The Hebrew Blessing Over Bread

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HaMotzi Blessing -

Blessing over bread



	Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. (Deut 8:3b)

The Traditional Blessing


	The traditional HaMotzi blessing is recited before eating bread (or bread stuffs) and is one of the most frequently said of the Hebrew blessings, used for Shabbat, holidays, and other occasions:






	*Translation:*

	Blessed art Thou, LORD our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.


	Hebrew Study Card


	Traditional Ha-Motzi Blessing


	The Messianic Blessing

Though followers of Yeshua can regard the traditional blessing as a prophetic of the resurrection of the Messiah (i.e., "bread brought forth from the earth"), a better blessing is to praise Ha-motzi lechem min hashamayim - "the One who brings forth bread from heaven." Yeshua, after all, is the true bread from heaven (לֶחֶם אֱמֶת מִן־הַשָּׁמָיִם) who is the Bread of Life (John 6:35):






	*Translation:*

	Blessed art Thou, LORD our God, King of the universe, who brings forth the living bread from heaven.


	Hebrew Study Card


	Messianic Ha-Motzi Blessing

During Kiddush (Shabbat Meal)

After reciting Kiddush, the head of the household lifts the two challah loaves and says the blessing over bread.

We use two challah loaves for a particular reason. In the desert, after the Exodus from Egypt, the manna did not fall on Shabbat. Instead, a double portion fell on Friday (see Exodus 16:4-30). By using two loaves at the Shabbat meal, we remind ourselves of the sanctity of Shabbat and that God will provide for our material needs.

The double portion that fell for the ancient Israelites in the desert is a symbol that the one who is shomer shabbat (a Sabbath observer) will not lose out because of his observance. One of the loaves is cut and the bread is distributed to everyone. It is customary to dip (or spinle) the slices with some salt just as the Sacrifices in the Temple were salted before being consumed (see Leviticus 2:13).

Transliterated (traditional Ha-Motzi):

Barukh attah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha-olam,
ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz.

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Terms:

Challah - (n) Challah is a loaf of white bread containing eggs and leavened with yeast; often formed into braided loaves and glazed with eggs before baking.

Shabbos: (n) (Yiddish) Yiddish and Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation for Sabbath.

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