In the 5th century B.C.E., the 120 men of the Great Assembly composed the basic text of the Amidah. The text was codified after the destruction of the Second Temple, 70 AD. In his commentary on Psalm 29 in the Ketuvim, Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac (Yitzhaki) states, the eighteen uses of His name (יְהֹוָה Yehōvâ) are the basis of the shemoneh esreh the eighteen benedictions. The Amidah was expanded from eighteen to nineteen blessings in the 2nd century C.E., under the leadership of Rabbi Gamliel the Elder in Yavneh (Rabbi Hayim Donin).
The prayer Jesus taught his disciples, The Lord’s Prayer, is most likely an abbreviated version of the Amidah. Rabbi Eliezer, a younger contemporary of Jesus, taught this abbreviation of the Eighteen: May your will be done in heaven above, grant peace of mind to those who fear you [on earth] below, and do what seems best to you. Blessed are you, O LORD, who answers prayer.
A traditional guide to praying the Amidah (standing):
- Pray standing (Nehemiah 9:2).
- Pray facing Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:30, 44, 48-49; Psalm 5:7; Daniel 6:10).
- Pray with your feet together (Ezekiel 1:7).
- Pray with a quiet spirit like Hannah who whispered her prayer (1 Samuel 1:12-13; Matthew 6:5-8).
Sefatai (My Lips)
אֲני שְפָתַי תּפְתָּח וּפי יַגּיד תְּהלָּתֶךָ
Adonai sefatai tiftach ufi yagid tehilatecha
Adonai, open up my lips that my mouth may declare Your praise.
(Psalm 19:14; 51:14-15)
1. Avot (Fathers)
בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu v’elohei avoteinu
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, the God of our fathers.
Blessed are You, O LORD our God and God of our fathers, God of Abraham, God of
Isaac, and God of Jacob, the great, mighty and awesome God, the most high God,
Who bestows grace and creates all, and remembers the kindness of the Fathers,
and brings the Redeemer [Yeshua] to their children’s children, for His name’s
sake with love. O King, Helper, Savior, and Shield (Numbers 6:24-26; Job 19:25; Psalm 5:12;
18:2; 121; Isaiah 41:14; 43:14; 44:6, 24; 47:4; 54:5).
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מָגֵן אַבְרָהָם
Baruch atah Adonai, magen Avraham
Blessed are You, O LORD, Shield of Abraham (2 Corinthians 1:3–7).
2. Gibbor (Might) גִּבֹּ֖ר
You are eternally mighty, the Resurrecter of the dead are You; great in
salvation. Who sustains the living with loving-kindness, resurrects the dead
with great mercy, supports the fallen, heals the sick, releases the confined,
and keeps His faith to those asleep in the dust. Who is like You, O Master of
mighty deeds, and who is comparable to You, O King who causes death and
restores life and makes salvation sprout? You [resurrected Your Son Yeshua and
You] are faithful to resurrect the dead (Job 19:25; Psalm 68:20; Isaiah
61:1-11; Matthew 11:5; 12:18; Luke 4:16-21; John 3:34; 5:29).
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מְחַיֵּה הַמֵתִים
Baruch atah Adonai, mechaiyeh hametim
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who resurrects the dead.
3. Kadesh et HaShem (Holiness of The Name)
You are holy and Your Name is holy, and holy ones praise You every day (Lev
22:2; Psalm 71:22; 93:5; 103:1; 111:9; Isaiah 47:4; Matthew 6:9b; Luke 1:49).
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הָאֵל הָקָדוֹשׁ
Baruch atah Adonai, ha’El hakadosh
Blessed are You, O LORD, the holy God.
4. Binah (Understanding)
You show favor to a man of knowledge, and teach understanding to a mortal man.
Be gracious to us and give us Your knowledge, understanding, and intelligence
which is from You (Deut 4:5-6; Proverbs 1:7, 22; 2:5, 6, 10; 9:10; 13:16; 15:2, 14; John
7:17; 1 Timothy 6:3; 2 Timothy 2:4; Titus 1:1; James 3:13-18).
Pause for confession and repentance.
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה חוֹנֵן הַדָּעַת
Baruch atah Adonai, chonen hada’at
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who favors knowledge.
5. Teshuvah (Repentance)
Bring us back, our Father, to Your Torah, and bring us closer, our King, to
Your service, and make us return in complete repentance before You (Psalm 19:7-11;
51; James 4:8-10).
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הָרוֹצֶה בִּתְשׁוּבָה
Baruch atah Adonai, harotzeh bit’shuvah
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who desires repentance (Luke 3:1-9; 2 Corinthians
7:10).
6. Selach (Forgiveness)
Forgive us, our Father, for we have transgressed; pardon us, our King, for we
have intentionally sinned, for You pardon and forgive (Psalm 32:1-5; 51;
Matthew 9:1-7; 1 John 1:5-10).
Pause for confession and repentance.
בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה חַנּוּן הַמַרְבֶּה לסְלֹחַ
Baruch atah Adonai, chanun hamarbeh lislo’ach
Blessed are You, O LORD, who multiplies forgiveness.
7. Ge’ulah (Redemption)
Behold our affliction, take up our grievance, and save us soon for the sake
of Your Name, for You are a powerful Redeemer of Israel (Job 19:25; Psalm
55:16-18; Isaiah 41:14; 43:14; 44:6, 24; 47:4; 54:5).
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה גּוֹאֵ ישְרָאֵל
Baruch atah Adonai, go’el Yisra’el
Blessed are You, O LORD, Redeemer of Israel.
8. Refuah (Healing)
Heal us, O LORD, and we shall be healed; save us, and we shall be saved, for
You are our joy and praise, and bring full healing for all our wounds, for You
are God, King, the faithful and compassionate Healer (Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy
32:39, 46-47; Psalm 107:20; Proverbs 3:8; 4:22; Jeremiah 3:22; 17:14; 30:17).
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה רוֹפֵא חוֹלֵי עמ ישְרָאֵל
Baruch atah Adonai, rofeh cholei amoh Yisra’el
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who heals His people Israel.
9. Birkat HaShanim (Blessings of the Years)
Bless for us, O LORD our God, this year and its crops. Give us blessing, and
give dew and rain for blessing on the face of the earth, and satisfy us from
Your goodness, and bless our year like the other good years (Psalm 1; Mark
4:26-29).
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מְבָרֵךְ הַשָּׁנִים
Baruch atah Adonai, mevarech hashanim
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who blesses the years.
10. Kibbutz Galuyot (Ingathering of Exiles)
Sound the great shofar for our freedom, and raise a banner to gather our exiles
[from both houses of Israel], and gather us [in Messiah Yeshua] from the four
corners of the earth (1 Corinthians 16:22b - maran'athah [מרנא תא]).
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מֵקַבֵּץ נִדְחֵי עמוֹ ישְרָאֵל
Baruch atah Adonai, mekabetz nid’chei amoh Yisra’el
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who gathers the dispersed of His
people Israel.
11. Birkat HaDin (Justice)
Restore our judges as in early times and our counselors as at first; remove
from us our grief and sighing; we want You, O LORD, alone, to rule over us with
loving-kindness and compassion and to establish our innocence by Your judgment
(Deuteronomy 1:9-18).
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מֶלֶךְ אהֵב צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט
Baruch atah Adonai, melech ohev tzedakah u’mishpat
Blessed are You, O LORD, King Who loves righteousness and justice.
12. Birkat ha-Minim / ha Zaddukim ברכת המינים
May no hope be left to the slanderers; but may wickedness
perish as in a moment; may all Your enemies be soon cut off, and may You
speedily uproot the haughty and shatter and humble them speedily in our days.
Blessed are You, O Lord, who strikes down enemies and humbles the proud (Deut
2:16;
2 Chronicles 6:23; Proverbs 10:16; Isaiah 13:11; Jeremiah 2:19; 2 John 7).
בְיָמֵֽינוּ: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה שׁוֹבֵר אֹיְ֒בִים וּמַכְנִֽיעַ זֵדִים:
Blessed are you, O LORD, who breaks down enemies and subdues the arrogant.
13. Tzadikim (The Righteous)
On the righteous, on the devout, on the elders of Your people, the house of
Israel, on the remnant of their scribes, on the righteous converts and on us,
may Your compassion be aroused, O LORD our God, and give good reward to all
those who truly trust Your Name. May You put our share among them forever, and
we shall not be ashamed, for You we trust.
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מִשְׁעָן וּמבְטָח לַצַּדִּקים
Baruch atah Adonai, mishan u’mivtach la’tzadikim
Blessed are You O LORD, Who supports and safeguards the righteous.
14. Binyan Yerushalayim (Rebuilding Jerusalem)
And to Jerusalem Your city You shall return with mercy, and You shall dwell in
it, as You have spoken. May You rebuild it soon in our days for eternity, [made
ready as a bride adorned for her husband,] and may You establish [Messiah
Yeshua on] the throne of David within it (Psalm 122:6).
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה בּוֹנֵה יְרוּשָׁלים
Baruch atah Adonai, boneh Yerushalayim
Blessed are You, O LORD, Builder of Jerusalem.
15. Malchut Ben David (Davidic Reign – Yeshua the Messiah)
May the [kingdom of Yeshua the Messiah, the] offspring of David, Your Servant,
flourish speedily and exalt His honor with Your salvation. For Your salvation
we hope all day long. [Amen. Come, Adonai Yeshua.]
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מַצְמיחַ קֶרֶן יְשׁעה
Baruch atah Adonai, matzimiach keren yeshuah
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who makes the Horn of Salvation to flourish.
16. Tefillah (Acceptance of Prayer)
Hear our voice, O Lord our God. Have mercy and compassion for us, and accept
our prayers mercifully and willingly, for You are God who listens to prayers
and supplications. From before Yourself, our King, turn us not away empty
handed, for You hear the prayer of Your people Israel mercifully (Psalm 4:3;
69:33; 116:1; Matthew 6:5-8, 11; 1 John 5:14-15).
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה שׁוֹמֵעַ תּלּה
Baruch atah Adonai, shome’a tefillah
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who hears prayers.
17. Avodah (Service)
Be favorable, O LORD our God, toward Your people Israel and to their prayer,
and restore the most holy service of Your house. Accept in love the offerings
and prayers of Israel, and may the service of Your people, Israel, always be
favorable to You. May our eyes behold Your return to Zion in mercy.
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הַמַחֲזִיר שְׁכִינתוֹ לְצִיּוֹן
Baruch atah Adonai, hamachazir shekhinato l’Tzion
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who restores His presence to Zion.
18. Modim (Thanksgiving)
We thank You, for You are ADONAI, our God and the God of our forefathers
forever and ever. The Rock of our lives, the Shield of our salvation, You are
in every generation. We thank You and tell Your glory for our lives which are
in Your hands, and for our souls that are entrusted to You, and for Your
miracles that are with us every day, and for Your wonders and favors that
happen all the time, evening and morning and noon. The Good One, for Your
compassion was not exhausted, and the Compassionate One, for Your merciful
deeds have not ended; always have we put our hope in You. For all these, may
Your name be blessed and exalted, our King, always, forever and ever; and all
the living will thank You and praise Your name truly, O God, our salvation and
help.
(Psalm 136)
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הַטוֹב שִׁמְךָ וּלְךָ נָאֶה לְהוֹדוֹת
Baruch atah Adonai, hatov shimcha ulecha na’eh l’hodot
Blessed are You, O LORD, the Good One is Your name, and You are proper to
thank.
19. Sim Shalom (Establish Peace)
Establish peace, goodness, and blessing, graciousness, kindness, and
compassion upon us, and upon all Israel Your people. Bless us our Father, all
of us as one, with the light of Your countenance; for with the light of Your
countenance You gave us, O LORD our God, [Yeshua the Messiah,] the Torah of
Life, and a love of kindness, righteousness, blessing, compassion, life and
peace.
May it be good in Your eyes to bless Your people Israel, in
every season and in every hour with Your peace (Numbers 6:24-26; Isaiah 9:6; John 14:25-27).
ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הַמְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמוֹ יִשְרָאֵל בַּשָּׁלוֹם
Baruch atah Adonai, hamevarech et amoh Yisra’el bashalom
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who blesses His people Israel with peace.
Yihyu (May They Be)
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יהוה
צוּרִי וְגֹאֲלִי
Yihyu l’ratzon imrei fi, v’hegyon libi, l’faneicha, Adonai tzuri v’go’eli
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before
You, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer [Messiah Yeshua] (Psalm 19:14).[1]
[1] An individual confesses after the Amidah and the Chazan confesses in the midst of the Amidah, in the fourth blessing. Mishnah Torah Repentance 2.7
Psalm 29 NASB
The Voice of the Lord in the Storm
A Psalm of David
1 Ascribe to the Lord, sons of the mighty,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
Worship the Lord in holy attire.
3 The voice of the Lord is on the
waters;
The God of glory thunders,
The Lord is over many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful,
The voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
Yes, the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon in pieces.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
And Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord divides flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everything says, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sat as King at
the flood;
Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.
11 The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.