Writings by Barri Cae Mallin

Your Ketubah

Tuesday 25 November 2003 - 13:24:37


For centuries, scholars have debated whether Moses actually wrote the first five
books of the Bible, also known as the Torah. We who know and love God's word
have no doubt that Moses did pen the Bible, because the Bible tells us so. Not only does the Bible tell us that Moses wrote (Exodus 24:4), it also tell us that God wrote

The word for write in Hebrew is katav, and kah-tahv can mean write, describe, subscribe, engrave,
record, to decree. In Jewish life today, it is custom to sign a ketubah, a Jewish marriage contract. It is a no-exit pre-nuptial agreement. In return for the bride's virginity, her dowry, and her pledge of love, the groom promises to provide for her, love her and protect her. (Ketubah comes from the root word, katav, again, which means to write).

Once the two parties sign the ketubah, they are married, even if there was not a wedding ceremony. These days, it is custom to have a special ketubah illustrated or drawn for the couple, highlighting their own personal tastes. The ketubah is binding, and has places for the wedded couple's signatures, along with witnesses' signatures. I have had the privilege of signing a few ketubahs as a witness, it is a blessing, a b'rucha.

The reading of the Ketubah is like a break between the betrothal (engagement, kiddushin ) and the marriage (nissuin). God has given us a Ketubah, it is His word. He has promised that the marriage of the Lamb will occur, and we are waiting. As a couple can replay their wedding video, or look over their ketubah on their anniversary, we as believers have the Living Word, the Ketubah, to encourage us of God's promises.

And what are we told about God's promises?

Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass. Joshua 21:45

"Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed. Joshua 23:14


"Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant. I Kings 8:56

For this is the word of promise: "AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON." Rom. 9:9


For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes ; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. 2 Corin 1:20

And if you belong to Messiah Yeshua Jesus, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise. Gal. 3:29

So that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,
saying, "I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU."
And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. Heb. 6:12-15

For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 2 Peter 1:4

You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;
being manifested that you are a letter of Messiah, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corin.3:2-3

Copyright © Barri Cae Mallin.