Introduction and preparation
Derived from God’s commandment to remember and observe the Holy Sabbath forever (Exodus 20:8, Deut. 5:12), the following script is a personalized version of the traditional Sabbath blessing custom. The practice of Sabbath blessing is not commanded by God or found directly in Torah. However, this ritual offers a beautiful, symbolic, and meaningful way to welcome the Sabbath and set it apart from the rest of the week. It helps us enter this sacred time with intention. Some words in the following blessings have been altered to reflect the written Torah versus Rabbinical interpretations. It is traditional to cover the head with a kippa or a veil for this ritual.
Preparation and set-up. In Exodus 16:23 we read, “This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe [boil]; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.” God’s commandments for the Sabbath include instructions to do our cooking on Friday, before it begins, and enjoy the leftovers on Saturday, allowing us to rest from our labors. So the first step is to prepare food earlier in the day. This would typically be soups and stews (which can be kept warm in a crock-pot) and breads. Traditionally, two loaves of bread are baked/bought to symbolise the double portion of manna God provided Israel in the wilderness: “on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily… on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread” (Exodus 16:5 & 22). Saturday’s meals could also consist of canned or pickled items and cold salads prepared ahead. After the Sabbath food is prepared, the next step is to set the table. A table setting for the Sabbath ritual includes the following:
- Candles, candle holders, and matches for the Candle-Lighting custom
- A decanter or pitcher of Wine/Grape juice for the blessing of the wine and glasses to serve it in
- Two loaves of bread set side-by-side and covered with a cloth for the HaMotzi blessing
- Place settings for the family to eat Sabbath dinner after the ritual
Candle lighting
Traditionally, the weekly Sabbath ritual begins with the woman of the house lighting two candles, one for her husband and one for herself. Each child in the household may also light a candle. The candles are lit before the Sabbath begins. The candle light represents peace, holiness, God’s presence through the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), and the transition into sacred time. The woman of the house gives the formal candle blessing, which can be spoken or sung. Later, she may offer a heartfelt prayer over her family. These blessings may also be done by the man if there is no matriarch in the home.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֺתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לִשְׁמוֹר מְנוּחַת שַׁבַּת קֹדֶשׁ׃
Baruch atah Yehovah Eloheinu melech ha’olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu lishmor m’nuchat shabbat kodesh.
Blessed art Thou, Yehovah our God, King of the universe, who hath sanctified us by His commandments, and commanded us to observe the rest of the holy Sabbath.
Welcoming the Sabbath
Customarily, after the candle blessing, the family may do a practice called “welcoming/receiving the Sabbath” or “drawing in the light.” It’s a beautiful tradition that acts as a physical reminder of the purpose of the Sabbath. The motion “draws in” the Light and symbolically conveys the thought of receiving the holiness of Sabbath into oneself and into the home. It is done by slowly circling your hands over the candle flames and towards your face a few times, as if pulling the light towards yourself (imagine the motion of wafting a pleasant scent towards your nose). Afterwards, cover your eyes with your hands until the Mother’s prayer concludes. In this way, lighting the candles is like announcing the arrival of the Holy Day, drawing hands inward is welcoming that arrival, and covering the eyes is both pausing to receive the moment, and drawing attention to the contrast between the darkness of ordinary days and the Light of the Holy Sabbath.
The mother prays aloud, in her own words, for her family and for this Sabbath.
שַׁבַּת שָׁלוֹם׃
Shabbat shalom.
Shabbat shalom.
שַׁבַּת שָׁלוֹם׃
Shabbat shalom.
Shabbat shalom.
Blessing of wives and mothers
Husbands traditionally give the following recitation to their wives. It is called “Woman of Valor” or “Eshet Chayil” and is taken from Proverbs 31:10-31. It is offered by the husband as a way to honor his wife, to recognize her work preparing the home, and to express gratitude before the meal begins. The recitation may be spoken or sung by the husband or with the whole family joining in. If there is no husband in the home, an older son may honor his Mother with Eshet Chayil. Following are two options for the recitation of Eshet Chayil, an abbreviated one and another with just the opening and closing thoughts.
The husband may follow Eshet Chayil with the priestly blessing from Numbers 6:24-26. This may be given more informally, such as while holding hands, or formally with hands laid on her head.
Eshet Chayil — the longer form
אֵשֶׁת חַיִל מִי יִמְצָא וְרָחֹק מִפְּנִינִים מִכְרָהּ׃
Eshet chayil mi yimtza v’rachok mip’ninim michrah.
A woman of valour who can find? for her price is far above rubies.
בָּטַח בָּהּ לֵב בַּעְלָהּ וְשָׁלָל לֹא יֶחְסָר׃
Batach bah lev ba’lah v’shalal lo yechsar.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he hath no lack of gain.
גְּמָלַתְהוּ טוֹב וְלֹא רָע כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיהָ׃
G’malathu tov v’lo ra kol y’mei chayeha.
She doeth him good and not evil all the days of her life.
עֹז וְהָדָר לְבוּשָׁהּ וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן׃
Oz v’hadar l’vushah vatischak l’yom acharon.
Strength and dignity are her clothing; and she laugheth at the time to come.
פִּיהָ פָּתְחָה בְחָכְמָה וְתוֹרַת חֶסֶד עַל לְשׁוֹנָהּ׃
Piha patchah v’chochmah v’torat chesed al l’shonah.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and the law of kindness1 is on her tongue.
צוֹפִיָּה הֲלִיכוֹת בֵּיתָהּ וְלֶחֶם עַצְלוּת לֹא תֹאכֵל׃
Tzofiyah halichot beitah v’lechem atzlut lo tochel.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
קָמוּ בָנֶיהָ וַיְאַשְּׁרוּהָ בַּעְלָהּ וַיְהַלְלָהּ׃
Kamu vaneha vay’ash’ruha ba’lah vayhal’lah.
Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her:
רַבּוֹת בָּנוֹת עָשׂוּ חָיִל וְאַתְּ עָלִית עַל כֻּלָּנָה׃
Rabot banot asu chayil v’at alit al kulanah.
“Many daughters have done valiantly, but thou excellest them all.”
שֶׁקֶר הַחֵן וְהֶבֶל הַיֹּפִי אִשָּׁה יִרְאַת יְהֹוָה הִיא תִתְהַלָּל׃
Sheker hachen v’hevel hayofi ishah yir’at Yehovah hi tithalal.
Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth Yehovah, she shall be praised.
תְּנוּ לָהּ מִפְּרִי יָדֶיהָ וִיהַלְלוּהָ בַשְּׁעָרִים מַעֲשֶׂיהָ׃
T’nu lah mip’ri yadeha vihal’luha vash’arim ma’aseha.
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:10–12, 25–31
Eshet Chayil — the shorter form
אֵשֶׁת חַיִל מִי יִמְצָא וְרָחֹק מִפְּנִינִים מִכְרָהּ׃
Eshet chayil mi yimtza v’rachok mip’ninim michrah.
A woman of valour who can find? for her price is far above rubies.
שֶׁקֶר הַחֵן וְהֶבֶל הַיֹּפִי אִשָּׁה יִרְאַת יְהֹוָה הִיא תִתְהַלָּל׃
Sheker hachen v’hevel hayofi ishah yir’at Yehovah hi tithalal.
Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth Yehovah, she shall be praised.
תְּנוּ לָהּ מִפְּרִי יָדֶיהָ וִיהַלְלוּהָ בַשְּׁעָרִים מַעֲשֶׂיהָ׃
T’nu lah mip’ri yadeha vihal’luha vash’arim ma’aseha.
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:10, 30–31
The priestly blessing, to a wife
יְבָרֶכֵךְ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֵךְ׃
Y’varechech Yehovah v’yishm’rech.
Yehovah bless thee, and keep thee;
יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלַיִךְ וִיחֻנֵּךְ׃
Ya’er Yehovah panav elayich vichunech.
Yehovah make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;
יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלַיִךְ וְיָשֵׂם לָךְ שָׁלוֹם׃
Yisa Yehovah panav elayich v’yasem lach shalom.
Yehovah lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24–26
1 Hebrew torat chesed: literally “the Torah of lovingkindness.”
Blessing of the children
If there are children in the family, the parents may offer these blessings upon them. The blessing may be given by the head of the home or either parent, separately or together. Each child is blessed individually, from oldest to youngest, with hands placed on their heads and a kiss bestowed on the head after the blessing. The blessing may also be offered for grown children, children absent from the home, and grandchildren.
For a son
יְשִׂימְךָ אֱלֹהִים כְּאֶפְרַיִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁה׃
Y’simcha Elohim k’Efrayim v’chi-M’nasheh.
God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh. Genesis 48:20*
יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ׃
Y’varech’cha Yehovah v’yishm’recha.
Yehovah bless thee, and keep thee;
יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ׃
Ya’er Yehovah panav elecha vichuneka.
Yehovah make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;
יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם׃
Yisa Yehovah panav elecha v’yasem l’cha shalom.
Yehovah lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24–26
For a daughter
יְשִׂימֵךְ אֱלֹהִים כְּשָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה׃
Y’simech Elohim k’Sarah Rivkah Rachel v’Le’ah.
God make thee as Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah.2
יְבָרֶכֵךְ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֵךְ׃
Y’varechech Yehovah v’yishm’rech.
Yehovah bless thee, and keep thee;
יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלַיִךְ וִיחֻנֵּךְ׃
Ya’er Yehovah panav elayich vichunech.
Yehovah make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;
יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלַיִךְ וְיָשֵׂם לָךְ שָׁלוֹם׃
Yisa Yehovah panav elayich v’yasem lach shalom.
Yehovah lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24–26
2 This blessing is traditional, shaped to match the blessing of sons. Compare Ruth 4:11: “like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel.”
* Part of the verse only.
Kiddush
Kiddush (קִדּוּשׁ) means: sanctification, making holy, and setting apart. The purpose of Kiddush is to verbally declare the Sabbath holy and to mark the transition from ordinary time into sacred time. It’s a way of fulfilling the command to remember and sanctify the Sabbath and is one of the acts that formally marks the beginning of the Sabbath meal.
וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי׃
Vayhi erev vayhi voker yom hashishi.
And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Genesis 1:31*
וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ וְכָל צְבָאָם׃ וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה | וַיִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה׃ וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ | כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת׃
Vaychulu hashamayim v’ha’aretz v’chol tz’va’am. Vaychal Elohim bayom hash’vi’i m’lachto asher asah | vayishbot bayom hash’vi’i mikol m’lachto asher asah. Vayvarech Elohim et yom hash’vi’i vaykadesh oto | ki vo shavat mikol m’lachto asher bara Elohim la’asot.
And the heaven and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it He rested from all His work which God in creating had made. Genesis 2:1–3
* Part of the verse only.
The bread
The father breaks the bread and serves to his family, then follows with the blessing on bread. All say Amen and partake of the bread.3
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ׃
Baruch atah Yehovah Eloheinu melech ha’olam hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz.
Blessed art Thou, Yehovah our God, King of the universe, who bringest forth bread from the earth.4
The prayer over the bread
O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Yeshua HaMashiach,5 to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
After D&C 20:77; Moroni 4:3
3 The order follows Melchizedek, who “brake bread and blest it; and he blest the wine” (Genesis 14:18, Joseph Smith Translation), and the sacrament prayers (Moroni 4–5; Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79).
4 From Psalm 104:14: “that he may bring forth food out of the earth.”
5 So we say it. Doctrine and Covenants 20:77 reads “thy Son, Jesus Christ.”
The wine
In biblical culture wine was used at special occasions and covenant moments. It serves a dual symbolic purpose. On the one hand it represents joy and celebration, and on the other, covenant and sacrifice. So it reminds us that on the Holy Sabbath, we both remember the blessings and provisions of God as well as the blood of His son, Yeshua HaMashiach, that was sacrificed for us.
Pour the wine/grape juice into the cups of the family members, then say the following. All say Amen. The father drinks and the family follows, drinking in remembrance of our Savior’s sacrifice.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן׃
Baruch atah Yehovah Eloheinu melech ha’olam borei p’ri hagafen.
Blessed art Thou, Yehovah our God, King of the universe, who createst the fruit of the vine.6
The prayer over the wine
O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Yeshua HaMashiach,7 to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
After D&C 20:79; Moroni 5:2
שַׁבַּת שָׁלוֹם׃
Shabbat shalom.
Shabbat shalom.
שַׁבַּת שָׁלוֹם׃
Shabbat shalom.
Shabbat shalom.
The Sabbath meal follows, that we may call the Sabbath a delight (Isaiah 58:13).
Traditionally follow with a Sabbath meal together. Derived from the commandment in Isaiah 58:13 to enjoy Sabbath.
About this text
These blessings are the custom of our own fellowship. The Torah commands the keeping of the Sabbath; it does not prescribe this order, and some of the traditional words have been changed to follow the written Torah.
Scripture is given in the translation used throughout this siddur, with the Divine Name rendered “Yehovah.” The prayers over the bread and the wine follow Doctrine and Covenants 20:77 and 20:79. The transliteration follows the vowel points of the Hebrew and has not yet been fully proofread.