The Creation
(John 1:1–5; Hebrews 11:1–3)

1 In the beginning God {Elohim} created the heavens and the earth.

2 Now the earth was formless [unseen] and void [unfurnished], and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God {Ruach Elohim} was hovering over the surface of the waters.

The First Day

3 And God {Elohim} said, “Let there be light <2Co 4:6>,”a and there was light. 4 And God {Elohim} saw that the light was good (pleasing), and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God {Elohim} called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.”

And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day \day one/.b

The Second Day

6 And God {Elohim} said, “Let there be an expanse (a canopy)c between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.” 7 So God {Elohim} made the expanse (canopy) and separated the waters beneath it from the waters above. And it was so. 8 God {Elohim} called the expanse (canopy) “sky.”

And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

The Third Day

9 And God {Elohim} said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered into one place, so that the dry land may appear.” And it was so. 10 God {Elohim} called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of waters He called “seas.” And God saw that it was good (pleasing).

11 Then God {Elohim} said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each bearing fruit with seed according to its kind.” And it was so. 12 The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed according to their kinds. And God {Elohim} saw that it was good (pleasing).

13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

The Fourth Day

14 And God {Elohim} said, “Let there be lights in the expanse (canopy) of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years. 15 And let them serve as lights in the expanse (canopy) of the sky to shine upon the earth.” And it was so.

16 God {Elohim} made two great lights: the greater light (the sun) to rule the day and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night. And He made the stars as well.

17 God {Elohim} set these lights in the expanse (canopy) of the sky to shine upon the earth, 18 to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God {Elohim} saw that it was good (pleasing).

19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

The Fifth Day

20 And God {Elohim} said, “Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse (canopy) of the sky.” 21 So God {Elohim} created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every winged bird after its kind. And God saw that it was good (pleasing).

22 Then God {Elohim} blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”

23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

The Sixth Day

24 And God {Elohim} said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, land crawlers, and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 God {Elohim} made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that crawls upon the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good (pleasing).

26 Then God {Elohim} said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itselfd and every creature that crawls upon it.”

27 So God {Elohim} created man in His own image;

in the image of God He created him;

male and female He created them <Mat 19:4, Mrk 10:6>.e

28 God {Elohim} blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”

29 Then God {Elohim} said, “Behold, I have given you⁺ every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours⁺ for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and every bird of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth—everything that has the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

31 And God {Elohim} looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good (very pleasing).

And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

The Seventh Day
(Exodus 16:22–30; Hebrews 4:1–11)

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array (host). 2 And by the seventh day God {Elohim} had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work <Heb 4:4>.a

3 Then God {Elohim} blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.

Man and Woman in the Garden

4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORDb God {YHWH Elohim} made them.

5 Now no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth, nor had any plant of the field sprouted, for the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} had not yet sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground. 6 But springs (mist)c welled up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.

7 Then the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being <1Co 15:45>.d

8 And the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} planted a garden in Eden (pleasure), in the east, where He placed the man He had formed. 9 Out of the ground the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} gave growth to every tree that is pleasing to the eye and good for food. And in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

10 Now a river flowed out of Eden (pleasure) to water the garden, and from there it branched into four headwaters:

11 The name of the first river is the Pishon (increase); it winds through the whole land of Havilah (circle), where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is pure, and bdellium (gum resin) and onyx (precious stone) are found there.

13 The name of the second river is the Gihon (bursting forth); it winds through the whole land of Cush (Ethiopia).

14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Assyria (a step).

And the fourth river is the Euphrates (fruitfulness).

15 Then the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden (pleasure) to cultivate and keep it.

16 And the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} commanded him, “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”

18 The LORD God {YHWH Elohim} also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.”

19 And out of the ground the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and He brought them to the man to see what he would name each one. And whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam (the man)e no suitable helper (companion) was found.

21 So the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he slept, He took one of the man’s ribsf and closed up the area with flesh. 22 And from the rib that the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} had taken from the man, He made (fashioned) a woman and brought her to him. 23 And the man said:

“This is now bone of my bones

and flesh of my flesh;

she shall be called ‘woman,’

for out of man she was taken.”

24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.g

25 And the man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.

The Serpent’s Deception
(Romans 5:12–21)

1 Now the serpenta was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You⁺ must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”

2 The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, 3 but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God {Elohim} has said, ‘You⁺ must not eat of it or touch it, or you⁺ will die.’”

4 “You⁺ will not surely die,” the serpent told the woman. 5 “For God {Elohim} knows that in the day you⁺ eat of it, your⁺ eyes will be opened and you⁺ will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.

7 And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves.

God Arraigns Adam and Eve

8 Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} walking in the garden in the breeze {ruach}b of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

9 But the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} called out to the man, “Where are you?”

10 “I heard Your voice in the garden,” he replied, “and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”

11 “Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

12 And the man answered, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

13 Then the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

“The serpent deceived me,” she replied, “and I ate.”

The Fate of the Serpent

14 So the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} said to the serpent:

“Because you have done this,

cursed are you above all livestock

and every beast of the field!

On your belly will you go,

and dust you will eat,

all the days of your life.

15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your seed and her seed.

He will crush your head,

and you will strike his heel.c”

The Punishment of Mankind

16 To the woman He said:

“I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth;

in pain you will bring forth children.

Your desire will be for your husband,d

and he will rule over you.”

17 And to Adam He said:

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife

and have eaten from the tree

of which I commanded you not to eat,

cursed is the ground because of you;

through toil you will eat of it

all the days of your life.

18 Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you,

and you will eat the plants of the field.

19 By the sweat of your brow

you will eat your bread,

until you return to the ground—

because out of it were you taken.

For dust you are,

and to dust you shall return.”

20 And Adam named his wife Eve (living),e because she would be the mother of all the living.

The Expulsion from Paradise

21 And the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.

22 Then the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...”

23 Therefore the LORD God {YHWH Elohim} banished him from the Garden of Eden (pleasure) to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 So He drove out the man and stationed cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden (pleasure), along with a whirling sword of flame to guard the way to the tree of life.

Cain and Abel
(Hebrews 11:4)

1 And Adam had relations with his wife Eve (living), and she conceived and gave birth to Cain (acquired).a

“With the help of the LORD {YHWH} I have brought forth a man,” she said.

2 Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel (breath).

Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain (possession) was a tiller of the soil. 3 So in the course of time, Cain (possession) brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD {YHWH}, 4 while Abel (breath) brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock.

And the LORD {YHWH} looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but He had no regard for Cain (possession) and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.

6 “Why are you angry,” said the LORD {YHWH} to Cain (possession), “and why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires (to have) you,b but you must master it.”

8 Then Cain (possession) said to his brother Abel (breath),c “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

9 And the LORD {YHWH} said to Cain (possession), “Where is your brother Abel (breath)?”

“I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

10 “What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. 11 Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you till the ground, it will no longer yield its produce to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”

13 But Cain (possession) said to the LORD {YHWH}, “My punishment (guilt)d is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and from Your face I will be hidden; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

15 “Not so [Very well]!”e replied the LORD {YHWH}. “If anyone slays Cain (possession), then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him.

16 So Cain (possession) went out from the presence of the LORD {YHWH} and settled in the land of Nod (wandering),f east of Eden (pleasure).

The Descendants of Cain

17 And Cain (possession) had relations with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch (teaching). Then Cain built a city and named it after his son Enoch.

18 Now to Enoch (teaching) was born Irad (fleet), and Irad was the father of Mehujael (smitten by God), and Mehujael was the father of Methusael (who is of God), and Methusael was the father of Lamech (lamenting). 19 And Lamech (lamenting) married two women, one named Adah (ornament) and the other Zillah (shade).

20 Adah (ornament) gave birth to Jabal (stream of water); he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock. 21 And his brother’s name was Jubal (stream); he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.

22 And Zillah (shade) gave birth to Tubal-cain (you will be brought of Cain), a forger of every implement of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah (loveliness).

23 Then Lamech (lamenting) said to his wives:

“Adah (ornament) and Zillah (shade), hear my voice;

wives of Lamech, listen to my speech.

For I have slain a man for wounding me,

a young man for striking me.

24 If Cain (possession) is avenged sevenfold,

then Lamech (lamenting) seventy-sevenfold [seventy times seven].”g

Seth and Enosh

25 And Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth (appointed),h saying, “God {Elohim} has granted me another seed in place of Abel (breath), since Cain (possession) killed him.”

26 And to Seth (appointed) also a son was born, and he called him Enosh (mortal).

At that time men began to call upon (to proclaim)i the name of the LORD {YHWH}.

The Descendants of Adam
(1 Chronicles 1:1–3)

1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God {Elohim} created man, He made him in His own likeness. 2 Male and female He created them <Mat 19:4, Mrk 10:6>,a and He blessed them. And in the day they were created, He called them “man.”b

3 When Adam was 130 years old, he had a son in his own likeness, after his own image; and he named him Seth (appointed). 4 And after he had become the father of Seth (appointed), Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 5 So Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died.

6 When Seth (appointed) was 105 years old, he became the father of Enosh (mortal). 7 And after he had become the father of Enosh (mortal), Seth (appointed) lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8 So Seth (appointed) lived a total of 912 years, and then he died.

9 When Enosh (mortal) was 90 years old, he became the father of Kenan (possession). 10 And after he had become the father of Kenan (possession), Enosh (mortal) lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 So Enosh (mortal) lived a total of 905 years, and then he died.

12 When Kenan (sorrow) was 70 years old, he became the father of Mahalalel (the blessed of God). 13 And after he had become the father of Mahalalel (the blessed of God), Kenan (sorrow) lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 So Kenan (sorrow) lived a total of 910 years, and then he died.

15 When Mahalalel (the blessed of God) was 65 years old, he became the father of Jared (descended). 16 And after he had become the father of Jared (descended), Mahalalel (the blessed of God) lived 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17 So Mahalalel (the blessed of God) lived a total of 895 years, and then he died.

God Takes Up Enoch
(Hebrews 11:5)

18 When Jared (descended) was 162 years old, he became the father of Enoch (teaching). 19 And after he had become the father of Enoch (teaching), Jared (descended) lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 So Jared (descended) lived a total of 962 years, and then he died.

21 When Enoch (teaching) was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah (his death shall bring). 22 And after he had become the father of Methuselah (his death shall bring), Enoch (teaching) walked with God {Elohim}c 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 So Enoch (teaching) lived a total of 365 years.

24 Enoch (teaching) walked with God {Elohim}, and then he was no more [was not found], because God had taken him away.d

From Methuselah to Noah

25 When Methuselah (his death shall bring) was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech (lamenting). 26 And after he had become the father of Lamech (lamenting), Methuselah (his death shall bring) lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27 So Methuselah (his death shall bring) lived a total of 969 years, and then he died.

28 When Lamech (lamenting) was 182 years old, he had a son. 29 And he named him Noah (comfort),e saying, “May this one comfort us in the labor and toil of our hands caused by the ground that the LORD {YHWH} has cursed.” 30 And after he had become the father of Noah (comfort), Lamech (lamenting) lived 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31 So Lamech (lamenting) lived a total of 777 years, and then he died.

32 After Noah (comfort) was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem (name), Ham (hot), and Japheth (expand).

Corruption on the Earth
(Matthew 24:36–51)

1 Now when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God {Elohim} saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose.

3 So the LORD {YHWH} said, “My Spirit {Ruahi} will not contend with man forever,a for he is mortal; his days shall be 120 years.”

4 The Nephilim (giants) were on the earth in those days—and afterward as well—when the sons of God {Elohim} had relations with the daughters of men. And they bore them children who became the mighty men of old, men of renown.

5 Then the LORD {YHWH} saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. 6 And the LORD {YHWH} regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the LORD {YHWH} said, “I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.”

Noah’s Favor with God

8 Noah (comfort), however, found favor in the eyes of the LORD {YHWH}.

9 This is the account of Noah (comfort). Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God {Elohim}. 10 And Noah (comfort) had three sons: Shem (name), Ham (hot), and Japheth (expand).

11 Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God {Elohim}, and full of violence. 12 And God {Elohim} looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt; for all living creatures \all flesh/b on the earth had corrupted their ways.

Preparing the Ark
(Hebrews 11:7)

13 Then God {Elohim} said to Noah (comfort), “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth.

14 Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood;c make rooms (stalls) in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out. 15 And this is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 300 cubits <450 ft / 137.2 m> long, 50 cubits <75 ft / 22.9 m> wide, and 30 cubits <45 ft / 13.7 m> high.d 16 You are to make a roof (skylight)e for the ark, finish its walls a cubit <18 in / 45.7 cm> from the top,f place a door in the side of the ark, and build lower, middle, and upper decks.

17 And behold, I will bring floodwaters upon the earth to destroy every creature under the heavens that has the breath {ruach} of life. Everything on the earth will perish. 18 But I will establish My covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.

19 And you are to bring two of every living creature into the ark—male and female—to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of every kind of bird and animal and crawling creature will come to you to be kept alive. 21 You are also to take for yourself every kind of food that is eaten and gather it as food for yourselves and for the animals.”

22 So Noah (comfort) did everything precisely as God {Elohim} had commanded him.

The Great Flood
(2 Peter 3:1–7)

1 Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Noah (comfort), “Go into the ark, you and all your family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. 2 You are to take with you seven pairs ofa every kind of clean (pure) animal, a male and its mate; a pair of every kind of unclean (impure) animal, a male and its mate; 3 and seven pairs of every kind of bird of the air, male and female, to preserve their offspring on the face of all the earth. 4 For seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living thing I have made.”

5 And Noah (comfort) did all that the LORD {YHWH} had commanded him.

6 Now Noah (comfort) was 600 years old when the floodwaters came upon the earth. 7 And Noah (comfort) and his wife, with his sons and their wives, entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 8 The clean (pure) and unclean (impure) animals, the birds, and everything that crawls along the ground 9 came to Noah (comfort) to enter the ark, two by two, male and female, as God {Elohim} had commanded Noah.

10 And after seven days the floodwaters came upon the earth. 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s (comfort) life, on the seventeenth day of the second month, all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. 12 And the rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights.

13 On that very day Noah (comfort) entered the ark, along with his sons Shem (name), Ham (hot), and Japheth (expand), and his wife, and the three wives of his sons— 14 they and every kind of wild animal, livestock, crawling creature, bird, and winged creature. 15 They came to Noah (comfort) to enter the ark, two by two of every creature \of all flesh/b with the breath {ruach} of life. 16 And they entered, the male and female of every living thing, as God {Elohim} had commanded Noah. Then the LORD {YHWH} shut him in.

17 For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and the waters rose and lifted the ark high above the earth. 18 So the waters continued to surge and rise greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the waters. 19 Finally, the waters completely prevailed upon the earth, so that all the high mountains under all the heavens were covered.

20 The waters rose and covered the mountaintops to a depth of fifteen cubits <22.5 ft / 6.9 m>.c 21 And every living thing that moved upon the earth perished—birds, livestock, animals, every creature that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind. 22 Of all that was on dry land, everything that had the breath of life in its nostrils died. 23 And every living thing on the face of the earth was destroyed (blotted out)—man and livestock, crawling creatures and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth, and only Noah (comfort) and those with him in the ark remained.

24 And the waters prevailed upon the earth for 150 days.

The Ark Rests on Ararat

1 But God {Elohim} remembered Noah (comfort) and all the animals and livestock that were with him in the ark. And God sent a wind {ruach} over the earth, and the waters began to subside. 2 The springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained. 3 The waters receded steadily from the earth, and after 150 days the waters had gone down.

4 On the seventeenth day of the seventh month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat (curse reversed). 5 And the waters continued to recede until the tenth month, and on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains became visible.

Noah Sends a Raven and a Dove

6 After forty days Noah (comfort) opened the window he had made in the ark 7 and sent out a raven. It kept flying back and forth until the waters had dried up from the earth.

8 Then Noah sent outa a dove to see if the waters had receded from the surface of the ground. 9 But the dove found no place to rest her foot, and she returned to him in the ark, because the waters were still covering the surface of all the earth. So he reached out his hand and brought her back inside the ark.

10 Noah waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark. 11 And behold, the dove returned to him in the evening with a freshly plucked olive leaf in her beak. So Noah (comfort) knew that the waters had receded from the earth.

12 And Noah waited seven more days and sent out the dove again, but this time she did not return to him.

Exiting the Ark

13 In Noah’s six hundred and first year, on the first day of the first month, the waters had dried up from the earth. So Noah (comfort) removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry. 14 By the twenty-seventh day of the second month, the earth was fully dry.

15 Then God {Elohim} said to Noah (comfort), 16 “Come out of the ark, you and your wife, along with your sons and their wives. 17 Bring out all the living creatures that are with you—birds, livestock, and everything that crawls upon the ground—so that they can spread out over the earth and be fruitful and multiply upon it.”

18 So Noah (comfort) came out, along with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. 19 Every living creature, every creeping thing, and every bird—everything that moves upon the earth—came out of the ark, kind by kind (family by family).

Noah Builds an Altar

20 Then Noah (comfort) built an altar to the LORD {YHWH}. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 When the LORD {YHWH} smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination (intent) of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.

22 As long as the earth endures,

seedtime and harvest,

cold and heat,

summer and winter,

day and night

shall never cease.”

The Covenant of the Rainbow

1 And God {Elohim} blessed Noah (comfort) and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 2 The fear and dread of you⁺ will fall on every living creature on the earth, every bird of the air, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are delivered into your⁺ hand. 3 Everything that lives and moves will be food for you⁺; just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you⁺ all things. 4 But you⁺ must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it. 5 And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your⁺ lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:

6 Whoever sheds the blood of man,

by man his blood will be shed;

for in His own image

God has made mankind.

7 But as for you⁺,

be fruitful and multiply;

spread out across the earth

and multiply upon it.”

8 Then God {Elohim} said to Noah (comfort) and his sons with him, 9 “Behold, I now establish My covenant with you⁺ and your⁺ descendants after you⁺, 10 and with every living creature that was with you⁺—the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth—every living thing that came out of the ark. 11 And I establish My covenant with you⁺: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

12 And God {Elohim} said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you⁺ and every living creature with you⁺, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.

14 Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember My covenant between Me and you⁺ and every living creature of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 And whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God {Elohim} and every living creature of every kind that is on the earth.”

17 So God {Elohim} said to Noah (comfort), “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between Me and every creature on the earth.”

Noah’s Shame and Canaan’s Curse

18 The sons of Noah (comfort) who came out of the ark were Shem (name), Ham (hot), and Japheth (expand). And Ham was the father of Canaan (sorrow). 19 These three were the sons of Noah (comfort), and from them the whole earth was populated.

20 Now Noah (comfort), a man of the soil, proceeded (was the first)a to plant a vineyard. 21 But when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent. 22 And Ham (hot), the father of Canaan (sorrow), saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.

23 Then Shem (name) and Japheth (expand) took a garment and placed it across their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.

24 When Noah (comfort) awoke from his drunkenness and learned what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said,

“Cursed be Canaan (sorrow)!

A servant of servants

shall he be to his brothers.”

Shem’s Blessing and Noah’s Death

26 He also declared:

“Blessed be the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Shem (name)!

May Canaan (sorrow) be the servant of Shem.

27 May God {Elohim} expand the territory of Japheth (expand);b

may he dwell in the tents of Shem (name),

and may Canaan (sorrow) be his servant.”

28 After the flood, Noah (comfort) lived 350 years. 29 So Noah (comfort) lived a total of 950 years, and then he died.

The Table of Nations
(1 Chronicles 1:4–27)

1 This is the account of Noah’s (comfort) sons Shem (name), Ham (hot), and Japheth (expand), who also had sons after the flood.

The Japhethites

2 The sons of Japheth (expand):

Gomer (complete), Magog (land of Gog), Madai (middle land), Javan (Greece), Tubal (brought), Meshech (drawing out), and Tiras (desire).

3 The sons of Gomer (complete):

Ashkenaz, Riphath (spoken), and Togarmah (You will break her).

4 And the sons of Javan (Greece):

Elishah (God saves), Tarshish (yellow jasper), the Kittites (bruisers), and the Rodanites [Dodanites].a 5 From these, the maritime peoples (nations) separated into their territories, according to their languages, by clans within their nations.

The Hamites

6 The sons of Ham (hot):

Cush (black), Mizraim (Egypt), Put (a bow), and Canaan (sorrow).

7 The sons of Cush (black):

Seba (drink you), Havilah (circle), Sabtah (Sabta),b Raamah (horse's mane), and Sabteca (striking).

And the sons of Raamah:

Sheba (seven) and Dedan (low country).

8 Cush (black) was the father of Nimrod (rebellion), who began to be a mighty one (a mighty warrior)c on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before (in defiance of)d the LORD {YHWH}; so it is said, “Like Nimrod (rebellion), a mighty hunter before the LORD.” 10 His kingdom began in Babylon (confusion by mixing), Erech (long), Accad (subtle), and Calneh (fortress of Anu), in the land of Shinar (Babylonia).e 11 From that land he went forth into Assyria (a step), where he built Nineveh (abode of Ninus), Rehoboth-Ir (broad places of a city), Calah (vigor), 12 and Resen (bridle), which is between Nineveh (abode of Ninus) and the great city of Calah (vigor).

13 Mizraim (land of bondage) was the father of the Ludites (to the firebrands), the Anamites (affliction of the waters), the Lehabites (flames), the Naphtuhites (openings), 14 the Pathrusites, the Casluhites (fortified) (from whom the Philistines (immigrants) came), and the Caphtorites.f

15 And Canaan (sorrow) was the father of Sidon (hunting) his firstborn,g and of the Hittites (terror), 16 the Jebusites (Jerusalemites), the Amorites (a sayer), the Girgashites (dwelling on clay), 17 the Hivites (villagers), the Arkites, the Sinites, 18 the Arvadites (I shall break loose), the Zemarites, and the Hamathites.

Later the Canaanite (merchant) clans were scattered, 19 and the borders of Canaan (lowland) extended from Sidon (hunting) toward Gerar (a lodging place) as far as Gaza (the strong), and then toward Sodom (burning), Gomorrah (submersion), Admah (red earth), and Zeboiim (gazelles), as far as Lasha (fissure).

20 These are the sons of Ham (hot) according to their clans, languages, lands, and nations.

The Semites

21 And sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth (Shem, whose older brother was Japheth);h Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber (the region beyond).

22 The sons of Shem (name):

Elam (eternity), Asshur (a step), Arphaxad (I fail as the breast), Lud (strife), and Aram (exalted).

23 The sons of Aram (exalted):

Uz (wooded), Hul (circle), Gether (fear), and Mash [Meshech].i

24 Arphaxad [was the father of Cainan, and Cainan] was the father of Shelah,j and Shelah (sprout) was the father of Eber (the region beyond).

25 Two sons were born to Eber (the region beyond): One was named Peleg (division),k because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother was named Joktan (smallness).

26 And Joktan (smallness) was the father of Almodad (not measured), Sheleph (a drawing forth), Hazarmaveth (village of death), Jerah (new moon), 27 Hadoram (noble honor), Uzal (I shall be flooded), Diklah (palm grove), 28 Obal (stripped bare), Abimael (my father is God), Sheba (seven), 29 Ophir (reducing to ashes), Havilah (circle), and Jobab (a desert). All these were sons of Joktan (smallness). 30 Their territory extended from Mesha (freedom) to Sephar (a numbering), in the eastern hill country.

31 These are the sons of Shem (name), according to their clans, languages, lands, and nations.

32 All these are the clans of Noah’s (comfort) sons, according to their generations and nations. From these the nations of the earth spread out after the flood.

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

1 Now the whole world had one language and a common form of speech. 2 And as people journeyed eastward (from the east),a they found a plain in the land of Shinar (Babylonia)b and settled there.

3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” So they used brick instead of stone, and tar instead of mortar.

4 “Come,” they said, “let us build for ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens, that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of all the earth.”

5 Then the LORD {YHWH} came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men were building. 6 And the LORD {YHWH} said, “If they have begun to do this as one people speaking the same language, then nothing they devise will be beyond them. 7 Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”

8 So the LORD {YHWH} scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it is called Babel (Babylon),c for there the LORD {YHWH} confused the language of the whole world, and from that place the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth.

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

10 This is the account of Shem (name). Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad (I fail as the breast). 11 And after he had become the father of Arphaxad (I fail as the breast), Shem (name) lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.

12 When Arphaxad (I fail as the breast) was 35 years old, he became the father of Shelah (sprout). 13 And after he had become the father of Shelah (sprout), Arphaxad (I fail as the breast) lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.d

14 When Shelah (sprout) was 30 years old, he became the father of Eber (the region beyond). 15 And after he had become the father of Eber (the region beyond), Shelah (sprout) lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

16 When Eber (the region beyond) was 34 years old, he became the father of Peleg (division). 17 And after he had become the father of Peleg (division), Eber (the region beyond) lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters.

18 When Peleg (division) was 30 years old, he became the father of Reu (friend). 19 And after he had become the father of Reu (friend), Peleg (division) lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters.

20 When Reu (friend) was 32 years old, he became the father of Serug (branch). 21 And after he had become the father of Serug (branch), Reu (friend) lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters.

22 When Serug (branch) was 30 years old, he became the father of Nahor (snorting). 23 And after he had become the father of Nahor (snorting), Serug (branch) lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters.

24 When Nahor (snorting) was 29 years old, he became the father of Terah (station). 25 And after he had become the father of Terah (station), Nahor (snorting) lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters.

26 When Terah (station) was 70 years old, he became the father of Abram (exalted father), Nahor (snorting), and Haran (mountaineer).

Terah’s Descendants

27 This is the account of Terah (station). Terah became the father of Abram (exalted father), Nahor (snorting), and Haran (mountaineer). And Haran became the father of Lot (covering). 28 During his father Terah’s lifetime (station), Haran (mountaineer) died in his native land, in Ur (flame) of the Chaldeans (clod-breakers).

29 And Abram (exalted father) and Nahor (snorting) took wives for themselves. Abram’s wife was named Sarai (princess), and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah (queen); she was the daughter of Haran (mountaineer), who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah (one who looks forth). 30 But Sarai (princess) was barren; she had no children.

31 And Terah (station) took his son Abram (exalted father), his grandson Lot (covering) son of Haran (mountaineer), and his daughter-in-law Sarai (princess) the wife of Abram, and they set out from Ur (flame) of the Chaldeans (clod-breakers) for the land of Canaan (lowland). But when they arrived in Haran, they settled there. 32 Terah (station) lived 205 years, and he died in Haran (mountaineer).

The Call of Abram
(Genesis 26:1–5; Acts 7:1–8)

1 Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Abram (exalted father), “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you <Act 7:3>.a

2 I will make you into a great nation,

and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

so that you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you

and curse those who curse you;

and all the families of the earth

will be blessed through you <Gal 3:8>.b”

4 So Abram (exalted father) departed, as the LORD {YHWH} had directed him, and Lot (covering) went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran (mountaineer). 5 And Abram (exalted father) took his wife Sarai (princess), his nephew Lot (covering), and all the possessions and people they had acquired in Haran (mountaineer), and set out for the land of Canaan (lowland).

When they came to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram (exalted father) traveled through the land as far as the site of the Oak (Terebinth)c of Moreh (teacher) at Shechem (shoulder). And at that time the Canaanites (merchants) were in the land.

7 Then the LORD {YHWH} appeared to Abram (exalted father) and said, “I will give this land to your offspring <Gal 3:16>.d” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

8 From there Abram moved on to the hill country east of Bethel (house of God) and pitched his tent, with Bethel to the west and Ai (heap of ruins) to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD {YHWH}, and he called on the name of the LORD.

9 And Abram (exalted father) journeyed on toward the Negev.

Abram and Sarai in Egypt

10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram (exalted father) went down to Egypt (land of bondage) to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 11 As he was about to enter Egypt (land of bondage), he said to his wife Sarai (princess), “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman, 12 and when the Egyptians (double straits) see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.”

14 So when Abram (exalted father) entered Egypt (land of bondage), the Egyptians (double straits) saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 When Pharaoh’s (great house) officials saw Sarai, they commended her to him, and she was taken into the palace of Pharaoh. 16 He treated Abram (exalted father) well on her account, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.

17 The LORD, however {YHWH}, afflicted Pharaoh (great house) and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s (exalted father) wife Sarai (princess). 18 So Pharaoh (great house) summoned Abram (exalted father) and asked, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!”

20 Then Pharaoh (great house) gave his men orders concerning Abram, and they sent him away with his wife and all his possessions.

Abram and Lot Part Ways

1 So Abram (exalted father) went up out of Egypt (land of bondage) into the Negev (southland)—he and his wife and all his possessions—and Lot (covering) was with him. 2 And Abram (exalted father) had become extremely wealthy in livestock and silver and gold.

3 From the Negev (southland) he journeyed from place to place toward Bethel (house of God), until he came to the place between Bethel and Ai (heap of ruins) where his tent had formerly been pitched, 4 to the site where he had built the altar. And there Abram (exalted father) called on the name of the LORD {YHWH}.

5 Now Lot (covering), who was traveling with Abram (exalted father), also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land was unable to support both of them while they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they were unable to coexist. 7 And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram (exalted father) and the herdsmen of Lot (covering). At that time the Canaanites (merchants) and the Perizzites (villagers) were also living in the land.

8 So Abram (exalted father) said to Lot (covering), “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

Lot Proceeds toward Sodom

10 And Lot (covering) looked out and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan (flowing down), all the way to Zoar (insignificance), was well watered like the garden of the LORD {YHWH}, like the land of Egypt (land of bondage). (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom (burning) and Gomorrah (submersion).) 11 So Lot (covering) chose the whole plain of the Jordan (flowing down) for himself and set out toward the east. And Abram and Lot parted company.

12 Abram (exalted father) lived in the land of Canaan (lowland), but Lot (covering) settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom (burning). 13 But the men of Sodom (burning) were wicked, sinning greatly against the LORD {YHWH}.

God Renews the Promise to Abram

14 After Lot (covering) had departed, the LORD {YHWH} said to Abram (exalted father), “Now lift up your eyes from the place where you are, and look to the north and south and east and west, 15 for all the land that you see, I will give to you and your offspring forever <Gal 3:16>.a

16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Get up and walk around the land, through its length and breadth, for I will give it to you.”

18 So Abram (exalted father) moved his tent and went to live near the Oaks (Terebinths)b of Mamre (strength / fatness) at Hebron (association), where he built an altar to the LORD {YHWH}.

The War of the Kings

1 In those days Amraphel (sayer of darkness) king of Shinar (Babylonia),a Arioch (lion-like) king of Ellasar (God is chastener), Chedorlaomer (handful of sheaves) king of Elam (eternity), and Tidal (great son) king of Goiim (nations) 2 went to war against Bera (son of evil) king of Sodom (burning), Birsha (with iniquity) king of Gomorrah (submersion), Shinab (splendor of the father) king of Admah (red earth), Shemeber (lofty flight) king of Zeboiim (gazelles), and the king of Bela (destruction) (that is, Zoar (insignificance)).

3 The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (field / plain) (that is, the Salt Sea (the Dead Sea)b). 4 For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer (handful of sheaves), but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

5 In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer (handful of sheaves) and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim (Ashtoreth of the two horns), the Zuzites (roving creatures) in Ham (hot / sunburnt), the Emites (terrors) in Shaveh-kiriathaim (plain of the two cities), 6 and the Horites (cave dweller) in the area of Mount Seir (shaggy), as far as El-paran (palm of Paran), which is near the desert. 7 Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (spring of judgment) (that is, Kadesh(holy)), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites (dwellers in a valley), as well as the Amorites (a sayer) who lived in Hazazon-tamar (dividing the date-palm).

8 Then the king of Sodom (burning), the king of Gomorrah (submersion), the king of Admah (red earth), the king of Zeboiim (gazelles), and the king of Bela (destruction) (that is, Zoar (insignificance)) marched out and arrayed themselves for battle in the Valley of Siddim (the Valley of the Dead Sea)c 9 against Chedorlaomer (handful of sheaves) king of Elam (eternity), Tidal (great son) king of Goiim (nations), Amraphel (sayer of darkness) king of Shinar, and Arioch (lion-like) king of Ellasar (God is chastener)—four kings against five.

Abram Rescues Lot

10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom (burning) and Gomorrah (submersion) fled, some men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country.

11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom (burning) and Gomorrah (submersion) and all their food, and they went on their way. 12 They also carried off Abram’s (exalted father) nephew Lot (covering) and his possessions, since Lot was living in Sodom (burning).

13 Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram (exalted father) the Hebrew (one from beyond). Now Abram was living near the Oaks (Terebinths)d of Mamre (strength / fatness) the Amorite (a sayer), a brother of Eshcol (cluster) and Aner (boy), all of whom were bound by treaty (covenant)e to Abram. 14 And when Abram (exalted father) heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan (He has judged).

15 During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah (hiding place), north of Damascus (well-watered land). 16 He retrieved all the goods, as well as his relative Lot (covering) and his possessions, together with the women and the rest of the people.

Melchizedek Blesses Abram
(Psalm 110:1–7; Hebrews 7:1–10)

17 After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer (handful of sheaves) and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom (burning) went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (level plain) (that is, the King’s Valley).

18 Then Melchizedek (my king is righteousness) king of Salem (peace) brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High {El-Elyon}f — 19 and he blessed Abram and said:

“Blessed be Abram (exalted father) by God Most High,

Creator of heaven and earth,

20 and blessed be God Most High,

who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

21 The king of Sodom (burning) said to Abram (exalted father), “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.”

22 But Abram (exalted father) replied to the king of Sodom (burning), “I have raised my hand to the LORD {YHWH} God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram (exalted father) rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me—Aner (boy), Eshcol (cluster), and Mamre (strength / fatness). They may take their portion.”

God’s Covenant with Abram
(Romans 4:1–12; Hebrews 11:8–19)

1 After these events, the word of the LORD {YHWH} came to Abram (exalted father) in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.

I am your shield,

your very great reward.”

2 But Abram (exalted father) replied, “O Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH}, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer (God is my helper) of Damascus (well-watered land)?” 3 Abram (exalted father) continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

4 Then the word of the LORD {YHWH} came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5 And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be <Rom 4:18>.”a

6 Abram believed the LORD {YHWH}, and it was credited to him as righteousness <Rom 4:3, Rom 4:22, Gal 3:6, Jas 2:23>.b

7 The LORD also told him, “I am the LORD {YHWH}, who brought you out of Ur (flame) of the Chaldeans (clod-breakers) to give you this land to possess.”

God Confirms His Promise
(Numbers 34:1–15; Romans 4:13–25)

8 But Abram replied, “Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH}, how can I know that I will possess it?”

9 And the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a turtledove and a young pigeon.”

10 So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half. 11 And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram (exalted father) drove them away. 12 As the sun was setting, Abram (exalted father) fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.

13 Then the LORD said to Abram (exalted father), “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. 14 But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions <Act 7:6–7>.c 15 You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age. 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites (sayers) is not yet complete.”

17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses. 18 On that day the LORD {YHWH} made a covenant with Abram (exalted father), saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt (land of bondage) to the great River Euphrates (fruitfulness)— 19 the land of the Kenites (smiths), Kenizzites, Kadmonites (easterners), 20 Hittites, Perizzites (villagers), Rephaites, 21 Amorites (sayers), Canaanites (merchants), Girgashites (dwelling on clay), and Jebusites (Jerusalemites).”

Hagar and Ishmael

1 Now Abram’s (exalted father) wife Sarai (princess) had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian (double straits) maidservant named Hagar (flight). 2 So Sarai (princess) said to Abram (exalted father), “Look now, the LORD {YHWH} has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.”

And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So after he had lived in Canaan (lowland) for ten years, his wife Sarai (princess) took her Egyptian (double straits) maidservant Hagar (flight) and gave her to Abram to be his wife. 4 And he slept with Hagar (flight), and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.a

5 Then Sarai (princess) said to Abram (exalted father), “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I delivered my servant into your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the LORD {YHWH} judge between you and me.”

6 “Here,” said Abram (exalted father) (princess), “your servant is in your hands. Do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled from her.

7 Now the angel (Angel)b of the LORD {YHWH} found Hagar by a spring of water in the desert—the spring along the road to Shur (wall). 8 “Hagar (flight), servant of Sarai (princess),” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?”

“I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied.

9 So the angel of the LORD {YHWH} told her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.” 10 Then the angel {YHWH} added, “I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count.”

11 The angel of the LORD {YHWH} proceeded:

“Behold, you have conceived and will bear a son.

And you shall name him Ishmael (God hears),c

for the LORD has heard your cry of affliction.

12 He will be a wild donkey of a man,

and his hand will be against everyone,

and everyone’s hand against him;

he will live in hostility

toward all his brothers.”

13 So Hagar gave this name to the LORD {YHWH} who had spoken to her: “You are the God who sees me {El-Roi},d” for she said, “Here I have seen the One who sees me!” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi (well of the Living One who sees me).e It is located between Kadesh (holy) and Bered (hail).

15 And Hagar (flight) bore Abram (exalted father) a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael (God hears) to the son she had borne. 16 Abram (exalted father) was eighty-six years old when Hagar (flight) bore Ishmael (God hears) to him.

Abraham to Father Many Nations

1 When Abram (exalted father) was ninety-nine years old, the LORD {YHWH} appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty {El-Shaddai}.a Walk before Me and be blameless. 2 I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”

3 Then Abram (exalted father) fell facedown, and God {Elohim} said to him, 4 “As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram (exalted father),b but your name will be Abraham (father of many),c for I have made you a father of many nations <Rom 4:17>.d

6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.

7 I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God {Elohim} and the God of your descendants after you.

8 And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan (lowland)—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God {Elohim}.”

The Covenant of Circumcision

9 God {Elohim} also said to Abraham (father of many), “You must keep My covenant—you and your descendants in the generations after you. 10 This is My covenant with you⁺ and your descendants after you, which you⁺ are to keep: Every male among you⁺ must be circumcised. 11 You⁺ are to circumcise the flesh of your⁺ foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you⁺.

12 Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring. 13 Whether they are born in your household or purchased, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your⁺ flesh will be an everlasting covenant.

14 But if any male is not circumcised, he will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

15 Then God {Elohim} said to Abraham (father of many), “As for Sarai (princess) your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah.e 16 And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.”

17 Abraham (father of many) fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah (princess) give birth at the age of ninety?” 18 And Abraham (father of many) said to God {Elohim}, “O that Ishmael (God hears) might live under Your blessing!”

19 But God {Elohim} replied, “Your wife Sarah (princess) will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac (he laughs).f I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20 As for Ishmael (God hears), I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish My covenant with Isaac (he laughs), whom Sarah (princess) will bear to you at this time next year.”

22 When He had finished speaking with Abraham, God {Elohim} went up from him.

23 On that very day Abraham (father of many) took his son Ishmael (God hears) and all those born in his household or purchased with his money—every male among the members of Abraham’s household—and he circumcised them, just as God {Elohim} had told him.

24 So Abraham (father of many) was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, 25 and his son Ishmael (God hears) was thirteen; 26 Abraham (father of many) and his son Ishmael (God hears) were circumcised on the same day. 27 And all the men of Abraham’s household—both servants born in his household and those purchased from foreigners—were circumcised with him.

The Three Visitors

1 Then the LORD {YHWH} appeared to Abraham by the Oaks (Terebinths)a of Mamre (strength / fatness) in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. 2 And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

3 “My lord,” said Abraham, “if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your⁺ feet and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 And I will bring a bit of bread so that you may refresh yourselves. This is why you⁺ have passed your⁺ servant’s way. After that, you⁺ may continue on your⁺ way.”

“Yes,” they replied, “you may do as you have said.”

6 So Abraham (father of many) hurried into the tent and said to Sarah (princess), “Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour <19.8 qt / 21.9 l>,b knead it, and bake some bread.”

7 Meanwhile, Abraham (father of many) ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate.

Sarah Laughs at the Promise

9 “Where is your wife Sarah (princess)?” they asked.

“There, in the tent,” he replied.

10 Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah (princess) will have a son!”

Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent. 11 And Abraham (father of many) and Sarah (princess) were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12 So she (princess) laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master (husband) is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

13 And the LORD {YHWH} asked Abraham (father of many), “Why did Sarah (princess) laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’ 14 Is anything too difficult for the LORD {YHWH}? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah (princess) will have a son <Rom 9:9>.”c

15 But Sarah (princess) was afraid, so she denied it and said, “I did not laugh.”

“No,” replied the LORD, “but you did laugh.”

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

16 When the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom (burning), and Abraham (father of many) walked along with them to see them off.

17 And the LORD {YHWH} said, “Shall I hide from Abraham (father of many) what I am about to do? 18 Abraham (father of many) will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD {YHWH} by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham (father of many) what He has promised.”

20 Then the LORD {YHWH} said, “The outcry against Sodom (burning) and Gomorrah (submersion) is great. Because their sin is so grievous, 21 I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.”

22 And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom (burning), but Abraham (father of many) remained standing before the LORD {YHWH}.

23 Abraham (father of many) stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there? 25 Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”

26 So the LORD {YHWH} replied, “If I find fifty righteous ones within the city of Sodom (burning), on their account I will spare the whole place.”

27 Then Abraham (father of many) answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord {Adonai}—though I am but dust and ashes— 28 suppose the fifty righteous ones lack five. Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?”

He replied, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.”

29 Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, “Suppose forty are found there?”

He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.”

30 Then Abraham said, “May the Lord {Adonai} not be angry, but let me speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?”

He replied, “If I find thirty there, I will not do it.”

31 And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord {Adonai}, suppose twenty are found there?”

He answered, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.”

32 Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord {Adonai} not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?”

And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.”

33 When the LORD {YHWH} had finished speaking with Abraham (father of many), He departed, and Abraham returned home.

Lot Welcomes the Angels
(Judges 19:1–30)

1 Now the two angels arrived at Sodom (burning) in the evening, and Lot (covering) was sitting in the gateway of the city. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them, bowed facedown, 2 and said, “My lords, please turn aside into the house of your⁺ servant; wash your⁺ feet and spend the night. Then you⁺ can rise early and go on your⁺ way.”

“No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”

3 But Lot insisted so strongly that they followed him into his house. He prepared a feast for them and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

4 Before they had gone to bed, all the men of the city of Sodom (burning), both young and old, surrounded the house. 5 They called out to Lot (covering), saying, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Send them out to us so we can have relations with them!”

6 Lot (covering) went outside to meet them, shutting the door behind him. 7 “Please, my brothers,” he pleaded, “don’t do such a wicked thing! 8 Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them to you⁺, and you⁺ can do to them as you⁺ please. But do not do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.”

9 “Get out of the way!” they replied. And they declared, “This one came here as a foreigner, and he is already acting like a judge! Now we will treat you worse than them.” And they pressed in on Lot (covering) and moved in to break down the door.

10 But the men inside reached out, pulled Lot (covering) into the house with them, and shut the door. 11 And they struck the men at the entrance, young and old, with blindness, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the door.

Lot Flees to Zoar

12 Then the two men said to Lot (covering), “Do you have anyone else here—a son-in-law, your sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, 13 because we are about to destroy this place. For the outcry to the LORD {YHWH} against its people is so great that He has sent us to destroy it.”

14 So Lot (covering) went out and spoke to the sons-in-law who were pledged in marriage to his daughters. “Get up,” he said. “Get out of this place, for the LORD {YHWH} is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.

15 At daybreak the angels hurried Lot along (covering), saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16 But when Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters. And they led them safely out of the city, because of the LORD’s {YHWH} compassion for them.

17 As soon as the men had brought them out, one of them said, “Run for your lives! Do not look back, and do not stop anywhere on the plain! Flee to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”

18 But Lot (covering) replied, “No, my lords, please! 19 Your servant has indeed found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness by sparing my life. But I cannot run to the mountains; the disaster will overtake me, and I will die. 20 Look, there is a town nearby where I can flee, and it is a small place. Please let me flee there—is it not a small place? Then my life will be saved.”

21 “Very well,” he answered, “I will grant this request as well, and will not demolish the town you indicate. 22 Hurry! Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you reach it.” That is why the town was called Zoar (insignificance).a

23 And by the time the sun had risen over the land, Lot (covering) had reached Zoar (insignificance).

The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
(Luke 17:20–37)

24 Then the LORD {YHWH} rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom (burning) and Gomorrah (submersion)—from the LORD out of the heavens. 25 Thus He destroyed these cities and the entire plain, including all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground.

26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

27 Early the next morning, Abraham (father of many) got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD {YHWH}. 28 He looked down toward Sodom (burning) and Gomorrah (submersion) and all the land of the plain, and he saw the smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace.

29 So when God {Elohim} destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham (father of many), and He brought Lot (covering) out of the catastrophe that destroyed the cities where he had lived.

Lot and His Daughters

30 Lot (covering) and his two daughters left Zoar (insignificance) and settled in the mountains—for he was afraid to stay in Zoar—where they lived in a cave.

31 One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man in the land to sleep with us, as is the custom over all the earth. 32 Come, let us get our father drunk with wine so we can sleep with him and preserve his line.”

33 So that night they got their father drunk with wine, and the firstborn went in and slept with her father; he was not aware when she lay down or when she got up.

34 The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Look, I slept with my father last night. Let us get him drunk with wine again tonight so you can go in and sleep with him and we can preserve our father’s line.”

35 So again that night they got their father drunk with wine, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him; he was not aware when she lay down or when she got up.

36 Thus both of Lot’s (covering) daughters became pregnant by their father. 37 The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab (from my father).b He is the father of the Moabites (of his father) of today. 38 The younger daughter also gave birth to a son, and she named him Ben-ammi (son of my people).c He is the father of the Ammonites (tribal) of today.

Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech

1 Now Abraham (father of many) journeyed from there to the region of the Negev (southland) and settled between Kadesh (holy) and Shur (wall). While he was staying in Gerar (a lodging place), 2 Abraham (father of many) said of his wife Sarah (princess), “She is my sister.” So Abimelech (my father is king) king of Gerar (a lodging place) had Sarah brought to him.

3 One night, however, God {Elohim} came to Abimelech (my father is king) in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”

4 Now Abimelech (my father is king) had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord {Adonai}, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent? 5 Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”

6 Then God {Elohim} said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7 Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”

8 Early the next morning Abimelech (my father is king) got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified.

9 Then Abimelech (my father is king) called Abraham (father of many) and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.” 10 Abimelech (my father is king) also asked Abraham (father of many), “What prompted you to do such a thing?”

11 Abraham (father of many) replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God {Elohim} in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’ 12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife. 13 So when God {Elohim} had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

14 So Abimelech (my father is king) brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham (father of many) and restored his wife Sarah (princess) to him. 15 And Abimelech (my father is king) said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.” 16 And he said to Sarah (princess), “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver <25.1 lb / 11.4 kg>.a It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”

17 Then Abraham (father of many) prayed to God {Elohim}, and God healed Abimelech (my father is king) and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children— 18 for on account of Abraham’s (father of many) wife Sarah (princess), the LORD {YHWH} had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s (my father is king) household.

The Birth of Isaac

1 Now the LORD {YHWH} attended to Sarah (princess) as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. 2 So Sarah (princess) conceived and bore a son to Abraham (father of many) in his old age, at the very time God {Elohim} had promised.

3 And Abraham (father of many) gave the name Isaac (he laughs)a to the son Sarah (princess) bore to him. 4 When his son Isaac (he laughs) was eight days old, Abraham (father of many) circumcised him, as God {Elohim} had commanded him. 5 Abraham (father of many) was a hundred years old when his son Isaac (he laughs) was born to him.

6 Then Sarah (princess) said, “God {Elohim} has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me.” 7 She added, “Who would have told Abraham (father of many) that Sarah (princess) would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

8 So the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham (father of many) held a great feast on the day Isaac (he laughs) was weaned.

Sarah Turns against Hagar
(Galatians 4:21–30)

9 But Sarah (princess) saw that the son whom Hagar (flight) the Egyptian (double straits) had borne to Abraham (father of many) was mocking her son [her son],b 10 and she said to Abraham (father of many), “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac <Gal 4:30>!”c

11 Now this matter distressed Abraham (father of many) greatly because it concerned his son Ishmael. 12 But God {Elohim} said to Abraham (father of many), “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah (princess) tells you, for through Isaac (he laughs) your offspring will be reckoned <Rom 9:7, Heb 11:18>.d 13 But I will also make a nation of the slave woman’s son, because he is your offspring.”

14 Early in the morning, Abraham (father of many) got up, took bread and a skin of water, put them on Hagar’s (flight) shoulders, and sent her away with the boy. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba (well of seven). 15 When the water in the skin was gone, she left the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, “I cannot bear to watch the boy die!” And as she sat nearby, she lifted up her voice [the child lifted up his voice] and wept.e

17 Then God {Elohim} heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar (flight) from heaven, “What is wrong, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he lies. 18 Get up, lift up the boy, and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19 Then God {Elohim} opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

20 And God {Elohim} was with the boy, and he grew up and settled in the wilderness and became a great archer. 21 And while he was dwelling in the Wilderness of Paran (place of caverns), his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt (land of bondage).

The Covenant at Beersheba

22 At that time Abimelech (my father is king) and Phicol (strong) the commander of his army said to Abraham (father of many), “God {Elohim} is with you in all that you do. 23 Now, therefore, swear to me here before God {Elohim} that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or descendants. Show to me and to the country in which you reside the same kindness that I have shown to you.”

24 And Abraham (father of many) replied, “I swear it.”

25 But when Abraham (father of many) complained to Abimelech (my father is king) about a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized, 26 Abimelech (my father is king) replied, “I do not know who has done this. You did not tell me, so I have not heard about it until today.”

27 So Abraham (father of many) brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech (my father is king), and the two men made a covenant. 28 Abraham (father of many) separated seven ewe lambs from the flock, 29 and Abimelech (my father is king) asked him (father of many), “Why have you set apart these seven ewe lambs?”

30 He replied, “You are to accept the seven ewe lambs from my hand as my witness that I dug this well.” 31 So that place was called Beersheba (well of seven),f because it was there that the two of them swore an oath. 32 After they had made the covenant at Beersheba (well of seven), Abimelech (my father is king) and Phicol (strong) the commander of his army got up and returned to the land of the Philistines (immigrants).

33 And Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba (well of seven), and there he called upon the name of the LORD {YHWH}, the Eternal God {El-Olam}.g 34 And Abraham (father of many) resided in the land of the Philistines (immigrants) for a long time.

The Offering of Isaac
(John 3:1–21)

1 Some time later God {Elohim} tested Abraham (father of many) and said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he answered.

2 “Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac (he laughs), whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah (chosen by YHWH). Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

3 So Abraham (father of many) got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac (he laughs). He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God {Elohim} had designated.

4 On the third day Abraham (father of many) looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham (father of many) told his servants. “The boy and I will go over there to worship, and then we will return to you⁺.”

6 Abraham (father of many) took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac (he laughs). He himself carried the fire and the sacrificial knife, and the two of them walked on together.

7 Then Isaac (he laughs) said to his father Abraham (father of many), “My father!”

“Here I am, my son,” he replied.

“The fire and the wood are here,” said Isaac, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham (father of many) answered, “God {Elohim} Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two walked on together.

9 When they arrived at the place God {Elohim} had designated, Abraham (father of many) built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac (he laughs) and placed him on the altar, atop the wood. 10 Then Abraham (father of many) reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.

The LORD Provides the Sacrifice

11 Just then the angel (Angel)a of the LORD {YHWH} called out to him from heaven, “Abraham (father of many), Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God {Elohim}, since you have not withheld your only son from me (from Me).b”

13 Then Abraham (father of many) looked up and saw behind him a ram [saw one ram]c in a thicket, caught by its horns. So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 And Abraham (father of many) called that place The LORD Will Provide {YHWH Yireh}.d So to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

15 And the angel of the LORD {YHWH} called to Abraham (father of many) from heaven a second time, 16 saying, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD {YHWH}, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants <Heb 6:14>e like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. 18 And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed <Act 3:25>,f because you have obeyed My voice.”

19 Abraham (father of many) went back to his servants, and they got up and set out together for Beersheba (well of seven). And Abraham settled in Beersheba.

The Sons of Nahor

20 Some time later, Abraham (father of many) was told, “Milcah (queen) has also borne sons to your brother Nahor (snorting): 21 Uz (wooded) the firstborn, his brother Buz (contempt), Kemuel (raised of God) (the father of Aram (exalted)), 22 Chesed (increase), Hazo (vision), Pildash (flame of fire), Jidlaph (weeping), and Bethuel (dweller in God).”

23 And Bethuel (dweller in God) became the father of Rebekah (ensnarer). Milcah (queen) bore these eight sons to Abraham’s (father of many) brother Nahor (snorting). 24 Moreover, Nahor’s concubine, whose name was Reumah (elevated), bore Tebah (a slaughter), Gaham (burning), Tahash (dugong), and Maacah (oppression).

The Death and Burial of Sarah

1 Now Sarah (princess) lived to be 127 years old. 2 She (princess) died in Kiriath-arba (city of Arba) (that is, Hebron (association)) in the land of Canaan (lowland), and Abraham (father of many) went out to mourn and to weep for her.

3 Then Abraham (father of many) got up from beside his dead wife and said to the Hittites (terror) (sons of Heth),a 4 “I am a foreigner and an outsider among you⁺. Give me a burial site among you⁺ so that I can bury my dead.”

5 The Hittites (terror) replied to Abraham (father of many), 6 “Listen to us, sir. You are God’s chosen one among us. Bury your dead in the finest of our tombs. None of us will withhold his tomb for burying your dead.”

7 Then Abraham (father of many) rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites (terror). 8 “If you⁺ are willing for me to bury my dead,” he said to them, “listen to me, and approach Ephron (fawn-like) son of Zohar (radiance) on my behalf 9 to sell me the cave of Machpelah (double) that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him sell it to me in your⁺ presence for full price, so that I may have a burial site.”

10 Now Ephron (fawn-like) was sitting among the sons of Heth (terror). So in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham (father of many), 11 “No, my lord. Listen to me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.”

12 Again Abraham (father of many) bowed down before the people of the land 13 and said to Ephron (fawn-like) in their presence, “If you will please listen to me, I will pay you the price of the field. Accept it from me, so that I may bury my dead there.”

14 Ephron (fawn-like) answered Abraham (father of many), 15 “Listen to me, my lord. The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver <10.1 lb / 4.6 kg>,b but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”

16 Abraham (father of many) agreed to Ephron’s terms (fawn-like) and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites (terror): four hundred shekels of silver, according to the standard of the merchants.

17 So Ephron’s (fawn-like) field at Machpelah (double) near Mamre (strength / fatness), the cave that was in it, and all the trees within the boundaries of the field were deeded over 18 to Abraham’s (father of many) possession in the presence of all the Hittites (terror) who had come to the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham (father of many) buried his wife Sarah (princess) in the cave of the field at Machpelah (double) near Mamre (strength / fatness) (that is, Hebron (association)) in the land of Canaan (lowland). 20 So the field and its cave were deeded by the Hittites (terror) to Abraham (father of many) as a burial site.

A Wife for Isaac

1 By now Abraham (father of many) was old and well along in years, and the LORD {YHWH} had blessed him in every way. 2 So Abraham (father of many) instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh, 3 and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites (merchants) among whom I am dwelling, 4 but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac (he laughs).”

5 The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the land from which you came?”

6 Abraham (father of many) replied, “Make sure that you do not take my son back there. 7 The LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of heaven, who brought me from my father’s house and my native land, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you so that you can take a wife for my son from there. 8 And if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”

9 So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham (father of many) and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.

10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s (snorting) hometown in Aram-naharaim (Aram of the two rivers).a 11 As evening approached, he made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town at the time when the women went out to draw water.

12 “O LORD, God {YHWH Elohe} of my master Abraham (father of many),” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 Here I am, standing beside the spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 Now may it happen that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac (he laughs). By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”

Rebekah Is Chosen

15 Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah (ensnarer) came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel (dweller in God) son of Milcah (queen), the wife of Abraham’s (father of many) brother Nahor (snorting). 16 Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin who had not had relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up again.

17 So the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jar.”

18 “Drink, my lord,” she replied, and she quickly lowered her jar to her hands and gave him a drink.

19 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels, until they have had enough to drink.” 20 And she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran back to the well to draw water, until she had drawn water for all his camels.

21 Meanwhile, the man watched her silently to see whether or not the LORD {YHWH} had made his journey a success.

22 And after the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring weighing a beka <0.2 oz / 5.7 g>,b and two gold bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels <4 oz / 114 g>.c 23 “Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”

24 She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel (dweller in God), the son that Milcah (queen) bore to Nahor (snorting).” 25 Then she added, “We have plenty of straw and feed, as well as a place for you to spend the night.”

26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD {YHWH}, 27 saying, “Blessed be the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of my master Abraham (father of many), who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”

28 The girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things. 29 Now Rebekah (ensnarer) had a brother named Laban (white), and he rushed out to the man at the spring. 30 As soon as he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and heard Rebekah’s (ensnarer) words, “The man said this to me,” he went and found the man standing by the camels near the spring.

31 “Come, you who are blessed by the LORD {YHWH},” said Laban. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.” 32 So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of his companions.

33 Then a meal was set before the man, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I came to say.”

So Laban said, “Please speak.”

34 “I am Abraham’s (father of many) servant,” he replied. 35 “The LORD {YHWH} has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys. 36 My master’s wife Sarah (princess) has borne him a son in her old age, and my master has given him everything he owns.

37 My master made me swear an oath and said, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites (merchants) in whose land I dwell, 38 but you shall go to my father’s house and to my kindred to take a wife for my son.’

39 Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’

40 And he told me, ‘The LORD {YHWH}, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you may take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father’s house. 41 And when you go to my kindred, if they refuse to give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’

42 So when I came to the spring today, I prayed: O LORD, God {YHWH Elohe} of my master Abraham (father of many), if only You would make my journey a success! 43 Here I am, standing beside this spring. Now if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your jar,’ 44 and she replies, ‘Drink, and I will draw water for your camels as well,’ may she be the woman the LORD {YHWH} has appointed for my master’s son.

45 And before I had finished praying in my heart, there was Rebekah (ensnarer) coming out with her jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’

46 She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels.

47 Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’

She replied, ‘The daughter of Bethuel (dweller in God) son of Nahor (snorting), whom Milcah (queen) bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists. 48 Then I bowed down and worshiped the LORD {YHWH}; and I blessed the LORD, the God {Elohe} of my master Abraham (father of many), who led me on the right road to take the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.

49 Now if you⁺ will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; but if not, let me know, so that I may go elsewhere.”

50 Laban (white) and Bethuel (dweller in God) answered, “This is from the LORD {YHWH}; we have no choice in the matter. 51 Rebekah (ensnarer) is here before you. Take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, just as the LORD {YHWH} has decreed.”

52 When Abraham’s (father of many) servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD {YHWH}. 53 Then he brought out jewels of silver and gold, and articles of clothing, and he gave them to Rebekah (ensnarer). He also gave precious gifts to her brother and her mother. 54 Then he and the men with him ate and drank and spent the night there.