Orthodox officiants generally will require the use of one of the Orthodox texts, which incorporate the traditional Aramaic ketubah text developed centuries ago. The Aramaic portion of the text serves as a legal document and sets forth the traditional financial obligations of the husband to his wife, both during the marriage and upon death or divorce. As one of the earliest forms of a "pre-nuptial" agreement, one of its primary purposes is to protect the rights of the woman in the event of divorce.

The Aramaic Text Translated

The language and form of the traditional ketubah text used today is very similar to that used more than 2000 years ago. The following is a translated example of the Aramaic text:

On the ____ day of the week, the ____ day of the month ____ in the year ____ since the creation of the world, in the city of ____, ____ son of _____ said to this maiden ____ daughter of ____, "Be my wife according to the laws of Moses and Israel, and I will cherish, honor, support and maintain you in accordance with the custom of Jewish husbands who cherish, honor, support and maintain their wives faithfully. And I here present you with the settlement of two hundred silver zuzim, which belongs to you, according to the law of Moses and Israel, and I will also give you your food, clothing and necessities, and live with you as husband and wife according to the universal custom." And the maiden _____ consented and became his wife. The trousseau that she brought to him from her father's house, in silver, gold, valuables, clothing, furniture and bedclothes, all this _______, said bridegroom, accepted in the sum of one hundred silver zuzim, and _____, the bridegroom, agreed to increase this amount from his own property with the sum of one hundred silver zuzim, making in all two hundred silver zuzim.

And thus said ____, the bridegroom: "The responsibility of this marriage contract, of this trousseau, and of this additional sum, I take upon myself and my heirs after me, so that they shall be paid from the best part of my property and possessions that I have beneath the whole heaven, that which I now possess or that which I may hereafter acquire. All my property, real and personal, even the shirt from my back, shall be mortgaged to secure the payment of this marriage contract, of this trousseau and the addition made to it, during my lifetime and after my death, from the present day and forever." _____, the bridegroom, has taken upon himself the responsibility of this marriage contract, of the trousseau and of the addition made to it, according to the restrictive usages of all marriage contracts and the adjoins to them made for the daughters of Israel, according to the institutions of our sages of blessed memory. It is not to be regarded as a mere forfeiture without consideration or as a mere formula of a document.

The above Aramaic portion fulfills the "legal" requirements of the ketubah, and you may also choose an English portion, if desired. Because of the traditional nature of the Aramaic, most couples choose to pair it with a more modern, egalitarian English portion that reflects their mutual promises and commitments.

Orthodox Ketubah Text Options at MP Artworks

You may choose from several Orthodox texts, which can be viewed by clicking the links below.

ketubah STUDIO Texts

Orthodox Ketubah Text I - Traditional Aramaic with Egalitarian I English
Orthodox Ketubah Text II - Traditional Aramaic with Egalitarian II English
Orthodox Ketubah Text III - Traditional Aramaic with Egalitarian III English
Orthodox Ketubah Text IV - Traditional Aramaic with Egalitarian IV English
Orthodox Ketubah Text V - Traditional Aramaic with Egalitarian V English
Orthodox Ketubah Text (No English) - Traditional Aramaic with no English **

ketubah 4less Texts

Orthodox Ketubah Text A - Traditional Aramaic with Egalitarian English A
Orthodox Ketubah Text B - Traditional Aramaic with Egalitarian English B
Orthodox Ketubah Text (No English) - Traditional Aramaic with no English **

** Orthodox (No English) and Conservative (No English) texts are only available with ketubah designs that have one text area. (It is not acceptable to split the Aramaic portion of the text into two parts according to Jewish Law, and without an English text portion, there would be a blank in your design.)

Plus, for either ketubah line, you may choose to write your own English vows to be paired with the Traditional Aramaic text.

See also:
Ketubah Options – Personalization – Orthodox, Conservative Texts
Ketubah and Chuppah Options – Customization, Custom Design Modifications