The Sheva Brachot, or “Seven Blessings,” are an integral part of Jewish wedding ceremonies and the week-long celebration that follows. These blessings are recited under the chuppah (wedding canopy) during the ceremony and at festive meals throughout the first week of marriage.
The formalization of the Sheva Brachot as part of the wedding ceremony is attributed to the Rabbinic period (circa 1st-6th centuries CE). During this time, the rabbis codified many Jewish laws and customs, including those related to marriage. The Talmud, particularly in Tractate Ketubot, discusses the importance of these blessings and their role in the wedding celebration. Hera are the
sheva brachot translations,transliterations and Hebrew versions.
First Blessing: Sanctification of Wine
This blessing sanctifies the wine used in the ceremony, symbolizing joy and celebration.
Hebrew: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן
Transliteration: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p’ri hagafen
English: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
Second Blessing: Praise for Creation
This blessing acknowledges God’s role in creating the world and everything in it.
Hebrew: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהַכֹּל בָּרָא לִכְבוֹדוֹ
Transliteration: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, shehakol bara lichvodo
English: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has created all things for His glory.
Third Blessing: Creation of Humankind
This blessing celebrates the creation of humanity.
Hebrew: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם יוֹצֵר הָאָדָם
Transliteration: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, yotzer ha’adam
English: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of man.
Fourth Blessing: Creation in the Divine Image
This blessing reflects on humanity’s creation in God’s image and the concept of an “everlasting edifice” through marriage.
Hebrew: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר יָצַר אֶת הָאָדָם בְּצַלְמוֹ, בְּצֶלֶם דְּמוּת תַּבְנִיתוֹ, וְהִתְקִין לוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ בִּנְיַן עֲדֵי עַד. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, יוֹצֵר הָאָדָם
Transliteration: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher yatzar et ha’adam b’tzalmo, b’tzelem d’mut tavnito, v’hitkin lo mimenu binyan adei ad. Baruch atah Adonai, yotzer ha’adam
English: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who created man in His image, in the image of His likeness He fashioned his form, and prepared for him from his own self an everlasting edifice. Blessed are You Lord, Creator of man.
Fifth Blessing: Joy of Zion
This blessing expresses hope for the joy of Jerusalem and the Jewish people.
Hebrew: שׂוֹשׂ תָּשִׂישׂ וְתָגֵל הָעֲקָרָה בְּקִבּוּץ בָּנֶיהָ לְתוֹכָהּ בְּשִׂמְחָה. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מְשַׂמֵּחַ צִיּוֹן בְּבָנֶיהָ
Transliteration: Sos tasis v’tagel ha’akara b’kibutz baneha l’tocha b’simcha. Baruch atah Adonai, m’sameach Tzion b’vaneha
English: May she who was barren (Zion) be exceedingly glad and exult as her children are gathered to her in joy. Blessed are You Lord, who gladdens Zion with her children.
Sixth Blessing: Joy of the Couple
This blessing compares the couple’s joy to that of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Hebrew: שַׂמֵּחַ תְּשַׂמַּח רֵעִים הָאֲהוּבִים כְּשַׂמֵּחֲךָ יְצִירְךָ בְּגַן עֵדֶן מִקֶּדֶם. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מְשַׂמֵּחַ חָתָן וְכַלָּה
Transliteration: Sameach t’samach reim ha’ahuvim k’samechacha y’tzircha b’gan eden mikedem. Baruch atah Adonai, m’sameach chatan v’kalah
English: Grant abundant joy to these loving friends, as You bestowed gladness upon Your created being in the Garden of Eden of old. Blessed are You Lord, who gladdens the groom and bride.
Seventh Blessing: Joy and Celebration
The final blessing is a comprehensive prayer for joy, love, and harmony in the couple’s life and for all of Israel.
Hebrew: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה חָתָן וְכַלָּה, גִּילָה רִנָּה דִּיצָה וְחֶדְוָה, אַהֲבָה וְאַחֲוָה וְשָׁלוֹם וְרֵעוּת. מְהֵרָה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ יִשָּׁמַע בְּעָרֵי יְהוּדָה וּבְחוּצוֹת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, קוֹל שָׂשׂוֹן וְקוֹל שִׂמְחָה, קוֹל חָתָן וְקוֹל כַּלָּה, קוֹל מִצְהֲלוֹת חֲתָנִים מֵחֻפָּתָם, וּנְעָרִים מִמִּשְׁתֵּה נְגִינָתָם. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מְשַׂמֵּחַ חָתָן עִם הַכַּלָּה
Transliteration: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher bara sason v’simcha chatan v’kalah, gilah rinah ditzah v’chedvah, ahavah v’achavah v’shalom v’reut. M’herah Adonai Eloheinu yishama b’arei Yehudah uv’chutzot Yerushalayim, kol sason v’kol simcha, kol chatan v’kol kalah, kol mitzhalot chatanim meichupatam, un’arim mimishteh n’ginatam. Baruch atah Adonai, m’sameach chatan im hakalah
English: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who created joy and happiness, groom and bride, gladness, jubilation, cheer and delight, love, friendship, harmony and fellowship. Lord our God, let there speedily be heard in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem the sound of joy and the sound of happiness, the sound of a groom and the sound of a bride, the sound of exultation of grooms from under their chuppah, and youths from their joyous banquets. Blessed are You Lord, who gladdens the groom with the bride.
These seven blessings beautifully encapsulate the joy, love, and sanctity of marriage in Jewish tradition, connecting the couple’s union to the broader themes of creation, community, and divine providence.
Meaning and Significance of Sheva Brachot
- Creation and Continuity: The blessings emphasize the creation of the world and humanity, linking the couple’s union to the divine act of creation. This underscores the idea that marriage is a continuation of God’s creative work.
- Joy and Community: The blessings highlight the joy of marriage, not just for the couple but for the entire community. This reflects the communal nature of Jewish life, where personal milestones are celebrated collectively.
- Messianic Hope: Some of the blessings allude to the future redemption and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, connecting the couple’s joy to the broader hopes and aspirations of the Jewish people.