Priestly blessing
The priestly blessing is the blessing God gave Israel’s priests to pronounce over the people, asking for the Lord’s favor, protection, and peace. It is most clearly found in Numbers 6:24–26.
At a Glance
The priestly blessing is the blessing God gave Israel’s priests to pronounce over the people, asking for the Lord’s favor, protection, and peace. It is most clearly found in Numbers 6:24–26.
Description
The priestly blessing, often called the Aaronic blessing or benediction, is the form of blessing the Lord gave to Aaron and his sons for Israel: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Num. 6:24–26). In its biblical context, this blessing was a priestly pronouncement grounded in God’s covenant mercy, not a magical formula or a human wish detached from the Lord’s will. It highlights the Lord’s protection, grace, favorable presence, and gift of peace, and Numbers 6:27 adds that God himself places his name on his people and blesses them. In Christian use, the priestly blessing is commonly spoken as a benediction in worship, and many believers see it as a fitting expression of God’s enduring care, while taking care to respect its original role within Israel’s worship life.