Our Father in heaven
A-vee-noo she-ba-sha-mai-yeem
The intimate and familial description of God in heaven as Father to us on earth.
The Lord’s Prayer in Hebrew is a translation of the prayer taught by Jesus in Matthew 6:9–13, often referred to as “Our Father.” While the New Testament was written in Greek, this version of the Lord’s Prayer in Hebrew is deeply rooted in Hebrew language, culture, and biblical tradition, reflecting key themes found throughout Scripture. Below, you’ll find the Lord’s Prayer presented in Hebrew, along with transliteration and a deeper explanation of its meaning.
This Hebrew rendering draws on research by Bible scholar Nehemia Gordon and pastor Keith Johnson, authors of A Prayer to Our Father: Hebrew Origins of the Lord's Prayer. Their research traces the prayer's Hebrew name, the Avinu Prayer, and connects it to a Hebrew version of the Gospel of Matthew preserved by Jewish scribes for centuries. Their findings have been featured on NPR, and the full account is available in their book. For a deeper exploration of the Lord’s Prayer and its meaning, read this excerpt from A Prayer to Our Father.
Click on the word to hear it in Hebrew and see the translation:
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Transliteration (click from left to right) avee-noo she-ba-sha-mai-yeem, yeet-ka-desh sheem-cha,
ve-yeet-ba-rech mal-choot-cha, re-tson-cha yee-h'-ye
a-sui ba-sha-mai-yeem oo-va-a-rets, ve-tee-ten lach-me-noo
te-mee-deet, oo-me-chol la-noo cha-to-tay-noo
ka-a-sher a-nach-noo mo-cha-leem la-chot-teem
la-noo, ve-al te-vee-ay-noo lee-day nees-sa-yon,
ve-shom-ray-noo mee-kol rah, a-men.
ve-yeet-ba-rech mal-choot-cha, re-tson-cha yee-h'-ye
a-sui ba-sha-mai-yeem oo-va-a-rets, ve-tee-ten lach-me-noo
te-mee-deet, oo-me-chol la-noo cha-to-tay-noo
ka-a-sher a-nach-noo mo-cha-leem la-chot-teem
la-noo, ve-al te-vee-ay-noo lee-day nees-sa-yon,
ve-shom-ray-noo mee-kol rah, a-men.
Meaning of the Lord’s Prayer in Hebrew (Line by Line)
Below is the Lord’s Prayer in Hebrew explained line by line, including transliteration and deeper meaning for each phrase.
Your name be sanctified
Yeet-ka-desh sheem-kha
This is a call to action to sanctify God’s holy name through word and deed.
Your kingdom be blessed
ve-yeet-ba-rekh mal-khoot-kha
This phrase acknowledges God’s kingdom and blesses its existence.
Your will shall be done in heaven and on earth
re-tson-cha yee-he-ye a-sui ba-sha-mai-yeem u-va-a-rets
This is a statement of fact that God’s will and way will be done.
Give us our bread continually/daily
ve-tee-tayn lach-may-noo te-mee-deet
This is a request for daily physical sustenance.
Forgive us the debt of our sins as we forgive the debt of those who sin against us
oo-me-chol la-noo cha-to-te-noo ka-a sher a-nach-noo mo-cha-leem la-chot-teeem la-noo
This connects our relationship to God with our relationship to people. As we receive forgiveness, we give forgiveness.
Do not bring us into the hands of a test
ve-al te-vee-ay-noo lee-day nees-sa-yon
This request acknowledges that God alone is the one who tests us.
And protect us from all evil
ve-shom-ray-noo mee-khol rah
This request acknowledges that God alone is the one who protects us.
Amen
A-men
A statement of truth!
The Lord’s Prayer appears in Matthew 6:9–13 as part of Jesus’ teaching on how to pray. While preserved in Greek in the New Testament, the structure, themes, and phrasing reflect a strong connection to Hebrew prayer traditions found throughout the Old Testament. Concepts such as honoring God’s name, seeking His kingdom, daily provision, forgiveness, and deliverance all align with established patterns in biblical Hebrew prayer and covenant language. Understanding the prayer through this lens provides deeper insight into its original meaning and intent. For a deeper exploration of the Lord’s Prayer and its meaning, read this excerpt from A Prayer to Our Father.
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FAQs
The meaning of the Lord’s Prayer in Hebrew is that it is the only prayer Jesus taught to His disciples that covers how to relate to God and people.
The Hebrew text of the Lord's Prayer comes from the Hebrew Gospel of Matthew, preserved in manuscripts studied by scholars, and reflects Hebrew prayer language and structure.
It's a model prayer teaching believers to honor God as Father, seek His kingdom, ask for daily provision, extend forgiveness, and seek protection from evil.
No. By the first century, Hebrew was written in the square script still used today, not Paleo-Hebrew. Paleo-Hebrew versions online are modern reconstructions written in the ancient alphabet for study purposes, not ancient manuscripts.
Daily bread means the provision needed to sustain life.
The original prayer was spoken and written in Hebrew.
This version reflects the Hebrew Gospel of Matthew tradition, researched and preserved through scholars.
To help believers understand the prayer's original Jewish context and the Hebrew idioms behind Jesus's words.
