Torah FeedParashat Lech-Lecha
Genesis 12:1 to 17:27, 126 verses. Next read on Shabbat, October 24, 2026.
Updated September 24, 2026
לֶךְ־לְךָ
- Book
- Genesis
- Reading
- 12:1 to 17:27
- Verses
- 126
- Position
- 3 of 54
Opening verse
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־אַבְרָם לֶךְ־לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ׃
Now the LORD said unto Abram: ‘Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto the land that I will show thee.
Read the full text from the start of the portion: Genesis 12 in Hebrew and English.
Summary
God tells Abram to leave his land, his birthplace and his father's house for a land he will be shown. He goes, at seventy-five, with Sarai and Lot. Famine drives them to Egypt and back. Abram and Lot separate, and Abram later rescues Lot from a war of kings and is blessed by Malkitzedek. God makes the covenant between the parts, promising the land and foretelling four hundred years of exile. Sarai gives Hagar to Abram and Ishmael is born. At ninety-nine Abram becomes Abraham, Sarai becomes Sarah, and circumcision is given as the sign of the covenant.
Key moments
- "Go forth from your land" (12:1 to 12:9)
- The covenant between the parts (15:1 to 15:21)
- New names and the covenant of circumcision (17:1 to 17:27)
When is Lech-Lecha read?
Upcoming Shabbat readings in the Diaspora calendar:
- Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Saturday, November 13, 2027
- Saturday, October 28, 2028
In some years this portion is read together with its neighbor as a double portion. The dates above include those weeks.