blessing

Everyday

1. (church) A blessing is a prayer asking God to protect and do good to someone or something, or God's favour itself; Christians believe blessings come from God. tree →
2. A blessing is something good that you are glad and thankful for. tree →
3. A blessing is permission or approval, as in «with my parents' blessing». tree →
4. A blessing in disguise is something that seems bad at first but turns out good. tree →

In the lessons

In church the priest gives a blessing at the end of the service; families say a blessing (grace) before meals; people say «count your blessings» to mean be thankful. In stories it tells the reader something good or approved has happened. Phrases: «count your blessings», «a mixed blessing», «a blessing in disguise», «give your blessing».

Examples

• The priest gave a blessing at the end of the service. tree →
• We say a blessing before dinner. tree →
• Good friends are a real blessing. tree →
• Missing the bus was a blessing in disguise, because we met Grandma on the way. tree →
• She married him with her father's blessing. tree →
• Count your blessings: you have a home and people who love you. tree →
• A big dog in a small flat is a mixed blessing. tree →
• Some men underrate their best blessings. tree →

Note

Countable: a blessing, blessings. From the verb «bless» (bless, blessed). «Bless you!» is said after a sneeze. A «mixed blessing» has good and bad sides. Christians believe God's blessing is a gift, not a reward to be bought.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah a blessing is God's gift of good things such as children, land, food and peace, or the words by which a father or leader hands such good on to someone. It is also what God sets against the curse.

Interpretation. Tradition teaches that a blessing is passed on by words, as when Isaac blessed Jacob, and that Israel is to bless God in return. Moses sets before the people a blessing for keeping the commandments and a curse for turning away.

Examples

• Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: (Torah DEU.11.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. (Torah GEN.27.41, JPS 1917) tree →
• And he said: 'Thy brother came with guile, and hath taken away thy blessing.' (Torah GEN.27.35, JPS 1917) tree →
• Salvation belongeth unto the LORD; Thy blessing be upon Thy people. (Writings PSA.3.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and toil addeth nothing thereto. (Writings PRO.10.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Writings PSA.24.5, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: a blessing, blessings. From the verb «bless» (bless, blessed). «Bless you!» is said after a sneeze. A «mixed blessing» has good and bad sides. Christians believe God's blessing is a gift, not a reward to be bought.