֥א יָד֖וֹ בְּחֵיק֑וֹ וַיּ֣וֹצִאָ֔הּ וְהִנֵּ֥ה יָד֖וֹ מְצֹרַ֥עַת כַּשָּֽׁלֶג:

4:7

'Place your hand in your robe again,' said [God].

[Moses] placed his hand [back] into his robe, and when he removed it from his chest, his skin had returned to normal.
Vayomer hashev yadecha el-cheykecha vayashev yado el-cheyko vayotsi'ah mecheyko vehineh-shavah kivesaro.

זוַיֹּ֗אמֶר הָשֵׁ֤ב יָֽדְךָ֙ אֶל־חֵיקֶ֔ךָ וַיָּ֥שֶׁב יָד֖וֹ אֶל־חֵיק֑וֹ וַיּֽוֹצִאָהּ֙ מֵֽחֵיק֔וֹ וְהִנֵּה־שָׁ֖בָה כִּבְשָׂרֽוֹ:

4:8

'If they do not believe you,' [said God], 'and they do not pay attention to the first miraculous sign, then they will believe the evidence of the second sign.
Vehayah im-lo ya'aminu lach velo yishme'u lekol ha'ot harishon vehe'eminu lekol ha'ot ha'acharon.

חוְהָיָה֙ אִם־לֹ֣א יַֽאֲמִ֣ינוּ לָ֔ךְ וְלֹ֣א יִשְׁמְע֔וּ לְקֹ֖ל הָאֹ֣ת הָֽרִאשׁ֑וֹן וְהֶֽאֱמִ֔ינוּ לְקֹ֖ל הָאֹ֥ת הָאַֽחֲרֽוֹן:

4:9

'And if they also do not believe these two signs, and still do not take you seriously, then you shall take some water from the Nile and spill it on the ground. The water that you will take from the Nile will turn into blood on the ground.'
Vehayah im-lo ya'aminu gam lishneh ha'otot ha'eleh velo yishme'un lekolecha velakachta mimeymey haYe'or veshafachta hayabashah vehayu hamayim asher tikach min-haYe'or vehayu ledam bayabashet.

טוְהָיָ֡ה אִם־לֹ֣א יַֽאֲמִ֡ינוּ גַּם֩ לִשְׁנֵ֨י הָֽאֹת֜וֹת הָאֵ֗לֶּה וְלֹ֤א יִשְׁמְעוּן֙ לְקֹלֶ֔ךָ וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֙ מִמֵּימֵ֣י הַיְאֹ֔ר וְשָֽׁפַכְתָּ֖ הַיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה וְהָי֤וּ הַמַּ֨יִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּקַּ֣ח מִן־הַיְאֹ֔ר וְהָי֥וּ לְדָ֖ם בַּיַּבָּֽשֶׁת:

4:10

Moses pleaded with God. 'I beg You, O God, I am not a man of words - not yesterday, not the day before - not from the very first time You spoke to me. I find it difficult to speak and find the right language.'
Vayomer Moshe el-Adonay bi Adonay lo ish devarim anochi gam mitmol gam mishilshom gam me'az dabercha el-avdecha ki chevad-peh uchevad lashon anochi.

יוַיֹּ֨אמֶר משֶׁ֣ה אֶל־יְהֹוָה֘ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנָי֒ לֹא֩ אִ֨ישׁ דְּבָרִ֜ים אָנֹ֗כִי גַּ֤ם מִתְּמוֹל֙ גַּ֣ם מִשִּׁלְשֹׁ֔ם גַּ֛ם מֵאָ֥ז דַּבֶּרְךָ֖ אֶל־עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּ֧י כְבַד־פֶּ֛ה וּכְבַ֥ד לָשׁ֖וֹן אָנֹֽכִי:

4:11

'Who gave man a mouth?' replied God. 'Who makes a person dumb or deaf? Who gives a person sight or makes him blind? Is it not I - God?
Vayomer Adonay elav mi sam peh la'adam o mi-yasum ilem o cheresh o fike'ach o iver halo anochi Adonay.

יאוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֵלָ֗יו מִ֣י שָׂ֣ם פֶּה֘ לָֽאָדָם֒ א֚וֹ מִֽי־יָשׂ֣וּם אִלֵּ֔ם א֣וֹ חֵרֵ֔שׁ א֥וֹ פִקֵּ֖חַ א֣וֹ עִוֵּ֑ר הֲלֹ֥א אָֽנֹכִ֖י יְהֹוָֽה:

4:12

Now go! I will be with your mouth and teach you what to say.'
Ve'atah lech ve'anochi eheyeh im-picha vechoreyticha asher tedaber.

יבוְעַתָּ֖ה לֵ֑ךְ וְאָֽנֹכִי֙ אֶֽהְיֶ֣ה עִם־פִּ֔יךָ וְהֽוֹרֵיתִ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תְּדַבֵּֽר:

4:13

'I beg you O Lord!' exclaimed [Moses]. 'Please! Send someone more appropriate!'
Vayomer bi Adonay shlach-na beyad-tishlach.

יגוַיֹּ֖אמֶר בִּ֣י אֲדֹנָ֑י שְׁלַח־נָ֖א בְּיַד־תִּשְׁלָֽח:

4:14

God displayed anger toward Moses. 'Is not Aaron the Levite your brother?' He said. 'I know that he knows how to speak! He is setting out to meet you, and when he sees you, his heart will be glad.
Vayichar-af Adonay beMoshe vayomer halo Aharon achicha haLevi yadati ki-daber yedaber hu vegam hineh-hu yotse likratecha vera'acha vesamach belibo.

ידוַיִּֽחַר־אַ֨ף יְהֹוָ֜ה בְּמשֶׁ֗ה וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הֲלֹ֨א אַֽהֲרֹ֤ן אָחִ֨יךָ֙ הַלֵּוִ֔י יָדַ֕עְתִּי כִּֽי־דַבֵּ֥ר יְדַבֵּ֖ר ה֑וּא וְגַ֤ם הִנֵּה־הוּא֙ יֹצֵ֣א לִקְרָאתֶ֔ךָ וְרָֽאֲךָ֖ וְשָׂמַ֥ח בְּלִבּֽוֹ:

4:15

You will be able to speak to him, and place the words in his mouth. I will then be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what to do.
Vedibarta elav vesamta et-hadvarim befiv ve'anochi eheyeh im-picha ve'im-pihu vehoreyti etchem et asher ta'asun.

טווְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֔יו וְשַׂמְתָּ֥ אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים בְּפִ֑יו וְאָֽנֹכִ֗י אֶֽהְיֶ֤ה עִם־פִּ֨יךָ֙ וְעִם־פִּ֔יהוּ וְהֽוֹרֵיתִ֣י אֶתְכֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּֽעֲשֽׂוּן:

4:16

He will speak to the people for you. He will be your spokesman, and you will be his guide.
Vediber-hu lecha el-ha'am vehayah hu yihyeh-lecha lefeh ve'atah tihyeh-lo le'Elohim.

טזוְדִבֶּר־ה֥וּא לְךָ֖ אֶל־הָעָ֑ם וְהָ֤יָה הוּא֙ יִֽהְיֶה־לְּךָ֣ לְפֶ֔ה וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶה־לּ֥וֹ לֵֽאלֹהִֽים:

4:17

Take this staff in your hand. With it, you will perform the miracles.'
Ve'et-hamateh hazeh tikach beyadecha asher ta'aseh-bo et-ha'otot.

יזוְאֶת־הַמַּטֶּ֥ה הַזֶּ֖ה תִּקַּ֣ח בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־בּ֖וֹ אֶת־הָֽאֹתֹֽת:

4:18

Sixth Reading
Moses left and returned to his father-in-law Jether. He said, 'I would like to leave and return to my people in Egypt, to see if they are still alive.'

'Go in peace,' said Jethro to Moses.
Vayelech Moshe vayashov el-yeter chotno vayomer lo elchah-na ve'ashuvah el-achay asher-beMitsrayim ve'er'eh ha'odam chayim vayomer Yitro le-Moshe lech leshalom.

יחוַיֵּ֨לֶךְ משֶׁ֜ה וַיָּ֣שָׁב | אֶל־יֶ֣תֶר חֹֽתְנ֗וֹ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ אֵ֣לֲכָה נָּ֗א וְאָשׁ֨וּבָה֙ אֶל־אַחַ֣י אֲשֶׁר־בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם וְאֶרְאֶ֖ה הַֽעוֹדָ֣ם חַיִּ֑ים וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יִתְר֛וֹ לְמשֶׁ֖ה לֵ֥ךְ לְשָׁלֽוֹם:

4:19

While Moses was still in Midian, God said to him, 'Go return to Egypt. All the men who seek your life have died.'
Vayomer Adonay el-Moshe beMidyan lech shuv Mitsrayim ki-metu kol-ha'anashim hamevakshim et-nafshecha.

יטוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֤ה אֶל־משֶׁה֙ בְּמִדְיָ֔ן לֵ֖ךְ שֻׁ֣ב מִצְרָ֑יִם כִּי־מֵ֨תוּ֙ כָּל־הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים הַֽמְבַקְשִׁ֖ים אֶת־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ:

4:20

Moses took his wife and sons and, putting them on a donkey, set out to return to Egypt. He also took the divine staff in his hand.
Vayikach Moshe et-ishto ve'et-banav vayarkivem al-hachamor vayashov artsah Mitsrayim vayikach Moshe et-mateh ha'Elohim beyado.

כוַיִּקַּ֨ח משֶׁ֜ה אֶת־אִשְׁתּ֣וֹ וְאֶת־בָּנָ֗יו וַיַּרְכִּבֵם֙ עַל־הַֽחֲמֹ֔ר וַיָּ֖שָׁב אַ֣רְצָה מִצְרָ֑יִם וַיִּקַּ֥ח משֶׁ֛ה אֶת־מַטֵּ֥ה הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּיָדֽוֹ:

4:21

God said to Moses, 'On your way back to Egypt, keep in mind all the wondrous powers that I have placed in your hand. You will use them before Pharaoh. But I will make him obstinate, and he will not allow the people to leave.
Vayomer Adonay el-Moshe belechtecha lashuv Mitsraymah re'eh kol-hamoftim asher-samti veyadecha va'asitam lifney Far'oh va'ani achazek et-libo velo yeshalach et-ha'am.

כאוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָה֘ אֶל־משֶׁה֒ בְּלֶכְתְּךָ֙ לָשׁ֣וּב מִצְרַ֔יְמָה רְאֵ֗ה כָּל־הַמֹּֽפְתִים֙ אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֣מְתִּי בְיָדֶ֔ךָ וַֽעֲשִׂיתָ֖ם לִפְנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה וַֽאֲנִי֙ אֲחַזֵּ֣ק אֶת־לִבּ֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א יְשַׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־הָעָֽם:

4:22

You must say to Pharaoh, 'This is what God says: Israel is My son, My firstborn.
Ve'amarta el-Par'oh koh amar Adonay beni vechori Yisra'el.

כבוְאָֽמַרְתָּ֖ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּנִ֥י בְכֹרִ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:

4:23

I have told you to let My son go and serve Me. If you refuse to let him leave, I will [ultimately] kill your own first-born son.' '
Va'omar eleycha shalach et-beni veya'avdeni vatema'en leshalcho hineh anochi horeg et-bincha bechorecha.

כגוָֽאֹמַ֣ר אֵלֶ֗יךָ שַׁלַּ֤ח אֶת־בְּנִי֙ וְיַ֣עַבְדֵ֔נִי וַתְּמָאֵ֖ן לְשַׁלְּח֑וֹ הִנֵּה֙ אָֽנֹכִ֣י הֹרֵ֔ג אֶת־בִּנְךָ֖ בְּכֹרֶֽךָ:

4:24

When they were in the place where they spent the night along the way, God confronted Moses and wanted to kill him.
Vayehi vaderech bamalon vayifgeshehu Adonay vayevakesh hamito.

כדוַיְהִ֥י בַדֶּ֖רֶךְ בַּמָּל֑וֹן וַיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֣הוּ יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁ הֲמִיתֽוֹ:

4:25

Tzipporah took a stone knife and cut off her son's foreskin,throwing it down at [Moses'] feet. 'As far as I am concerned, you're married to blood, she said [to the child].
Vatikach Tsiporah tsor vatichrot et-orlat benah vataga leraglav vatomer ki chatan-damim atah-li.

כהוַתִּקַּ֨ח צִפֹּרָ֜ה צֹ֗ר וַתִּכְרֹת֙ אֶת־עָרְלַ֣ת בְּנָ֔הּ וַתַּגַּ֖ע לְרַגְלָ֑יו וַתֹּ֕אמֶר כִּ֧י חֲתַן־דָּמִ֛ים אַתָּ֖ה לִֽי:

4:26

[God] then spared [Moses]. '[You were] married to blood because of circumcision,' she said.
Vayiref mimenu az amerah chatan damim lamulot.

כווַיִּ֖רֶף מִמֶּ֑נּוּ אָ֚ז אָֽמְרָ֔ה חֲתַ֥ן דָּמִ֖ים לַמּוּלֹֽת:

4:27

God said to Aaron, 'Go meet Moses in the desert.'

[Aaron] went, and when he met [Moses] near God's Mountain, he kissed him.
Vayomer Adonay el-Aharon lech likrat Moshe hamidbarah vayelech vayifgeshehu behar ha'Elohim vayishak-lo.

כזוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן לֵ֛ךְ לִקְרַ֥את משֶׁ֖ה הַמִּדְבָּ֑רָה וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ וַיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֛הוּ בְּהַ֥ר הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים וַיִּשַּׁק־לֽוֹ:

4:28

Moses described to Aaron everything that God had told him about his mission, as well as the miraculous proofs that He had instructed him to display.
Vayaged Moshe le-Aharon et kol-divrey Adonay asher shelacho ve'et-kol ha'otot asher tsivahu.

כחוַיַּגֵּ֤ד משֶׁה֙ לְאַ֣הֲרֹ֔ן אֵ֛ת כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר שְׁלָח֑וֹ וְאֵ֥ת כָּל־הָֽאֹתֹ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּֽהוּ:

4:29

Moses and Aaron went [to Egypt], and they gathered all the elders of Israel.
Vayelech Moshe ve'Aharon vaya'asfu et-kol-zikney beney Yisra'el.

כטוַיֵּ֥לֶךְ משֶׁ֖ה וְאַֽהֲרֹ֑ן וַיַּ֣אַסְפ֔וּ אֶת־כָּל־זִקְנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:

4:30

Aaron related all the words that God had told Moses, and he demonstrated the miraculous proofs before the people.
Vayedaber Aharon et kol-hadvarim asher-diber Adonay el-Moshe vaya'as ha'otot le'eyney ha'am.

לוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֑ה וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָֽאֹתֹ֖ת לְעֵינֵ֥י הָעָֽם:

4:31

The people believed. They accepted the message that God had granted special providence to the Israelites, and that He had seen their misery. They bowed their heads and prostrated themselves.
Vaya'amen ha'am vayishme'u ki-fakad Adonay et-beney Yisra'el vechi ra'ah et onyam vayikdu vayishtachavu.

לאוַיַּֽאֲמֵ֖ן הָעָ֑ם וַיִּשְׁמְע֡וּ כִּֽי־פָקַ֨ד יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְכִ֤י רָאָה֙ אֶת־עָנְיָ֔ם וַיִּקְּד֖וּ וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲוֽוּ: