Practice Parashat Shemot with TropeTrainer
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Parashat Shemot - פָּרָשַׁת שְׁמוֹת
Shemot (“Names”) is the first Torah reading in the Book of Exodus. It opens describing the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt. Moses is born, placed in a basket on the Nile, and adopted into Pharaoh’s household. He later encounters God at a burning bush and begins his mission of demanding that Pharoah let the Israelites go.
Torah Portion: Exodus 1:1-6:1
Parashat Shemot is the 13th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Next read on January 2nd, 2027 / 23 Tevet 5787
- Annual Reading
Read Annually
1:
1:1 - 1:17· 17 p’sukim
2:
1:18 - 2:10· 15 p’sukim
3:
2:11 - 2:25· 15 p’sukim
4:
3:1 - 3:15· 15 p’sukim
5:
3:16 - 4:17· 24 p’sukim
6:
4:18 - 4:31· 14 p’sukim
7:
5:1 - 6:1· 24 p’sukim
Maftir:
5:22 - 6:1· 3 p’sukim
Haftarah for Sephardim:
Jeremiah 1:1 - 2:3· 22 p’sukim
Haftarah for Ashkenazim:
Isaiah 27:6 - 28:13· 21 p’sukim
Haftarah for Ashkenazim:
Isaiah 29:22 - 29:23· 2 p’sukim
- Triennial Year 1
January 10th, 2026
1:
1:1 - 1:7· 7 p’sukim
2:
1:8 - 1:12· 5 p’sukim
3:
1:13 - 1:17· 5 p’sukim
4:
1:18 - 1:22· 5 p’sukim
5:
2:1 - 2:10· 10 p’sukim
6:
2:11 - 2:15· 5 p’sukim
7:
2:16 - 2:25· 10 p’sukim
Maftir:
2:23 - 2:25· 3 p’sukim
Alternate Haftarah Part 1:
Isaiah 27:6 - 27:13· 8 p’sukim
Alternate Haftarah Part 2:
Isaiah 29:22 - 29:23· 2 p’sukim
- Triennial Year 2
January 2nd, 2027
1:
3:1 - 3:6· 6 p’sukim
2:
3:7 - 3:10· 4 p’sukim
3:
3:11 - 3:15· 5 p’sukim
4:
3:16 - 3:22· 7 p’sukim
5:
4:1 - 4:5· 5 p’sukim
6:
4:6 - 4:9· 4 p’sukim
7:
4:10 - 4:17· 8 p’sukim
Maftir:
4:14 - 4:17· 4 p’sukim
Alternate Haftarah Part 1:
Joshua 5:13 - 6:5· 8 p’sukim
Alternate Haftarah Part 2:
Joshua 6:15 - 6:16· 2 p’sukim
- Triennial Year 3
January 22nd, 2028
1:
4:18 - 4:20· 3 p’sukim
2:
4:21 - 4:26· 6 p’sukim
3:
4:27 - 4:31· 5 p’sukim
4:
5:1 - 5:5· 5 p’sukim
5:
5:6 - 5:9· 4 p’sukim
6:
5:10 - 5:14· 5 p’sukim
7:
5:15 - 6:1· 10 p’sukim
Maftir:
5:22 - 6:1· 3 p’sukim
Alternate Haftarah Part 1:
I Samuel 9:15 - 9:21· 7 p’sukim
Alternate Haftarah Part 2:
I Samuel 9:27 - 10:1· 2 p’sukim
About Parashat Parashat Shemot
Beyond the narrative, Shemot launches the central drama of Jewish national identity: the transformation of Jacob's family into an oppressed nation and the start of the redemption that defines the Exodus. It dwells on righteous resistance — the midwives Shifrah and Puah defying Pharaoh's order to kill Hebrew infants, and the women (Yocheved, Miriam, and Pharaoh's daughter) who preserve Moses's life. Its theological heart is the calling of a reluctant prophet: Moses repeatedly protests his unworthiness and lack of eloquence, yet God insists, providing signs and appointing Aaron as his spokesman. Running throughout is the conviction that God attends to the suffering of the oppressed — "I have surely seen the affliction of My people" — establishing the redemption motif that anchors the rest of Exodus.
The Haftarah
The Haftarah for Shemot varies by rite. In most Ashkenazi communities it is read from Isaiah (27:6–28:13 and 29:22–23), which connects to the portion through the pattern of suffering followed by promised restoration — echoing Israel's enslavement and the dawn of deliverance, and (by some commentators) sharing a verbal echo of "ha-ba'im," those who arrive. In most Sephardi communities the Haftarah is read from Jeremiah (1:1–2:3), paralleling the burning-bush commissioning of Moses with the call of the prophet Jeremiah: both are divinely chosen, both initially resist as unfit, and both ultimately accept their mission. Some sources note the Sephardi reading is abridged and ends on the word "shalom" to close on a positive note; congregations should confirm their own custom.
Notable passages and verses
The portion's most famous moment is the revelation of the divine name at the burning bush, "Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh" (Exodus 3:14), often rendered "I am that I am" or "I will be what I will be" — among the most theologically significant verses in the Torah. The image of the bush (s'neh) that burns yet is not consumed (Exodus 3:2) is an iconic symbol, as is God's charge to Pharaoh, "Let My people go." The midwives Shifrah and Puah are frequently cited as an early example of civil disobedience. Shemot carries no special-Shabbat status of its own; it is read on an ordinary Shabbat in early winter as the first portion of the Book of Exodus.
Frequently asked questions
What is Parashat Shemot about?
Shemot is the opening Torah portion of the Book of Exodus (Exodus 1:1–6:1). It describes how a new Pharaoh enslaves the Israelites and orders the killing of Hebrew baby boys, the birth and rescue of Moses, his flight to Midian, and his encounter with God at the burning bush, where he is commissioned to demand that Pharaoh free the Israelites. With TropeTrainer you can hear and practice this reading with the traditional trope.
What are the main themes of Shemot?
Shemot explores the descent into slavery, righteous resistance (the midwives Shifrah and Puah and the women who save Moses), the calling of a reluctant prophet who doubts his own worthiness, and God's attentiveness to the suffering of the oppressed. It begins the redemption narrative that shapes Jewish national identity. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice this reading with trope.
What is the Haftarah for Shemot?
It depends on your community. In most Ashkenazi congregations the Haftarah is from Isaiah (27:6–28:13 and 29:22–23), while in most Sephardi congregations it is from Jeremiah (1:1–2:3), which parallels the prophetic calling of Moses with that of Jeremiah. Check your own custom to be sure. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice this reading with trope.
What is the meaning of the burning bush in Shemot?
At the burning bush (Exodus 3), God appears to Moses in a flame that burns without consuming the bush, commissions him to free Israel, and reveals the divine name 'Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh' (Exodus 3:14), often translated 'I am that I am' or 'I will be what I will be.' It is one of the most famous and theologically rich passages in the Torah. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice this reading with trope.
Where to go next
Open a sample Torah reading with full Hebrew text, trope marks, and audio to see how TropeTrainer works.
See the complete list of weekly parashot with links to every reading and detail page.
Work through guided lessons on Torah trope cantillation, from basic symbols to advanced phrase patterns.