The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd after a long time had passed there, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out from a window. He saw Isaac playing with Rebekah, his wife.

And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife; and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.

Plain English · paraphraseAbimelech called Isaac and said, "She is clearly your wife. Why did you say she was your sister?" Isaac said to him, "Because I thought, I might die because of her."

And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.

Plain English · paraphraseAbimelech said, "What have you done to us? One of the people might easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us."

And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.

Plain English · paraphraseAbimelech ordered all his people, "Whoever touches this man or his wife will certainly be killed."

Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

Plain English · paraphraseThen Isaac planted crops in that land and in the same year received a hundred times what he planted. The Lord blessed him.

And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:

For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

Plain English · paraphraseHe owned flocks and herds, and had many servants. The Philistines envied him.

For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.

Plain English · paraphraseAll the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had blocked them up and filled them with dirt.

And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.

Plain English · paraphraseAbimelech said to Isaac, "Leave us. You are far stronger than we are."

And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

Plain English · paraphraseIsaac left that place and set up his tent in the valley of Gerar. He lived there.

And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

Plain English · paraphraseIsaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham. The Philistines had filled them in after Abraham died. Isaac gave them the same names his father had given them.

And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.

Plain English · paraphraseIsaac’s servants dug in the valley and found a well with flowing water.

And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the herdmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdmen. They said, "The water is ours." And he named the well Esek, because they quarreled with him.

And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd they dug another well, and they argued over it too. He named it Sitnah.

And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he moved from there and dug another well. No one argued over it. He named it Rehoboth. He said, "Now the Lord has given us space, and we will be fruitful in this land."

And he went up from thence to Beersheba.

And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the Lord appeared to him that same night and said, I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants because of my servant Abraham.

And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well.

Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.

And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?

Plain English · paraphraseIsaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, since you hate me and sent me away from you?"

And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd they said, We are sure that the LORD is with you. So we said, Let there now be an oath between us, between us and you. Let us make a covenant with you.

That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD.

Plain English · paraphraseYou will do us no harm, as we have not harmed you, and have done nothing but good to you, and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.

And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.

Plain English · paraphraseHe made them a feast, and they ate and drank.

And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

Plain English · paraphraseThey got up early in the morning and made promises to each other. Isaac sent them away, and they left him in peace.

And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.

Plain English · paraphraseThat same day, Isaac’s servants came to him and told him about the well they had dug. They said to him, "We have found water."

And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day.

Plain English · paraphraseHe named it Shebah, so the city has been called Beersheba to this day.

And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:

Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

Plain English · paraphraseWhich was a grief to Isaac and to Rebekah.

And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.

And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said, "Look, I am old, and I don't know the day I will die:"

Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;

Plain English · paraphraseNow then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and get me some venison;

And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

Plain English · paraphraseMake me tasty food, the kind I like, and bring it to me so I can eat it. Let my soul bless you before I die.

And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

Plain English · paraphraseRebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau, his son. Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it back.

And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,

Plain English · paraphraseRebekah spoke to her son Jacob, saying, "I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, saying,

Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death.

Plain English · paraphraseBring me some deer meat, and make me tasty food, so that I can eat and bless you before the Lord before I die.

Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.

Plain English · paraphraseNow then, my son, listen to my voice and do what I command you.

Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:

Plain English · paraphraseGo now to the flock and bring me from there two good young goats. I will make them into tasty meat for your father, like what he likes.

And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd you shall bring it to your father, so he can eat, and so he can bless you before he dies.

And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:

My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.

Plain English · paraphraseMy father might find out, and I will seem to him like a cheat. I will bring a curse on myself, not a blessing.

And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd his mother said to him, Let my curse be on me, my son. Just listen to my voice and go get them for me.

And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved.

Plain English · paraphraseHe went and got them and brought them to his mother. His mother made tasty food, the kind his father liked.

And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Rebekah took fine clothes of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son:

And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd she placed the skins of the young goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck:

And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?

Plain English · paraphraseHe came to his father and said, "Father." He replied, "I am here. Who are you, my son?"

And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.

Plain English · paraphraseJacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn. I have done what you told me. Please get up and eat some of my game, so that your soul may bless me."

And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me.

Plain English · paraphraseIsaac said to his son, "How did you find it so quickly, my son?" He replied, "Because the Lord your God brought it to me."

And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.

Plain English · paraphraseIsaac said to Jacob, "Come here, please, so I can feel you, my son, to see if you are really my son Esau or not."

And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.

Plain English · paraphraseJacob went near to his father Isaac. Isaac touched him and said, "The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are Esau’s hands."

And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy, like his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him.

And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.

Plain English · paraphraseHe asked, "Are you my son Esau?" And he replied, "Yes, I am."

And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said, Bring it close to me, and I will eat of my son’s meat, so that my soul may bless you. He brought it close to him, and he ate. Then he brought him wine, and he drank.

And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.

And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:

Plain English · paraphraseHe came close and kissed him. He smelled his clothing and blessed him, saying, "Look, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed."

Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:

Plain English · paraphraseSo God will give you the dew from heaven, the richness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine:

Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

Plain English · paraphraseLet people serve you, and let nations bow down to you. Be the ruler over your brothers, and let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be the one who blesses you.

And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

Plain English · paraphraseAs soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had just left Isaac's presence, Esau his brother came in from hunting.

And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he had also prepared a tasty meal and brought it to his father. He said to his father, "Please get up, Father, and eat some of your son’s meat, so that you may bless me."

And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.

Plain English · paraphraseIsaac his father said to him, "Who are you?" He said, "I am your son, your firstborn Esau."

And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.

Plain English · paraphraseIsaac was very shaken. He said, "Who is the one who killed the game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and blessed him. And he will be blessed."

And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.

Plain English · paraphraseWhen Esau heard his father's words, he cried out with a loud and very bitter cry. He said to his father, "Bless me too, my father. Bless me."

And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said, Your brother came with trickery, and he has taken your blessing.

And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has tricked me twice: he took my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing." And he said, "Have you not kept a blessing for me?"

And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?

Plain English · paraphraseIsaac answered and said to Esau, "I have made him your master, and I have given all his brothers to him as servants. I have supported him with grain and wine. Now, what can I do for you, my son?"

And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

Plain English · paraphraseEsau said to his father, "Is there only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, please, my father." Esau raised his voice and wept.

And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Isaac's father answered and said to him, "Look, your home will be the rich part of the earth, and the dew from the sky above;

And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

Plain English · paraphraseYou will live by the sword, and you will serve your brother. And when you gain power, you will remove his yoke from your neck.

And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

Plain English · paraphraseEsau hated Jacob because of the blessing their father gave him. Esau thought to himself, The days of mourning for my father are near. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.

And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.

Plain English · paraphraseThese words of Esau, her older son, were told to Rebekah. She sent for Jacob, her younger son, and said to him, "Your brother Esau is planning to kill you."

Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;

Plain English · paraphraseNow then, my son, listen to me. Go at once and escape to my brother Laban in Haran.

And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd stay with him for a few days, until your brother’s anger turns away;

Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

Plain English · paraphraseRebekah said to Isaac, "I am tired of living because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth, like the women of this land, what good will my life be?"

And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

Plain English · paraphraseIsaac called Jacob and blessed him. He gave him instructions and said, "You must not marry a wife from the daughters of Canaan."

Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother.

Plain English · paraphraseGet up and go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel, your mother’s father. Take a wife from there, from the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.

And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, so that you may become a multitude of people;

And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your descendants with you, so that you may possess the land where you are a stranger, which God gave to Abraham.

And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.

Plain English · paraphraseIsaac sent Jacob away. Jacob went to Padanaram to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Syrian, Rebekah’s brother. Rebekah was the mother of Jacob and Esau.

When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;

Plain English · paraphraseWhen Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padanaram to get a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he told him, "You must not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan,"

And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Jacob obeyed his father and mother and went to Padanaram.

And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Esau saw that his father Isaac was not pleased with Esau's Canaanite wives.

Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.

Plain English · paraphraseThen Esau went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, son of Abraham, and sister of Nebajoth. She was in addition to the wives he already had.

And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.

Plain English · paraphraseJacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran.

And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

Plain English · paraphraseHe found a certain place and stayed there all night because the sun had set. He took some of the stones from that place, put them under his head as a pillow, and lay down there to sleep.

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he dreamed. Look, a ladder stood on the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Look, the angels of God were going up and down on it.

And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd look, the LORD stood above it and said, "I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. I will give the land where you are lying to you and to your descendants."

And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

Plain English · paraphraseYour descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth. You will spread out to the west, to the east, to the north, and to the south. Through you and your descendants, all the families of the earth will be blessed.

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd look, I am with you. I will protect you wherever you go and bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.

Plain English · paraphraseJacob woke from his sleep and said, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it."

And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

Plain English · paraphraseHe was afraid and said, "How terrible this place is! This is nothing else but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."

And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

Plain English · paraphraseHe named that place Bethel. Before, the city had been called Luz.

And 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 eat, and raiment to put on,

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Jacob made a promise, saying, If God is with me and watches over me on the path I take, and provides food for me to eat and clothes for me to wear,

So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:

Plain English · paraphraseSo I return to my father’s house in peace. Then the Lord will be my God:

And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd this stone, which I have set as a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me, I will give a tenth of it to you.

Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

Plain English · paraphraseThen Jacob continued his journey and arrived in the land of the people of the east.

And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth.

Plain English · paraphraseHe looked and saw a well in the field. There were three flocks of sheep resting nearby, because they used that well to water the flocks. A large stone covered the mouth of the well.

And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd there all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, watered the sheep, and put the stone back in place over the well.

And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

Plain English · paraphraseJacob said to them, "My brothers, where are you from?" They said, "We are from Haran."