Hebrew Prayers: Jewish Prayers and Blessings

Jewish people typically follow the traditions of Judaism, where the key principle of their faith is there is only one God. It is the world's oldest monotheistic religion, and Abraham was the first to instill and spread the belief in one God.

Ancient Jewish people's faith, beliefs, prayers, and traditions are passed down from generation to generation. It is in their belief in the oneness of God and to love God with all of your well-being.

The following Hebrew prayers below are translated from its original language to English for a better understanding of the new generation. One of the most famous and important Hebrew prayers mentioned below is the Shema, which reminds people to believe in one God only.

Choose a prayer that speaks to you the most and holds the prayer in your heart. Allow yourself to absorb it and be reminded that you should live in your faith in God.

Shema Prayer

Shema is a Hebrew word translated into English as “hear” or “listen.” It is one of the most famous prayers in the Bible where Ancient Jewish people combined lines from the Book of Deuteronomy and prayed these words every morning and every evening.

There are three verses in Shema that is made up of three scriptural texts (Deuteronomy 6:4–9, Deuteronomy 11:13–21; Numbers 15:37–41), which together comes up the prayer of the Jewish confession faith. Shema was prayed daily by Ancient Jewish people up until now as a reminder that God alone is their one true God.

Traditionally, you must recite the prayer by placing your right hand over your eyes. Then, recite Shema and proclaim the oneness of God. And by covering your eyes with your hands, you are disconnected from the physical world to connect to the spiritual realm.

This is a way to access the divine energy and connect with God.

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָֽד

בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד

She-ma yisrael, adonai eloheinu, adonai echad

Baruch shem kavod malchuto l’olam va-ed

Hear O’ Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One

Blessed is the name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever

[The remainder of the Shema prayer is taken from three biblical sources]

(Deuteronomy 6:5-9)

וְאָ֣הַבְתָּ֔ אֵ֖ת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֥ וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וּבְכָל־מְאֹדֶֽך

וְהָי֞וּ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֧י מְצַוְּךָ֛ הַיּ֖וֹם עַל־לְבָבֶֽךָ

וְשִׁנַּנְתָּ֣ם לְבָנֶ֔יךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֖ בָּ֑ם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֤ בְּבֵיתֶ֙ךָ֙ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ֣ בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וּֽבְשָׁכְבְּךָ֖ וּבְקוּמֶֽךָ

וּקְשַׁרְתָּ֥ם לְא֖וֹת עַל־יָדֶ֑ךָ וְהָי֥וּ לְטֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֥ין עֵינֶֽיךָ

וּכְתַבְתָּ֛ם עַל־מְזוּזֹ֥ת בֵּיתֶ֖ךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day. Impress them upon your children. Recite them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead, inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

(Deuteronomy 11:13-21)

וְהָיָ֗ה אִם־שָׁמֹ֤עַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מִצְותַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם לְאַהֲבָ֞ה אֶת־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ וּלְעָבְד֔וֹ בְּכָל־לְבַבְכֶ֖ם וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁכֶֽם׃ וְנָתַתִּ֧י מְטַֽר־אַרְצְכֶ֛ם בְּעִתּ֖וֹ יוֹרֶ֣ה וּמַלְק֑וֹשׁ וְאָסַפְתָּ֣ דְגָנֶ֔ךָ וְתִֽירֹשְׁךָ֖ וְיִצְהָרֶֽךָ׃ וְנָתַתִּ֛י עֵ֥שֶׂב בְּשָׂדְךָ֖ לִבְהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָֽעְתָּ׃ הִשָּֽׁמְר֣וּ לָכֶ֔ם פֶּ֥ן יִפְתֶּ֖ה לְבַבְכֶ֑ם וְסַרְתֶּ֗ם וַעֲבַדְתֶּם֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֖ם לָהֶֽם׃ וְחָרָ֨ה אַף־יְהוָ֜ה בָּכֶ֗ם וְעָצַ֤ר אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֣ה מָטָ֔ר וְהָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה לֹ֥א תִתֵּ֖ן אֶת־יְבוּלָ֑הּ וַאֲבַדְתֶּ֣ם מְהֵרָ֗ה מֵעַל֙ הָאָ֣רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶֽם׃ וְשַׂמְתֶּם֙ אֶת־דְּבָרַ֣י אֵ֔לֶּה עַל־לְבַבְכֶ֖ם וְעַֽל־נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם וּקְשַׁרְתֶּ֨ם אֹתָ֤ם לְאוֹת֙ עַל־יֶדְכֶ֔ם וְהָי֥וּ לְטוֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֥ין עֵינֵיכֶֽם׃ וְלִמַּדְתֶּ֥ם אֹתָ֛ם אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶ֖ם לְדַבֵּ֣ר בָּ֑ם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֤ בְּבֵיתֶ֙ךָ֙ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ֣ בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וּֽבְשָׁכְבְּךָ֖ וּבְקוּמֶֽךָ׃ וּכְתַבְתָּ֛ם עַל־מְזוּז֥וֹת בֵּיתֶ֖ךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃ לְמַ֨עַן יִרְבּ֤וּ יְמֵיכֶם֙ וִימֵ֣י בְנֵיכֶ֔ם עַ֚ל הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֧ע יְהוָ֛ה לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם לָתֵ֣ת לָהֶ֑ם כִּימֵ֥י הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

If, then, you obey the commandments that I enjoin upon you this day, loving the LORD your God and serving Him with all your heart and soul, I will grant the rain for your land in season, the early rain and the late. You shall gather in your new grain and wine and oil— I will also provide grass in the fields for your cattle—and thus you shall eat your fill. Take care not to be lured away to serve other gods and bow to them. For the LORD’s anger will flare up against you, and He will shut up the skies so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its produce; and you will soon perish from the good land that the LORD is assigning to you. Therefore impress these My words upon your very heart: bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead, and teach them to your children—reciting them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up; and inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates— to the end that you and your children may endure, in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to assign to them, as long as there is a heaven over the earth.

(Numbers 15:37-41)

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וְעָשׂ֨וּ לָהֶ֥ם צִיצִ֛ת עַל־כַּנְפֵ֥י בִגְדֵיהֶ֖ם לְדֹרֹתָ֑ם וְנָֽתְנ֛וּ עַל־צִיצִ֥ת הַכָּנָ֖ף פְּתִ֥יל תְּכֵֽלֶת׃ וְהָיָ֣ה לָכֶם֮ לְצִיצִת֒ וּרְאִיתֶ֣ם אֹת֗וֹ וּזְכַרְתֶּם֙ אֶת־כָּל־מִצְוות יְהוָ֔ה וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם וְלֹֽא־תָתֻ֜רוּ אַחֲרֵ֤י לְבַבְכֶם֙ וְאַחֲרֵ֣י עֵֽינֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֥ם זֹנִ֖ים אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ לְמַ֣עַן תִּזְכְּר֔וּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֶת־כָּל־מִצְותָ֑י וִהְיִיתֶ֥ם קְדֹשִׁ֖ים לֵֽאלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ אֲנִ֞י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹצֵ֤אתִי אֶתְכֶם֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִהְי֥וֹת לָכֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִ֑ים אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

The LORD said to Moses as follows: Speak to the Israelite people and instruct them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout the ages; let them attach a cord of blue to the fringe at each corner. That shall be your fringe; look at it and recall all the commandments of the LORD and observe them, so that you do not follow your heart and eyes in your lustful urge. Thus, you shall be reminded to observe all My commandments and to be holy to your God. I the LORD am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I, the LORD your God.

Hebrew Prayer for Strength

Mi Sheberach is one of the primary Jewish prayers for strength and healing. The prayer is recited for those who are ill or recovering from any illness asking for healing, strength, and mercy.

Like praying Irish prayers, by praying Mi Sheberach, you are asking for physical and spiritual healing, restoration and strength, and blessings.

In tradition, it is said in synagogue when the Torah is read. A popular version of Mi Sheberach written by Debbie Friedman is focused on liturgical music and sung by many congregations.

In general, Mi Sheberach is a prayer for those who need strength so they could heal physically and spiritually.

Mi Sheberach in Hebrew Translation

[The transliterated text below presents the prayer with correct pronouns for male and female patients. The word before the slash is for males, the one after for females.]

Mi Sheberach

Avoteinu: Avraham, Yitzhak, v’Yaakov,

v’Imoteinu: Sarah, Rivka, Rachel v’Leah,

Hu yivarech virapei

et hacholeh/hacholah _____________ ben/bat ______________

HaKadosh Baruch Hu

yimalei rachamim alav/aleha,

l’hachalimo/l’hachlimah,

u-l’rap’oto/u-l’rap’otah,

l’hachaziko/l’hazikah,

u-l’chay-oto/u-l’chay-otah.

V’yishlach lo/lah bim-hera

r’fuah shlemah,

r’fu-at hanefesh u-r’fu-at hagoof,

b’toch sh’ar cholei Yisrael v’cholei yoshvei tevel,

hashta ba’agalah u-vizman kariv,

v’no-mar, Amen!

Mi Sheberach in English Translation

May the One who blessed our ancestors —

Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,

Matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah —

bless and heal the one who is ill:

________________ son/daughter of ________________ .

May the Holy Blessed One

overflow with compassion upon him/her,

to restore him/her,

to heal him/her,

to strengthen him/her,

to enliven him/her.

The One will send him/her, speedily,

a complete healing —

healing of the soul and healing of the body —

along with all the ill,

among the people of Israel and all humankind,

soon,

speedily,

without delay,

and let us all say:  Amen!

Hebrew Prayers for Protection

It goes back to ancient times when bedtime prayers are said at night for protection. In Jewish tradition, Hashkiveinu is a night prayer to be able to sleep in peace at night.

Hashkiveinu is a Jewish prayer traditionally recited in the evening to seek comfort and protection through the night. This prayer for enemies envisions God as a shelter of peace and security against enemies and such that could harm one.

Below is the Hashkiveinu prayer translated into different languages (Hebrew text, Latin, considered a sacred language in religious faith, and English for universal understanding.)

Text of the Hashkiveinu prayer (from Mishkan T’filah)

הַשְׁכִּי בֵֽנוּ, יְ אֱלֹ הֵֽנוּ, לְשָׁלוֹם, וְהַעֲמִי דנוּ שׁוֹמְ רֵֽנוּ לְחַיִּים, וּפְרֹשׂ עָ לֵֽנוּ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹ מֵֽךָ, וְתַקְּ נֵֽנוּ בְּ עצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָ נֵֽךֶָֽ, וְהוֹשִׁי עֵֽנוּ

לְמֵַֽעַן שְׁ מךָ. וְהָ גן בַּעֲ דֵֽנוּ, וְהָ סר מעָ לֵֽינוּ אוֹ יב, דֵּֽ בר, ו חֵֽ רב, וְרָעָב, וְיָגוֹן, וְהָרְ חק מִ מֵּֽנּוּ עָוֹן וָ פֵֽשַׁע. וּבְ צל כְּנָ פֵֽיךָ תַּסְתִּי רֵֽנוּ, כִּי

אל שׁוֹמְ רֵֽנוּ וּמַצִּי לֵֽנוּ אֵָֽתָּה, כִּי אל חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם אֵָֽתָּה. וּשְׁמֹר צא תֵֽנוּ וּבוֹ אֵֽנוּ לְחַיִּים וּלְשָׁלֹם מעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם. בָּ רוּךְ אַתָּה יְ,

שׁוֹ מר עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָ אל לָעַד

Translation of the Hashkiveinu in Latin:

Hashkiveinu ADONAI eloheinu l'shalom, v'ha-amideinu malkeinu l'ḥayim.
Ufros aleinu sukat sh'lomecha,
V'tak'neinu b'eitza tova mil'fanecha,
V'hoshieinu l'ma-an sh'mecha.
V'hagein ba-adeinu, v'haseir mei-aleinu, oyeiv, dever, v'cherev, v'raav, v'yagon;
V'haseir satan mil'faneinu umei-aḥareinu,
Uv'tzeil k'nafecha tastireinu –
Ki Eil shom'reinu (umatzileinu ata;
Ki Eil melech chanun v'rachum ata.
Ushmor tzeiteinu uvo-einu – l'ḥayim) ul'shalom mei-ata v'ad olam.
Baruch ata ADONAI, haporeis sukat shalom aleinu,
V'al kol amo Yisrael v'al Y'rushalayim.

Translation of the Hashkiveinu in English:

Grant, O God, that we lie down in peace, and raise us up, our Guardian, to life renewed. Spread over us the shelter of Your peace. Guide us with Your good counsel; for Your Name’s sake, be our help. Shield and shelter us beneath the shadow of Your wings. Defend us against enemies, illness, war, famine and sorrow. Distance us from wrongdoing. For You, God, watch over us and deliver us. For You, God, are gracious and merciful. Guard our going and coming, to life and to peace evermore.

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Karen Hyman

Karen is a Psychic Medium, a Professional Astrologer, a Spiritual Advisor, and a Life Coach who has been in this career for 19+ years. She specializes in numerology, tarot and oracle cards, twin flames, love & relationships, zodiac, horoscope, dreams interpretation, and astrology. She aims to provide comfort and assurance using her abilities to offer answers to those who seek professional guidance. Read More About Karen Here.