הָיָה (ha.yah)

The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the…

God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

God called the light “day”, and the darkness he called “night”. There was evening and there was morning, the first day.

God said, “Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”

God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse;…

God called the expanse “sky”. There was evening and there was morning, a second day.

God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear;” and it was so.

God said, “Let the earth yield grass, herbs yielding seeds, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with their…

There was evening and there was morning, a third day.

God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs to…

and let them be for lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth;” and it was so.

There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures after their kind, livestock, creeping things, and animals of the…

God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree,…

To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there…

God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth…

No plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for Yahweh God had not caused…

Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a…

A river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it was parted, and became the source of four rivers.

Yahweh God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.

The man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.

Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which Yahweh God had made. He said to the woman, “Has God…

for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

The man called his wife Eve because she would be the mother of all the living.

Yahweh God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand,…

Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

As time passed, Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground.

Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his…

From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the…

Behold, you have driven me out today from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a…

Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and named the city after the name of his…

Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.

His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.

The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he became the father of other sons…

All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.

All of the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, then he died.

All of the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died.

and all of the days of Kenan were nine hundred ten years, then he died.

All of the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety-five years, then he died.

All of the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died.

All the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years.

All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.

All the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy-seven years, then he died.

Noah was five hundred years old, then Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

When men began to multiply on the surface of the ground, and daughters were born to them,

Yahweh said, “My Spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; so his days will be one hundred…

The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when God’s sons came in to men’s daughters and had…

This is the history of the generations of Noah: Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time. Noah…

Of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ship, to keep them alive with you. They…

Take with you some of all food that is eaten, and gather it to yourself; and it will be for food for you, and for them.”

Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came on the earth.

After the seven days, the floodwaters came on the earth.

It rained on the earth forty days and forty nights.

The flood was forty days on the earth. The waters increased, and lifted up the ship, and it was lifted up above the…

The waters receded continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of…

At the end of forty days, Noah opened the window of the ship which he had made,

In the six hundred first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from the earth.…

The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the sky. Everything…

Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. As I gave you the green herb, I have given everything to you.

I will establish my covenant with you: All flesh will not be cut off any more by the waters of the flood. There will…

I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth.

When I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow will be seen in the cloud,

I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will no…

The rainbow will be in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every…

The sons of Noah who went out from the ship were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham is the father of Canaan.

He said, “Canaan is cursed. He will be a servant of servants to his brothers.”

He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.

May God enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.”

All the days of Noah were nine hundred fifty years, and then he died.

Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in the earth.

He was a mighty hunter before Yahweh. Therefore it is said, “like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before Yahweh”.

The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

The border of the Canaanites was from Sidon—as you go toward Gerar—to Gaza—as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and…

Their dwelling extended from Mesha, as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.

The whole earth was of one language and of one speech.

As they traveled east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they lived there.

They said to one another, “Come, let’s make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they used…

Sarai was barren. She had no child.

The days of Terah were two hundred five years. Terah died in Haran.

I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing.

There was a famine in the land. Abram went down into Egypt to live as a foreigner there, for the famine was severe in…

When he had come near to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to…

It will happen that when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me, but they will…

When Abram had come into Egypt, some Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.

He dealt well with Abram for her sake. He had sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female…

He went on his journeys from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between…

Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents.

The land was not able to bear them, that they might live together; for their possessions were so great that they…

There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the…

Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for…

In the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar; Arioch, king of Ellasar; Chedorlaomer, king of Elam; and Tidal, king of Goiim,

After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your…

Yahweh brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He…

When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him.

He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will…

It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace and a flaming torch passed…

He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will…

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me and…

“As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations.

Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of…

I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an…

I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an…

You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the covenant between me and you.

He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant shall be in your…

I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of…

Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?

May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be…

Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up! Get out of this…

It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, “Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t…

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

When God destroyed the cities of the plain, God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the overthrow,…

It came to pass on the next day, that the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father.…

Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me.…

God was with the boy, and he grew. He lived in the wilderness, and as he grew up, he became an archer.

At that time, Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his army spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you…

He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well.”

After these things, God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.”

After these things, Abraham was told, “Behold, Milcah, she also has borne children to your brother Nahor:

Sarah lived one hundred twenty-seven years. This was the length of Sarah’s life.

Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ then she says,…

Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of…

As the camels had finished drinking, the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her…

When he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister,…

Then you will be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don’t give her to you, you shall be clear…

behold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes out to draw, to whom I will…

Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as Yahweh has spoken.”

When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh.

They blessed Rebekah, and said to her, “Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your…

Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. So Isaac was…

Jokshan became the father of Sheba, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.

After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac, his son. Isaac lived by Beer Lahai Roi.

Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban…

The boys grew. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents.

There was a famine in the land, in addition to the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. Isaac went to…

Live in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you. For I will give to you, and to your offspring, all these…

When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold,…

He had possessions of flocks, possessions of herds, and a great household. The Philistines envied him.

They said, “We saw plainly that Yahweh was with you. We said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, even between us and…

The same day, Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have…

When Esau was forty years old, he took as wife Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, the daughter of…

They grieved Isaac’s and Rebekah’s spirits.

When Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said to him, “My…

What if my father touches me? I will seem to him as a deceiver, and I would bring a curse on myself, and not a…

He didn’t recognize him, because his hands were hairy, like his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him.

As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had just gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau…

Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who, then, is he who has taken venison, and brought it to me, and I have eaten of…

Isaac his father answered him, “Behold, your dwelling will be of the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of the sky…

You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. It will happen, when you will break loose, that you will…

May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be a company of peoples,

Your offspring will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the…

Jacob vowed a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to…

so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, and Yahweh will be my God,

then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God’s house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give…

When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob…

When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and…

Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.

Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.

In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went in to her.

In the morning, behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for…

When Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place, and to my country.

Jacob said to him, “You know how I have served you, and how your livestock have fared with me.

For it was little which you had before I came, and it has increased to a multitude. Yahweh has blessed you wherever I…

I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted one, and every black one among…

Laban said, “Behold, let it be according to your word.”

Whenever the stronger of the flock conceived, Jacob laid the rods in front of the eyes of the flock in the watering…

but when the flock were feeble, he didn’t put them in. So the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s.

The man increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

Yahweh said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers, and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”

and said to them, “I see the expression on your father’s face, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my…

If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore speckled. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your…

During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock…

This was my situation: in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from my eyes.

Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have…

Now come, let’s make a covenant, you and I. Let it be for a witness between me and you.”

Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; let that which you have be yours.”

Now Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah, his daughter; and his sons were with his livestock in the field. Jacob held…

You shall dwell with us, and the land will be before you. Live and trade in it, and get possessions in it.”

Only on this condition will we consent to you. If you will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised,

then will we give our daughters to you; and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will…

Only on this condition will the men consent to us to live with us, to become one people, if every male among us is…

On the third day, when they were sore, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword,…

Let’s arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was…

They traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn’t pursue the sons of Jacob.

God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel.” He named…

God said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and…

They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor.

When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for now you will have another son.”

As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.

While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now…

The days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years.

For their substance was too great for them to dwell together, and the land of their travels couldn’t bear them because…

The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.

Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau’s son; and she bore to Eliphaz Amalek. These are the descendants of Adah, Esau’s…

These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the descendants of Basemath, Esau’s wife.

These were the sons of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: she bore to Esau Jeush,…

The children of Lotan were Hori and Heman. Lotan’s sister was Timna.

This is the history of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his…

Come now therefore, and let’s kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, ‘An evil animal has…

When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him;

Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh.” His…

At that time, Judah went down from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.

She yet again bore a son, and named him Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.

Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in Yahweh’s sight. So Yahweh killed him.

Onan knew that the offspring wouldn’t be his; and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the…

Then he asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the road?” They said, “There…

He returned to Judah, and said, “I haven’t found her; and also the men of the place said, ‘There has been no prostitute…

Judah said, “Let her keep it, lest we be shamed. Behold, I sent this young goat, and you haven’t found her.”

About three months later, Judah was told, “Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute. Moreover, behold,…

In the time of her travail, behold, twins were in her womb.

When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This came…

As he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out, and she said, “Why have you made a breach for yourself?”…

Yahweh was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

From the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, Yahweh blessed the Egyptian’s house for…

He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. He didn’t concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate.…

After these things, his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.”

As she spoke to Joseph day by day, he didn’t listen to her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

About this time, he went into the house to do his work, and there were none of the men of the house inside.

When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had run outside,

When he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.”

and as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.”

When his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your servant did to me,” his…

Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were bound, and he was…

But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there,…

After these things, the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt.

The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he took care of them. They stayed in prison many days.

Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office. You will give Pharaoh’s cup…

On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the…

At the end of two full years, Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he stood by the river.

In the morning, his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all of Egypt’s magicians and wise men. Pharaoh told…

As he interpreted to us, so it was. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him.”

The seven thin and ugly cattle that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty heads of grain blasted…

The food will be to supply the land against the seven years of famine, which will be in the land of Egypt; so that the…

You shall be over my house. All my people will be ruled according to your word. Only in the throne I will be greater…

He gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities. He…

The seven years of plenty, that were in the land of Egypt, came to an end.

The seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of…

The famine was over all the surface of the earth. Joseph opened all the store houses, and sold to the Egyptians. The…

The sons of Israel came to buy among those who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men. Your servants are not spies.”

We said to him, ‘We are honest men. We are no spies.

As they emptied their sacks, behold, each man’s bundle of money was in his sack. When they and their father saw their…

Jacob, their father, said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children! Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you…

When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a…

When we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks, and behold, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our…

With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.”

He said, “Now also let it be according to your words. He with whom it is found will be my slave; and you will be…

He said, “Far be it from me that I should do so. The man in whose hand the cup is found, he will be my slave; but as…

When we came up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.

it will happen, when he sees that the boy is no more, that he will die. Your servants will bring down the gray hairs of…

You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near to me, you, your children, your children’s children, your…

The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez…

These men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks, and their herds,…

It will happen, when Pharaoh summons you, and will say, ‘What is your occupation?’

that you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we, and our…

Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years. The days of the years of my life have…

Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be…

So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine…

It will happen at the harvests, that you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four parts will be your own, for seed of…

They said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.”

Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth. Only the land of…

Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were one hundred…

After these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and…

Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and…

Your offspring, whom you become the father of after them, will be yours. They will be called after the name of their…

His father refused, and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great.…

Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers.

He saw a resting place, that it was good, the land, that it was pleasant. He bows his shoulder to the burden, and…

Dan will be a serpent on the trail, an adder in the path, that bites the horse’s heels, so that his rider falls…

The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of my ancestors, above the boundaries of the ancient…

Both chariots and horsemen went up with him. It was a very great company.