We have now imbibed three out of the required four cups of wine. But why is there a fifth cup of wine on the table? Traditionally we fill, but do not drink, a fifth cup of wine that is reserved for Elijah.

According to the Talmud, each cup represents a promise of redemption that Adonai makes in Exodus 6:6-7: "I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians," "I will deliver you from their bondage," "I will redeem you with an outstretched arm," and "I will take you to Me as a people and be Elohim to you." The fifth promise in the next verse, "I will bring you into the land [...] and I will give it to you as a heritage," is not fulfilled until after the end of the Exodus story, when the people arrive in the promised land, so the rabbis could not decide whether a fifth cup was required. It is left "for the arrival of Elijah"—a point in the indefinite future.

Elijah the prophet, whose name means "My god is Yah," lived in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab, according to the books of Kings in the Tanakh. In 2 Kings 2:3-9, it is foretold that Elijah would be taken up into heaven, and Elijah departs the world in a chariot of fire. Jewish tradition says that he will herald the coming of the moshiach ("anointed one"), a person from the line of King David, well-versed in Jewish law, who is destined to rule the kingdom of Israel in the world to come.

We open the door of our home and invite Elijah in by singing this song in his honor:

אֵלִיָּהוּ הַנָּבִיא אֵלִיָּהוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּי
אֵלִיָּהוּ, אֵלִיָּהוּ, אֵלִיָּהוּ הַגִּלְעָדִי
בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ יָבֹא אֵלֵינוּ עִם מָשִׁיחַ בֶּן דָּוִד

Eliyahu ha-navi, Eliyahu ha-tishbi,
Eliyahu, Eliyahu, Eliyahu ha-giladi
Bim'heirah b'yameinu yavo eleinu
Im moshiach ben David, im moshiach ben David

Elijah the prophet, Elijah the Tishbite, Elijah the Giladite
May he come to us soon, in our days
With the anointed one, the son of David.


haggadah Section: Bareich
Source: Traditional