אֵל שְׁמֹר הַמֶּֽלֶךְ | God Save the King (Hebrew translation with an additional stanza by Hyman Hurwitz 1831)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=50438

Date: 2023-05-01

Last Updated: 2023-05-01

Categories: United Kingdom

Tags: 18th Century C.E., 56th century A.M., British Empire, British Jewry, British Monarchy, King George Ⅱ, King William Ⅳ, national anthems, אל שמר El Shemor

Excerpt: "God Save the King" was originally written by an unknown author and circulated in three stanzas during the reign of Britain's King George Ⅱ, circa 1745. This Hebrew translation, "El Shemor haMelekh," as translated by Hyman Hurwitz with an added fourth stanza, was first published in his The Etymology and Syntax of the Hebrew Language (1831), pp. 276-279, during the reign of King William Ⅳ (1765-1837). . . .

Content:

Translation (Hebrew)	Source (English)
אֵל שְׁמֹר וִילְיֶם מַלְכֵּֽנוּ לְעוֹלָם יְחִי מַלְכֵּֽנוּ אֵל שְׁמֹר הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ שְׁלַח שָלוֹם בִּנְוֵֽהוּ בְּעֹז וְהָדָר עַטְּרֵֽהוּ לָעַד הַמְשִׁילֵֽהוּ אֵל שְׁמֹר הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃	God save our noble King William![1] This would be King William Ⅳ (1765-1837) who reigned from 1830-1837.  Long live the King, God save the King! Send him victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the King!
אָנָּא אֱלֹהִים קוּמָה, בְּאוֹיְבָיו תְּנָה מְהוּמָה, וְהַפִּילֵימוֹ׃ הָפֵר תַּחְבֻּלֹתָם, סַכֶּל־נָא עֲצָתָם, לְעַמּוֹ תֵּן מִשְׁאֲלֹתָם, וְהוֹשִׁיעֵמוֹ׃	O Lord our God arise, Scatter his enemies, And make them fall! Confound their politics, Frustrate their knavish tricks, On him our hearts are fix’d, O save us all!
מִבְחַר בִּרְכָתְךָ אֵל! לְהָרִיק עָלָיו הוֹאֵל׃ לָעַד יִמְלוֹךְ![2] later, יְחִי הַמֶּלֶךְ  יָגֵן בְּעַד חֻקֵּֽינוּ אָז יִשְׂמַח לִבֵּֽנוּ וְנָשִׁיר בְּכָל מְאֹדֵֽנוּ אֵל שְׁמֹר הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃	Thy choicest gifts in store On him be pleased to pour, Long may he reign! May he defend our laws, And ever give us cause To sing with heart and voice, God save the King!
עוֹד עֵינָיו תֶּֽחֱזֶינָה יְדִידוּת וְאַחְוָה תִרְבֶּינָה בְּכָל עִיר וָפֶלֶךְ׃ יֵרְדְּ שִׁבְטוֹ בִּגְדֻלָּה נָעָבְדֶנּוּ בְּגִילָה וְנָרוֹן בְּקוֹל צָֽהֲלָה אֵל שְׁמֹר הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃	O, grant him long to see Friendship and unity Always encrease! May he his sceptre sway, All loyal souls obey, Join heart and voice, huzza! God save the King!

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“God Save the King” was originally written by an unknown author and circulated in three stanzas during the reign of Britain’s King George Ⅱ, circa 1745. This Hebrew translation, “El Shemor haMelekh,” as translated by Hyman Hurwitz with an added fourth stanza, was first published in his The Etymology and Syntax of the Hebrew Language (1831), pp. 276-279, during the reign of King William Ⅳ (1765-1837). For the Hebrew adaptation for queens, find “God Save the Queen” as prepared for Queen Victoria during and after her Jubilee in 1887. “God Save the King” is the current National Anthem (ההמנון הלאומי) of the United Kingdom, containing the first and third stanzas.

Source(s)

the national anthem at the coronation of king charles iii (Ephraim Mirvis, Office of the Chief Rabbi 2023) p. 10

God Save the King (English, The Gentleman’s Magazine 1745-10-15)

 

Notes[+]

Notes

1	This would be King William Ⅳ (1765-1837) who reigned from 1830-1837.
2	later, יְחִי הַמֶּלֶךְ

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription)

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription)
  Bio: Aharon Varady (M.A.J.Ed./JTSA Davidson) is a volunteer transcriber for the Open Siddur Project. If you find any mistakes in his transcriptions, please let him know. Shgiyot mi yavin; Ministarot naqeni שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי "Who can know all one's flaws? From hidden errors, correct me" (Psalms 19:13). If you'd like to directly support his work, please consider donating via his Patreon account. (Varady also translates prayers and contributes his own original work besides serving as the primary shammes of the Open Siddur Project and its website, opensiddur.org.)
  Website: https://aharon.varady.net
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/aharon-varady
• 
  Name: Hyman Hurwitz
  Bio: Hyman Hurwitz (1770–1844) was a learned Jew who became first professor of Hebrew at University College, London. He was born in Poznań, Poland in 1770, came to England about 1797 and conducted a private academy for Jews at Highgate, where he established a close friendship with Samuel Taylor Coleridge and corresponded with him. Coleridge once described Hurwitz as "the first Hebrew and Rabbinical Scholar in the Kingdom." In 1828, on Coleridge's recommendation, he was elected professor of the Hebrew language and literature at University College, London. His inaugural lecture was published. He died on 18 July 1844. Hurwitz was buried in the Brady Street Cemetery near Whitechapel in London's East End.
  Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyman_Hurwitz
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/hyman-hurwitz
• 
  Name: Unknown Author(s)
  Bio: Sometimes the best we can do in attributing a historical work is to indicate the period and place it was written, the first prayer book it may have been printed in, or the archival collection in which the manuscript was found. We invite the public to help to attribute all works to their original composers. If you know something not mentioned in the commentary offered, please leave a comment or contact us.
  Website:
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/unknown

Featured Image:

Title: Enoch_Seeman_(c._1694-1745)_-_George_II_(1683-1760)_-_RCIN_406201_-_Royal_Collection
Caption: George II of Great Britain by Enoch Seeman (circa 1830s)