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What Is a Ketubah? A Simple Guide for Couples
If you're planning a Jewish wedding (or you've been invited to be part of one!), you've probably heard the word ketubah. Maybe you've even seen one hanging in a friend's home.
So what exactly is it? Here is a simple guide, from someone who has had the honor of creating more than 1,600 of them 💛
What is a ketubah?
A ketubah (כתובה, plural: ketubot) is the Jewish marriage contract. The word comes from the Hebrew root meaning "written." It's a document that records the marriage and the commitments the couple make to each other.
The traditional text is written in Aramaic, and it lists the husband's obligations toward his wife: to provide for her food, shelter and clothing, and to care for her. It also states what he owes her in case of divorce or his death. In other words, it was created to protect the bride.
A brief history
The earliest surviving ketubah, from around 440 BCE, is written in Aramaic, and in many communities the text has barely changed since. In biblical times, the groom's family paid the bride's family a mohar, a bride price. According to the Babylonian Talmud, Rabbi Shimon ben Shetach established the ketubah as we know it: instead of paying up front, the husband committed to a sum that would be paid to his wife if the marriage ended. This made marriage possible for young men who couldn't raise the money, and it also protected the wife and discouraged a hasty divorce.
A ketubah from Isfahan, Iran, 1892.
When is the ketubah signed and read?
The ketubah is usually signed shortly before the ceremony, in a small and emotional moment with family and close friends. Traditionally it is signed by two witnesses, and many couples also add their own signatures and the rabbi's or officiant's.
Then, under the chuppah, the ketubah is often read aloud, sometimes in Aramaic and sometimes in English or Hebrew. After the wedding, the couple keeps it, and most frame it and hang it in their home.
Is the ketubah only for Orthodox weddings?
Not at all. Today there are ketubah texts for every kind of couple:
- Orthodox (Ashkenazi and Sephardi), using the traditional Aramaic text.
- Conservative, often with the Lieberman clause.
- Reform and egalitarian, with mutual promises from both partners.
- Interfaith, written for couples from two traditions.
- LGBTQ+ and same-sex couples.
- Secular and fully personal texts, in your own words, in English, French, Spanish or any language you like.
You can read all the versions I offer on my ketubah text options page. If you have a rabbi or officiant, it's always a good idea to check the text with them.
Why is a ketubah also a work of art?
For centuries, Jewish families decorated their ketubot with flowers, birds, Jerusalem, and symbols of love and blessing. Some of the most beautiful Jewish manuscripts in museums today are actually old ketubot, like the one from Isfahan above.
This is what I love most about my work. A ketubah is both a promise and a piece of art that lives with you every day. Some couples choose a Jerusalem ketubah to connect to their roots, some choose delicate papercut or soft watercolor, and some want a custom ketubah with the places and details of their own love story.
How do you choose a ketubah?
- Choose your text together, and with your rabbi or officiant if you have one.
- Choose a design that feels like you, and a size that fits your home. (Here is my guide to ketubah sizes.)
- Order early. I recommend ordering 5 to 7 weeks before the wedding. For less than 4 weeks, there's a rush option.
- Review your proof carefully. I always send a digital proof before printing, so names, dates and spellings are perfect.
Curious about prices? Here is my honest ketubah price guide.
If you have any questions about your ketubah, just reach out. Mazal Tov!! 🕊️