Lexical Summary berakah: blessing, blessings, gift Original Word: בְּרָכָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance blessing, liberal, pool, present From barak; benediction; by implication prosperity -- blessing, liberal, pool, present. see HEBREW barak NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom barak Definition a blessing NASB Translation benefit (1), blessed (1), blessing (48), blessings (11), generous (1), gift (3), most blessed (1), peace (2), present (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. בְּרָכָה noun feminine blessing (Arabic  ; Ethiopic  Aramaic בִּרְכָּא  ; Late Hebrew as Hebrew) — ׳ב Genesis 12:2 39t.; construct בִּרְכַּת Genesis 28:4 9t.; suffix בִּרְכָתוֺ Genesis 49:28 7t.; plural בְּרָכוֺת Psalm 21:7 4t.; construct בִּרְכוֺת, בִּרְכֹת Genesis 49:25 5t.; suffix בִּרְכוֺתֵיכֶם Malachi 2:2; — 1 blessing: a. of parent Genesis 27:12,41; Genesis 49:28 (JE), of Moses Deuteronomy 33:1. b. of God Exodus 32:29 (E) Leviticus 25:21 (P) Deuteronomy 11:26,27,29; Deuteronomy 23:6 (= Nehemiah 13:2) Deuteronomy 28:2; Deuteronomy 28:8; Deuteronomy 30:1; Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 8:34 (D) 2 Samuel 7:29; Psalm 3:9; Psalm 21:4; Psalm 133:3; Isaiah 44:3; Ezekiel 34:26; Ezekiel 44:30; Joel 2:14; Malachi 3:10; ברכת יהוה Genesis 39:5 (J) Deuteronomy 12:15; Deuteronomy 16:17; Deuteronomy 33:23; Psalm 129:8; Proverbs 10:22; ׳ברכה מאת י Psalm 24:5; ברכת אברהם Genesis 28:4 (P), the blessing given to Abraham. c. of the people, in recognition of good men Psalm 109:17; Proverbs 10:6; Proverbs 11:26; Proverbs 24:25; Proverbs 28:20. d. of a poor man, in recognition of benefits Job 29:13. 2 source of blessing: Abraham Genesis 12:2 (J); Israel Isaiah 19:24; Ezekiel 34:26; Zechariah 8:13; seed of the righteous Psalm 37:26; the king Psalm 21:7; memory of the righteous Proverbs 10:7; new wine Isaiah 65:8. 3 blessing, prosperity: בברכת ישׁרים by the prosperity of the upright (the city is exalted) Proverbs 11:11; גם ברכות יעטה מורה yea, the early rain covereth with blessings Psalm 84:7 compare Genesis 49:25,26; וארותי את ברכותיכם and I will curse your prosperity Malachi 2:2. 4 blessing, praise of God Nehemiah 9:5. 5 a gift, present Genesis 33:11 (E) Joshua 15:19 (J) Judges 1:15; 1 Samuel 25:27; 1 Samuel 30:26; 2 Kings 5:15; נֶפֶשׁ בְּרָכָה a liberal person Proverbs 11:25 (compare Syriac 6 treaty of peace 2 Kings 18:31 = Isaiah 36:16. Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope בְּרָכָה (berakah) describes a spoken or enacted bestowal of favor that issues in tangible or spiritual benefit. While frequently rendered “blessing,” it can refer to the gift itself (Genesis 33:11), the pronouncement (Genesis 27:36), or the state produced (Deuteronomy 28:2). About sixty-nine occurrences span the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets, presenting a unified portrait of divine generosity that invites human response. Origin and Covenant Context Blessing is rooted in the character of the Creator who first blessed humankind and creation (Genesis 1:22, 1:28). The Abrahamic covenant centers on blessing: “All the families of the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). Throughout Scripture berakah unfolds as the mechanism by which God advances His redemptive purpose—ultimately leading to the Messiah in whom the nations receive the promised blessing (Galatians 3:14). Blessing as Divine Initiative 1. Personal: The Lord singles out individuals—Abraham (Genesis 22:17), Isaac (Genesis 26:24), Jacob (Genesis 32:29)—guaranteeing progeny, protection, and land. Human Participation in Blessing Berakah can flow from people toward God (thanksgiving) or toward others (benevolence). Examples: Liturgical and Priestly Usage Numbers 6:24-26 records the archetypal priestly benediction, climaxing with “and give you peace.” The temple personnel invoked berakah in daily and festival worship (1 Chronicles 23:13, 2 Chronicles 30:27). Ezra’s reforms re-center the community around this practice: “Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen’” (Nehemiah 8:6). Blessing and the Abrahamic Promise Berakah sustains patriarchal narratives: Blessing in Wisdom Literature Proverbs links berakah to righteous living and generosity: “A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25). Conversely, withholding charity forfeits blessing (Proverbs 22:9). Blessing and Obedience Deuteronomy delineates covenant blessings for obedience and curses for rebellion (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). Obedience attracts berakah “in the city and in the country” (28:3). This motif recurs in the prophets: “If you carefully obey… I will pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need” (Malachi 3:10). Blessing in Prophetic Hope Isaiah pictures foreign peoples grasping Israel’s fringe and declaring, “We have heard that God is with you” (Isaiah 45:14 paraphrase), signaling eschatological inclusion. Ezekiel foretells showers “in their season; they will be showers of blessing” (Ezekiel 34:26). Such imagery anticipates the Spirit’s outpouring at Pentecost (Acts 3:25-26). Blessing and Material Provision Berakah encompasses fertile soil (Deuteronomy 33:13), successful commerce (Psalm 24:5), and abundant offspring (Psalm 127:3-5). Yet Scripture warns against reducing blessing to wealth alone; authentic berakah is “the blessing of the LORD that enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it” (Proverbs 10:22). Blessing as Peace and Well-Being Shalom often accompanies berakah. The priestly benediction culminates in peace, while David’s reign is summarized: “The LORD had given him rest on every side” (2 Samuel 7:1). Spiritual, relational, and societal harmony flow from divine favor. Blessing in Worship and Thanksgiving Freewill offerings were sometimes labeled “blessing” (Deuteronomy 16:10). Psalmists convert personal deliverance into communal praise: “You prepare a table before me… my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5). Corporate liturgy thus perpetuates awareness of divine goodness. New Testament Echoes The Septuagint often renders berakah with eulogia, carried into the New Testament: “God, having raised up His Servant, sent Him to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways” (Acts 3:26). Paul frames the gospel in covenantal terms: “Christ redeemed us… so that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles” (Galatians 3:13-14). Christian benedictions (Ephesians 1:3, Hebrews 13:20-21) mirror the priestly pattern, affirming continuity. Theological and Practical Implications for Ministry 1. Proclamation: Preaching announces God’s intent to bless repentant sinners through Christ. Berakah thus functions as a key biblical thread, weaving creation, covenant, worship, ethics, and eschatology into a cohesive testimony of divine generosity that calls forth faith, obedience, and joyful proclamation. Forms and Transliterations בְ֭רָכָה בְּ֝רָכ֗וֹת בְּ֭רָכוֹת בְּבִרְכַּ֣ת בְּרָכ֑וֹת בְּרָכָ֑ה בְּרָכָ֔ה בְּרָכָ֖ה בְּרָכָ֥ה בְּרָכָֽה׃ בְרָכ֣וֹת בְרָכָ֖ה בְרָכָ֗ה בְרָכָֽה׃ בְרָכָה֙ בִּ֝בְרָכָ֗ה בִּרְכ֣וֹת בִּרְכַּ֣ת בִּרְכַּ֤ת בִּרְכַּֽת־ בִּרְכָתִ֑י בִּרְכָתִי֙ בִּרְכָתֶֽךָ׃ בִּרְכֹ֣ת בִּרְכֹ֤ת בִּרְכֹ֥ת בִּרְכֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם בִרְכַּת־ בִרְכָתֶ֣ךָ בברכה בברכת ברכה ברכה׃ ברכות ברכותיכם ברכת ברכת־ ברכתי ברכתך ברכתך׃ הַ֨בְּרָכָ֔ה הַֽבְרָכָ֨ה הַבְּרָכ֥וֹת הַבְּרָכָ֑ה הַבְּרָכָ֔ה הַבְּרָכָ֖ה הַבְּרָכָ֗ה הַבְּרָכָ֣ה הַבְּרָכָה֙ הברכה הברכות וּ֝בְרָכָ֗ה וּבִרְכָתִ֖י וּמִבִּרְכָ֣תְךָ֔ וברכה וברכתי ומברכתך כְּבִרְכַּ֛ת כְּבִרְכַּ֨ת כְּבִרְכָת֖וֹ כברכת כברכתו לִבְרָכָ֑ה לִבְרָכָֽה׃ לברכה לברכה׃ bə·ḇir·kaṯ bə·rā·ḵāh ḇə·rā·ḵāh bə·rā·ḵō·wṯ ḇə·rā·ḵō·wṯ bəḇirkaṯ beraChah beraChot bərāḵāh ḇərāḵāh bərāḵōwṯ ḇərāḵōwṯ bevirKat biḇ·rā·ḵāh biḇrāḵāh bir·ḵā·ṯe·ḵā ḇir·ḵā·ṯe·ḵā bir·ḵā·ṯî bir·kaṯ bir·kaṯ- ḇir·kaṯ- bir·ḵō·w·ṯê·ḵem bir·ḵō·wṯ bir·ḵōṯ birchaTecha birchaTi birChot birchoteiChem birKat birkaṯ birkaṯ- ḇirkaṯ- birḵāṯeḵā ḇirḵāṯeḵā birḵāṯî birḵōṯ birḵōwṯ birḵōwṯêḵem bivraChah hab·bə·rā·ḵāh hab·bə·rā·ḵō·wṯ haḇ·rā·ḵāh habberaChah habberaChot habbərāḵāh habbərāḵōwṯ haḇrāḵāh havraChah kə·ḇir·ḵā·ṯōw kə·ḇir·kaṯ kəḇirkaṯ kəḇirḵāṯōw kevirchaTo kevirKat liḇ·rā·ḵāh liḇrāḵāh livraChah ū·ḇə·rā·ḵāh ū·ḇir·ḵā·ṯî ū·mib·bir·ḵā·ṯə·ḵā ūḇərāḵāh ūḇirḵāṯî umibbirChatecha ūmibbirḵāṯəḵā uveraChah uvirchaTi veraChah veraChot virchaTecha virkatLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 12:2 HEB: שְׁמֶ֑ךָ וֶהְיֵ֖ה בְּרָכָֽה׃ NAS: great; And so you shall be a blessing; KJV: great; and thou shalt be a blessing: INT: your name shall be a blessing Genesis 27:12 Genesis 27:35 Genesis 27:36 Genesis 27:36 Genesis 27:38 Genesis 27:41 Genesis 28:4 Genesis 33:11 Genesis 39:5 Genesis 49:25 Genesis 49:25 Genesis 49:25 Genesis 49:26 Genesis 49:26 Genesis 49:28 Exodus 32:29 Leviticus 25:21 Deuteronomy 11:26 Deuteronomy 11:27 Deuteronomy 11:29 Deuteronomy 12:15 Deuteronomy 16:17 Deuteronomy 23:5 Deuteronomy 28:2 69 Occurrences |
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