bless

Everyday

1. To bless means to ask God to protect someone or something or bring them good, often by a priest or religious leader. tree →
2. «Bless you!» is what people say when someone sneezes. tree →
3. To be blessed with something means to be lucky to have it («blessed with good health»). tree →
4. «Bless him/her» or «bless» is said (mainly UK) to show love or sympathy for someone small or sweet. tree →

In the lessons

In RE, blessings are part of many religions' ceremonies (weddings, naming of babies, harvest). In everyday manners «Bless you!» after a sneeze is polite. In stories a character may be blessed with a gift or bless a journey. Phrases: «bless you», «God bless», «blessed with», «a blessing in disguise».

Examples

• «Atchoo!» «Bless you!» tree →
• The priest blessed the new baby. tree →
• We are blessed with lovely neighbours. tree →
• Grandma always says «God bless» at bedtime. tree →
• Oh, bless him, he's fallen asleep in his dinner. tree →
• The vicar blessed the animals at the pet service. tree →
• Losing the match was a blessing in disguise; we trained harder. tree →
• The rain was a blessing for the dry farms. tree →

Note

Past «blessed» (said «blest» as a verb); as an adjective «blessed» is often said BLESS-id («a blessed day»). Noun «blessing». «A blessing in disguise» means something that seemed bad but turned out good.

In Jewish tradition

To ask God's favor, or to praise God; God also blesses people with goodness and growth. People also bless God in praise, as in "Bless the LORD, O my soul", and a leader may bless his household.

Interpretation. Jews say blessings (brachot) before eating and on many occasions, and the priestly blessing "The LORD bless thee and keep thee" is still said. The psalms of praise are part of daily prayer.

Examples

• The LORD bless thee, and keep thee; (Torah NUM.6.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• Blessed shall be thy basket and thy kneading-trough. (Torah DEU.28.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. (Torah GEN.47.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• Blessed be the LORD for evermore. (Writings PSA.89.53, JPS 1917) tree →
• Bless the LORD, O my soul. (Writings PSA.104.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then David returned to bless his household. (Prophets 2SA.6.20, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Past «blessed» (said «blest» as a verb); as an adjective «blessed» is often said BLESS-id («a blessed day»). Noun «blessing». «A blessing in disguise» means something that seemed bad but turned out good.

Early Modern English

Meaning

To ask God to protect someone or bring them good. tree →

Then and now

The second sentence uses it as an exclamation of surprise, which is old-fashioned dialect. The other sentences match today.

Examples

• The LORD bless thee, and keep thee; (Torah NUM.6.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• "Bless gracious, honey, dat he didn't. (Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings) tree →
• And Balak said unto Balaam: 'Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.' (Torah NUM.23.25, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Today: bless; (exclamation) bless me.