Orthodox Ketubah Text
The Traditional Orthodox Aramaic Text may be used with this translation or paired with another English text.
On the ___ day of the week, the ___ day of the month _____ in the year five thousand seven hundred and eighty-two according to the Jewish calendar here in _______, ______, the groom, _______, son of _____, said to the bride, _____, daughter of _____, “Be my wife according to the laws and traditions of Moses and Israel and I will cherish, honor, support, and maintain you as is the way of Jewish husbands who cherish, honor, support, and maintain their wives faithfully. I present you with the marriage gift proper to Jewish brides, one/two hundred silver zuzim, which belongs to you according to the laws of Moses and Israel. I will also give you food, clothing, and necessities and live faithfully with you as your husband.” And ____, the bride, accepted and became his wife. The trousseau that she brought with her in silver, gold, valuables, clothing, furniture, and bedclothes all this ____, the groom, accepted in the sum of fifty/one hundred silver zuzim, and ____, the groom, consented to increase this amount from his own property with an additional fifty/one hundred silver zuzim, making in all one/two hundred silver zuzim. ____ the groom, said, “The responsibility for this ketubah, the trousseau and the additional sum, I take upon myself and my heirs after me so that it shall be paid from the best part of my property and all possessions that I have beneath the whole heaven which I now possess or may ever acquire. All my property, even the shirt from my back, shall be mortgaged to secure the payment of this ketubah, the trousseau and the addition made to it, during my lifetime and after my death from the present day until forever.” _____, the groom, has taken upon himself the responsibility for this ketubah, the trousseau and the addition made to it, according to the restrictive usages of all ketubot and the addition to them made for Jewish women according to the wisdom of our sages of blessed memory. This ketubah is not to be regarded as a mere formula or a document without meaning. We have followed the legal formality of symbolic delivery, the kinyan, between ____, son of ____, the groom, and ____, the daughter of ____, this bride, and everything written in this contract is valid and binding.
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480 words in English and 280 words in Aramaic
Language Options:
Aramaic & English
Aramaic Only
Size Recommendations
Hebrew & English: Medium or Large
Hebrew Only or English Only: Small -
Jewish couples who want a traditional ketubah and couples who are getting married by an Orthodox rabbi.
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The Aramaic wording has some traditional variations and those may be used at the direction of a rabbi.
If English is permitted by the couple’s rabbi, it may be customized to suit the couple.
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Two Witnesses who are adult Jewish men regarded as religiously observant must sign immediately after the Aramaic ketubah text.
The groom sometimes signs on an additional line after the witnesses.
Bride & Groom and Officiant may sign following the English text but have no implications for the validity of the ketubah text.
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Wedding Details
Secular wedding date and time
City & State (and country, if outside the USA) of wedding location
Names for the Couple
Full names for the couple in English, if using, as you want them to appear
Hebrew names (see What is a Hebrew Name?) Name ben/bat Father’s Name
Bride’s status (never previously married, divorced, widowed, a convert, or other)
Parents’ names in English, if using an English text
First & Last Names for parents in English, if including them
How do I give you my information?
A Ketubah Text Order Form will pop up when you add a ketubah to your shopping cart.
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Yes! See a sample set of proofs.
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Yes. I follow specific instructions to ensure that couples have a ketubah that is right for their community’s traditions.
Please let me know on the special instructions section of the text selection form.
Meeting with your rabbi to find out what their requirements are before you order a ketubah will save a lot of time. It will allow you to find out what traditions should be incorporated into your ketubah, and get correct spellings for your Hebrew names and the wedding location.
By default, the standard format for all Orthodox ketubot is full-justified, the witnesses’ signatures appear immediately following the Aramaic text, and the stem is removed from the ק in the word, וקנינא. When a ketubah on this website is shown with both Hebrew or Aramaic and English, but only Aramaic is preferred, an Aramaic Only option is available. (Some ketubot look better with both languages, but the single language is still available).
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If your rabbi prefers to prepare your text himself and have me use that text, there is no additional charge - this is included in the standard price. You can send it via email after you place your order.
