Birkat Hamazon
The Blessing After Meals
Birkat Hamazon is a prayer, also known as bentsching, where we pause after our meal to thank God for our food and what he has done for us. It is derived from Deuteronomy 8:10, which says “When you have eaten your fill, give thanks to your God Hashem for the good land given to you.”
The passages of Birkat Hamazon accumulated over time. The first blessing and second blessings are ancient and fulfill the basic purpose of Birkat Hamazon. The third blessing was added to thank Hashem for Jerusalem and the Temple and was adjusted after the destruction of the Temple to ask for its restoration. Other passages were added to commemorate or acknowledge special occasions, such as Shabbat or holidays.
Psalm 126
On Shabbat, festivals, at weddings, and on other joyous occasions, Birkat Hamazon begins with Psalm 126 as a song of joy.
שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת בְּשׁוּב יְיָ אֶת שִׁיבַת צִיּוֹן הָיִֽינוּ כְּחֹלְמִים: אָז יִמָּלֵא שְׂחוֹק פִּֽינוּ וּלְשׁוֹנֵֽנוּ רִנָּה, אָז יֹאמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם הִגְדִּיל יְיָ לַעֲשׂוֹת עִם אֵֽלֶּה: הִגְדִּיל יְיָ לַעֲשׂוֹת עִמָּֽנוּ הָיִֽינוּ שְׂמֵחִים: שׁוּבָה יְיָ אֶת שְׁבִיתֵֽנוּ כַּאֲפִיקִים בַּנֶּֽגֶב: הַזֹּרְעִים בְּדִמְעָה בְּרִנָּה יִקְצֹֽרוּ: הָלוֹךְ יֵלֵךְ וּבָכֹה נֹשֵׂא מֶֽשֶׁךְ הַזָּֽרַע בֹּא יָבֹא בְרִנָּה נֹשֵׂא אֲלֻמֹּתָיו:
Shir hamaalot, b'shuv Adonai et shivat Tsiyon, hayinu k'chol'mim.
Az y'malei s'chok pinu ulshoneinu rinah, az yom'ru vagoyim, higdil Adonai laasot im eile.
Higdil Adonai laasot imanu, hayinu s'meichim.
Shuvah Adonai et sh'viteinu, kaafikim banegev.
Hazor'im b'dima b'rinah yiktsoru.
Haloch yeileich uvacho nosei meshech hazara, bo yavo v'rinah, nosei alumotav.
When ADONAI will return the captivity of Zion, we will be like dreamers. Then our mouth will be filled with laughter and our tongue with glad song. Then they will declare among the nations, ‘ADONAI has done greatly with these.’ ADONAI has done greatly with us, we were gladdened. O ADONAI return our captivity like springs in the desert. Those who tearfully sow will reap in glad song. He who bears the measure of seeds walks along weeping, but will return in exultation, a bearer of his sheaves.
Zimun
Then Zimun (Invitation) is recited if three or more adult Jews participated in the meal. If there are more than two adult Jews, this gathering must be larger than just a single family, so it is appropriate to invite people to join you. The Barchu serves a similar purpose in the Shabbat service.
If ten or more Jewish adults participated in the meal, we also include the words in parentheses. That qualifies as a minyan, which means the meal was inherently a prayer gathering.
המזמן: רַבּוֹתַי נְבָרֵךְ
המסובין: יְהִי שֵׁם יְיָ מְבֹרָךְ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם
המזמן: יְהִי שֵׁם יְיָ
מְבֹרָךְ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם. בִּרְשׂוּת מָרָנָן וְרַבָּנָן וְרַבּוֹתַי, נְבָרֵךְ (אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ) שֶׁאָכַֽלְנוּ מִשֶּׁלּוֹ
המסובין: בָּרוּךְ (אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ) שֶׁאָכַֽלְנוּ מִשֶּׁלּוֹ וּבְטוּבוֹ חָיִֽינוּ
המזמן: בָּרוּךְ (אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ) שֶׁאָכַֽלְנוּ מִשֶּׁלּוֹ וּבְטוּבוֹ חָיִֽינוּ. בָּרוּךְ הוּא וּבָרוּךְ שְׁמוֹ
Leader—Rabotai n'vareich.
Others—Y'hi sheim Adonai m'vorach meiatah v'ad olam.
Leader—Y'hi sheim Adonai m'vorach meiatah v'ad olam. Birshut maranan v'rabanan v'rabotai, n'vareich (Eloheinu) sheachalnu mishelo.
Others—Baruch (Eloheinu) sheachalnu mishelo uvtuvo chayinu.
Leader—Baruch (Eloheinu) sheachalnu mishelo uvtuvo chayinu. Baruch hu uvaruch sh'mo.
Leader: Exalted Guests, let us bless.
Others: Blessed be the Name of ADONAI from this time and forever!
Leader: Blessed be the Name of Adonai from this time and forever! With the permission of the distinguished people present, let us bless [our God] He of Whose we have eaten.
Others: Blessed is [our God] He of Whose we have eaten and through Whose goodness we live.
Leader: Blessed is [our God] He of Whose we have eaten and through Whose goodness we live. Blessed is He and Blessed is His Name.
Three Blessings
The first blessing is for nourishment. It thanks Hashem for providing our nutrition and the nutrition of all living things.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶך הָעוֹלָם, הַזָּן אֶת הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ בְּטוּבוֹ בְּחֵן בְּחֶֽסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים הוּא נוֹתֵן לֶֽחֶם לְכָל בָשָׂר כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. וּבְטוּבוֹ הַגָּדוֹל תָּמִיד לֹא חָֽסַר לָֽנוּ, וְאַל יֶחְסַר לָֽנוּ מָזוֹן לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. בַּעֲבוּר שְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל, כִּי הוּא אֵל זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס לַכֹּל וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל, וּמֵכִין מָזוֹן לְכֹל בְּרִיּוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, הַזָּן אֶת הַכֹּל
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Haolam, Hazan et haolam kulo, b'tuvo, b'chein b'chesed uvrachamim, hu notein lechem l'chol basar, ki l'olam chasdo. Uvtuvo hagadol, tamid lo chasar lanu, v'al yech’sar lanu, mazon l'olam vaed. Baavur sh'mo hagadol, ki hu Eil zan um’farneis lakol, umeitiv lakol, umeichin mazon l'chol b'riyotav asher bara. Baruch atah Adonai, hazan et hakol.
Blessed are You, ADONAI, our God, King of the universe, Who nourishes the entire world, in His goodness with grace, with kindness, and with mercy. He gives nourishment to all flesh, for His kindness is eternal. And through His great goodness, we have never lacked, and may we never lack, nourishment, for all eternity. For the sake of His Great Name, because He is God Who nourishes and sustains all, and benefits all, and He prepares food for all of His creatures which He has created. Blessed are You, ADONAI, Who nourishes all.
The second blessing is for the things that Hashem has given our people: the land of Israel, freedom from slavery in Egypt, a covenant with him, the Torah, his grace in the face of our failings, and for the food he gives us.
On Chanukah and Purim, there are additional passages added to thank Hashem for the miracles he provided for our people. They are not included here.
נוֹדֶה לְּךָ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ עַל שֶׁהִנְחַֽלְתָּ לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ, אֶֽרֶץ חֶמְדָּה טוֹבָה וּרְחָבָה, וְעַל שֶׁהוֹצֵאתָֽנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֵאֶֽרֶץ מִצְרַֽים, וּפְדִיתָֽנוּ, מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים, וְעַל בְּרִיתְךָ שֶׁחָתַֽמְתָּ בִּבְשָׂרֵֽנוּ, וְעַל תּוֹרָתְךָ שֶׁלִּמַּדְתָּֽנוּ, וְעַל חֻקֶּֽיךָ שֶׁהוֹדַעְתָּֽנוּ וְעַל חַיִּים חֵן וָחֶֽסֶד שֶׁחוֹנַנְתָּֽנוּ, וְעַל אֲכִילַת מָזוֹן שָׁאַתָּה זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס אוֹתָֽנוּ תָּמִיד, בְּכָל יוֹם וּבְכָל עֵת וּבְכָל שָׁעָה
Nodeh l'cha Adonai Eloheinu, al shehinchalta laavoteinu erets chemdah tovah urchavah. V'al shehotseitanu Adonai Eloheinu meierets mitsrayim, ufditanu mibeit avadim, v'al b'rit'cha shechatamta bivsareinu, v'al torat'cha shelimadtanu, v'al chukecha shehodatanu, v'al chaiyim chein vachesed shechonantanu, v'al achilat mazon sheatah zan umfarneis otanu tamid, b'chol yom uvchol eit uvchol shaah.
וְעַל הַכֹּל יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ אֲנַֽחְנוּ מוֹדִים לָךְ, וּמְבָרְכִים אוֹתָךְ, יִתְבָּרַךְ שִׁמְךָ בְּפִי כָּל חַי תָּמִיד לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. כַּכָּתוּב, וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשְָׂבָֽעְתָּ, וּבֵרַכְתָּ אֶת יְיָ אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ עַל הָאָֽרֶץ הַטֹּבָה אֲשֶׁר נְָֽתַן לָךְ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, עַל הָאָֽרֶץ וְעַל הַמָּזוֹן
V'al hakol Adonai Eloheinu anachnu modim lach, um’var'chim otach, yitbarach shimcha b'fi kol chai tamid l'olam vaed. Kakatuv: v'achalta v'savata, uveirachta et Adonai Elohecha, al haarets hatovah asher natan lach. Baruch atah Adonai, al haarets v'al hamazon.
We thank You, ADONAI, our God, because You have given to our forefathers as a heritage a desirable, good and spacious land; because You removed us, ADONAI, our God, from the land of Egypt and You redeemed us from the house of bondage; for Your covenant which You sealed in our flesh; for Your Torah which You taught us and for Your statutes which You made known to us; and for life, grace, and lovingkindness which You granted us; and for the provision of food with which You nourish and sustain us constantly, in every day, in every season, and in every hour.
For all, ADONAI, our God, we thank You and bless You. May Your Name be blessed by the mouth of all the living, continuously for all eternity. As it is written: ‘And you shall eat and you shall be satisfied and you shall bless ADONAI, your God, for the good land which He gave you.’ Blessed are You, ADONAI, for the land and for the nourishment. (Others: Amen.)
The third blessing asks for Hashem to have mercy for the Jewish people and to restore Jerusalem and the Temple.
The added passage for Shabbat asks God to keep other sorrows away from us on the day we are supposed to be at peace. Other passages are added on the festivals, but they are not included here.
רַחֵם נָא יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ, עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּֽךָ, וְעַל יְרוּשָׁלַֽיִם עִירֶֽךָ, וְעַל צִיּוֹן מִשְׁכַּן כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ, וְעַל מַלְכוּת בֵּית דָּוִד מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ, וְעַל הַבַּֽיִת הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁנִּקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלָיו. אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ, אָבִֽינוּ, רְעֵֽנוּ, זוּנֵֽנוּ, פַּרְנְסֵֽנוּ, וְכַלְכְּלֵֽנוּ, וְהַרְוִיחֵֽנוּ, וְהַרְוַח לָֽנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מְהֵרָה מִכָּל צָרוֹתֵֽינוּ, וְנָא, אַל תַּצְרִיכֵֽנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ, לֹא לִידֵי מַתְּנַת בָּשָׂר וָדָם, וְלֹא לִידֵי הַלְוָאָתָם. כִּי אִם לְיָדְךָ הַמְּלֵאָה, הַפְּתוּחָה, הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וְהָרְחָבָה, שֶׁלֹּא נֵבוֹשׁ וְלֹא נִכָּלֵם לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד
Racheim na Adonai Eloheinu al Yisraeil amecha, v'al Y'rushalayim irecha, v'al Tsiyon mishkan k'vodecha, v'al malchut beit David m'shichecha, v'al habayit hagadol v'hakadosh shenikra shimcha alav. Eloheinu Avinu r'einu zuneinu parn'seinu v'chalk'leinu v'harvicheinu, v'harvach lanu Adonai Eloheinu m'heirah mikol tsaroteinu. V'na al tatsricheinu Adonai Eloheinu, v'lo lidei mat'nat basar v'dam, v'lo lidei halvaatam, ki im l'yad'cha ham'leiah hap'tuchah hak'doshah v'har'chavah, shelo neivosh v'lo nikaleim l'olam vaed.
Have mercy ADONAI, our God, on Israel Your people; on Jerusalem, Your city, on Zion, the resting place of Your Glory; on the monarchy of the house of David, Your anointed; and on the great and holy House upon which Your Name is called. Our God, Our Father - tend us, nourish us, sustain us, support us, relieve us; ADONAI, our God, grant us speedy relief from all our troubles. Please, make us not needful - ADONAI, our God - of the gifts of human hands nor of their loans, but only of Your Hand that is full, open, holy, and generous, that we not feel inner shame nor be humiliated for ever and ever.
רְצֵה וְהַחֲלִיצֵֽנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ בְּמִצְוֹתֶֽיךָ וּבְמִצְוַת יוֹם השְּׁבִיעִי הַשַּׁבָּת הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ הַזֶה. כִּי יוֹם זֶה גָּדוֹל וְקָדוֹש הוּא לְפָנֶֽיךָ, לִשְׁבָּת בּוֹ וְלָנֽוּחַ בּוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה כְּמִצְוַת רְצוֹנֶֽךָ וּבִרְצוֹנְךָ הָנִֽיחַ לָֽנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ, שֶׁלֹּא תְהֵא צָרָה וְיָגוֹן וַאֲנָחֶה בְּיוֹם מְנוּחָתֵֽנוּ. וְהַרְאֵֽנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ בְּנֶחָמַת צִיּוֹן עִירֶֽךָ, וּבְבִנְיַן יְרוּשָׁלַֽיִם עִיר קָדְשֶֽׁךָ, כִּי אַתָּה הוּא בַּֽעַל הַיְשׁוּעוֹת וּבַֽעַל הַנֶּחָמוֹת:
R'tsei v'ha’chalitseinu Adonai Eloheinu b'mitsvotecha, uv’mitsvat yom hash'vii hashabat hagadol v'hakadosh hazeh, ki yom zeh gadol v'kadosh hu l'fanecha, lishbat bo v'lanuach bo b'ahavah k'mitsvat r'tsonecha, uvirtson'cha haniach lanu Adonai Eloheinu, shelo t'hei tsarah v'yagon vaanachah b'yom m'nuchateinu, v'hareinu Adonai Eloheinu b'nechemat Tsiyon irecha, uv’vinyan Y'rushalayim ir kawdshecha, ki atah hu baal hay'shuot uvaal hanechamot.
May it please You, Adonai, our God - give us rest through Your commandments and through the commandment of the seventh day, this great and holy Sabbath. For this day is great and holy before You to rest on it and be content on it in love, as ordained by Your will. May it be Your will, Adonai, our God, that there be no distress, grief, or lament on this day of our contentment. And show us, Adonai, our God, the consolation of Zion, Your city, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, City of Your holiness, for You are the Master of salvations and Master of consolations.
וּבְנֵה יְרוּשָׁלַֽיִם עִיר הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵֽינוּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, בּוֹנֵה בְּרַחֲמָיו יְרוּשָׁלָֽיִם
Uvnei Y'rushalayim ir hakodesh bimheirah v'yameinu. Baruch atah Adonai, bonei b'rachamav Y'rushalayim.
Rebuild Jerusalem, the Holy City, soon in our days. Blessed are You, ADONAI, Who rebuilds Jerusalem (in His mercy).