The lyrics were written about 800-900 years ago in Europe. The tune that is considered to be "traditional" in most parts of the Jewish world today, is an adaptation of a German folk song.
Maoz Tzur is an acrostic poem with five stanzas. The first letter of each stanza spells the poet's name, Mordechai, in Hebrew (mem, reish, dalet, kaf, yud).
The first stanza, below, thanks God for deliverance from our oppressors. The next three stanzas tell the story of the exodus from Egypt and the liberation from Babylonia, Persia, and Syria. The fifth verse recounts the story of Hanukkah.
Stanza 1: Transliteration
Ma'oz tsur yeshu'ati
lecha na'eh leshabeakh.
Tikon beit tefilati
vesham todah nezaveakh.
Le'et tachin matbeakh
mitsar hamnabeakh,
'az 'egmor beshir mizmor
khanukat hamizbeakh.
Stanza 1: Popular English Translation (Rock of Ages)
Rock of ages, let our song
Praise Your saving power;
You, amid the raging foes,
Were our sheltering tower.
Furious they assailed us,
But Your arm availed us,
And Your word,
Broke their sword,
When our own strength failed us.
Stanza 1: Literal Translation
O mighty stronghold of my salvation,
to praise You is a delight.
Restore my House of Prayer and there
we will bring a thanksgiving offering.
When You will have prepared the
slaughter for the blaspheming foe,
Then I shall complete with a song of hymn
the dedication of the Altar.
Listen to the Music
- Aish.com: Chanukah Songs! (MP3)
- Sam Englander: Maoz Tzur (Midi)
- Torah Tots: Maoz Tzur (page background music)