The Four Questions

Learn "Mah Nishtanah" in Both Hebrew and English

One of the main focal points of the traditional Passover seder is the maggid, the telling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt. This story begins with the youngest person at the seder asking the Four Questions (Mah Nishtanah). These questions provide the impetus for telling why this night is different from all other nights.

The questions are often sung to one of several popular melodies, though the most common is a popular Israeli rhythmic melody. Learn more about the history of these melodies

 

מַה־נִּשְׁתַּנָּה הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל־הַלֵּילוֹת?

Mah nishtanah halailah hazeh mikol haleilot?  
How is this night different from all other nights?


שֶׁבְּכָל־הַלֵּילוֹת, אָֽנוּ אוֹכְלִין חָמֵץ וּמַצָּה; הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה, כֻּלּוֹ מַצָּה.

Sheb'chol haleilot anu ochlin chametz umatzah, halailah hazeh, kuloh matzah.
On all other nights, we eat chametz (leavened foods) and matzah. Why on this night, only matzah?
 


שֶׁבְּכָל־הַלֵּילוֹת, אָֽנוּ אוֹכְלִין שְׁאָר יְרָקוֹת; הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה, מָרוֹר.

Sheb'chol haleilot anu ochlin sh'ar y'rakot, halailah hazeh, maror.
On all other nights, we eat all vegetables. Why, on this night, maror (bitter herbs)?


שֶׁבְּכָל־הַלֵּילוֹת, אֵין אָֽנוּ מַטְבִּילִין אֲפִֽלּוּ פַּעַם אֶחָת; הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה, שְׁתֵּי פְעָמִים.

Sheb'chol haleilot ein anu matbilin afilu pa'am echat; halailah hazeh, sh'tei f'amim.
On all other nights, we don't dip even once. Why on this night do we dip twice?

 


שֶׁבְּכָל־הַלֵּילוֹת, אָֽנוּ אוֹכְלִין בֵּין יוֹשְׁבִין וּבֵין מְסֻבִּין; הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה, כֻּלָּֽנוּ מְסֻבִּין.

Sheb'chol haleilot anu ochlin bein yoshvin uvein m'subin; halailah hazeh, kulanu m'subin.
On all other nights, we eat either sitting upright or reclining. Why on this night do we all recline?


Learn more about this topic by watching this video from BimBam.