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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. This Middle Egyptian translation was almost certainly the one that Moshe Rabbeinu himself sang at his seder table that fateful night in Egypt! …Not really. Ḥad Gadya postdates Middle Egyptian as a written language by about three millennia. But it’s fun and Pesaḥ-appropriate to sing this song in the language of that dagnabbed Pharaoh himself.
Also included is a transcript of the text into Hebrew script, and even attempted translation into heiroglyphs!
For reading out loud I’ve also included the standard Egyptological pronunciation system. If you’re stuck in a time machine be careful, it’s an artificial convention that should not be mistaken for how Egyptian was pronounced at the time. But personally I think “Tutenkhamen” is easier to say than *Təwā́təʾ-ʿā́nəkh-ʾamā́nəʾ*, so sue me.
Massive enormous thanks to Willa Snowbender and her advanced Middle Egyptian class for their proofreading and improvements! Without you all this would be unreadable word salad.
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| Source (Aramaic) | Translation (Egyptian) | Translation (Egyptian, romanized) | Translation (Ashuri-Egyptian) | Translation (Egyptological Pronunciation) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |  |
jb wꜥ sp sn[1] The Egyptian form sp sn, literally meaning “two times,” is not read out loud, but rather used to mark a phrase that is repeated. Thus in the Ashuri-Egyptian script included here it has been reflected as ב׳ פעמי׳, and in the Egyptological phonetic transcription it is marked (2×). If read out loud it should be read as “Ib wa, ib wa.” ntj jn.n jt(j).j m dbnwy jb wꜥ sp sn |
יב וע (— ב׳ פעמי׳) נתי ינן יתיי אם דבנוי יב וע (— ב׳ פעמי׳) |
Ib wa (2×) neti in-en iti-i em debenwi, ib wa (2×) |
One little goat, one little goat that my father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא שֻׁנְרָא וְאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |  |
ꜥḥꜥ.n jj mjw ḫr wnm jb ntj jn.n jt(j).j m dbnwy jb wꜥ sp sn |
אחאן יאי מיו כׄר ונם יב נתי ינן יתיי אם דבנוי וב וע (— ב׳ פעמי׳) |
Aha-n ii miu, kher wenem ib, neti in-en iti-i em debenwi, ib wa (2×). |
A cat came and ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא כַּלְבָּא וְנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |  |
ꜥḥꜥ.n jj ṯzm ḫr pzḥ mjw ntj wnm.n jb ntj jn.n jt(j).j m dbnwy jb wꜥ sp sn |
אחאן יאי טזם כׄר פזח מיו נתי ונמן יב נתי ינן יתיי אם דבנוי יב וע (— ב׳ פעמי׳) |
Aha-n ii tjezem, kher pezeh miu, neti wenem-en ib, neti in-en iti-i em debenwi, ib wa (2×). |
A dog came and bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא חֻטְרָא וְהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |  |
ꜥḥꜥ.n jj ḫt ḫr sḫ ṯzm ntj pzḥ.n mjw ntj wnm.n jb ntj jn.n jt(j).j m dbnwy jb wꜥ sp sn |
אחאן יאי כׄת כׄר סךׄ טזם נתי פזחן מיו נתי ונמן יב נתי ינן יתיי אם דבנוי יב וע (— ב׳ פעמי׳) |
Aha-n ii khet, kher sekh tjezem, neti pezeh-en miu, neti wenem-en ib, neti in-en iti-i em debenwi, ib wa (2×). |
A stick came and hit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא נוּרָא וְשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |  |
ꜥḥꜥ.n jj sḏt ḫr ꜣm ḫt ntj sḫ.n ṯzm ntj pzḥ.n mjw ntj wnm.n jb ntj jn.n jt(j).j m dbnwy jb wꜥ sp sn |
אחאן יאי סצת כׄר עם כׄת נתי סכׄן טזם נתי פזחן מיו נתי ונמן יב נתי ינן יתיי אם דבנוי יב וע (— ב׳ פעמי׳) |
Aha-n ii sedjet, kher am khet, neti sekh tjezem, neti pezeh-en miu, neti wenem-en ib, neti in-en iti-i em debenwi, ib wa (2×). |
A fire came and burned the stick that hit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. 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. |  |
ꜥḥꜥ.n jj mw ḫr jhm sḏt ntt ꜣm.n ḫt ntj sḫ.n ṯzm ntj pzḥ.n mjw ntj wnm.n jb ntj jn.n jt(j).j m dbnwy jb wꜥ sp sn |
אחאן יאי מו כׄר יהם סצת נתת עמן כׄת נתי סכׄן טזם נתי פזחן מיו נתי ונמן יב נתי ינן יתיי אם דבנוי יב וע (— ב׳ פעמי׳) |
Aha-n ii mu, kher ihem sedjet, netet am-en khet, neti sekh tjezem, neti pezeh-en miu, neti wenem-en ib, neti in-en iti-i em debenwi, ib wa (2×). |
Water came and put out the fire that burned the stick that hit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. 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. |  |
ꜥḥꜥ.n jj jḥ ḫr zwr mw ntj jhm.n sḏt ntt ꜣm.n ḫt ntj sḫ.n ṯzm ntj pzḥ.n mjw ntj wnm.n jb ntj jn.n jt(j).j m dbnwy jb wꜥ sp sn |
אחאן יאי יח כׄר זור מו נתי יהמן סצת נתת עמן כׄת נתי סכׄן טזם נתי פזחן מיו נתי ונמן יב נתי ינן יתיי אם דבנוי יב וע (— ב׳ פעמי׳) |
Aha-n ii ih, kher zur mu, neti ihem-en sedjet, netet am-en khet, neti sekh tjezem, neti pezeh-en miu, neti wenem-en ib, neti in-en iti-i em debenwi, ib wa (2×). |
An ox came and drank the water that put out the fire that burned the stick that hit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. 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. |  |
ꜥḥꜥ.n jj mḥwnw ḫr rḫs jḥ ntj zwr.n mw ntj jhm.n sḏt ntt ꜣm.n ḫt ntj sḫ.n ṯzm ntj pzḥ.n mjw ntj wnm.n jb ntj jn.n jt(j).j m dbnwy jb wꜥ sp sn |
אחאן יאי מחונו כׄר רכׄס יח נתי זורן מו נתי יהמן סצת נתת עמן כׄת נתי סכׄן טזם נתי פזחן מיו נתי ונמן יב נתי ינן יתיי אם דבנוי יב וע (— ב׳ פעמי׳) |
Aha-n ii mehunu, kher rekhes ih, neti zur-en mu, neti ihem-en sedjet, netet am-en khet, neti sekh tjezem, neti pezeh-en miu, neti wenem-en ib, neti in-en iti-i em debenwi, ib wa (2×). |
A butcher came and slaughtered the ox that drank the water that put out the fire that burned the stick that hit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. 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. |  |
ꜥḥꜥ.n jj ꜣḫ nj mwt ḫr dn mḥwnw ntj rḫs.n jḥ ntj zwr.n mw ntj jhm.n sḏt ntt ꜣm.n ḫt ntj sḫ.n ṯzm ntj pzḥ.n mjw ntj wnm.n jb ntj jn.n jt(j).j m dbnwy jb wꜥ sp sn |
אחאן יאי עךׄ ני מות כׄר דן מחונו נתי רכׄסן יח נתי זורן מו נתי יהמן סצת נתת עמן כׄת נתי סכׄן טזם נתי פזחן מיו נתי ונמן יב נתי ינן יתיי אם דבנוי יב וע (— ב׳ פעמי׳) |
Aha-n ii akh ni mut, kher den mehunu, neti rekhes-en ih, neti zur-en mu, neti ihem-en sedjet, netet am-en khet, neti sekh tjezem, neti pezeh-en miu, neti wenem-en ib, neti in-en iti-i em debenwi, ib wa (2×). |
The Angel of Death came and slaughtered the shoḥet who slaughtered the ox that drank the water that put out the fire that burned the stick that hit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. 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. |  |
ꜥḥꜥ.n jj ḏsr nṯr ꜥꜣ ḫr ḫdb ꜣḫ nj mwt ntj dn.n mḥwnw ntj rḫs.n jḥ ntj zwr.n mw ntj jhm.n sḏt ntt ꜣm.n ḫt ntj sḫ.n ṯzm ntj pzḥ.n mjw ntj wnm.n jb ntj jn.n jt(j).j m dbnwy jb wꜥ sp sn |
אחאן יאי צסר נטר אע כׄר כׄדב עךׄ ני מות נתי דנן מחונו נתי רכׄסן יח נתי זורן מו נתי יהמן סצת נתת עמן כׄת נתי סכׄן טזם נתי פזחן מיו נתי ונמן יב נתי ינן יתיי אם דבנוי יב וע (— ב׳ פעמי׳) |
Aha-n ii djeser netjer aa, kher khedeb akh ni mut, neti den-en mehunu, neti rekhes-en ih, neti zur-en mu, neti ihem-en sedjet, netet am-en khet, neti sekh tjezem, neti pezeh-en miu, neti wenem-en ib, neti in-en iti-i em debenwi, ib wa (2×). |
Then the blessed Holy One came and slaughtered the Angel of Death who slaughtered the shoḥet who slaughtered the ox that drank the water that put out the fire that burned the stick that hit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. |
This is a translation of Ḥad Gadya into Middle Egyptian by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer. While a set of Egyptian hieroglyphs are supported in Unicode, character positioning remains a challenge we have yet to overcome using Andrew Glass’s font tools. For this reason, the Egyptian script provided here employs an image (raster graphic) rendering of the script made with JSesh, the open-source hieroglyphics editor. (If you know how we can render the Egyptian using avaiable open-source tools and the Unicode standard, please be in touch.)
The earliest known appearance of “Ḥad Gadya,” by an unknown author, can be found in the Prague Haggadah (1526). The text of the poem is in a form of playful Aramaic and it is accompanied by the lyrics in medieval Yiddish.[2] The Jewish Encyclopedia (1906, NY) vol. 8 page 190 s.v. “Had Gadya” calls it German. It is unclear which, if either, came first — the Yiddish or the Aramaic. The Aramaic above below follows the text as it appears 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 sourced from Eve Levavi Feinstein’s Passover Haggadah translation. –Aharon N. Varady
Notes
| 1 | The Egyptian form sp sn, literally meaning “two times,” is not read out loud, but rather used to mark a phrase that is repeated. Thus in the Ashuri-Egyptian script included here it has been reflected as ב׳ פעמי׳, and in the Egyptological phonetic transcription it is marked (2×). If read out loud it should be read as “Ib wa, ib wa.” |
|---|---|
| 2 | The Jewish Encyclopedia (1906, NY) vol. 8 page 190 s.v. “Had Gadya” calls it German. |
“חַד גַּדְיָא | Jb Wꜥ | Ib wa (יב וע) — a Middle Egyptian 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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