The Shabbat Kiddush: text, transliteration and translation

In short

The Kiddush "sanctifies" Shabbat in words, over a cup of wine, before the meal. It is said on Friday evening (the long text, which opens with the creation of the world) and at Shabbat lunch (a shorter text, the Kiddusha Rabba). Below you will find the full text in Hebrew, its transliteration and its translation. Customs vary (the Sephardic version, added verses): follow those of your community.

When and how it is said

• Over a cup of wine, held in the hand, before the meal begins.
• Where one eats: no Kiddush without a meal on the spot, right afterwards.
• Before the blessing over the wine, the custom is to say Savri maranan verabotai ("with your permission").
• If there is no wine on Friday evening, the Kiddush is made over the two loaves of the meal.

The details and the particular cases are settled with your rav.

The Friday evening Kiddush

The text opens with the verses on the close of creation (Genesis 2:1-3), then comes the blessing over the wine, then the blessing that sanctifies Shabbat.

יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי. וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ וְכׇל־צְבָאָם

Yom hashishi. Vayechulu hashamayim veha'aretz vechol tzeva'am

The sixth day. The heavens and the earth were completed, and all their array

וַיְכַל אֱלֹקִים בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה וַיִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִכׇּל־מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה

Vayechal Elokim bayom hashevi'i melachto asher asa, vayishbot bayom hashevi'i mikol melachto asher asa

On the seventh day G-d completed the work He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all the work He had done

וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹקִים אֶת־יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכׇּל־מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָא אֱלֹקִים לַעֲשׂוֹת

Vayevarech Elokim et yom hashevi'i vayekadesh oto, ki vo shavat mikol melachto asher bara Elokim la'asot

G-d blessed the seventh day and made it holy, for on it He rested from all the work He had created to do

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן

Baruch ata Hashem, Eloke-nu melech haolam, borei peri hagafen

Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְרָצָה בָנוּ וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשׁוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחִילָנוּ זִכָּרוֹן לְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית כִּי הוּא יוֹם תְּחִלָּה לְמִקְרָאֵי קֹדֶשׁ זֵכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם כִּי בָנוּ בָחַרְתָּ וְאוֹתָנוּ קִדַּשְׁתָּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשְׁךָ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחַלְתָּנוּ בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת

Baruch ata Hashem, Eloke-nu melech haolam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav veratza vanu, veshabbat kodsho be'ahava uvratzon hinchilanu, zikaron lema'aseh vereshit. Ki hu yom techila lemikra'ei kodesh, zecher litziat Mitzrayim. Ki vanu vacharta ve'otanu kidashta mikol ha'amim, veshabbat kodshecha be'ahava uvratzon hinchaltanu. Baruch ata Hashem, mekadesh haShabbat

Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, who sanctified us with Your commandments and found favor in us, and gave us as an inheritance, with love and goodwill, Your holy Shabbat, in remembrance of the work of creation. For it is the first of the holy days, a memorial of the going out from Egypt. For You chose us and made us holy among all the peoples, and gave us as an inheritance, with love and goodwill, Your holy Shabbat. Blessed are You, Hashem, who sanctifies Shabbat

The Shabbat lunch Kiddush (Kiddusha Rabba)

The Kiddush of the daytime meal is shorter: its heart is the blessing over the wine alone, preceded by a few verses. The opening verses vary with local custom (some begin with Veshamru, others with Zachor): follow your community.

וְשָׁמְרוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּת לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּת לְדֹרֹתָם בְּרִית עוֹלָם

Veshamru venei Yisrael et haShabbat, la'asot et haShabbat ledorotam berit olam

The children of Israel shall keep Shabbat, observing Shabbat throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant

בֵּינִי וּבֵין בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹת הִוא לְעֹלָם כִּי־שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים עָשָׂה ה' אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת־הָאָרֶץ וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שָׁבַת וַיִּנָּפַשׁ

Beini uvein benei Yisrael ot hi le'olam, ki sheshet yamim asa Hashem et hashamayim ve'et ha'aretz, uvayom hashevi'i shavat vayinafash

Between Me and the children of Israel it is a sign forever, for in six days Hashem made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He ceased and drew breath

זָכוֹר אֶת־יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ

Zachor et yom haShabbat lekadesho

Remember the day of Shabbat, to make it holy

עַל־כֵּן בֵּרַךְ ה' אֶת־יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת וַיְקַדְּשֵׁהוּ

Al ken berach Hashem et yom haShabbat vayekadeshehu

Therefore Hashem blessed the day of Shabbat and made it holy

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן

Baruch ata Hashem, Eloke-nu melech haolam, borei peri hagafen

Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine

Frequently asked questions

Can the Kiddush be made over grape juice? It is a widespread practice, especially for those who do not drink wine. The details (quantity, the daytime Kiddush) are worked out with your rav.

And if I have no wine on Friday evening? Where there is no wine, the evening Kiddush is made over the two loaves of the meal. For exactly how to proceed, ask your rav.

Does the whole cup have to be drunk? There are rules about the quantity to drink; they vary with the situation. This is typically a question to put to your rav.

The Shabbat guide · Lighting the candles · Havdalah

Sources: Genesis 2:1-3, Shemot 31:16-17 and 20:8; Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim 271 and 289. Hebrew verified; the transliteration and translation are Mazaaal's own. This guide orients, it never replaces your rav's ruling.