The Priestly Blessing (1): Bless
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and grant you peace." Numbers 6:24–26 (ESV)
The priestly blessing was ordained by God for the blessing of Israel. The Hebrew words are: Yivarechecha YHVH (Adonai) viyishmirecha Ya'er YHVH (Adonai) panav elecha veechuneka Yeesa YHVH (Adonai) panav elecha viyasem lecha shalom.
The priestly blessing is composed of three sentences. Each sentence is a separate blessing, which consists of two parts. Let us start with the first blessing, focusing on the verb barak (בָּרַך) that is usually translated as “bless.”
The word is used for the first time in Genesis 1:22, 28 when God blesses the creatures and humans. Blessing Adam and Eve, God endued them with power for fertility, prosperity, and well-being. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s instruction, they lost God's blessings that were given to those who live in His presence and walk in His ways.
But what does the word “bless” mean? Examining related words can help us understand its deeper meaning. For example, bara (בָּרָא), means “create” (e.g., “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,” [1]) suggesting a connection between blessing and creation: on the one hand, creation is a manifestation of God’s blessing, and on the other hand, blessing has the power to create. The word bara also means “choose,” indicating that blessing must be chosen. It is not surprising then that the word berakah (בְּרָכָה), can be translated either as “blessing” or “curse.” We are free to choose either to be blessed, i.e., to choose to live in accordance with God’s will, which is “life and good,” or to be cursed, i.e., to rebel against God’s will, which is “death and evil.” [2]
Interestingly, barak is derived from the noun berek (ברך), which means "knee," so barak literally means "to kneel” in adoration, respect, and with a readiness to serve. It is also related to the Hebrew word l’ehibrikh (להבריך) used in reference to a vine branch that is pulled down and placed in the ground so that it can sprout new roots and begin to grow. Thus, growth is a result of bending, or blessing, which releases the potential within and also means “gift.”
So, when we are blessed, or baruch (בָּרוּךְ) by God, we bend before Him in humility and adoration, and discover that He Himself “kneels” before us bringing us the gift of His love. This love is expressed most fully in His Son who laid down his life to restore our blessing and to reunite us with the Father.
There is another word in Hebrew, asher (אָשַׁר), that is translated as "blessed." It can also be translated as “straight," "right," and "happy.” While the two states of being “blessed” are related, they are different. We feel happy (asher) when we make progress, moving forward on a straight path, but we are only able to do so when we are blessed (baruch), i.e., in the presence of God, bent to His will, and loved, respected, and enlarged by Him. Isn’t it why we cannot find true happiness apart from God, who is the source of all blessing?
And finally, while it is great to receive good things from God for our enjoyment, "it is more blessed to give than to receive." [3] It is when we give, especially give of ourselves, that grow closer to God and are changed into the likeness of Christ, who "came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life..."[4]
So let us give in love, so that through our hands God speaks, and from behind our eyes He smiles upon the earth (Kahlil Gibran).
[1] Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (ESV)
[2] Genesis 2:15 (ESV).
[3] Acts 20:35
[4] Mark 10:45
You may learn to say the blessing in Hebrew here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnEHIVkFyoA