חַד גַּדְיָא | 𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰 (Kizzum Ištēn) — an Akkadian translation of Ḥad Gadya by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer • the Open Siddur Project

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

Excerpt: 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. A hearty thanks to Dr. Janine Wende at the University of Leipzig for proofreading and editing the Akkadian translation! . . .

Content:

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.

Note that there are two different columns in Latin script — one for the Akkadian as it was read, and another for the Akkadian as it was written. This is because cuneiform is an incredibly complex system, invented for Sumerian and haphazardly adapted to Akkadian. All the signs are syllabic, which can lead to much ambiguity in a language like Akkadian were gemination is distinctive. Many signs are still written in what are called ‘Sumerograms’ — the words written in capital letters in the “ktiv” transliteration. These were read according to their meaning, not the signs’ pronunciation, in a system somewhat akin to Japanese kanji. Other signs are written with ‘determinitives’ — Sumerian-origin markers that weren’t read at all, merely serving as a guide for scribes and readers to know what they’re about to be reading. These are written as superscripts in the “ktiv” transliteration. There’s a reason most students of Akkadian start using Latin script!

Also included is a transliteration of the Akkadian translation 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.

Source (Aramaic)	Translation (Akkadian)	Translation (romanized Akkadian)	Translation (vocalized romanized Akkadian)	Translation (Akkadian, hebraicized)	Translation (English)
חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא.	𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒀀𒁉𒑰𒅖𒊭𒀀𒈬𒋗𒑰 𒀸𒑰𒍪𒊻𒄿𒅔𒑰 𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰	MÁŠ.zu.um 1 MÁŠ.zu.um 1 ša a.bi iš.ša.a.mu.šu AŠ zu.uz.i.in MÁŠ.zu.um 1 MÁŠ.zu.um 1	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.	𒅋𒌨𒈠𒑰𒊓𒀀𒑰 𒄿𒋫𒆗𒑰𒈧𒍝𒄠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒀀𒁉𒑰𒅖𒊭𒀀𒈬𒋗𒑰 𒀸𒑰𒍪𒊻𒄿𒅔𒑰 𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰	il.lik.ma SA.A i-ta-kal MÁŠ.za.am ša a.bi iš.ša.a.mu.šu AŠ zu.uz.i.in MÁŠ.zu.um 1 MÁŠ.zu.um 1	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.	𒅋𒌨𒈠𒑰𒌨𒂠 𒑰 𒀉𒋫𒊕𒑰𒊓𒀀𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒄿𒆪𒇻𒑰𒈧𒍝𒄠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒀀𒁉𒑰𒅖𒊭𒀀𒈬𒋗𒑰 𒀸𒑰𒍪𒊻𒄿𒅔𒑰 𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰	il.lik.ma UR.GI it.ta.šak SA.A ša i.ku.lu MÁŠ.za.am ša a.bi iš.ša.a.mu.šu AŠ zu.uz.i.in MÁŠ.zu.um 1 MÁŠ.zu.um 1	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.	𒅋𒌨𒈠𒑰𒄑𒄩𒀜𒌈𒑰 𒅎𒋫𒄩𒊍𒑰𒌨𒂠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒅖𒋗𒆪𒑰𒊓𒀀𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒄿𒆪𒇻𒑰𒈧𒍝𒄠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒀀𒁉𒑰𒅖𒊭𒀀𒈬𒋗𒑰 𒀸𒑰𒍪𒊻𒄿𒅔𒑰 𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰	il.lik.ma ^gišḫa.aṭ.um im.ta.ḫa.aṣ UR.GI ša iš.šu.ku SA.A ša i.ku.lu MÁŠ.za.am ša a.bi iš.ša.a.mu.šu AŠ zu.uz.i.in MÁŠ.zu.um 1 MÁŠ.zu.um 1	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.	𒅋𒌨𒈠𒑰𒉈𒑰 𒊌𒋰𒁉𒅁𒑰𒄑𒄩𒀜𒄠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒅎𒄩𒍮𒑰𒌨𒂠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒅖𒋗𒆪𒑰𒊓𒀀𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒄿𒆪𒇻𒑰𒈧𒍝𒄠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒀀𒁉𒑰𒅖𒊭𒀀𒈬𒋗𒑰 𒀸𒑰𒍪𒊻𒄿𒅔𒑰 𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰	il.lik.ma IZI uk.tab.bi.ib ^gišḫa.aṭ.am ša im.ḫa.ṣu UR.GI ša iš.šu.ku SA.A ša i.ku.lu MÁŠ.za.am ša a.bi iš.ša.a.mu.šu AŠ zu.uz.i.in MÁŠ.zu.um 1 MÁŠ.zu.um 1	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.	𒅋𒇷𒆪𒈠𒑰𒈬𒌑𒑰 𒌋𒋾𒄴𒌋𒑰𒉈𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒌋𒆏𒁉𒁍𒑰𒄑𒄩𒀜𒄠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒅎𒄩𒍮𒑰𒌨𒂠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒅖𒋗𒆪𒑰𒊓𒀀𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒄿𒆪𒇻𒑰𒈧𒍝𒄠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒀀𒁉𒑰𒅖𒊭𒀀𒈬𒋗𒑰 𒀸𒑰𒍪𒊻𒄿𒅔𒑰 𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰	il.li.ku.ma mu.ú u.ti.iḫ.u IZI ša u.kab.bi.bu ^gišḫa.aṭ.am ša im.ḫa.ṣu UR.GI ša iš.šu.ku SA.A ša i.ku.lu MÁŠ.za.am ša a.bi iš.ša.a.mu.šu AŠ zu.uz.i.in MÁŠ.zu.um 1 MÁŠ.zu.um 1	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.	𒅋𒌨𒈠𒑰𒄞𒑰 𒅖𒋫𒋾𒑰𒈨𒂊𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒌋𒉌𒄴𒄷𒑰𒉈𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒌋𒆏𒁉𒁍𒑰𒄑𒄩𒀜𒄠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒅎𒄩𒍮𒑰𒌨𒂠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒅖𒋗𒆪𒑰𒊓𒀀𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒄿𒆪𒇻𒑰𒈧𒍝𒄠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒀀𒁉𒑰𒅖𒊭𒀀𒈬𒋗𒑰 𒀸𒑰𒍪𒊻𒄿𒅔𒑰 𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰	il.lik.ma GUD iš.ta.ti me.e ša u.ni.iḫ.ḫu IZI ša u.kab.bi.bu ^gišḫa.aṭ.am ša im.ḫa.ṣu UR.GI ša iš.šu.ku SA.A ša i.ku.lu MÁŠ.za.am ša a.bi iš.ša.a.mu.šu AŠ zu.uz.i.in MÁŠ.zu.um 1 MÁŠ.zu.um 1	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.	𒅋𒌨𒈠𒑰𒇽𒄈𒇲𒑰 𒀉𒋰𒄴𒑰𒄞𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒅖𒌅𒌑𒑰𒈨𒂊𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒌋𒉌𒄴𒄷𒑰𒉈𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒌋𒆏𒁉𒁍𒑰𒄑𒄩𒀜𒄠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒅎𒄩𒍮𒑰𒌨𒂠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒅖𒋗𒆪𒑰𒊓𒀀𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒄿𒆪𒇻𒑰𒈧𒍝𒄠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒀀𒁉𒑰𒅖𒊭𒀀𒈬𒋗𒑰 𒀸𒑰𒍪𒊻𒄿𒅔𒑰 𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰	il.lik.ma ^lúGIR.LA iṭ.ṭab.aḫ GUD ša iš.tu.ú me.e ša u.ni.iḫ.ḫu IZI ša u.kab.bi.bu ^gišḫa.aṭ.am ša im.ḫa.ṣu UR.GI ša iš.šu.ku SA.A ša i.ku.lu MÁŠ.za.am ša a.bi iš.ša.a.mu.šu AŠ zu.uz.i.in MÁŠ.zu.um 1 MÁŠ.zu.um 1	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.	𒅋𒌨𒈠𒑰𒇽𒉆𒁁 𒑰 𒀉𒋰𒄴𒑰𒇽𒄈𒇲𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒀉𒁍𒄷𒑰𒄞𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒅖𒌅𒌑𒑰𒈨𒂊𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒌋𒉌𒄴𒄷𒑰𒉈𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒌋𒆏𒁉𒁍𒑰𒄑𒄩𒀜𒄠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒅎𒄩𒍮𒑰𒌨𒂠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒅖𒋗𒆪𒑰𒊓𒀀𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒄿𒆪𒇻𒑰𒈧𒍝𒄠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒀀𒁉𒑰𒅖𒊭𒀀𒈬𒋗𒑰 𒀸𒑰𒍪𒊻𒄿𒅔𒑰 𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰	il.lik.ma ^lúNAM.BAD iṭ.ṭab.aḫ ^lúGIR.LA ša iṭ.bu.ḫu GUD ša iš.tu.ú me.e ša u.ni.iḫ.ḫu IZI ša u.kab.bi.bu ^gišḫa.aṭ.am ša im.ḫa.ṣu UR.GI ša iš.šu.ku SA.A ša i.ku.lu MÁŠ.za.am ša a.bi iš.ša.a.mu.šu AŠ zu.uz.i.in MÁŠ.zu.um 1 MÁŠ.zu.um 1	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.	𒅋𒌨𒈠𒑰𒀭𒂵𒀸𒌈𒑰𒇻𒌑𒑰𒅗𒆗𒑰 𒀉𒋰𒄴𒑰𒇽𒉆𒁁 𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒀉𒁍𒄷𒑰𒇽𒄈𒇲𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒀉𒁍𒄷𒑰𒄞𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒅖𒌅𒌑𒑰𒈨𒂊𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒌋𒉌𒄴𒄷𒑰𒉈𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒌋𒆏𒁉𒁍𒑰𒄑𒄩𒀜𒄠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒅎𒄩𒍮𒑰𒌨𒂠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒅖𒋗𒆪𒑰𒊓𒀀𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒄿𒆪𒇻𒑰𒈧𒍝𒄠𒑰 𒊭𒑰𒀀𒁉𒑰𒅖𒊭𒀀𒈬𒋗𒑰 𒀸𒑰𒍪𒊻𒄿𒅔𒑰 𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰𒈧𒍪𒌝𒀸𒑰	il.lik.ma dqá.aš.dum lu.ú ka.rib iṭ.ṭab.aḫ ^lúNAM.BAD ša iṭ.bu.ḫu ^lúGIR.LA ša iṭ.bu.ḫu GUD ša iš.tu.ú me.e ša u.ni.iḫ.ḫu IZI ša u.kab.bi.bu ^gišḫa.aṭ.am ša im.ḫa.ṣu UR.GI ša iš.šu.ku SA.A ša i.ku.lu MÁŠ.za.am ša a.bi iš.ša.a.mu.šu AŠ zu.uz.i.in MÁŠ.zu.um 1 MÁŠ.zu.um 1	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

Featured Image:

Title: Baby goat looking at camera, Free public domain CC0 photo
Caption: Baby goat looking at camera (credit: n/a - pixels, license: CC0)