Berakhah (or berachah)

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In the Bible, there are several words that are usually translated as “blessing” or “bless.” The Hebrew word most often translated “bless” is barak, which can mean to praise, congratulate, or salute, and is even used to mean a curse. In Judaism, a berakhah, bracha, brokho, brokhe ( pl. berakhot, brokhoys; "benediction," "blessing," "drawing down [of spiritual energy]") is a formula of blessing or thanksgiving, recited in public or private, usually before the performance of a commandment, or the enjoyment of food or fragrance, and in praise on various occasions. The function of a berakhah is to acknowledge God as the source of all blessings.


Categories of blessings there are three major categories of berakhah:

1. On pleasurable experiences, such as before eating food or smelling fragrances.
2. When performing a commandment, such as the lighting of Sabbath candles.
3. In praise, gratitude, or recognition of God's justice, such as upon seeing awe-inspiring natural phenomena, or upon hearing very good or very bad news.





The Old Testament Terms for blessing abound in the Old Testament, occurring over 600 times. The major terms are related to the word meaning "to kneel, " since in earlier times one would kneel to receive a blessing.

Ceremonial blessings:

1. Within the family the father blessed his wife and children ( Gen 27:27-29; 49:25-26; 1 Sam2:20 ).
2. In the government context, the ruler blessed his subjects ( 2 Sam 6:18; 1 Kings 8:14 1 Kings8:55 ).
3. Those who possessed a priestly role were bestowed with the privilege of blessing
(Gen14:19;Lev 9:22 ).
4. The tribe of Levi was set apart "to pronounce blessings in his [the Lord's] name" ( Deut 10:8; 21:5 ).

Three formal Old Testament blessings:
1. The greater blesses the lesser, a fact picked up by the writer of Hebrews to demonstrate the superiority of Melchizedek to Abraham ( Heb 7:6-7 ).
2. The blessing is a sign of special favor that is intended to result in prosperity and success ( Deu 28:3-7 ).
3. The blessing is actually an invocation for God's blessing: "May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful" ( Gen 28:3 ).

Spoken Blessing:

A spoken blessing is a positive, Biblical statement that invokes the blessing of God in the life of another. The power of spoken blessings comes from God, Who Himself “hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). Our words have the potential to do good or to do harm.

The Bible describes the potential impact of our words in verses such as these:
1. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Proverbs 18:21).
2. “Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24).
3. “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad” (Proverbs 12:25).

A spoken blessing does good to those who hear it. In the New Testament, the English word bless is a translation of the Greek word eulogeo. According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, eulogeo means “to speak well of, i.e. (religiously) to bless (thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper).” When you bless others, you direct God’s goodness to them; you intercede for them—“stand in the gap” for them as you come boldly to the throne of grace in faith. (See Ezekiel 22:30 and Hebrews 4:16.)


Three Prayers of Blessing from the Bible

1. Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT)
‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.’

2. Ephesians 3:16-20 (NLT)
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

3. Colossians 1:9-12 (NLT)
We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.



The following New Testament passages are particularly suitable for use in spoken blessings:

· Romans 15:5-6, 13
· I Corinthians 1:4-9, 16:23
· II Corinthians 1:3-7, 2:14, 13:7-9
· Ephesians 1:3-23, 3:14-21, 6:18-20, 23-24
· Philippians 1:3-6, 9-11; 4:6-8, 23
· Colossians 1:3-6, 9-14; 4:2-6
· I Thessalonians 1:2-3, 3:12-13, 5:23-24, 28
· II Thessalonians 1:11-12, 2:16-17, 3:5, 16
· II Timothy 4:22
· Philemon 1:4-7
· Hebrews 13:20-21
· I Peter 1:3-9, 5:10-11
· II Peter 1:2-4, 3:18
· II John 1:3
· III John 1:2-3

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