Genesis 28

Genesis 28 read aloud, in a fresh direct translation from the Hebrew — plain modern English, nothing added. Translator's notes: • Genesis 28:3 — אֵל שַׁדַּי (El Shaddai): chose "El Shaddai". Alternatives: glossed "El Shaddai (Shaddai's meaning is uncertain, traditionally 'Almighty')". Why: the compound name is kept whole per the standing rule and glossed here at its first occurrence in this chapter. • Genesis 28:12 — סֻלָּם (sullam): chose "a stairway". Alternatives: "a ladder", "a ramp", "a stairway to heaven". Why: the word occurs only here, and whether it was a ladder, a stairway, or an earthen ramp is disputed. • Genesis 28:13 — נִצָּב עָלָיו (nitzav alav): chose "stood over it". Alternatives: "stood beside him". Why: alav can point to the stairway ("over it") or to Jacob ("beside him"), and the Hebrew does not decide between them.