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Ḥad Gadya has a place in Seder tables throughout the Jewish world, and in many communities it was read in translation. Probably not this one though, seeing as it was written over two millenia after the Ugaritic language became extinct. But Ugaritic, closely related to the Canaanite language family of which Hebrew is a part, is worth studying for any Jewish scholar because of the light it sheds on the history of the Western Semitic peoples. So I’ve attempted a Ugaritic translation of Ḥad Gadya.
Also included is a transcript of the Ugaritic text into Hebrew script. As a Semitic language, the transcription is pretty one-for-one, but here are a few notes:
• Ugaritic, like Quranic Arabic, preserved the case endings lost from Hebrew. This means that almost every word is written with a vowel under the last letter. Since in Hebrew (and modern spoken Arabic) those endings have been lost, I’ve marked word-final letters as final forms even when vowels are under them. Perhaps if Ugaritic had survived they would have been lost, and this would be pronounced like ʾAḥḥad Gādiy instead.
• Ugaritic also preserved two sounds which have been lost from Hebrew but are preserved in Arabic — ḫet and ǵayn. In Judeo-Arabic those letters are written as a kaf or a gimel with a mark above. But historically in Hebrew they merged with ḥet and ʿayin. (The Septuagint shows evidence that both sounds were preserved until relatively recently. Both “Isaac” and “Rachel” are written with a ḥet, but the former was a ḥet and the latter was a ḫet. Both “Amram” and “Gaza” are written with an ʿayin, but the former was an ʿayin and the latter was a ǵayn.) If those sound distinctions were preserved, then perhaps they would have been marked with dots a la shin vs sin. But since Unicode doesn’t have shin-dot or sin-dot on non-shin letter capability, I’ve marked ḫet and ǵayn with a varika on the letters.
• Ugaritic never went through the bgdkpt shift of Hebrew and Aramaic, so in this transcript dagesh exclusively marks germination. The letters בגדכפת should be assumed plosive.
I’m by no means a Ugaritic expert, so if you are feel free to reach out or leave a comment with any corrections or suggestions!
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| Source (Aramaic) | Translation (Ugaritic) | Translation (Romanized Ugaritic) | Translation (vocalized Romanized Ugaritic) | Translation (Hebraized Ugaritic) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎖𐎐𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎁𐎟𐎁𐎟𐎐𐎕𐎔𐎟𐎋𐎒𐎔𐎟 𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 |
a͗ḥd gdy, a͗ḥd gdy d qny a͗b b nṣp ksp a͗ḥd gdy, a͗ḥd gdy |
ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu, ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu dū qanaya ʾabî bi naṣpi kaspi ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu, ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu |
אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ דוּ קַנַיַ אַבִי בִנַצְףִ כַסְףִ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ |
One little goat, one little goat, that my father had bought with two silver coins, one little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא שֻׁנְרָא וְאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
𐎆𐎟𐎎𐎙𐎊𐎟*𐎌𐎗𐎐𐎟 𐎆𐎟𐎍𐎈𐎎𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎖𐎐𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎁𐎟𐎁𐎟𐎐𐎕𐎔𐎟𐎋𐎒𐎔𐎟 𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 |
w mǵy *šrn w lḥm gdy d qny a͗b b nṣp ksp a͗ḥd gdy, a͗ḥd gdy |
wā maǵaya šurānnu wā laḥama gādiya dā qanaya ʾabî bi naṣpi kaspi ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu, ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu |
וָמַעַﬞיַ שֻׁרָןֻּ וָלַחַםַ גָדִיַ דָא קַנַיַ אַבִי בִנַצְףִ כַסְףִ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ |
Then came the cat and ate the little goat, that my father had bought with two silver coins, one little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא כַּלְבָּא וְנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
𐎆𐎟𐎎𐎙𐎊𐎟𐎋𐎍𐎁𐎟 𐎆𐎟𐎐𐎘𐎋𐎟*𐎌𐎗𐎐𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎍𐎈𐎎𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎖𐎐𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎁𐎟𐎁𐎟𐎐𐎕𐎔𐎟𐎋𐎒𐎔𐎟 𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 |
w mǵy klb w nṯk *šrn d lḥm gdy d qny a͗b b nṣp ksp a͗ḥd gdy, a͗ḥd gdy |
wā maǵaya kalbu wā naṯaka šurānna dā laḥama gādiya dā qanaya ʾabî bi naṣpi kaspi ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu, ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu |
וָמַעַﬞיַ כַלְבֻ וָנַתַֿךַ שֻׁרָןַּ דָא לַחַםַ גָדִיַ דָא קַנַיַ אַבִי בִנַצְףִ כַסְףִ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ |
Then came the dog and bit the cat, that had eaten the little goat, that my father had bought with two silver coins, one little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא חֻטְרָא וְהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
𐎆𐎟𐎎𐎙𐎊𐎟𐎃𐎉𐎟 𐎆𐎟𐎎𐎃𐎕𐎟𐎋𐎍𐎁𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎐𐎘𐎋𐎟*𐎌𐎗𐎐𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎍𐎈𐎎𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎖𐎐𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎁𐎟𐎁𐎟𐎐𐎕𐎔𐎟𐎋𐎒𐎔𐎟 𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 |
w mǵy ḫṭ w mḫṣ klb d nṯk *šrn d lḥm gdy d qny a͗b b nṣp ksp a͗ḥd gdy, a͗ḥd gdy |
wā maǵaya ḫaṭṭu wā miḫḫaṣa kalba dā naṯaka šurānna dā laḥama gādiya dā qanaya ʾabî bi naṣpi kaspi ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu, ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu |
וָמַעַﬞיַ חַﬞטֻּ וָמִחַּﬞץַ כַלְבַ דָא נַתַֿךַ שֻׁרָןַּ דָא לַחַםַ גָדִיַ דָא קַנַיַ אַבִי בִנַצְףִ כַסְףִ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ |
Then came the stick, and struck the dog, that had bitten the cat, that had eaten the little goat, that my father had bought with two silver coins, one little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא נוּרָא וְשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
𐎆𐎟𐎎𐎙𐎊𐎚𐎟𐎛𐎌𐎚𐎟 𐎆𐎟𐎌𐎗𐎔𐎚𐎟𐎃𐎚𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎎𐎃𐎕𐎟𐎋𐎍𐎁𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎐𐎘𐎋𐎟*𐎌𐎗𐎐𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎍𐎈𐎎𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎖𐎐𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎁𐎟𐎁𐎟𐎐𐎕𐎔𐎟𐎋𐎒𐎔𐎟 𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 |
w mǵyt ı͗št w šrpt ḫt d mḫṣ klb d nṯk *šrn d lḥm gdy d qny a͗b b nṣp ksp a͗ḥd gdy, a͗ḥd gdy |
wā maǵayat ı͗šatu wā šarapat ḫaṭṭa dā miḫḫaṣa kalba dā naṯaka šurānna dā laḥama gādiya dā qanaya ʾabî bi naṣpi kaspi ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu, ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu |
וָמַעַﬞיַת אִשַׁתֻ וָשַׁרַפַת חַﬞטַּ דָא מִחַּﬞץַ כַלְבַ דָא נַתַֿךַ שֻׁרָןַּ דָא לַחַםַ גָדִיַ דָא קַנַיַ אַבִי בִנַצְףִ כַסְףִ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ |
Then came the fire, and burned up the stick, that had struck the dog, that had bitten the cat, that had eaten the little goat, that my father had bought with two silver coins, one little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא מַיָּא וְכָבָה לְנוּרָא, דְּשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
𐎆𐎟𐎎𐎙𐎊𐎟𐎎𐎎𐎟 𐎆𐎟𐎋𐎍𐎊𐎟𐎛𐎌𐎚𐎟 𐎄𐎚𐎟𐎌𐎗𐎔𐎚𐎟𐎃𐎚𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎎𐎃𐎕𐎟𐎋𐎍𐎁𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎐𐎘𐎋𐎟*𐎌𐎗𐎐𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎍𐎈𐎎𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎖𐎐𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎁𐎟𐎁𐎟𐎐𐎕𐎔𐎟𐎋𐎒𐎔𐎟 𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 |
w mǵy mm w kly ı͗št dt šrpt ḫt d mḫṣ klb d nṯk *šrn d lḥm gdy d qny a͗b b nṣp ksp a͗ḥd gdy, a͗ḥd gdy |
wā maǵayū mêmu wā killayū ʾišata dāti šarapat ḫaṭṭa dā miḫḫaṣa kalba dā naṯaka šurānna dā laḥama gādiya dā qanaya ʾabî bi naṣpi kaspi ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu, ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu |
וָמַעַﬞיוּ מֵיםֻ וָכִלַּיוּ אִשַׁתַ דָתִ שַׁרַפַת חַﬞטַּ דָא מִחַּﬞץַ כַלְבַ דָא נַתַֿךַ שֻׁרָןַּ דָא לַחַםַ גָדִיַ דָא קַנַיַ אַבִי בִנַצְףִ כַסְףִ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ |
Then came the water, and quenched the fire, that had burned up the stick, that had struck the dog, that had bitten the cat, that had eaten the little goat, that my father had bought with two silver coins, one little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא תּוֹרָא וְשָׁתָא לְמַיָּא, דְּכָבָה לְנוּרָא, דְּשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
𐎆𐎟𐎎𐎙𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎍𐎔𐎟 𐎆𐎟𐎌𐎚𐎊𐎟𐎎𐎎𐎟 𐎄𐎚𐎟𐎋𐎍𐎊𐎟𐎛𐎌𐎚𐎟 𐎄𐎚𐎟𐎌𐎗𐎔𐎚𐎟𐎃𐎚𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎎𐎃𐎕𐎟𐎋𐎍𐎁𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎐𐎘𐎋𐎟*𐎌𐎗𐎐𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎍𐎈𐎎𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎖𐎐𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎁𐎟𐎁𐎟𐎐𐎕𐎔𐎟𐎋𐎒𐎔𐎟 𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 |
w mǵy a͗lp w šty mm dt kly ı͗št dt šrpt ḫt d mḫṣ klb d nṯk *šrn d lḥm gdy d qny a͗b b nṣp ksp a͗ḥd gdy, a͗ḥd gdy |
wā maǵaya ʾalpu wā šataya mêma dūti killayū ʾišata dāti šarapat ḫaṭṭa dā miḫḫaṣa kalba dā naṯaka šurānna dā laḥama gādiya dā qanaya ʾabî bi naṣpi kaspi ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu, ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu |
וָמַעַﬞיַ אַלְפֻ וָשַׁתַיַ מֵיםַ דוּתִ כִלַּיוּ אִשַׁתַ דָתִ שַׁרַפַת חַﬞטַּ דָא מִחַּﬞץַ כַלְבַ דָא נַתַֿךַ שֻׁרָןַּ דָא לַחַםַ גָדִיַ דָא קַנַיַ אַבִי בִנַצְףִ כַסְףִ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ |
Then came the bull, and drank the water, that had quenched the fire, that had burned up the stick, that had struck the dog, that had bitten the cat, that had eaten the little goat, that my father had bought with two silver coins, one little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא הַשּׁוֹחֵט וְשָׁחַט לְתוֹרָא, דְּשָׁתָא לְמַיָּא, דְּכָבָה לְנוּרָא, דְּשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
𐎆𐎟𐎎𐎙𐎊𐎟𐎌𐎃𐎉𐎟 𐎆𐎟𐎉𐎁𐎃𐎟𐎀𐎍𐎔𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎌𐎚𐎊𐎟𐎎𐎎𐎟 𐎄𐎚𐎟𐎋𐎍𐎊𐎟𐎛𐎌𐎚𐎟 𐎄𐎚𐎟𐎌𐎗𐎔𐎚𐎟𐎃𐎚𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎎𐎃𐎕𐎟𐎋𐎍𐎁𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎐𐎘𐎋𐎟*𐎌𐎗𐎐𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎍𐎈𐎎𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎖𐎐𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎁𐎟𐎁𐎟𐎐𐎕𐎔𐎟𐎋𐎒𐎔𐎟 𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 |
w mǵy šḫṭ w ṭbḫ a͗lp d šty mm dt kly ı͗št dt šrpt ḫt d mḫṣ klb d nṯk *šrn d lḥm gdy d qny a͗b b nṣp ksp a͗ḥd gdy, a͗ḥd gdy |
wā maǵaya šaḫīṭu wā ṭabaḫa ʾalpa dā šataya mêma dūti killayū ʾišata dāti šarapat ḫaṭṭa dā miḫḫaṣa kalba dā naṯaka šurānna dā laḥama gādiya dā qanaya ʾabî bi naṣpi kaspi ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu, ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu |
וָמַעַﬞיַ שַׁחִﬞיטֻ וָטַבַחַﬞ אַלְפַ דָא שַׁתַיַ מֵיםַ דוּתִ כִלַּיוּ אִשַׁתַ דָתִ שַׁרַפַת חַﬞטַּ דָא מִחַּﬞץַ כַלְבַ דָא נַתַֿךַ שֻׁרָןַּ דָא לַחַםַ גָדִיַ דָא קַנַיַ אַבִי בִנַצְףִ כַסְףִ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ |
Then came the slaughterer, and slaughtered the bull, that had drunk the water, that had quenched the fire, that had burned up the stick, that had struck the dog, that had bitten the cat, that had eaten the little goat, that my father had bought with two silver coins, one little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא מַלְאַךְ־הַמָּ֫וֶת וְשָׁחַט לְשׁוֹחֵט, דְּשָׁחַט לְתוֹרָא, דְּשָׁתָא לְמַיָּא, דְּכָבָה לְנוּרָא, דְּשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
𐎆𐎟𐎎𐎙𐎊𐎟𐎎𐎚𐎟 𐎆𐎟𐎉𐎁𐎃𐎟𐎌𐎃𐎉𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎉𐎁𐎃𐎟𐎀𐎍𐎔𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎌𐎚𐎊𐎟𐎎𐎎𐎟 𐎄𐎚𐎟𐎋𐎍𐎊𐎟𐎛𐎌𐎚𐎟 𐎄𐎚𐎟𐎌𐎗𐎔𐎚𐎟𐎃𐎚𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎎𐎃𐎕𐎟𐎋𐎍𐎁𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎐𐎘𐎋𐎟*𐎌𐎗𐎐𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎍𐎈𐎎𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎖𐎐𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎁𐎟𐎁𐎟𐎐𐎕𐎔𐎟𐎋𐎒𐎔𐎟 𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 |
w mǵy mt w ṭbḫ šḫṭ d ṭbḫ a͗lp d šty mm dt kly ı͗št dt šrpt ḫt d mḫṣ klb d nṯk *šrn d lḥm gdy d qny a͗b b nṣp ksp a͗ḥd gdy, a͗ḥd gdy |
wā maǵaya môtu wā ṭabaḫa šaḫīṭa dā ṭabaḫa ʾalpa dā šataya mêma dūti killayū ʾišata dāti šarapat ḫaṭṭa dā miḫḫaṣa kalba dā naṯaka šurānna dā laḥama gādiya dā qanaya ʾabî bi naṣpi kaspi ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu, ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu |
וָמַעַﬞיַ מוֹתֻ וָטַבַחַﬞ שַׁחִﬞיטַ דָא טַבַחַﬞ אַלְפַ דָא שַׁתַיַ מֵיםַ דוּתִ כִלַּיוּ אִשַׁתַ דָתִ שַׁרַפַת חַﬞטַּ דָא מִחַּﬞץַ כַלְבַ דָא נַתַֿךַ שֻׁרָןַּ דָא לַחַםַ גָדִיַ דָא קַנַיַ אַבִי בִנַצְףִ כַסְףִ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ |
Then came the Angel of Death, and slaughtered the butcher, that had slaughtered the bull, that had drunk the water, that had quenched the fire, that had burned up the stick, that had struck the dog, that had bitten the cat, that had eaten the little goat, that my father had bought with two silver coins, one little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא וְשָׁחַט לְמַלְאַךְ־הַמָּ֫וֶת דְּשָׁחַט לְשׁוֹחֵט, דְּשָׁחַט לְתוֹרָא, דְּשָׁתָא לְמַיָּא, דְּכָבָה לְנוּרָא, דְּשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
𐎆𐎟𐎎𐎙𐎊𐎟𐎖𐎄𐎌𐎟𐎎𐎁𐎗𐎋𐎟𐎅𐎆𐎟 𐎆𐎟𐎉𐎁𐎃𐎟𐎎𐎚𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎉𐎁𐎃𐎟𐎌𐎃𐎉𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎉𐎁𐎃𐎟𐎀𐎍𐎔𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎌𐎚𐎊𐎟𐎎𐎎𐎟 𐎄𐎚𐎟𐎋𐎍𐎊𐎟𐎛𐎌𐎚𐎟 𐎄𐎚𐎟𐎌𐎗𐎔𐎚𐎟𐎃𐎚𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎎𐎃𐎕𐎟𐎋𐎍𐎁𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎐𐎘𐎋𐎟*𐎌𐎗𐎐𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎍𐎈𐎎𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 𐎄𐎟𐎖𐎐𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎁𐎟𐎁𐎟𐎐𐎕𐎔𐎟𐎋𐎒𐎔𐎟 𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊 |
w mǵy qdš mbrk hw w ṭbḫ mt d ṭbḫ šḫṭ d ṭbḫ a͗lp d šty mm dt kly ı͗št dt šrpt ḫt d mḫṣ klb d nṯk *šrn d lḥm gdy d qny a͗b b nṣp ksp a͗ḥd gdy, a͗ḥd gdy |
wā maǵaya qudšu mubarruku huwa wā ṭabaḫa môta dā ṭabaḫa šaḫīṭa dā ṭabaḫa ʾalpa dā šataya mêma dūti killayū ʾišata dāti šarapat ḫaṭṭa dā miḫḫaṣa kalba dā naṯaka šurānna dā laḥama gādiya dā qanaya ʾabî bi naṣpi kaspi ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu, ʾaḥḥadu gādiyu |
וָמַעַﬞיַ קֻדְשֻׁ מֻבַרֻּךֻ הֻוַ וָטַבַחַﬞ מוֹתַ דָא טַבַחַﬞ שַׁחִﬞיטַ דָא טַבַחַﬞ אַלְפַ דָא שַׁתַיַ מֵיםַ דוּתִ כִלַּיוּ אִשַׁתַ דָתִ שַׁרַפַת חַﬞטַּ דָא מִחַּﬞץַ כַלְבַ דָא נַתַֿךַ שֻׁרָןַּ דָא לַחַםַ גָדִיַ דָא קַנַיַ אַבִי בִנַצְףִ כַסְףִ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ |
Then came the blessed Holy one, and slaughtered the Angel of Death, that had slaughtered the butcher, that had slaughtered the bull, that had drunk the water, that had quenched the fire, that had burned up the stick, that had struck the dog, that had bitten the cat, that had eaten the little goat, that my father had bought with two silver coins, one little goat, one little goat. |
This is a translation of Ḥad Gadya into Ugaritic by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer including a romanization and hebraization of the text. The earliest known appearance of “Ḥad Gadya,” by an unknown author, can be found, handwritten, in the Prague Haggadah (1526). The Aramaic has been vocalized according to the Prague Haggadah (1590). Besides the transcription of the Aramaic with its vocalization, I have also added a translation adapted from Eve Levavi Feinstein’s Passover Haggadah translation.
The technology used to render cuneiform script for this post required us to update the Unicode character set support for the whole website. This need had already been recognized earlier, but workarounds were possible. Not here though. It was impossible to save, let alone display the Ugaritic text of this post the way our MySQL database was structured. (The database table used utf-8 encoded text. Meanwhile, the cuneiform required utf8mb4 encoding.) The actual process of updating the database to support the extended character set was, I confess, a bit daunting! A mistake could bring the site down. A very bad mistake could cause lost data. Backups were generated and plans drawn up. (Plans were discarded and backups were utilized!) Through a course fraught with persistent and baffling errors, I’m relieved to report that we ultimately navigated to our intended destination, b”H. –Aharon N. Varady
“חַד גַּדְיָא | 𐎀𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎂𐎄𐎊𐎟 | אַחַּﬞדֻ גָדִיֻ (ʾAḥḥadu Gādiyu) — a Ugaritic translation of Ḥad Gadya, by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.
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