1,161. The Verses of Malchiyos, Zichronos and Shofros

Hilchos Shofar, Succah v’Lulav 3:8

The following three intermediate blessings are recited on Rosh Hashana and on Yom Kippur of the Jubilee year: Malchiyos, Zichronos and Shofros. These blessings are all interdependent. In each of these brachos, one must recite ten Biblical verses that illustrate the idea of the bracha. Three of these verses are from the Torah, three from Tehillim (Psalms) and three from the Prophets. One concludes the series with another verse from the Torah, though if one should happen to conclude with a verse from the Prophets, he would fulfill his obligation. If a person were to recite just one verse from the Torah, one from the Writings and one from the Prophets, he would fulfill his obligation. Even if he merely states, "In Your Torah, Hashem our God, it is written...,” followed by one verse from the Torah, nothing more would be required.

Hilchos Shofar, Succah v’Lulav 3:9

When it comes to the Malchiyos, Zichronos and Shofros, one should not use verses about Divine retribution. For example, Psalms 78:39, in which God remembers for punishment, should not be used for Zichronos. Ezekiel 20:33 in which God reigns with anger, should not be used for Malchiyos. Hosea 5:8, in which the shofar is blown to lay waste, should not be used for Shofros. Similarly, Zichronos that refer only to an individual should not be used even if they are positive in nature. Examples include Psalms 106:4 and Nehemiah 5:19, in which the authors ask God to remember them, personally. The Hebrew verb PKD also means to remember but verses using that verb are not used as Zichronos. One may recite verses that refer to retribution being delivered on other nations, like Psalms 99:1 (“God is King, the nations will tremble..."), Psalms 137:7 (“Remember, Hashem, against the Edomites…") and Zechariah 9:14 (The Lord God will blow the shofar and proceed with the southern whirlwinds"). The following verses express God's sovereignty: Deuteronomy 6:4 (“Listen, Israel, Hashem is our God, Hashem is One"); Deuteronomy 4:35 (“It has been revealed to you so that you may know...”); and Deuteronomy 4:39 (“You shall know today and bring close to your heart...”). Even though these verses do not explicitly mention God’s status as King, they are nevertheless equal to Exodus 16:18 (“Hashem will rule forever and ever”) and Deuteronomy 33:5 (“When He became King in Jeshurun...”).