The Aaronic Blessing from the Priest to the Congregation (Numbers 6:22-27)

The Aaronic Blessing (Hebrew, English, and Transliteration) (Numbers 6:22-27)

The Aaronic Blessing found in Bamidbar (Num) 6:22-27 is the most famous blessing in the Torah (Bible):

“Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, Adonai bless you and keep you; Adonai makes his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; Adonai lifts up his countenance upon you and give you Shalom (peace)” (Numbers 6:23b-26).

YHWH commanded Aaron and his sons to pronounce this blessing because He wanted to bless His children. We call it the Aaronic Blessing, the Jews have a different name for it: Bircas Kohanim (Priestly Blessing). It is clear that in this blessing that is Elohim (God) who does the blessing. This blessing expresses the thought that we own all to Adonay who shields his people from all harm and grants them all things necessary for their welfare.

This blessing includes prosperity, children, security, land, happiness, and health; the Lord is the source of all these things. When we enjoy health or succeed the grace of the Almighty is the power source of it. The Aaronic Blessing is not a magical spell, it is a prayer from Elohim to us, to remind us that nothing is possible without Him.

The Rav or Rabbi will lift up his hand or hands and pronounce the blessing over the Kehillah (congregation) at the end of the services. It derives from the:

Tephilim (Psal) 134: 2 “Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless Adonai!”

We should remember that YHWH is doing the blessing and not the one speaking it, so the Rav or Rabbi is, by this means, transmitting His will.

There are some requirements for doing the Aaronic Blessing:

1) In Hebrew (Deut 27:11-26 and Joshua 8:33-35)
2) Standing (Deut 27:12 and Deut 21:5)
3) With Raised Hands (Lev 9:22)
4) Pronouncing the Name of Adonai (Num 6:27 and Deut 12:5)
5) Facing the Kehillah (Num 6)
6) In high voice (Num 6 and Psalms 113:4)

It is common for whoever is reciting the blessing to make their hands resemble the Hebrew letter shin representing one of the Hebrew word (Shim) of the word – Shaddai. Sephardim have a completely different tradition. They raise their hands above their heads and separate all their fingers.

 

 

Here is The Aaronic Blessing in Hebrew and English and a video about how it’s done.

The transliteration of the Hebrew words are:    Yivarechecha Adonai  viyishmirecha

                                                                                              Ya’er Adonai panav elecha veechuneka

                                                                      Yeesa Adonai panav elecha viyasem lecha shalom

Note: Remember that Hebrew is read from right to let and that YHWH is changed for Adonai

Messianic Rabbi Yosef ben Marques  © 2017

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