The Aaronic blessing is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It is a beautiful blessing given by Aaron, the High Priest to bless the nation of Israel. I have included the passage below and the Hebrew translation. May you feel Gods love for you today as you meditate on His words.
The passage begins chapter 6 verse 22: The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
” ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face
shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace. ” ‘
– Numbers 6:24-26
This passage is also known as “The Priestly Blessing.”
God’s clearly instructs Moses to speak to his brother Aaron, the High Priest at the time, and to his Sons with the exact words to be used to bless the people of Israel. The last verse (27) saying- “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them“. The Bible specified that only Aaron or his descendants were allowed to impart this blessing upon the people of Israel.
Today, the Aaronic blessing (verses 24-26) is used often in both churches and synagogues as a benediction– “Bene” means “good” and “diction” means “pronouncement“. The pastor or priest will lift up his hand or hands and pronounce the blessing over the congregation.
I always love that! I could feel the peace of the blessing.
The tradition partly derives from Psalm 134:2
Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!
Here is The Aaronic Blessing in Hebrew: I thought it interesting.
Update @2/2020 A thoughtful reader commented “If you are going to embed the Hebrew text into your articles, at least make an effort to get it correct. All the words are spelled backwards and are mixed up.
The transliteration is only partial and you have not substituted correctly for the tetragrammaton.
The correct Hebrew is (with pointing):”
Therefore here are both versions. The new version is first. I await further comments.
יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃
יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיִו אֵלֶיךָ וִחֻנֶּֽךָ׃
יִשָּׂא יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵֹם לְךָ שָׁלֽוֹם׃
Original version below
הוהי ךכרבי ךילא וינפ הוהי ראי ךנחיו םולש םשיו ךילא וינפ הוהי אשי
Transliteration Yeh-va-reh-cheh-cha Yahveh veh-yeesh-meh-reh-cha Ya-air Yahveh pa-naiv ay-leych-cha vee-chu-neh-cha Yee …
The Original Hebraic Meaning:
The Aaronic Blessing has been examined for its original Hebraic meaning by the Ancient Hebrew Research Center as follows:
“Yahweh will kneel before you presenting gifts and will guard you with a hedge of protection, Yahweh will illuminate the wholeness of his being toward you bringing order and he will beautify you, Yahweh will lift up his wholeness of being and look upon you and he will set in place all you need to be whole and complete.”
Click here to read the full explanation on their website.
What is a Blessing according to the Bible?
In the Bible there are several words that translate into “bless or blessing”.
According to the Ancient Hebrew Research Center, the Hebrew words most often translated “bless” is “barak“, (interesting coincidence); however, it can also literally mean “to kneel”.
A “berakah” is a “blessing” but more literally, the bringhttps://saltlightblog.com/god-is-loveing of a gift to another on bended “knee”.
GotQuestions.org explores the concept of the Biblical meaning of “bless”. Click here for a brief explanation.
The English Dictionary Meaning of Blessing:
According to Dictonary.com the noun “blessing” is generally defined as follows:
1) the act or words of a person who blesses
2) a special favor, mercy or benefit ex: the blessings of liberty
3) a favor or gift bestowed by God
3) the invoking of God’s favor upon a person
5) praise; devotion; worship, especially grace said before a meal
What did you think? Did you learn anything new? I would love you comments.
Do You Know God? Read God Is Love
Also learn about THE BIBLE -Outlined and Explained
To God be the Glory! -Julie
Thank you I received a blessing as I read your thoughts on Numbers 6:24-26. I liked all the indepth thoughts with the Hebrew meanings. I am glad today that we can all impart a spiritual blessing upon one another for the glory of God in His Spirit of truth and grace.
Hi Carol, Thank you for your incredibly kind words. I apologize for my very Late response. I have been taking a break from writing, but I think I may begin again. To know that my blog may bless even 1 person is enough encouragement for me to take up the pen again. Feel free to subscribe if you’d like. You will not be inundated with posts. Blessings – Julie
I’m so blessed to receive this powerful blessings from God.
To God be the glory for ever and ever amen
Thank you for your beautiful comment. I am so thankful it had blessed you. I love this post. It is one of my all-time most popular posts. To God be the glory always! -Julie
I love your blog.
The Lord bless you and keep you and His face shines upon you. The Lord be gracious unto you and gives you peace, Amen.
Hi Ruci, Thank you for your encouraging words. This makes my day!!
Also…Sorry for my slow response. I have not been writing lately but hope to start again soon.
I have been distracted with a health issue my husband is having. Your are welcome to subscribe,in case I get back to the blog. Have a blessed day.- Julie
I wrote this Bible verse for my husband to say at his Adult Day Care meetings, as he has Alzheimer’s and this is
his special prayer, when daily he is asked to recite before his lunch meal with his group.
Hi Barbara- I love that you did this for your husband and his group. I know this blessed them all. I apologize for my incredibly late response and I am so sorry your husband has had to deal with Alzheimers. It is truly awful.
I took a break from writing. And lately I have been distracted with a health issue my husband is having.
You are welcome to subscribe,in case I get back to the blog. Have a blessed day- Julie
So, in order to be blessed with this blessing prayer, someone needs to bless me with it. So I can not read this back to myself and pray to myself? What if you live alone, and doe not know anyone that can pray this prayer over you?
Hi Ricardo, Interesting point. Catholics bless themselves, tracing the shape of the cross across their body starting at their forehead. When you pray, God hears your prayers. You can pray by yourself asking God to bless you and recite the Aaronic Blessing.
I am often alone. Sometimes I pray aloud and sometimes I pray silently. I ask God to bless me as part of my regular prayers. For the Aaronic Blessing, here is what I just prayed, and I am alone.
“Lord bless me and keep me, make your face shine upon me, and be gracious to me, Lord turn your face toward me and give me peace- in Jesus name I pray. Amen
Hi Ricardo, I apologize for my incredibly late response. Thank you for your question. I pray this for myself and my family. You can ask God to Bless you, no one needs to proclaim it over you.
I firmly believe God hears all our prayers. Jesus withdrew and prayed in the wilderness Luke 15:6 and in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed alone to God the Father. See Matthew 26:39–42 ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.
If you are going to embed the Hebrew text into your articles, at least make an effort to get it correct.
All the words are spelled backwards and are mixed up.
The transliteration is only partial and you have not substituted correctly for the tetragrammaton.
The correct Hebrew is (with pointing):
יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃
יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיִו אֵלֶיךָ וִחֻנֶּֽךָ׃
יִשָּׂא יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵֹם לְךָ שָׁלֽוֹם׃
Would it be appropriate to pronounce the Aaronic blessing on my children?
Hi Indra- Thank you for asking. Yes, I think it is fine to pray this for and over your children. I certainly pray this for my children and my family. Prayer is essential to our lives and to our relationship with our Abba Father.
*Sorry for my slow response. I have not been writing lately but hope to start again soon.
I have been distracted with a health issue my husband is having. You are welcome to subscribe, in case I get back to the blog. Have a blessed day.- Julie
Your wonderful Explanation is So Beautiful and Lovely. Thank You 😊
Hi Mark. Thank you for your sweet encouragement. Sorry for my slow response. I have not been writing lately but hope to start again soon.
I have been distracted with a health issue my husband is having. Your are welcome to subscribe, in case I get back to the blog. Have a blessed day.- Julie
I found this Hebrew translation of The Aaronic blessing so much more impactful.
Dear Sara. Thank you so very much for your encouragement!! I am so glad my post was helpful to you. Have a blessed day!! Julie