Genesis 1: 1
בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית
In the beginning…
בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים
God created
אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
the heavens and the earth;
Genesis 1: 2
וְהָאָ֗רֶץ הָיְתָ֥ה תֹ֙הוּ֙ וָבֹ֔הוּ
וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י תְהֹ֑ום
Now the Earth was in a state of chaos and emptiness,
and darkness was upon the face of the raging deep;
וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים
מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם׃
But the Spirit of God
was in process of hovering
over the face of the waters;
Genesis 1: 3
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֖ים יְהִ֣י אֹ֑ור
And God said “Let there be light”;
וַֽיְהִי־אֹֽור׃
And there was light;
Genesis 1: 4
וַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הָאֹ֖ור כִּי־טֹ֑וב
And God saw the light, that it was good;
וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל אֱלֹהִ֔ים
בֵּ֥ין הָאֹ֖ור וּבֵ֥ין הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃
And God made distinction between the light,
and between the darkness;
Genesis 1: 5
וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ לָאֹור֙ יֹ֔ום
And God named the light “Day”,
וְלַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ קָ֣רָא לָ֑יְלָה
But the darkness He had called “Night”;
וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר יֹ֥ום אֶחָֽד׃
פ
And there was nightfall
and there was daybreak,
Day One.
Genesis 1: 6
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים
Then God said
יְהִ֥י רָקִ֖יעַ בְּתֹ֣וךְ הַמָּ֑יִם
“Let there be a solid expanse,
in the midst of the waters;
וִיהִ֣י מַבְדִּ֔יל בֵּ֥ין מַ֖יִם לָמָֽיִם׃
and let it make a separation between the waters,
in relation to the waters;”
Genesis 1: 7
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִים֮ אֶת־הָרָקִיעַ֒
And God made the solid expanse,
וַיַּבְדֵּ֗ל בֵּ֤ין הַמַּ֙יִם֙
and He made a separation between the waters
אֲשֶׁר֙ מִתַּ֣חַת לָרָקִ֔יעַ
which were beneath the solid expanse,
וּבֵ֣ין הַמַּ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֖ר מֵעַ֣ל לָרָקִ֑יעַ
and between the waters,
that were above the solid expanse,
וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃
And just so it came to be;
Genesis 1: 8
וַיִּקְרָ֧א אֱלֹהִ֛ים לָֽרָקִ֖יעַ שָׁמָ֑יִם
And God named the solid expanse “Heaven”,
וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר יֹ֥ום שֵׁנִֽי׃
פ
And there was nightfall
and there was daybreak,
a second day.
Genesis 1: 9
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים
And God said,
יִקָּו֨וּ הַמַּ֜יִם מִתַּ֤חַת הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ אֶל־מָקֹ֣ום אֶחָ֔ד
“Let the waters from below the heavens
be gathered to one place,
וְתֵרָאֶ֖ה הַיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה
and let the dry land appear;”
וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃
And just so it came about;
Genesis 1: 10
וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ לַיַּבָּשָׁה֙ אֶ֔רֶץ
And God called the dry land “Earth”,
וּלְמִקְוֵ֥ה הַמַּ֖יִם קָרָ֣א יַמִּ֑ים
and the collecting place of the waters
He had called “Ocean”,
וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־טֹֽוב׃
And God saw that it was good;
Genesis 1: 11
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים
Then God said,
תַּֽדְשֵׁ֤א הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ דֶּ֔שֶׁא
“Let the earth put forth greenery,
עֵ֚שֶׂב מַזְרִ֣יעַ זֶ֔רַע
Vegetation producing seed,
עֵ֣ץ פְּרִ֞י עֹ֤שֶׂה פְּרִי֙ לְמִינֹ֔ו
Fruit trees, producing fruit
according to their kind,
אֲשֶׁ֥ר זַרְעֹו־בֹ֖ו עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ
where their seed is within it,
upon the Earth;”
וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃
And just so it came about:
Genesis 1: 12
וַתֹּוצֵ֨א הָאָ֜רֶץ דֶּ֠שֶׁא
And the earth brought forth greenery,
עֵ֣שֶׂב מַזְרִ֤יעַ זֶ֙רַע֙ לְמִינֵ֔הוּ
Vegetation producing seed
according to its kind,
וְעֵ֧ץ עֹֽשֶׂה־פְּרִ֛י אֲשֶׁ֥ר זַרְעֹו־בֹ֖ו
לְמִינֵ֑הוּ
and trees producing fruit
where it’s seed is within it
according to its kind,
וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־טֹֽוב׃
And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1: 13
וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר יֹ֥ום שְׁלִישִֽׁי׃
פ
And there was nightfall
and there was daybreak,
a third day.
Genesis 1: 14
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים
Then God said,
יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
“Let there be lights
in the solid expanse of the heavens,
לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיֹּ֖ום וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה
in order to differentiate between the day,
and between the night;
וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמֹ֣ועֲדִ֔ים
And let them be for signs
and for appointments,
וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים׃
and for days and years;”
Genesis 1: 15
וְהָי֤וּ לִמְאֹורֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
“And let them be for light sources
in the solid expanse of the heavens,
לְהָאִ֖יר עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ
in order to give light upon the earth;”
וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃
And just so it came about:
Genesis 1: 16
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִ֔ים
And God made
אֶת־שְׁנֵ֥י הַמְּאֹרֹ֖ת הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים
the two great lights;
אֶת־הַמָּאֹ֤ור הַגָּדֹל֙
The greater light,
לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַיֹּ֔ום
for the realm of the day,
וְאֶת־הַמָּאֹ֤ור הַקָּטֹן֙
And the lesser light
לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַלַּ֔יְלָה
for the realm of the night,
וְאֵ֖ת הַכֹּוכָבִֽים׃
together with the stars;
Psalms 136:9
אֶת־הַיָּרֵ֣חַ וְ֭כֹוכָבִים
The moon and the stars
לְמֶמְשְׁלֹ֣ות בַּלָּ֑יְלָה
for the realms in the night;
כִּ֖י לְעֹולָ֣ם חַסְדֹּֽו׃
for His mercy is forever.
Genesis 1: 17
וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים
And God set them
בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם
in the solid expanse of the heavens;
לְהָאִ֖יר עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
in order to give light upon the earth,
Genesis 1: 18
וְלִמְשֹׁל֙ בַּיֹּ֣ום וּבַלַּ֔יְלָה
And to predominate within the day
and within the night,
וּֽלֲהַבְדִּ֔יל בֵּ֥ין הָאֹ֖ור וּבֵ֣ין הַחֹ֑שֶׁךְ
and for making distinction between the light
and between the darkness;
וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־טֹֽוב׃
And God saw that it was good;
Genesis 1: 19
וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר יֹ֥ום רְבִיעִֽי׃
פ
And there was nightfall
and there was daybreak,
a fourth day.
Genesis 1: 20
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים
Then God said,
יִשְׁרְצ֣וּ הַמַּ֔יִם שֶׁ֖רֶץ נֶ֣פֶשׁ חַיָּ֑ה
“Let the waters abound with
swarming creatures of living entity;
וְעֹוף֙ יְעֹופֵ֣ף עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ
And let flying creatures soar over the Earth,
עַל־פְּנֵ֖י רְקִ֥יעַ הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
before the face of
the solid expanse of the heavens;”
Genesis 1: 21
וַיִּבְרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֔ים
And God created:
אֶת־הַתַּנִּינִ֖ם הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים
the great sea dragons,
וְאֵ֣ת כָּל־נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַֽחַיָּ֣ה ׀ הָֽרֹמֶ֡שֶׂת
And every living creature that moves,
אֲשֶׁר֩ שָׁרְצ֨וּ הַמַּ֜יִם לְמִֽינֵהֶ֗ם
those that swarm the waters
according to their kind,
וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־עֹ֤וף כָּנָף֙ לְמִינֵ֔הוּ
and every winged flying creature
according to its kind;
וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־טֹֽוב׃
And God saw that it was good;
Genesis 1: 22
וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ אֹתָ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר
Then God blessed them saying,
פְּר֣וּ וּרְב֗וּ
“Be fruitful and become numerous,
וּמִלְא֤וּ אֶת־הַמַּ֙יִם֙ בַּיַּמִּ֔ים
and fill the waters in the ocean,
וְהָעֹ֖וף יִ֥רֶב בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
and let the flying creature multiply on the earth;”
Genesis 1: 23
וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר יֹ֥ום חֲמִישִֽׁי׃
פ
And there was nightfall
and there was daybreak,
a fifth day.
Genesis 1: 24
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים
Then God said,
תֹּוצֵ֨א הָאָ֜רֶץ נֶ֤פֶשׁ חַיָּה֙ לְמִינָ֔הּ
“Let the earth bring forth the living being-creature
according to it’s kind:
בְּהֵמָ֥ה וָרֶ֛מֶשׂ וְחַֽיְתֹו־אֶ֖רֶץ לְמִינָ֑הּ
beast and moving creature
togther with it’s living earth (microbiome);
according to it’s kind;”
וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃
And just so it came about.
Genesis 1: 25
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִים֩ אֶת־חַיַּ֨ת הָאָ֜רֶץ
And God made the living creature of the earth,
לְמִינָ֗הּ
according to their kind,
וְאֶת־הַבְּהֵמָה֙ לְמִינָ֔הּ
And so the beast according to their kind,
וְאֵ֛ת כָּל־רֶ֥מֶשׂ הָֽאֲדָמָ֖ה לְמִינֵ֑הוּ
and so every moving creature of the ground,
according to their kind;
וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־טֹֽוב׃ס
And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1: 26
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים
Then God said,
נַֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה אָדָ֛ם בְּצַלְמֵ֖נוּ כִּדְמוּתֵ֑נוּ
“Let us make man in Our Image,
according to Our Likeness;
וְיִרְדּוּ֩ בִדְגַ֨ת הַיָּ֜ם וּבְעֹ֣וף הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם
And let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea,
and over the flying creature of the heavens,
וּבַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּבְכָל־הָאָ֔רֶץ
and over the beast and over all the earth,
וּבְכָל־הָרֶ֖מֶשׂ הָֽרֹמֵ֥שׂ עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
and over every moving thing,
that moves upon the earth;”
Genesis 1: 27
וַיִּבְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ אֶת־הָֽאָדָם֙
So God created man,
בְּצַלְמֹ֔ו
in His Own Image,
בְּצֶ֥לֶם אֱלֹהִ֖ים בָּרָ֣א אֹתֹ֑ו
In the Image of God He created him;
זָכָ֥ר וּנְקֵבָ֖ה בָּרָ֥א אֹתָֽם׃
male and female He created them;
Genesis 1: 28
וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֹתָם֮ אֱלֹהִים֒
And God blessed them,
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לָהֶ֜ם אֱלֹהִ֗ים
and God said unto them,
פְּר֥וּ וּרְב֛וּ וּמִלְא֥וּ אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ
וְכִבְשֻׁ֑הָ
“Be fruitful and become numerous,
and fill the earth and subjugate it;
וּרְד֞וּ בִּדְגַ֤ת הַיָּם֙ וּבְעֹ֣וף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
And have dominion over the fish of the sea,
and over the flying creature of the sky,
וּבְכָל־חַיָּ֖ה הָֽרֹמֶ֥שֶׂת עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
and over every living creature,
that moves upon the earth;”
Genesis 1: 29
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים הִנֵּה֩ נָתַ֨תִּי לָכֶ֜ם
Then God said
“Behold I have given you
אֶת־כָּל־עֵ֣שֶׂב ׀ זֹרֵ֣עַ זֶ֗רַע
every grass, yielding seed,
אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י כָל־הָאָ֔רֶץ
which is upon the face of the whole earth;
וְאֶת־כָּל־הָעֵ֛ץ
and every tree
אֲשֶׁר־בֹּ֥ו פְרִי־עֵ֖ץ זֹרֵ֣עַ זָ֑רַע
where on it is tree fruit, yielding seed;
לָכֶ֥ם יִֽהְיֶ֖ה לְאָכְלָֽה׃
To you it shall be for food;”
Genesis 1: 30
וּֽלְכָל־חַיַּ֣ת הָ֠אָרֶץ
“And for every land animal,
וּלְכָל־עֹ֨וף הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם
and for every flying creature of the heavens,
וּלְכֹ֣ל ׀ רֹומֵ֣שׂ עַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ
and for every creature moving upon the Earth,
אֲשֶׁר־בֹּו֙ נֶ֣פֶשׁ חַיָּ֔ה
that which within itself is a living entity,
אֶת־כָּל־יֶ֥רֶק עֵ֖שֶׂב לְאָכְלָ֑ה
All vegetation foliage for food;”
וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃
And just so it came about.
Genesis 1: 31
וַיַּ֤רְא אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה
And God inspected everything that He had made,
וְהִנֵּה־טֹ֖וב מְאֹ֑ד
and behold it was good, exceedingly!
וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר יֹ֥ום הַשִּׁשִּֽׁי׃
פ
And there was nightfall
and there was daybreak,
a sixth day.
Genesis 2:1
וַיְכֻלּ֛וּ הַשָּׁמַ֥יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ
Thus were completed the heavens and the earth,
וְכָל־צְבָאָֽם׃
and all their array:
Genesis 2:2
וַיְכַ֤ל אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּיֹּ֣ום הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י
And God completed on (by) the seventh day,
מְלַאכְתֹּ֖ו אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה
His work, that He had done;
וַיִּשְׁבֹּת֙ בַּיֹּ֣ום הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י
And He rested on the seventh day,
מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתֹּ֖ו אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה׃
from all His work,
that He had carried out;
Genesis 2:3
וַיְבָ֤רֶךְ אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־יֹ֣ום הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י
And God blessed the seventh day,
וַיְקַדֵּ֖שׁ אֹתֹ֑ו
and He set it apart,
כִּ֣י בֹ֤ו שָׁבַת֙ מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתֹּ֔ו
Because in it He had rested
from all His work,
אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים לַעֲשֹֽׂות׃
פ
that which God had created,
to reproduce.
Website translation into English by Eddie Van Gent,
together with his wife, Maraea Van Gent (Masters of Humanities in Social Sciences, Majoring in Education)
The Hebrew Masoretic Text is Unicode-XML version 1 point 3 Leningrad Codex,
Build 26 point 2 from tanach.us
Audio excerpts from
Tanakh audio recording by Rabbi Dan Be’eri.
Genesis 1, verse 1 to Genesis 2, verse 3. Hebrew Audio.
