Genesis 14

Genesis 14 read aloud, in a fresh direct translation from the Hebrew — plain modern English, nothing added. Translator's notes: • Genesis 14:14 — חֲנִיכָיו (chanichav): chose "his trained men". Alternatives: "his retainers", "his devoted men", "his servants". Why: the word occurs only here in the Bible and comes from a root of training and dedicating; "trained men" keeps the picture of household men prepared for service without settling their exact status. • Genesis 14:18 — אֵל עֶלְיוֹן (El Elyon): chose "El Elyon". Alternatives: "God Most High". Why: the compound is kept whole as a name, as the standing rule holds compounds together; Elyon means "Most High," so the name calls El the Most High. • Genesis 14:19 — קֹנֵה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ (qoneh shamayim vaaretz): chose "maker of heaven and earth". Alternatives: "possessor of heaven and earth", "creator of heaven and earth". Why: qoneh can mean one who acquires and owns or one who makes and brings into being; in a blessing over a victory the maker sense fits the pair "heaven and earth" as things made, and the possessive sense remains within the word's range.