The History of the Four Questions

Haggadah Section: -- Four Questions

Over the course of Jewish history, the Four Questions have changed in number, order, and substance. In one of the earliest iterations from an 11th century manuscript of the Mishnah, we asked three questions:

1. On all other nights we dip once, on this night we dip twice.

2. On all other nights we eat chametz and matzah and on this night only matzah.

3. On all other nights we eat meat roasted, boiled and cooked, on this night only roasted.​

These three questions related to the three required foods of the seder: Pesach (the roasted lamb), Matzah, and Maror (which is dipped).

Dipping was asked first, because in the Middle Eastern culture of our ancestors, food was mainly eaten by dipping pita and vegetables into various dips and salads. Dipping would have been the norm at any meal, but dipping twice would have been unusual and worth asking about. The question of dipping remains the first question at Sephardi/Mizrahi seders today.

Over time, we began to dip other vegetables and the question of dipping became separated from the maror. Some seder plates have a separate space for chazeret (lettuce) that is distinct from the maror (bitter herb), though you can use lettuce in both spots. (Does our seder plate tonight have a space for chazeret? What did we put there?) To address the maror, a question was specifically added to the Mah Nishtana, so that the four questions became: dipping, matzah, maror, and roasted lamb.

Following the destruction of the Temple, we stopped asking about the Passover sacrifice and replaced it with the question of leaning. Again, leaning was a common way of eating in the Middle East, but once we were in the diaspora (especially in Europe), we were introduced to eating at tables. It's much harder to lean and eat while seated in a chair at a table, so the question of leaning/reclining was added to the Mah Nishtana as it became unusual in our everyday lives.

Some Haggadot kept the question of the roasted meat, but changed it to the past tense: "On all other nights we eat meat whether roasted, broiled or cooked, on this night  we used to eat in the Temple  only roast meat." Those Haggadot then had five questions, though by this point almost all Haggadot have removed the past tense question.

As we continue through the seder tonight, we are encouraged to ask even more questions!

Clip Featured in Haggadot's2023 Favorites
Edit Clip
2023 Favorites
HA
Haggadot
Table of contents
    Introduction
  • Night of Questions!
  • "Седер на Песах". авторка Зоя Черкаська-Ннаді
  • #MyKeshetSeder
  • Asian Jewish Seder Plate
    • Introduction, Maror, Koreich
  • A Civil War Passover
    • Urchatz
  • Urchatz: A Deeper Dive into Handwashing at the Seder
    • Yachatz
  • It Cracks
    • -- Four Questions
  • On The Importance of Questions
  • The Four Questions translated and transliterated from Hebrew and Yiddish
  • The History of the Four Questions
  • MAZON's Fifth Question 2023
    • -- Four Children
  • Four Children
  • The Four Children
    • -- Exodus Story
  • Passover From Miriam's Eyes
    • -- Ten Plagues
  • ChatGPT - 10 Plagues as WWE
    • -- Cup #2 & Dayenu
  • Being LGBTQ and Enough: A Queer Dayeinu
  • Second Cup: Stages of Life
    • Motzi-Matzah
  • Stained Glass Matzah
    • Bareich
  • The Third Cup: Transformation
  • Pour Out Your Wrath
    • Nirtzah
  • Cleanup Time
    • Commentary / Readings
  • Excerpts from “Passover Nights,” Hava Shapiro (1925)
  • A Prayer for the Defenders of Ukraine!
  • Reflection Questions/Preguntas Para Reflexionar
  • Clarity in Liberation
  • Memorials/Bereavement at the Passover Seder
  • Blessing for Pets
    • Songs
  • Miriam’s Dance Party
  • Inspired to create
    your own Haggadah?

    Make your own Haggadah and share with other Seder lovers around the world

    Have an idea
    for a clip?

    People like you bring their creativity to Haggadot.com when they share their ideas in a clip

    Support Us
    with your donation

    Help us build moments of meaning and connection through
    home-based Jewish rituals.

    OUR TOP CONTRIBUTORS

    contributor image
    Esther Kustanowitz
    4 Haggadahs38 Clips
    contributor image
    JQ International
    1 Haggadah40 Clips
    contributor image
    MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
    5 Haggadahs109 Clips
    contributor image
    18Doors
    1 Haggadah13 Clips
    contributor image
    JewishBoston
    1 Haggadah78 Clips
    contributor image
    Truah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
    1 Haggadah36 Clips
    contributor image
    American Jewish World Service
    1 Haggadah44 Clips
    contributor image
    JewBelong
    3 Haggadahs57 Clips
    contributor image
    Repair the World
    12 Clips
    contributor image
    HIAS
    5 Haggadahs48 Clips
    contributor image
    Be'chol Lashon
    2 Haggadahs27 Clips
    contributor image
    PJ Library
    1 Haggadah17 Clips
    contributor image
    Jewish World Watch
    3 Haggadahs42 Clips
    contributor image
    Secular Synagogue
    10 Clips
    contributor image
    SVIVAH
    1 Haggadah9 Clips
    contributor image
    The Blue Dove Foundation
    12 Clips
    contributor image
    ReformJudaism.org
    24 Clips
    contributor image
    Jewish Emergent Network
    1 Haggadah22 Clips

    Passover Guide

    Hosting your first Passover Seder? Not sure what food to serve? Curious to
    know more about the holiday? Explore our Passover 101 Guide for answers
    to all of your questions.

    Haggadot

    Haggadot.com by Recustom, is a free resource for all backgrounds and experiences. Consider making a donation to help support the continuation of this free platform.

    Copyright © 2024 Custom and Craft Jewish Rituals Inc, dba Recustom, dba Haggadot.com.
    All Rights Reserved. 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. EIN: 82-4765805.