חַד גַּדְיָא | Kizzum Ištēn — an Akkadian translation of Ḥad Gadya by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer

Contributor(s):

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation) and Unknown Author(s)

Shared on:

2 February 2023 under the

Categories:

Nirtsah

Tags:

זמירות zemirot, Late Bronze Age, Aramaic, Akkadian, פיוטים piyyutim, Babylonian, predation, salvation, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., חד גדיא Ḥad Gadya, alternate timeline, נרצה Nirtsah

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 a millenium after Akkadian became extinct. But in my opinion there ought to be a representation of the East Semitic language family in the canon of Ḥad Gadya translations.

Also included is a transcript of the Akkadian text into Hebrew script, since Judeo-Cuneiform doesn’t exist… yet. Eh, Aramaic script was invented in the places Akkadian was spoken anyway, it’s fine.

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Source (Aramaic)	Translation (Akkadian, romanized)	Translation (Akkadian, hebraized)	Translation (English)
חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא.	kizzum ištēn, kizzum ištēn, ša abī išāmušu ina zūzīn kizzum ištēn, kizzum ištēn.	כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין, כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין שַׁאַבִּי אִשָׁאמֻשׁוּ אִנַה זוּזִין כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין, כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין	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.	illikma šurānum ītakal kizzam ša abī išāmušu ina zūzīn kizzum ištēn, kizzum ištēn.	אִלִּכְּמַה שֻׁרָאנֻם אִיתַּכַּל כִּזַּם שַׁאַבִּי אִשָׁאמֻשׁוּ אִנַה זוּזִין כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין, כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין	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.	illikma kalbum ittašak šurānam ša īkulu kizzam ša abī išāmušu ina zūzīn kizzum ištēn, kizzum ištēn.	אִלִּכְּמַה כַּלְבֻּם אִתַּ֫שַׁק שֻׁרָאנַם שַׁאִיכֻּלוּ כִּזַּם שַׁאַבִּי אִשָׁאמֻשׁוּ אִנַה זוּזִין כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין, כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין	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.	illikma ḫaṭṭum imtaḫaṣ kalbam ša iššuku šurānam ša īkulu kizzam ša abī išāmušu ina zūzīn kizzum ištēn, kizzum ištēn.	אִלִּכְּמַה חַטֻּם אִמְתַּחַץ כַּלְבַּם שַׁאִשֻּׁכּוּ שֻׁרָאנַם שַׁאִיכֻּלוּ כִּזַּם שַׁאַבִּי אִשָׁאמֻשׁוּ אִנַה זוּזִין כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין, כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין	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.	illikma išātum uktabbib ḫaṭṭam ša imḫaṣu kalbam ša iššuku šurānam ša īkulu kizzam ša abī išāmušu ina zūzīn kizzum ištēn, kizzum ištēn.	אִלִּכְּמַה אִשָׁאתֻם אֻכְּתַּבִּ֫בּ חַטַּם שַׁאִמְחַצוּ כַּלְבַּם שַׁאִשֻּׁכּוּ שֻׁרָאנַם שַׁאִיכֻּלוּ כִּזַּם שַׁאַבִּי אִשָׁאמֻשׁוּ אִנַה זוּזִין כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין, כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין	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.	illikūma mû uttīḫū išātam ša ukabbibu ḫaṭṭam ša imḫaṣu kalbam ša iššuku šurānam ša īkulu kizzam ša abī išāmušu ina zūzīn kizzum ištēn, kizzum ištēn.	אִלִּכְּמַה מוּא אֻתִּ֫יחוּא אִשָׁאתַם שַׁאֻכַּבִּ֫בּוּ חַטַּם שַׁאִמְחַצוּ כַּלְבַּם שַׁאִשֻּׁכּוּ שֻׁרָאנַם שַׁאִיכֻּלוּ כִּזַּם שַׁאַבִּי אִשָׁאמֻשׁוּ אִנַה זוּזִין כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין, כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין	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.	illikma alpum ištatī mê ša uniḫḫū išātam ša ukabbibu ḫaṭṭam ša imḫaṣu kalbam ša iššuku šurānam ša īkulu kizzam ša abī išāmušu ina zūzīn kizzum ištēn, kizzum ištēn.	אִלִּכְּמַה אַלְפֻּם אִשְׁתַּתִּי מֵי שַׁאֻנִחּוּ אִשָׁאתַם שַׁאֻכַּבִּ֫בּוּ חַטַּם שַׁאִמְחַצוּ כַּלְבַּם שַׁאִשֻּׁכּוּ שֻׁרָאנַם שַׁאִיכֻּלוּ כִּזַּם שַׁאַבִּי אִשָׁאמֻשׁוּ אִנַה זוּזִין כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין, כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין	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.	illikma ṭābiḫum iṭṭabaḫ alpam ša ištû mê ša uniḫḫū išātam ša ukabbibu ḫaṭṭam ša imḫaṣu kalbam ša iššuku šurānam ša īkulu kizzam ša abī išāmušu ina zūzīn kizzum ištēn, kizzum ištēn.	אִלִּכְּמַה טָאבִּחֻם אִטַּבַּח אַלְפַּם שַׁאִשְׁתּוּא מֵי שַׁאֻנִחּוּ אִשָׁאתַם שַׁאֻכַּבִּ֫בּוּ חַטַּם שַׁאִמְחַצוּ כַּלְבַּם שַׁאִשֻּׁכּוּ שֻׁרָאנַם שַׁאִיכֻּלוּ כִּזַּם שַׁאַבִּי אִשָׁאמֻשׁוּ אִנַה זוּזִין כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין, כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין	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.	illikma mūtum iṭṭabaḫ ṭābiḫam ša iṭbuḫu alpam ša ištû mê ša uniḫḫū išātam ša ukabbibu ḫaṭṭam ša imḫaṣu kalbam ša iššuku šurānam ša īkulu kizzam ša abī išāmušu ina zūzīn kizzum ištēn, kizzum ištēn.	אִלִּכְּמַה מוּתֻם אִטַּבַּח טָאבִּחַם שַׁאִטְבֻּחוּ אַלְפַּם שַׁאִשְׁתּוּא מֵי שַׁאֻנִחּוּ אִשָׁאתַם שַׁאֻכַּבִּ֫בּוּ חַטַּם שַׁאִמְחַצוּ כַּלְבַּם שַׁאִשֻּׁכּוּ שֻׁרָאנַם שַׁאִיכֻּלוּ כִּזַּם שַׁאַבִּי אִשָׁאמֻשׁוּ אִנַה זוּזִין כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין, כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין	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.	illikma qašdum lū karib šū iṭṭabaḫ mūtam ša iṭbuḫu ṭābiḫam ša iṭbuḫu alpam ša ištû mê ša uniḫḫū išātam ša ukabbibu ḫaṭṭam ša imḫaṣu kalbam ša iššuku šurānam ša īkulu kizzam ša abī išāmušu ina zūzīn kizzum ištēn, kizzum ištēn.	אִלִּכְּמַה קַשְׁדֻּם לוּא כַּרִבּ שׁוּא אִטַּבַּח מוּתַּם שַׁאִטְבֻּחוּ טָאבִּחַם שַׁאִטְבֻּחוּ אַלְפַּם שַׁאִשְׁתּוּא מֵי שַׁאֻנִחּוּ אִשָׁאתַם שַׁאֻכַּבִּ֫בּוּ חַטַּם שַׁאִמְחַצוּ כַּלְבַּם שַׁאִשֻּׁכּוּ שֻׁרָאנַם שַׁאִיכֻּלוּ כִּזַּם שַׁאַבִּי אִשָׁאמֻשׁוּ אִנַה זוּזִין כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין, כִּזֻּם אִשְׁתֵּין	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 the translation of Ḥad Gadya into Akkadian by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer. A hearty thanks to Dr. Janine Wende at the University of Leipzig for proofreading and editing the Akkadian translation!

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 an English translation adapted from Eve Levavi Feinstein’s Passover Haggadah translation. –Aharon N. Varady

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“חַד גַּדְיָא | Kizzum Ištēn — an Akkadian 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.

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation)

From a family of musicians, Isaac Gantwerk Mayer believes that creative art is one of the most powerful ways to get in touch with the divine. He composes music and poetry in Hebrew and English. (He also authors his own original works and transcribes Hebrew and Aramaic text, adding niqqud and t'amim as needed.) Isaac runs a Jewish music transcription service, which will transcribe and set any Jewish music in any language, recorded or written. Contact his service on Facebook or via his music blog.

Unknown Author(s)

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established." –Psalms 90:17