Mi Shebeirach: The Traditional Jewish Prayer for the Sick
When there are sick people within our community or family, it is our duty to lift them up in prayer and ask for healing and restoration for them. The traditional Jewish prayer for the ill is known in Hebrew as the “Mi Shebeirach” (מי שברך), and its purpose is to ask for blessing, mercy, and strength for those facing illness. Though its specific origin is not clear, it dates back as far as the Middle Ages.
Oftentimes, this prayer is recited in synagogues during the time of the Torah service as a way to remember and lift up individuals who are sick within the community. This specific prayer is not just said during Torah services, however; it can also be recited on other occasions such as when you visit an ill person. The action of taking care of or visiting someone who is sick is called “bikur cholim” (ביקור חולים) in Hebrew and is considered a mitzvah (מצווה).
We hope that this prayer will be useful to you as you remember and ask for healing for the sick among you.
Prayer for the Sick: Hebrew
For a male: מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב וְאִמּוֹתֵינוּ שָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה הוּא יְבָרֵךְ וִירַפֵּא אֶת הַחוֹלֶה __________(שם החולה) בֶּן __________ (שם האם) [בְּשֵׁם יֵשׁוּעַ הַמָּשִׁיחַ] הַקָּדושׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִמָלֵא רַחֲמִים עָלָיו לְהַחֲלִימו וּלְרַפְּאתו וּלְהַחֲזִיקו וּלְהַחֲיותו, וְיִשְׁלַח לו מְהֵרָה רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם רְפוּאַת הַנֶּפֶשׁ וְרְפוּאַת הַגּוּף בְּתוֹךְ שְׁאָר חוֹלֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְחוֹלֵי יֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֵל הַשְׁתָּא בְּעַגְלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן. | For a female: מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם, יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, וְאִמּוֹתֵינוּ שָׂרָה, רִבְקָה, רָחֵל וְלֵאָה, הוּא יְבָרֵךְ וְיִרְפָּא אֶת הַחוֹלָה _________ (שֵׁם הַחוֹלָה) בַּת __________(שם האם). [בְּשֵׁם יֵשׁוּעַ הַמָּשִׁיחַ] הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יְמַלֵּא רַחֲמִים עָלֶיהָ לְהַחֲלִימָהּ וּלְרַפְאוֹתָהּ, וּלְהַחֲזִיקָהּ וּלְהַחֲיוֹתָהּ, וְיִשְׁלַח לָהּ מְהֵרָה רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם, רְפוּאַת הַנֶּפֶשׁ וְרְפוּאַת הַגּוּף, בְּתוֹךְ שְׁאָר חוֹלֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְחוֹלֵי יֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֵל, הַשְׁתָּא בְּעַגְלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן. |
Prayer for the Sick: Transliteration
For a male: Mi sheberach avoteinu Avraham, Yitzchak ve-Yaakov, ve-imoteinu Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel ve-Leah, hu yevarech ve-yirape et ha-choleh _____ (name of sick) ben _____ (mother’s name). [be-shem Yeshua ha-Mashiach] HaKadosh Baruch Hu yimale rachamim alav, le-hachalimo, u-le-rapoto, u-le-hachaziko, u-le-hachayoto, ve-yishlach lo mehara refuah shlemah min hashamayim, refu’at ha-nefesh ve-refu’at ha-guf, betoch sh’ar cholei Yisrael ve-cholei yoshvei tevel, hashta be-agla u-vizman kariv, ve-nomar Amen. | For a female: Mi sheberach avoteinu Avraham, Yitzchak ve-Yaakov, ve-imoteinu Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel ve-Leah, hu yevarech ve-yirpa et ha-cholah _______ (name of sick) bat _______ (mother’s name). [be-shem Yeshua ha-Mashiach] HaKadosh Baruch Hu yimale rachamim aleha, le-hachalima u-le-raf’otah, u-le-hachzikah u-le-hachayotah, ve-yishlach lah mehara refuah shlemah min ha-shamayim, refu’at ha-nefesh ve-refu’at ha-guf, betoch sh’ar cholei Yisrael ve-cholei yoshvei tevel, hashta be-agla u-vizman kariv, ve-nomar Amen. |
Prayer for the Sick: English Translation
For a male: May the One who blessed our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; And our mothers, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, Bless and heal the one who is ill, ______ (name of sick man) son of ______ (mother’s name) [in the name of Yeshua our Messiah]. May the Holy One, blessed be He, overflow with compassion upon him, to restore him, heal him, strengthen him, and enliven him. May God send a complete and speedy healing from heaven, healing of the soul and healing of the body, among all the sick of Israel and all the sick of the world. And let us say: Amen. | For a female: May the One who blessed our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; And our mothers, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, Bless and heal the one who is ill, ________ (name of sick woman) daughter of _______ (mother’s name) [in the name of Yeshua our Messiah]. May the Holy One, blessed be He, overflow with compassion upon her, to restore her, heal her, strengthen her, and enliven her. May God send her a complete and speedy healing from heaven, healing of the soul and healing of the body, among all the sick of Israel and all the sick of the world. And let us say: Amen. |
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Glossary
Amen (אָמֵן) means “truly” or “let it be so” and is said as an affirmation of faith, agreement, and trust in God.
Bikur cholim (ביקור חולים) is the mitzvah of taking care of or visiting someone who is sick.
Mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ) means “anointed one” and refers to the promised Messiah
Mitzvah (מצווה) means "commandment," and often refers to good and righteous deeds.
Torah (תּוֹרָה) means “instruction” or “teaching” and often refers especially to the Five Books of Moses. Psalm 119:1 reminds us that those who walk in God's Torah are blessed.
Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ) is the Hebrew name of Jesus, meaning "salvation"
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