AARONIC BLESSING BY JEFF A. BENNER

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The Aaronic Blessing (Part 1 – Introduction)

http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/audio/aaronic.mp3 AUDIO TEACHING

Most people are familiar with the English translation of the Aaronic 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 RSV)

Notice that many of the words in this translation are abstract; bless, keep, gracious, countenance, grant and peace. Each of the Hebrew words behind the English in this passage is filled with images that are lost when translated into the English language. When we examine each of these words from their original cultural and linguistic perspectives, the message in this passage comes alive.

The Aaronic Blessing (Part 2 – Bless)

The Hebrew verb ברך (B-R-K, Strong’s #1288) means to kneel as seen in Genesis 24:11. However, when written in the piel form it means to show respect (usually translated as bless) as seen in Genesis 12:2. A related Hebrew word is ברכה (berakhah, Strong’s #1293) meaning a gift or present. From this we can see the concrete meaning behind the piel form of the verb barak. It is to bring a gift to another while kneeling out of respect. The extended meaning of this word is to do or give something of value to another. Elohiym “respects” us by providing for our needs and we in turn “respect” Elohiym by giving him of ourselves as his servants

The Aaronic Blessing (Part 3 – Keep)The Aaronic Blessing (Part 1 – Introduction)

Most people are familiar with the English translation of the Aaronic 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 RSV)

Notice that many of the words in this translation are abstract; bless, keep, gracious, countenance, grant and peace. Each of the Hebrew words behind the English in this passage is filled with images that are lost when translated into the English language. When we examine each of these words from their original cultural and linguistic perspectives, the message in this passage comes alive.

The Aaronic Blessing (Part 2 – Bless)

The Hebrew verb ברך (B-R-K, Strong’s #1288) means to kneel as seen in Genesis 24:11. However, when written in the piel form it means to show respect (usually translated as bless) as seen in Genesis 12:2. A related Hebrew word is ברכה (berakhah, Strong’s #1293) meaning a gift or present. From this we can see the concrete meaning behind the piel form of the verb barak. It is to bring a gift to another while kneeling out of respect. The extended meaning of this word is to do or give something of value to another. Elohiym “respects” us by providing for our needs and we in turn “respect” Elohiym by giving him of ourselves as his servants

The Hebrews were a nomadic people raising livestock. It would not be uncommon for a shepherd to be out with his flock, away from the camp, over the night. In order to protect the flock, the shepherd would construct a corral of thorn bushes. The shepherd would then guard over the flock and the corral would be a hedge of protection around them. The image behind the Hebrew verb שמר (Sh-M-R, Strong’s #8104), is this guarding and protecting of the shepherd and the corral over the flock.

Ancient Hebrew Research Center
The Aaronic Blessing (Part 4 – Face)

In the painting above you can “read” the faces of each of the people within the painting. The face reflects the many different moods, emotions, and thoughts of the person. The Hebrew word פנים (paniym, Strong’s #6440), means “face,” but is always written in the plural form (the ים suffix identifies this word as plural), reflecting this idea of multiple faces of each person. This word can also mean “presence” or the “wholeness of being” of an individual

The Aaronic Blessing (Part 5 – Shine)

The word אור (or, Strong’s #215), as a noun means “light” and as a verb, as it is used here, means to “give light” or “shine” and is equated with bringing about order as light illuminates or reveals what has been dark.

The Aaronic Blessing (Part 6 – Gracious)

Most theologians will define “grace” as “unmerited favor.” But the Hebrew verb translated as gracious is חנן (Hh-N-N, Strong’s #2603) and is often paralleled with such ideas as healing, help, being lifted up, finding refuge, strength and rescue. From a concrete Hebraic perspective this verb means to “provide protection.” Where does one run to for protection? The camp, which in Hebrew is חנה (Hhanah, Strong’s #2583), a word related to חנן (Hh-N-N).

The Aaronic Blessing (Part 7 – Grant)

The Hebrew verb שים (siym, Strong’s #7760), literally means to “set down in a fixed and arranged place.”

The Aaronic Blessing (Part 8 – Peace)

When we hear the word peace, which this word is usually translated as, we usually associate this to mean an absence of war or strife. However, the Hebrew word שלום (shalom, Strong’s #7965) has a very different meaning. The verb form of the root word is שלם (Sh-L-M, Strong’s #7999) and is usually used in the context of making restitution. When a person has caused another to become deficient in some way, such as a loss of livestock, it is the responsibility of the person who created the deficiency to restore what has been taken, lost or stolen. The verb shalam literally means to make whole or complete. The noun shalom has the more literal meaning of being in a state of wholeness, or being without deficiency.

The Aaronic Blessing (Part 9 – A Hebraic interpretation of the Aaronic Blessing)

With the Hebraic understanding of each of these Hebrew words, we can better understand the true meaning of the Aaronic blessing as it was understood by the Ancient Hebrews.

YHWH will kneel before you presenting gifts and will guard you with a hedge of protection.

YHWH will illuminate the wholeness of his being toward you bringing order and he will give you comfort and sustenance.

YHWH will lift up his wholeness of being and look upon you and he will set in place all you need to be whole and complete.