What Does Numbers 6:23 Mean in the King James?

Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,

Numbers 6:23 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Here, blessing is a spoken act of bestowal whose Hebrew root still carries the posture of bending the knee.

THE MEANING

The blessing reaching you is given a spoken form; it is not left as a vague wish. The words that follow name keeping and favor as the shape of that blessing.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

This undoes the belief that blessing is only a private wish: here, it is spoken in given words over people.

THE ROOT

תְבָרֲכוּ

tevarakhu

GROWS FROM

בָּרַךְ

barak

To kneel or bend the knee; to bless, to bestow favor.

The verb translated “bless” carries the root ⁨בָּרַךְ⁩ (barak, to kneel or bend the knee; to bless). English gives the act of blessing, while the Hebrew root also holds a posture of bestowal inside the word.

ALSO GROWS

berekh: Knee

בֶּרֶךְ

The shared root holds a bodily posture inside the word for blessing.

berakhah: Blessing

בְּרָכָה

This noun names the blessing that Aaron and his sons are instructed to speak.

THE PATTERN

Blessing becomes a spoken gift that names goodness for another person.

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

Numbers 6:24 · KJVThe blessing takes spoken form as a request for the LORD’s blessing and keeping.

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

Genesis 12:2 · KJVBlessing is spoken over one person and then becomes a gift that reaches others.

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

Luke 24:50 · KJVThe blessing is given through a visible gesture and spoken action directed toward others.

THE THREAD

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

Numbers 6:24 · KJV

The next verse repeats the Hebrew root ⁨בָּרַךְ⁩ (barak, to bless), turning the instruction into the spoken words themselves. The blessing opens as keeping and favor, with wholeness named in the lines that follow.

This reading is from Selah Verse.

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