Quick Answer
What is a ketubah?
A ketubah is the traditional Jewish marriage contract, historically written in Aramaic, that sets out the groom's financial and marital obligations to the bride. It is signed by two witnesses before the ceremony and is considered a legal document, not a religious vow. Many modern ketubahs are also commissioned as illustrated art, framed and displayed in the couple's home afterward.
Last updated:
Last updated:
What is a ketubah?
Also called: Jewish marriage contract, ketuba.
Long before the couple says anything to each other under the chuppah, the ketubah has already been signed — a legal contract, not a romantic gesture, that spells out what the groom owes the bride, including financial protection if the marriage ends in divorce or the husband's death. It predates the wedding ceremony itself by centuries and was designed to protect the wife's interests at a time when women had few other legal protections. Today it is signed shortly before the ceremony, often at the tish, and increasingly commissioned as a piece of art worth framing.
What a ketubah contains and when it is signed
The traditional ketubah text is written in Aramaic and spells out the groom's obligations — to provide food, clothing and marital relations, and a specified financial sum payable to the wife in case of divorce or his death. It is signed by two witnesses (who are not close relatives of the couple) immediately before the ceremony, often as part of a small gathering, and is considered a binding legal document under Jewish law rather than a statement of religious belief.
- •Signed shortly before the chuppah — commonly at the tish or during the kabbalat panim (reception) beforehand.
- •Requires two eligible witnesses who are not immediate family of the bride or groom.
- •Modern ketubahs are frequently commissioned from artists as illustrated, calligraphed pieces meant to be framed and displayed after the wedding, alongside — or instead of — the traditional legal text.
Planning notes
- •If commissioning an illustrated ketubah, order it well in advance — custom calligraphy and artwork can take weeks to months.
- •Confirm who the two witnesses will be ahead of time; they typically need to be adults unrelated to the couple by blood or marriage.
- •Decide where the signed ketubah will be displayed at the reception (many couples set it on an easel) and where it goes afterward.
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See WhatsApp announcements →Frequently Asked Questions
Is a ketubah a religious document or a legal one?
It is primarily a legal document under Jewish law, not a statement of religious vows — it functions closer to a marriage contract spelling out obligations than a spiritual declaration.
Who signs the ketubah?
The groom (and in some egalitarian ceremonies, the bride too) signs, along with two eligible witnesses who are not immediate family of the couple.
Can a ketubah be in English instead of Aramaic?
Yes — while the traditional legal text is in Aramaic, many couples today use an English translation or an egalitarian alternative text alongside or instead of it, especially for the artwork that gets displayed.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated