Genesis 21

Genesis 21 read aloud, in a fresh direct translation from the Hebrew — plain modern English, nothing added. Translator's notes: • Genesis 21:9 — מְצַחֵק (metzachek): chose "playing". Alternatives: "laughing", "mocking", "making fun". Why: the word shares its root with Isaac's name (laughter) and can carry anything from innocent play to mockery; "playing" keeps the plain surface sense without deciding Sarah's reading of it. • Genesis 21:14 — וְאֶת־הַיֶּלֶד (ve'et-hayeled): chose "and the child" listed among what Abraham gave and sent. Alternatives: "putting them on her shoulder, along with the child", read as the child also placed on her shoulder. Why: the Hebrew word order leaves it grammatically open whether the child was placed on her shoulder or simply sent with her; the rendering follows the word order without settling it. • Genesis 21:33 — אֵל עוֹלָם (El Olam): chose "El Olam". Alternatives: glossed "El, the Everlasting". Why: Olam means the Everlasting; the compound name is kept whole per the standing rule and glossed here at its first occurrence in this chapter. • Genesis 21:33 — אֶשֶׁל (eshel): chose "a tamarisk tree". Alternatives: "a tamarisk", "a grove". Why: the word names a tree or planting whose exact species is uncertain; tamarisk is the usual identification for this desert tree.