The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,

Plain English · paraphraseHamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city and spoke with the men there. They said,

These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.

Plain English · paraphraseThese men are at peace with us. So let them live in the land and do business there. The land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters as our wives, and let us give our daughters to them.

Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.

Plain English · paraphraseOnly in this will the men agree with us to live with us, to be one people, if every man among us is circumcised, as they are circumcised.

Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.

Plain English · paraphraseWill not their cattle, their goods, and every animal they have belong to us? Let us just agree with them, and they will live with us.

And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.

And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.

And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out.

The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.

They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,

Plain English · paraphraseThey took their sheep, their oxen, their donkeys, and everything in the city and in the fields.

And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd they took all their wealth, all their children, and their wives as captives, and they stripped everything from the house.

And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

Plain English · paraphraseJacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have caused me trouble and made me stink among the people of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. Because I am few in number, they will gather against me and kill me, and I and my household will be destroyed."

And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

Plain English · paraphraseAnd they said, Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?

And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God said to Jacob, Get up, go to Bethel, and live there. Build there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.

Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd let us get up and go to Bethel. I will make there an altar for God, who answered me in my time of trouble and was with me on the path I traveled.

And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that were in their possession, and all their earrings that were in their ears. Jacob hid them under the oak tree that was at Shechem.

And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd they traveled. The fear of God was on the cities around them, and they did not chase after the sons of Jacob.

So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.

And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

Plain English · paraphraseHe built an altar there and named the place Elbethel, because God had appeared to him when he was fleeing from his brother.

But Deborah Rebekah’s nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.

And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.

And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God said to him, Your name is Jacob. You will not be called Jacob anymore. Your name will be Israel. And he named him Israel.

And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God said to him, I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a group of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your descendants.

And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give to you. I will give the land to your children after you.

And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.

And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.

Plain English · paraphraseJacob named the place where God spoke to him Bethel.

And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd they journeyed from Bethel; and there was only a little way left to go to Ephrath. And Rachel was in labor, and she had a hard birth.

And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, Do not fear; you will have this son also.

And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd it happened, as her life was leaving her (for she was dying), that she named him Benoni. But his father named him Benjamin.

And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

Plain English · paraphraseRachel died and was buried on the road to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. That is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.

And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

Plain English · paraphraseIsrael traveled and set up his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

Plain English · paraphraseWhen Israel lived in that land, Reuben went in to Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and lay with her. Israel heard about it. Now Jacob had twelve sons:

The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:

The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:

Plain English · paraphraseThe sons of Rachel are Joseph and Benjamin.

And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's servant, were Dan and Naphtali:

And the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid: Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.

And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

Plain English · paraphraseJacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, in the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac had stayed.

And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.

Plain English · paraphraseIsaac lived to be one hundred and eighty years old.

And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Plain English · paraphraseIsaac died. He was old and had lived many years. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.

Plain English · paraphraseThese are the descendants of Esau, also called Edom.

Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;

And Bashemath Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Bashemath, the daughter of Ishmael, sister of Nebajoth.

And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Adah gave birth to Eliphaz for Esau; and Bashemath gave birth to Reuel;

And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan.

Plain English · paraphraseAholibamah gave birth to Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the people in his house, along with his cattle, all his animals, and everything else he had acquired in the land of Canaan. He went to a different country, away from his brother Jacob.

For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.

Plain English · paraphraseTheir wealth was more than what they could share together, and the land where they were foreigners could not support them because of their livestock.

Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.

Plain English · paraphraseEsau lived in the land of Seir. Esau is Edom.

And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:

Plain English · paraphraseThese are the descendants of Esau, the father of the Edomites, in the land of Seir.

These are the names of Esau’s sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau.

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

And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife.

Plain English · paraphraseTimna was a concubine to Eliphaz, the son of Esau. She gave birth to Amalek for Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife.

And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau’s wife.

And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: and she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.

Plain English · paraphraseThese were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife. She gave birth to Esau the children Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah.

These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,

Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah.

And these are the sons of Reuel Esau’s son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Bashemath Esau’s wife.

Plain English · paraphraseThese are the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: the duke Nahath, the duke Zerah, the duke Shammah, the duke Mizzah. These are the dukes who came from Reuel in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Bashemath, Esau’s wife.

And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau’s wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife.

Plain English · paraphraseThese are the sons of Aholibamah, Esau’s wife: Duke Jeush, Duke Jaalam, and Duke Korah. These were the dukes born to Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah and Esau’s wife.

These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes.

These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,

Plain English · paraphraseThese are the sons of Seir the Horite, who lived in the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, and Anah,

And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.

And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan’s sister was Timna.

And the children of Shobal were these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.

Plain English · paraphraseThe children of Shobal were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.

And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd these are the children of Zibeon: Ajah and Anah. This was the Anah who found the mules in the wilderness while feeding the donkeys of Zibeon his father.

And the children of Anah were these; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.

And these are the children of Dishon; Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.

Plain English · paraphraseThese are the children of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.

The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan.

The children of Dishan are these; Uz, and Aran.

These are the dukes that came of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah,

Plain English · paraphraseThese are the leaders who came from the Horites: Leader Lotan, Leader Shobal, Leader Zibeon, Leader Anah,

Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: these are the dukes that came of Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir.

And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.

Plain English · paraphraseThese are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the children of Israel.

And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.

And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.

And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of Temani reigned in his stead.

Plain English · paraphraseJobab died, and Husham from the land of Temani became king in his place.

And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith.

And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.

And Samlah died, and Saul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead.

And Saul died, and Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.

And Baalhanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pau; and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.

And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth,

Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,

Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,

Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites.

And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Jacob lived in the land where his father had been a stranger, in the land of Canaan.

These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

Plain English · paraphraseThese are the generations of Jacob. Joseph was seventeen years old and was taking care of the flock with his brothers. The boy was with the sons of Bilhah and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. Joseph brought bad reports about them to his father.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

Plain English · paraphraseIsrael loved Joseph more than all his children, because Joseph was his son from his old age. He made him a coat of many colors.

And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

Plain English · paraphraseWhen his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of his brothers, they hated him and could not speak to him kindly.

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers. And they hated him even more.

And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said to them, Listen to this dream I had:

For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

Plain English · paraphraseLook, we were tying bundles of grain in the field. Suddenly, my bundle rose up and stood straight. Then your bundles stood around it and bowed down to mine.

And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd his brothers said to him, "Will you really rule over us? Will you really have power over us?" And they hated him even more because of his dreams and his words.

And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he dreamed another dream. He told it to his brothers and said, "Look, I've had another dream. In it, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me."

And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he told it to his father and to his brothers. His father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you've dreamed? Should I, your mother, and your brothers really come to bow down to you on the ground?"

And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.

And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.

And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.