Vaera וָאֵרָא

Shemot 6:2—9:35 · 121 verses · 14 of 54

God is made known by His name and the promise of four expressions of redemption is given. Moshe and Aharon come before Pharaoh with the staff that becomes a serpent, and the first seven plagues fall—blood, frogs, lice, wild beasts, pestilence, boils and hail—and Pharaoh's heart hardens between them.

Read next on 9 January 2027, 29 January 2028. By the Israeli reading cycle.

People of the portion

Mosesprophet, leader of the Exodus, who received the Torah at Sinai2368–2488 AM · 120 years Aaronthe first High Priest, Moshe's elder brother2365–2487 AM · 122 years Abrahamthe first patriarch, who made the one God known to the world1948–2123 AM · 175 years Amramleader of his generation in Egypt, father of Moshe, Aharon and Miriam2255–2392 AM · 137 years Isaacthe second patriarch, the only one who never left the Land of Israel2048–2228 AM · 180 years Koracha Levite who led a revolt against Moshe and Aharon LeviYaakov's third son, ancestor of the priestly and Levite tribe2195–2332 AM · 137 years Eleazar the PriestAaron's third son, who received the high priesthood from him on Mount Hor

Echoes in the Prophets and history

These events themselves live in other books and other centuries; each is tied to this portion by the verse shown beside it: the early ones the portion recalls, in the later ones its word resounds:

How it is read

First	Shemot 6:2—6:13	12 verses
Second	Shemot 6:14—6:28	15 verses
Third	Shemot 6:29—7:7	9 verses
Fourth	Shemot 7:8—8:6	28 verses
Fifth	Shemot 8:7—8:18	12 verses
Sixth	Shemot 8:19—9:16	26 verses
Seventh	Shemot 9:17—9:35	19 verses
Maftir	Shemot 9:33—9:35	3 verses
Haftarah	Ezekiel 28:25—29:21 on Sefaria	23 verses

The text

The English edition does not yet carry the text of the portion. The Hebrew with translation is on Sefaria; the Russian page of this portion carries the full text verse by verse — открыть по-русски →.