The Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic — How Jesus Actually Prayed
Most Christians know the Lord’s Prayer by heart. But almost no one has heard it in the language Jesus himself spoke. This page lets you listen to the prayer in Aramaic, line by line, with the meaning of each phrase.
Listen to the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic
אבון דבשמיא
ʾabwūn d-ḇašmayyā
Sounds like: a-VOUN d-vach-MA-ya
Our Father in heaven,
נתקדש שמך
nethqaddaš šmāk
Sounds like: net-qa-DACH chmakh
hallowed be your name,
תאתא מלכותך
tēṯē malkūṯāk
Sounds like: té-TÉ mal-kou-TAKH
your kingdom come,
הב לן לחמא דסונקנן יומנא
haḇ lan laḥmā d-sūnqānan yawmānā
Sounds like: hav lan LAKH-ma d-soun-qa-NAN yau-ma-NA
give us today the bread we need,
ושבוק לן חובין
wa-šḇoq lan ḥawbayn
Sounds like: ou-CHVOUQ lan kho-VAÏN
and forgive us our debts.
Why hearing it in Aramaic changes everything
When you only know the prayer in English (or Latin, or Greek), you miss the simplicity and intimacy of the original.
Jesus did not teach his disciples a formal religious formula. He taught them to speak to God in the ordinary language of fishermen, mothers, and children in Galilee.
Line-by-line meaning
“Our Father”
Jesus addressed God as a father — close, personal and trusting. In Mark 14:36 the Gospel even keeps his Aramaic word ʾAbbā.
“Hallowed be your name”
To “hallow” the name is to treat God himself as holy: a wish that God be honoured by everyone, not a formula for priests.
“Your kingdom come”
A hope that God’s reign would become visible on earth, in a land then ruled by Rome.
“Our daily bread”
In a Galilean village, bread was survival. The prayer asks simply for what is needed today.
“Forgive us”
Matthew’s Greek says “debts”. Aramaic used the same word family for a debt and a sin, so forgiveness sounded like a debt being released.
A prayer meant to be spoken
The Lord’s Prayer was never meant to stay on a page. It was meant to be said aloud.
That is why hearing it in Aramaic feels different. It brings you closer to the voice and the world of Jesus.
Want to go further than just listening?
Jesus Tongue teaches you the actual words and expressions Jesus used — in short daily lessons with audio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What language did Jesus speak when he taught the Lord’s Prayer?
Most scholars agree he spoke Galilean Aramaic in everyday life.
Is this the exact pronunciation Jesus used?
No. It is a careful modern reconstruction based on current knowledge of Aramaic.
Can I learn to say the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic myself?
Yes. That is one of the things you can learn inside Jesus Tongue.
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