Numbers 6:24 - Aaron's Blessing

Audio Bible

Context

Aaron's Blessing
…23“Tell Aaron and his sons: This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24‘May the LORD bless you and keep you; 25may the LORD cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;…

Cross References

Psalm 121:7-8
The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul. / The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.Psalm 67:1
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, SelahPsalm 29:11
The LORD gives His people strength; the LORD blesses His people with peace.Psalm 121:3-4
He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. / Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.Psalm 91:11
For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.Psalm 115:12-13
The LORD is mindful of us; He will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron; / He will bless those who fear the LORD—small and great alike.Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.Isaiah 30:18
Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, My loving devotion will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be broken,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.Jeremiah 31:3
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.2 Thessalonians 3:16
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.Ephesians 1:2
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.1 Peter 1:2
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Ruth 2:4
And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.

Psalm 134:3
The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

1 Corinthians 14:16
Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

keep thee

Psalm 91:11
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Psalm 121:4-7
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep…

Isaiah 27:3
I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.

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Numbers 6

May the LORD bless you
This phrase is part of the Aaronic blessing, a priestly benediction given by God to Moses for Aaron and his sons to bless the Israelites. The invocation of "the LORD" refers to Yahweh, the covenantal name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with Israel. The concept of blessing in the Old Testament often includes prosperity, health, and success, but it primarily signifies God's favor and presence. This blessing is a reminder of God's promise to Abraham to bless his descendants (Genesis 12:2-3). It also foreshadows the ultimate blessing through Jesus Christ, who brings spiritual blessings to all nations (Ephesians 1:3).

and keep you;
The term "keep" suggests protection and preservation. In the ancient Near Eastern context, this would imply safeguarding from physical harm, enemies, and spiritual dangers. God's keeping is a theme throughout Scripture, as seen in Psalm 121:7-8, where God is described as the keeper of Israel, watching over their coming and going. This protection is not just physical but also spiritual, as God preserves the faith and integrity of His people. In the New Testament, Jesus prays for His followers' protection in John 17:11, emphasizing God's ongoing care and security for believers.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal presence and faithfulness to His people.

2. Aaron and His Sons
The priests who were instructed to bless the Israelites with this benediction, serving as mediators between God and the people.

3. The Israelites
The recipients of the blessing, representing God's chosen people in the Old Testament.

4. The Tabernacle
The place where the Israelites worshiped and where the priestly blessing was often pronounced.

5. The Priestly Blessing
A divinely ordained blessing given to the priests to pronounce over the people, signifying God's favor and protection.

Teaching Points

Understanding God's Blessing
God's blessing is an expression of His grace and favor, not based on human merit but on His sovereign choice and love.

The Role of the Priests
The priests served as intermediaries, highlighting the importance of spiritual leadership and the responsibility to convey God's truth and blessings to others.

God's Protection and Preservation
The phrase "keep you" emphasizes God's active role in guarding and preserving His people, providing assurance and security in His care.

The Continuity of God's Promises
The blessing reflects God's unchanging nature and His faithfulness to His promises, encouraging believers to trust in His eternal covenant.

Living as Recipients of Blessing
As recipients of God's blessing, believers are called to live in gratitude, reflecting His love and grace to others in their daily lives.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 6What does "benediction" mean in the Bible?What does "shalom" mean?What is the origin of "God bless you" after sneezing?What is the Aaronic Blessing?

Verses 24-26. - The Lord,... the Lord,... the Lord. Are we to see in this threefold use of the Divine name a shadowing forth of the Holy Trinity? It is obvious that it cannot be proved, and that it would not even have suggested any such idea to the priest who gave, or to the people who received, the benediction. To them the threefold form merely added beauty and fullness to the blessing (cf. Ecclesiastes 4:12). But that is not the question. The real question is whether the Old Testament was written for our sakes (1 Corinthians 9:10; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:15, 16), and whether the God of the Jews was indeed the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:17; John 8:54). If so, it is not possible for us to avoid seeing in this benediction a declaration of the threefold Being of God, and it is not possible to avoid believing that he meant us to see such a declaration, veiled indeed from the eyes of the Jew, but clear enough to the Christian. For a somewhat similar case compare Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8. Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

‘May the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

bless you
יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ (yə·ḇā·reḵ·ḵā)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

and keep you;
וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃ (wə·yiš·mə·re·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

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Numbers 6:24 Catholic BibleOT Law: Numbers 6:24 Yahweh bless you and keep you (Nu Num.)