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.
ECUMENICAL PRE-6TH CENTURY BC
The Aaronic Blessing
Also known as The Priestly Blessing · Numbers Blessing · Birkat Kohanim
Other forms
Traditional form (King James Version)
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
the Lord make his face shine upon thee,
and be gracious unto thee:
the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee,
and give thee peace.
Hebrew (transliterated)
Yevarekh'kha Adonai veyishmerekha.
Ya'er Adonai panav elekha vichuneka.
Yissa Adonai panav elekha veyasem lekha shalom.
About this prayer
The Aaronic Blessing is the priestly blessing recorded in Numbers 6:24-26, given to Moses by God and commanded to be spoken by Aaron and his sons over the people of Israel. It is one of the oldest known biblical texts in existence: a silver scroll inscribed with the blessing was found in a Jerusalem tomb and dated to approximately 600 BC, making it the oldest biblical text discovered by archaeologists. The blessing takes the form of three couplets of increasing length, each invoking the Lord's name: the first asks for blessing and keeping, the second for the shining of God's face and grace, the third for the lifting of God's face and peace. In the Hebrew text, the three verses contain 3, 5, and 7 words respectively, a structure scholars believe was intentional. The word "shalom" (peace) concludes the blessing.
When it's said
In Anglican and many Protestant traditions, the Aaronic Blessing is one of the most frequently used benedictions at the end of a worship service, spoken by the pastor or minister over the congregation. In Presbyterian and Reformed churches it is the standard closing benediction. It is also widely used at weddings, baptisms, and other life events as a blessing over individuals. In Jewish practice, the Birkat Kohanim is still pronounced by kohanim (priests of Aaronic descent) on festival days.
Notes on the text
The phrase "lift up his countenance" reflects a Hebrew idiom in which a face turned toward someone indicates favor and attention, while a face turned away indicates displeasure or absence. The word translated "peace" is the Hebrew "shalom," which carries a broader meaning than the English word: wholeness, well-being, and flourishing, not merely the absence of conflict.
Common questions
Where does the Aaronic Blessing come from?
The Aaronic Blessing is found in Numbers 6:24-26, where God instructs Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this specific form of words: 'The Lord bless thee and keep thee; the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.' It is the oldest recorded liturgical blessing in the Jewish and Christian tradition, dating to the period of Israel's wilderness wandering.
Is the Aaronic Blessing still used in Jewish worship?
Yes. The Birkat Kohanim, as it is called in Hebrew, is still pronounced in synagogue services by descendants of the priestly line of Aaron (Kohanim). It is said daily in Israel and at festivals in many Diaspora congregations. The same words are also used in many Christian services, particularly at the close of worship, in the same form Aaron and his sons used over three thousand years ago.
When is the Aaronic Blessing used in Christian services?
It is widely used as a closing blessing at the end of Christian worship, particularly in Lutheran, Methodist, Reformed, and some Anglican and Catholic services. It is also used at weddings, baptisms, ordinations, and as a parental blessing on children. Its scriptural origin and its use across both Jewish and Christian worship have made it one of the most universally recognized liturgical blessings in the world.
Source
Numbers 6:24-26 (Old Testament). KJV text (public domain) recommended for use. NIV text used above for readability; the KJV form is fully public domain and may be substituted. Public domain biblical text.
Last reviewed: May 2026 against primary source.