The Aaronic Blessing, also known as the Priestly Blessing, is a blessing God commanded Moses to teach Aaron and his sons to bless the Israelites with (Numbers 6:22-27). It’s a beautiful blessing that invokes God’s protection, grace, and peace over His people. Here is the text of the blessing:
“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 give you peace.”
– Numbers 6:24-26 (ESV)
This blessing has been spoken over God’s people for over 3,000 years, continuing to this day in synagogues and some churches. Let’s explore the meaning behind this powerful blessing verse-by-verse:
The Lord bless you and keep you
To “bless” means to confer well-being, protection, favor, or benefit. For God to bless His people is for Him to act graciously on their behalf. As Creator, He is the ultimate source of all blessing. This verse invokes God’s divine blessing over His children.
“Keep” has connotations of guarding, protecting, and watching over. God’s keeping encompasses divine protection, security, and preservation. As a good Shepherd, God promises to watch over His flock (Psalm 121, John 10:27-30). This first line calls down God’s beneficent blessing and protective keeping over His people.
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you
In the Bible, God’s face shining on someone signifies His divine favor and loving delight (Psalm 31:16). His grace and mercy flow out to those on whom He beams the light of His countenance. This verse asks God to turn His face towards us, look on us with affection, and shower His covenant grace over us.
Grace is God’s unmerited, loving favor and empowerment. To be gracious is to bestow undeserved blessing. God’s grace redeems, restores, and revitalizes His people. This line petitions God to look upon us with mercy, tenderness, and benevolence, granting us the blessings of His grace.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace
To “lift up one’s countenance” upon another conveys showing favor, care, and concern for that person (Genesis 29:6). We ask God to lift up the light of His face towards us, metaphorically looking us in the eye with loving attentiveness. We petition the Lord to turn His face “upon” us in an intentional gesture of affection and blessing.
Peace is a key Old Testament concept conveying wholeness, well-being, harmony, and contentment. God’s people wait upon His peace (Psalm 29:11), which flows out of His presence and character. This final verse asks God to impart His peace to us, a peace that wholeness, rest, and assurance. What a beautiful blessing!
The Structure and Rhythm
Not only is the meaning of the Aaronic blessing profound, but its lyrical structure and rhythm are strikingly beautiful and evocative. It follows a chiastic pattern, with the first and last lines emphasizing God’s blessing and peace, while the middle lines focus on His grace and favor. The cadence builds beautifully from beginning to end.
Additionally, the three verses of the blessing correspond to the three names of God. “Lord” (YHWH) is God’s personal name, representing His eternal being and covenant relationship with His people. “Lord” frames the first and last lines, tying God’s blessing and peace to His essential nature and character.
The middle verse mentioning God’s face shining invokes the name “God” (Elohim), reminding us that He is all-powerful and the source of grace. The central verse focusing on God’s lifting His countenance uses the compound name “Lord God” (YHWH Elohim), capturing both His loving covenant relationship with us and almighty power to bless us.
The Aaronic blessing is structured around these three primary names of God, reminding us He blesses as the eternal covenant Lord who looks on us with merciful grace as the supremely powerful God.
New Testament Connections
This ancient blessing remains relevant to followers of Jesus today. Though it originated in the Old Testament, the New Testament writers drew on its concepts and language:
- Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God’s glory and grace (John 1:14). As believers gaze on Him, His face shines on us, reflecting the light of God’s glory (2 Corinthians 4:6).
- Jesus bestows spiritual peace as one of His parting gifts to the disciples (John 14:27). His death and resurrection provide the basis for our peace with God (Romans 5:1).
- God’s blessing in Christ includes “every spiritual blessing” (Ephesians 1:3), including new life, grace, hope, and an eternal inheritance.
- Jesus is the Good Shepherd who watches over and protects His sheep (John 10:11-18). We have security and rest in His keeping arms.
The blessing finds its fulfillment in Jesus Himself as the full embodiment of God’s covenant love, light, grace, and peace poured out on us. When we receive this blessing, we therefore receive the overflow of God’s blessing uniquely revealed in Christ.
Usage in Scripture
After commanding Moses to teach the blessing to Aaron and his sons in Numbers chapter 6, it shows up multiple times throughout Scripture:
- Priestly blessing over the Israelites: God intended the blessing to be spoken by the priests over the assembly of Israel to put His name and blessing on them (Deuteronomy 10:8).
- Solomon’s blessing over the assembly: When Solomon dedicated the Temple, he stood before the altar and blessed the entire gathering by invoking this blessing over them (1 Kings 8:54-61).
- Blessing at the triumphal entry: As Jesus entered Jerusalem in His triumphal entry, the crowds shouted out the first line of the blessing: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9-10).
- Blessing at Christ’s ascension: As Jesus ascended into heaven, He lifted His hands and blessed the disciples, likely invoking this blessing over them (Luke 24:50-51).
This treasured blessing permeates both Old and New Testaments as a way God’s anointed leaders conferred God’s favor and protection over His people.
Modern Usage
The Aaronic blessing continues to be used in worship services today in various Christian denominations and Jewish synagogues. Some examples include:
- Catholic/Orthodox: Bishops and priests often use the blessing to close Mass or the Divine Liturgy.
- Anglican/Episcopal: The blessing appears in the Book of Common Prayer to be spoken over the congregation at the end of the service.
- Presbyterian: Pastors invoke the blessing at the end of the service or following communion.
- Lutheran: The blessing is included in various orders of service and used to close the service.
- Methodist: Ministers use the blessing at the end of Sunday services and sometimes over the congregation during the service.
- Jewish: The blessing is spoken over the congregation on holidays and during the Torah service in synagogues.
It remains a treasured blessing used across denominations and traditions to confer God’s peace, grace, and favor over His gathered people.
Deeper Meaning
This profound blessing contains deeper theological meaning for God’s people today:
- It reminds us of God’s supreme authority and ability to bless us.
- It expresses our dependence on God for blessing, protection, and peace.
- It invokes God’s covenant commitment to His children.
- It foreshadows Christ as the ultimate revelation of God’s blessing.
- It demonstrates God’s desire to turn His face towards His people.
- It conveys God’s grace and the peace we have through Christ.
For Christians, this blessing points to the Triune God – Father, Son, and Spirit – as the source of all blessing. We receive this threefold blessing in and through the Son by the Spirit to the glory of the Father. Each time we hear or invoke this blessing, we worshipfully acknowledge our dependence on God to lift up His countenance upon us and bless us undeservedly with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).
Relevance for Us Today
The Aaronic blessing remains as relevant today as ever for followers of Jesus. Though it emerged long ago under the Old Covenant, we can apply its rich meaning to our lives today:
- We depend on God’s blessing – His goodness, favor, and beneficence – for our lives to thrive. He alone is the source of blessing.
- We rely on God’s watchful protection over us amid life’s dangers and uncertainties.
- We desperately need God’s face to shine on us with merciful favor and acceptance, not cold judgment.
- We want to walk in the light of God’s countenance lifted upon us, not out of His strengthening presence.
- We find true peace in Christ alone, the kind beyond circumstances. Only He can speak lasting peace to our anxious hearts.
When we feel defeated by life and circumstances, dwelling on this blessing renews perspective on the unchanging love and faithfulness of God. He delights to shine His face on His weary, struggling children even more brightly in difficult times.
This blessing anchors us in God’s grace. As we receive it by faith, our hearts find renewed rest, confidence, and refuge in Him. It reassures us no matter what storms we face, the Lord’s face beams favor, acceptance, and loving delight over us. As Isaiah 40:11 says, He gently leads and holds us close to His heart. What incredibly good news!
How Should We Respond to This Blessing?
Because God confers this blessing on us as an act of divine grace, the appropriate response is worshipful gratitude and receptivity. When we hear the Aaronic blessing, we can respond by:
- Thanking God for His benevolence, protection, mercy, and peace
- Lifting our hands to receive these undeserved blessings by faith
- Savoring the blessing and letting it infuse our hearts with confidence in God’s love
- Asking God to open the eyes of our heart to know Him more deeply
- Prayerfully reflecting on the meaning of the blessing and God’s character
Most importantly, we respond by trusting. As we receive this blessing, we can cling fast to these promises of God’s favor and help, allowing them to create a rock-solid foundation for life beneath our feet. Though storms will still arise, we stand steady as God’s beloved, graced, protected, and kept children. What better place to find our footing than in the truth of the Aaronic blessing?
Conclusion
The Aaronic blessing offers a beautiful, lyrical way for God to place His name and favor over His people. Its poetic form and profound meaning bring peace, assurance, and encouragement. This priestly blessing powerfully expresses God’s desire to graciously shine His face on His children and bless us richly through His everlasting love demonstrated in Christ.
