Birkat Hamazon
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BIRKAT HAMAZON

Nusach Ari · after a meal with bread

Before You Start

When To Say ItL1
After any meal that included bread. You need to have eaten at least a k'zayit - about the size of an olive.
Say it sitting down, at the table where you ate, before anything is cleared. Do not start it on your way out of the room.

Cover or move any knife on the table first. If you forget and remember later, you can still say it as long as you are not hungry again yet.
KavanahThis is one of the few blessings the Torah asks for by name: you will eat and be satisfied and bless.

Notice the order. Satisfied first, then bless. It is easy to thank God while you are still hungry and hoping. This one is for afterwards, once you already got what you wanted.
Shir HaMa'alotL5
Said before Birkat Hamazon on Shabbat, festivals, and other days when Tachanun is not said.
Psalm 126. On ordinary weekdays Chabad custom is not to say it.
שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת, בְּשׁוּב יְיָ אֶת שִׁיבַת צִיּוֹן, הָיִינוּ כְּחֹלְמִים.
Shir hama'alot, b'shuv Adonai et shivat Tziyon, hayinu k'cholmim.
A song of ascents. When the Lord brought back the exiles to Zion, we were like dreamers.
אָז יִמָּלֵא שְׂחוֹק פִּינוּ וּלְשׁוֹנֵנוּ רִנָּה, אָז יֹאמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם, הִגְדִּיל יְיָ לַעֲשׂוֹת עִם אֵלֶּה.
Az yimalei s'chok pinu ul'shoneinu rina, az yomru vagoyim, higdil Adonai la'asot im eileh.
Then our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with song. Then they said among the nations: the Lord has done great things for them.
הִגְדִּיל יְיָ לַעֲשׂוֹת עִמָּנוּ, הָיִינוּ שְׂמֵחִים.
Higdil Adonai la'asot imanu, hayinu s'meichim.
The Lord has done great things for us, and we were glad.
שׁוּבָה יְיָ אֶת שְׁבִיתֵנוּ, כַּאֲפִיקִים בַּנֶּגֶב.
Shuva Adonai et sh'viteinu, ka'afikim banegev.
Bring back our exiles, Lord, like streams in the Negev.
הַזֹּרְעִים בְּדִמְעָה בְּרִנָּה יִקְצֹרוּ.
Hazor'im b'dim'a b'rina yiktzoru.
Those who sow in tears will reap in joy.
הָלוֹךְ יֵלֵךְ וּבָכֹה נֹשֵׂא מֶשֶׁךְ הַזָּרַע, בֹּא יָבֹא בְרִנָּה נֹשֵׂא אֲלֻמֹּתָיו.
Haloch yeilech uvacho nosei meshech hazara, bo yavo v'rina nosei alumotav.
He who goes out weeping, carrying the bag of seed, will come back with song, carrying his sheaves.

Zimun

ZimunL6
When three or more men have eaten bread together, one leads this before the first blessing.
With ten or more, add Eloheinu where shown. Eating alone, or with fewer than three, skip this and start at the first blessing.
the leader starts here
רַבּוֹתַי נְבָרֵךְ.
Leader: Rabotai n'varech.
Gentlemen, let us bless.
יְהִי שֵׁם יְיָ מְבֹרָךְ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם.
All: Y'hi shem Adonai m'vorach me'atah v'ad olam.
May the Name of the Lord be blessed from now and forever.
say Eloheinu only if ten or more ate together
בִּרְשׁוּת מָרָנָן וְרַבָּנָן וְרַבּוֹתַי, נְבָרֵךְ אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁאָכַלְנוּ מִשֶּׁלּוֹ.
Leader: Birshut maranan v'rabanan v'rabotai, n'varech Eloheinu she'achalnu mishelo.
With your permission, let us bless our God whose food we have eaten.
בָּרוּךְ אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁאָכַלְנוּ מִשֶּׁלּוֹ וּבְטוּבוֹ חָיִינוּ.
All: Baruch Eloheinu she'achalnu mishelo uv'tuvo chayinu.
Blessed is our God whose food we have eaten and by whose goodness we live.
then everyone starts the first blessing
בָּרוּךְ אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁאָכַלְנוּ מִשֶּׁלּוֹ וּבְטוּבוֹ חָיִינוּ. בָּרוּךְ הוּא וּבָרוּךְ שְׁמוֹ.
Leader repeats: Baruch Eloheinu she'achalnu mishelo uv'tuvo chayinu. Baruch hu uvaruch sh'mo.
Blessed is our God whose food we have eaten and by whose goodness we live. Blessed is He and blessed is His Name.

First Blessing

First BlessingL1
Thanks for food. This is the blessing the Torah itself requires.
KavanahThe blessing is wider than your meal. God feeds the whole world, and has never let anyone down.

You have just eaten, and the blessing has you say out loud that the same thing is happening for everyone, everywhere, right now. Then it asks that you never lack food, which is not something to assume.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַזָּן אֶת הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ בְּטוּבוֹ, בְּחֵן בְּחֶסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים.
Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha'olam, hazan et ha'olam kulo b'tuvo, b'chen b'chesed uv'rachamim.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who nourishes the whole world with His goodness, with grace, kindness and mercy.
הוּא נוֹתֵן לֶחֶם לְכָל בָּשָׂר, כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ.
Hu noten lechem l'chol basar, ki l'olam chasdo.
He gives food to all flesh, for His kindness is everlasting.
וּבְטוּבוֹ הַגָּדוֹל תָּמִיד לֹא חָסַר לָנוּ, וְאַל יֶחְסַר לָנוּ מָזוֹן לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.
Uv'tuvo hagadol tamid lo chasar lanu, v'al yechsar lanu mazon l'olam va'ed.
Through His great goodness we have never lacked, and may we never lack food, forever.
בַּעֲבוּר שְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל, כִּי הוּא אֵל זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס לַכֹּל וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל, וּמֵכִין מָזוֹן לְכָל בְּרִיּוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא.
Ba'avur sh'mo hagadol, ki hu el zan um'farnes lakol umetiv lakol, umechin mazon l'chol b'riyotav asher bara.
For the sake of His great Name, for He is God who nourishes and sustains all, who is good to all, and who prepares food for every creature He created.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, הַזָּן אֶת הַכֹּל.
Baruch atah Adonai, hazan et hakol.
Blessed are You, Lord, who nourishes all.

Second Blessing

Second BlessingL2
Thanks for the land.
KavanahFour things get thanked for together here: the land, the exodus, the covenant of circumcision, and the Torah.

The land is the headline, but the blessing keeps widening. By the end you are thanking God for the food, for the history, and for the instructions.
נוֹדֶה לְּךָ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ עַל שֶׁהִנְחַלְתָּ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ אֶרֶץ חֶמְדָּה טוֹבָה וּרְחָבָה.
Nodeh l'cha Adonai eloheinu al shehinchalta la'avoteinu eretz chemda tova ur'chava.
We thank You, Lord our God, for having given our fathers a desirable, good and spacious land.
וְעַל שֶׁהוֹצֵאתָנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, וּפְדִיתָנוּ מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים.
V'al shehotzeitanu Adonai eloheinu me'eretz Mitzrayim, uf'ditanu mibeit avadim.
And for having brought us out of the land of Egypt and redeemed us from the house of slaves.
וְעַל בְּרִיתְךָ שֶׁחָתַמְתָּ בִּבְשָׂרֵנוּ, וְעַל תּוֹרָתְךָ שֶׁלִּמַּדְתָּנוּ, וְעַל חֻקֶּיךָ שֶׁהוֹדַעְתָּנוּ.
V'al b'rit'cha shechatamta bivsareinu, v'al torat'cha shelimadtanu, v'al chukecha shehodatanu.
And for Your covenant sealed in our flesh, for Your Torah which You taught us, and for Your statutes which You made known to us.
וְעַל חַיִּים חֵן וָחֶסֶד שֶׁחוֹנַנְתָּנוּ, וְעַל אֲכִילַת מָזוֹן שָׁאַתָּה זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס אוֹתָנוּ תָּמִיד, בְּכָל יוֹם וּבְכָל עֵת וּבְכָל שָׁעָה.
V'al chayim chen vachesed shechonantanu, v'al achilat mazon sha'atah zan um'farnes otanu tamid, b'chol yom uv'chol et uv'chol sha'a.
And for the life, grace and kindness You have granted us, and for the food we eat, with which You nourish and sustain us constantly, every day, at every time and at every hour.
וְעַל הַכֹּל יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֲנַחְנוּ מוֹדִים לָךְ וּמְבָרְכִים אוֹתָךְ, יִתְבָּרַךְ שִׁמְךָ בְּפִי כָל חַי תָּמִיד לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.
V'al hakol Adonai eloheinu anachnu modim lach um'varchim otach, yitbarach shimcha b'fi chol chai tamid l'olam va'ed.
For all this, Lord our God, we thank You and bless You. May Your Name be blessed by the mouth of every living thing, constantly and forever.
this is the verse the whole thing is built on
כַּכָּתוּב: וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָעְתָּ וּבֵרַכְתָּ אֶת יְיָ אֱלֹהֶיךָ עַל הָאָרֶץ הַטֹּבָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָךְ.
Kakatuv: v'achalta v'savata uverachta et Adonai elohecha al ha'aretz hatova asher natan lach.
As it is written: You will eat and be satisfied, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land He gave you.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, עַל הָאָרֶץ וְעַל הַמָּזוֹן.
Baruch atah Adonai, al ha'aretz v'al hamazon.
Blessed are You, Lord, for the land and for the food.

Third Blessing

Third BlessingL3
Jerusalem.
KavanahThe blessing turns from what you have to what is missing. Same meal, same table - and now a request to rebuild a city.

The last line asks not to be dependent on other people's gifts or loans. Said right after a meal you did not entirely provide for yourself.
רַחֵם נָא יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּךָ, וְעַל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִירֶךָ, וְעַל צִיּוֹן מִשְׁכַּן כְּבוֹדֶךָ.
Rachem na Adonai eloheinu al Yisrael amecha, v'al Y'rushalayim irecha, v'al Tziyon mishkan k'vodecha.
Have mercy, Lord our God, on Israel Your people, on Jerusalem Your city, and on Zion the dwelling place of Your glory.
וְעַל מַלְכוּת בֵּית דָּוִד מְשִׁיחֶךָ, וְעַל הַבַּיִת הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁנִּקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלָיו.
V'al malchut beit David m'shichecha, v'al habayit hagadol v'hakadosh shenikra shimcha alav.
On the kingship of the house of David Your anointed, and on the great and holy House upon which Your Name is called.
אֱלֹהֵינוּ אָבִינוּ, רְעֵנוּ זוּנֵנוּ פַּרְנְסֵנוּ וְכַלְכְּלֵנוּ וְהַרְוִיחֵנוּ, וְהַרְוַח לָנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מְהֵרָה מִכָּל צָרוֹתֵינוּ.
Eloheinu avinu, r'einu zuneinu parn'seinu v'chalk'leinu v'harvicheinu, v'harvach lanu Adonai eloheinu m'heira mikol tzaroteinu.
Our God, our Father, tend us, feed us, sustain us, support us and relieve us; grant us relief, Lord our God, speedily from all our troubles.
וְנָא אַל תַּצְרִיכֵנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, לֹא לִידֵי מַתְּנַת בָּשָׂר וָדָם וְלֹא לִידֵי הַלְוָאָתָם, כִּי אִם לְיָדְךָ הַמְּלֵאָה הַפְּתוּחָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וְהָרְחָבָה.
V'na al tatzricheinu Adonai eloheinu, lo lidei matnat basar vadam v'lo lidei halva'atam, ki im l'yad'cha ham'lei'a hap'tucha hak'dosha v'har'chava.
Please, Lord our God, do not make us dependent on the gifts of flesh and blood, nor on their loans, but only on Your full, open, holy and generous hand.
On Shabbat, say Retzeh here. On Rosh Chodesh and festivals, say Ya'aleh V'yavo.
say Amen to your own blessing here, only this once
וּבְנֵה יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִיר הַקֹּדֶשׁ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, בּוֹנֵה בְרַחֲמָיו יְרוּשָׁלָיִם. אָמֵן.
Uv'neh Y'rushalayim ir hakodesh bimheira v'yameinu. Baruch atah Adonai, boneh v'rachamav Y'rushalayim. Amen.
Rebuild Jerusalem the holy city speedily in our days. Blessed are You, Lord, who in His mercy rebuilds Jerusalem. Amen.
RetzehL3
Inserted into the third blessing on Shabbat, before uv'neh Y'rushalayim.
If you forget and have already finished Birkat Hamazon, you say a separate short blessing. If you have not yet started the fourth blessing, say that short blessing where you are. Ask a rav if it happens; there are several cases.
Shabbat only
רְצֵה וְהַחֲלִיצֵנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּמִצְוֺתֶיךָ וּבְמִצְוַת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי הַשַּׁבָּת הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ הַזֶּה.
R'tzeh v'hachalitzeinu Adonai eloheinu b'mitzvotecha uv'mitzvat yom hash'vi'i haShabbat hagadol v'hakadosh hazeh.
Favor us and strengthen us, Lord our God, with Your commandments and with the commandment of the seventh day, this great and holy Shabbat.
כִּי יוֹם זֶה גָּדוֹל וְקָדוֹשׁ הוּא לְפָנֶיךָ, לִשְׁבָּת בּוֹ וְלָנוּחַ בּוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה כְּמִצְוַת רְצוֹנֶךָ.
Ki yom zeh gadol v'kadosh hu l'faneicha, lishbot bo v'lanuach bo b'ahava k'mitzvat r'tzonecha.
For this day is great and holy before You, to rest on it and be at ease on it with love, as You commanded.
וְהַרְאֵנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּנֶחָמַת צִיּוֹן עִירֶךָ, וּבְבִנְיַן יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִיר קָדְשֶׁךָ, כִּי אַתָּה הוּא בַּעַל הַיְשׁוּעוֹת וּבַעַל הַנֶּחָמוֹת.
V'har'einu Adonai eloheinu b'nechamat Tziyon irecha, uv'vinyan Y'rushalayim ir kodshecha, ki atah hu ba'al hay'shu'ot uva'al hanechamot.
Show us, Lord our God, the consolation of Zion Your city and the rebuilding of Jerusalem Your holy city, for You are the master of salvations and of consolations.
Ya'aleh V'yavoL5
Inserted into the third blessing on Rosh Chodesh, festivals and Chol HaMoed.
Turn on Rosh Chodesh in the Today row on the Daily page to see the full text there. Forgetting it at a meal does not require repeating Birkat Hamazon on Rosh Chodesh, but it does on the festivals themselves.

Fourth Blessing

Fourth BlessingL4
The last of the four.
Added long after the others, at Yavneh, when the dead of Beitar were finally allowed to be buried.
KavanahThe reason it exists is grim. After the Bar Kochba revolt the bodies at Beitar lay unburied for years; when permission finally came, the Sages added a blessing thanking God for two things at once - that the bodies had not decomposed, and that they could now be buried.

It is called hatov v'hametiv, the One who is good and does good. Composed on the worst possible occasion.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הָאֵל אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ אַדִּירֵנוּ בּוֹרְאֵנוּ גּוֹאֲלֵנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ קְדוֹשֵׁנוּ קְדוֹשׁ יַעֲקֹב.
Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha'olam, ha'el avinu malkeinu adireinu bor'einu go'aleinu yotz'reinu k'dosheinu k'dosh Yaakov.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, God our Father, our King, our Mighty One, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Maker, our Holy One, the Holy One of Jacob.
past, present and future in one line
רוֹעֵנוּ רוֹעֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל, הַמֶּלֶךְ הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב לַכֹּל, שֶׁבְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם הוּא הֵטִיב הוּא מֵטִיב הוּא יֵיטִיב לָנוּ.
Ro'einu ro'eh Yisrael, hamelech hatov v'hametiv lakol, sheb'chol yom vayom hu hetiv hu metiv hu yeitiv lanu.
Our Shepherd, the Shepherd of Israel, the King who is good and does good to all, who every single day has done good, does good, and will do good to us.
הוּא גְמָלָנוּ הוּא גוֹמְלֵנוּ הוּא יִגְמְלֵנוּ לָעַד, לְחֵן וּלְחֶסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים וּלְרֶוַח, הַצָּלָה וְהַצְלָחָה, בְּרָכָה וִישׁוּעָה, נֶחָמָה, פַּרְנָסָה וְכַלְכָּלָה, וְרַחֲמִים וְחַיִּים וְשָׁלוֹם וְכָל טוֹב, וּמִכָּל טוּב לְעוֹלָם אַל יְחַסְּרֵנוּ.
Hu g'malanu hu gomleinu hu yigm'leinu la'ad, l'chen ul'chesed ul'rachamim ul'revach, hatzala v'hatzlacha, b'racha vishu'a, nechama, parnasa v'chalkala, v'rachamim v'chayim v'shalom v'chol tov, umikol tuv l'olam al y'chas'reinu.
He has dealt kindly with us, deals kindly with us, and will always deal kindly with us, granting grace, kindness, mercy and relief, rescue and success, blessing and salvation, comfort, sustenance and support, mercy, life, peace and all good; and may He never let us lack any good thing.

HaRachaman and the Closing

HaRachamanL5
A run of requests, each opening with the same word. Say as many as your bencher has; these are the core ones.
On Shabbat add HaRachaman, hu yanchileinu yom shekulo Shabbat. At someone else's table there is a longer version blessing the host.
say each of these as its own request
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִמְלוֹךְ עָלֵינוּ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.
HaRachaman hu yimloch aleinu l'olam va'ed.
May the Merciful One reign over us forever.
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ בַּשָּׁמַיִם וּבָאָרֶץ.
HaRachaman hu yitbarach bashamayim uva'aretz.
May the Merciful One be blessed in heaven and on earth.
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִשְׁלַח בְּרָכָה מְרֻבָּה בַּבַּיִת הַזֶּה, וְעַל שֻׁלְחָן זֶה שֶׁאָכַלְנוּ עָלָיו.
HaRachaman hu yishlach b'racha m'ruba babayit hazeh, v'al shulchan zeh she'achalnu alav.
May the Merciful One send abundant blessing to this house, and to this table at which we have eaten.
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִשְׁלַח לָנוּ אֶת אֵלִיָּהוּ הַנָּבִיא זָכוּר לַטּוֹב, וִיבַשֶּׂר לָנוּ בְּשׂוֹרוֹת טוֹבוֹת יְשׁוּעוֹת וְנֶחָמוֹת.
HaRachaman hu yishlach lanu et Eliyahu hanavi zachur latov, vivaser lanu b'sorot tovot y'shu'ot v'nechamot.
May the Merciful One send us Elijah the prophet, remembered for good, to bring us good news, salvations and consolations.
shabbatOn Shabbat add: HaRachaman hu yanchileinu yom shekulo Shabbat um'nucha l'chayei ha'olamim - may the Merciful One let us inherit the day that is entirely Shabbat and rest, for eternal life.
עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו, הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן.
Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu v'al kol Yisrael, v'imru amen.
He who makes peace in His heights, may He make peace for us and for all Israel, and say Amen.
יְראוּ אֶת יְיָ קְדֹשָׁיו, כִּי אֵין מַחְסוֹר לִירֵאָיו. כְּפִירִים רָשׁוּ וְרָעֵבוּ, וְדֹרְשֵׁי יְיָ לֹא יַחְסְרוּ כָל טוֹב.
Y'ru et Adonai k'doshav, ki ein machsor lirei'av. K'firim rashu v'ra'evu, v'dorshei Adonai lo yachs'ru chol tov.
Fear the Lord, His holy ones, for those who fear Him lack nothing. Young lions may go hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
הוֹדוּ לַיְיָ כִּי טוֹב, כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת יָדֶךָ, וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכָל חַי רָצוֹן.
Hodu LaShem ki tov, ki l'olam chasdo. Poteach et yadecha, umasbia l'chol chai ratzon.
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His kindness is everlasting. You open Your hand and satisfy every living thing with favor.
בָּרוּךְ הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר יִבְטַח בַּיְיָ, וְהָיָה יְיָ מִבְטַחוֹ.
Baruch hagever asher yivtach BaShem, v'haya Adonai mivtacho.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and the Lord will be his security.