Messianic Kiddush Prayers for the Sabbath
On Friday evening, the Sabbath (Shabbat in Hebrew) traditionally starts with a collection of Jewish prayers called “Kiddush.” Kiddush simply means sanctification, and it’s a beautiful way to usher in the Sabbath in a way that sets it apart from the rest of the week.
Messianic Kiddush prayers are a version of these Jewish prayers that include references to Jesus as the Messiah. These prayers refer to Him to by His Hebrew name, Yeshua, which means “salvation” in Hebrew. Jesus kept the Sabbath, and it’s very likely that He prayed a version of Kiddush to start Shabbat.
If you’re new to Sabbath and wondering where you begin, a great way to usher in the Sabbath is by saying a prayer to God as the King of the universe—thanking Him for a day of rest and a day to delight in His presence.
You don’t have to use the traditional Messianic Kiddush prayers, but we’ve found it to be a beautiful rhythm that anchors the beginning of Sabbath while connecting you to the deep Jewish roots of the faith. As you pray or sing Kiddush, you’ll be joining in with millions of believers all over the world as you sanctify the Sabbath day to the LORD.
Therefore, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God. For one who has entered his rest has ceased from his work, just as God did with his. Thus, let us be careful to enter that rest.
—Hebrews 4:9–11
Sabbath Table with challah bread, kiddush glass of wine, and book of Sabbath prayers
What you’ll need
Two candles
A loaf of challah bread or other type of bread
Wine or grape juice
An expectant heart
Messianic Kiddush Blessings
Lighting of the Candles
The Lady of the House should light two candles and say the following blessing:
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us with his commandments, and commanded us to be a light to the nations and who gave us Yeshua our Messiah the Light of the world.”
Hebrew (Transliterated): Baruch attah ADONAI elo-hei-nu me-lech ha’olam, asher kidde-sha-nu bemitzvotav, lehadlik ner shel shabbat.
Remembering the first Sabbath
The Father of the house should read Genesis 1:31-2:3 while holding a glass of wine, to remember how God created the world and rested.
God saw all that he had made, and behold, it was very good. It was evening and it was morning, the sixth day.
Heaven and earth, and all their components, were thus completed. With the seventh day, God finished all the work that he had done. He thus ceased on the seventh day from all the work that he had been doing. God blessed the seventh day, and he declared it to be holy, for it was on this day that God ceased from all the work that he had been creating so that it would continue to function.
—Genesis 1:31-2:3 (The Living Torah)
Blessing Over the Bread
The Father of the house breaks the loaf of challah and holds up a piece:
“Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who gives us the Living Bread from heaven.”
Baruch attah ADONAI elo-hei-nu me-lech ha’olam, ha-mo-tzi le-chem min ha-a-retz.
[Respond: Amen]
Blessing Over the Wine
Then he raises a glass of wine, remembering the cup of salvation and how God rescued the Israelites out of Egypt.
“Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who creates the true fruit of the vine - Yeshua.”
Hebrew (Transliterated): Baruch attah ADONAI elo-hei-nu me-lech ha’olam, borei pri ha-ga-fen, Yeshua
[Respond: Amen]
Final Blessing Over Shabbat
The Father of the house raises his glass of wine and prays the following blessing over the Sabbath:
“Blessed are You LORD our God, King of the Universe, who made us holy with his commandments and favored us, and gave us His holy Sabbath, in love and favor, to be our heritage, as a reminder of the Creation. It is the foremost day of the holy festivals marking the Exodus from Egypt. For out of all the nations You chose us, grafted us in, and made us holy, and You gave us Your holy Sabbath, in love and favor, as our heritage.
Blessed are you LORD, Who sanctifies the Sabbath.”
(Hebrew Transliterated: Baruch attah ADONAI, mekadesh ha shabbat.)
[Respond: Amen]
Everyone drinks wine from their cup.
Optional Blessings
Blessing for Sons
May God make you as Ephraim and Manasseh
May our Father in heaven put in your heart his love and reverence.
May the LORD bless you and protect you and give you shalom.
Blessing for Daughters
May God make you as Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah, and Ruth
May the LORD bless you and protect you and give you shalom.
Sabbath has officially begun! We will often recite these blessings over our children as well as say a prayer over our family as we enter into the Sabbath. It's a beautiful way to pour out your heart to the LORD and thank Him for His goodness at work in your life!
If you hold back your feet on account of the Sabbath from doing whatever you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and call the holy one of the LORD honored, if you honor it by not making your own way, seeking whatever you please, or speaking inappropriately, then you will delight in the LORD, and I will let you ride upon the heights of the earth, and I will feed you with the inheritance of your father Jacob, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
—Isaiah 58:13–14
Whether you’re just beginning to Sabbath or you’ve done this for years, I pray that you’ll be richly blessed as you enter into a day of rest and delight. May you experience our Father’s love, joy, and shalom on this amazing day!
