Benedictions

Benedictions are formal pronouncements of blessing — the invocation of God's favor and well-being upon persons or communities. The paradigmatic OT benediction is the Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6:24–26, given by the priests over Israel: "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." God himself promised to bless those on whom his name was thus pronounced. Patriarchal blessings (Isaac's blessing of Jacob and Esau, Jacob's blessing of his sons, Gen. 27; 49) also functioned as solemn benedictions with prophetic force.

The Psalms conclude with doxological benedictions, and several NT epistles open and close with blessings: "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Pauline salutations); "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Cor. 13:14); "May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely" (1 Thess. 5:23). The Aaronic blessing continues to be used in Christian worship as an authoritative declaration of God's favor over his people.