Genesis 9

Genesis 9 read aloud, in a fresh direct translation from the Hebrew — plain modern English, nothing added. Translator's notes: • Genesis 9:20 — וַיָּחֶל (vayachel): chose "was the first to plant a vineyard". Alternatives: "Noah began, as a man of the soil, and planted a vineyard". Why: the verb can mark the start of an activity or mark Noah as the first to do the thing; the reading chosen takes him as the first planter, and the Hebrew leaves both doors open. • Genesis 9:27 — יַפְתְּ ... לְיֶפֶת (yeft ... leyefet): chose "May Elohim enlarge Japheth". Alternatives: "May Elohim make wide room for Japheth", "extend Japheth's territory". Why: the blessing is a wordplay — the verb "enlarge" (yeft) sounds out Japheth's own name (Yefet), a pun English cannot keep; the enlargement itself is what the words say.