בָּרַךְ
ba.rakh
to bless
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# Analysis of בָּרַךְ (Barak) - "To Bless" The Hebrew verb *barak* appears 330 times throughout the biblical text, establishing it as a foundational concept in Hebrew religious vocabulary. Its primary definition—"to bless"—indicates an action by which one person or deity conveys favor, benefit, or approval upon another. The high frequency of occurrence suggests this term addressed a recurring and important concern in biblical life and thought. The sheer number of instances (330 occurrences) indicates that blessing was not a marginal religious practice but rather central to how ancient Hebrew speakers understood relationships between God and humans, and among humans themselves. The verb's persistence across the biblical corpus suggests it remained relevant across different historical periods and literary genres represented in the Hebrew Bible. This consistency points to blessing as an enduring cultural value—whether expressed through formal religious acts, everyday speech, or theological reflection. Without access to detailed contextual examples in the provided data, the full semantic range of *barak* cannot be specified precisely. However, the term's ubiquity and translation as a single English concept suggest it maintained a coherent core meaning while potentially encompassing various applications—from solemn religious pronouncements to ordinary social expressions. The word's significance lies in its role as a vehicle for expressing how favor and benefit were believed to flow from one party to another within biblical culture.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
330 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
On the fourth day, they assembled themselves in Beracah Valley, for there they blessed Yahweh. Therefore the name of that place was called “Beracah Valley” to this day.
2 Chronicles 30:27Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people. Their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy habitation, even to heaven.
2 Chronicles 31:8When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed Yahweh and his people Israel.
2 Chronicles 31:10Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, “Since people began to bring the offerings into Yahweh’s house, we have eaten and had enough, and have plenty left over, for Yahweh has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.”
Genesis 27:31He also made savory food, and brought it to his father. He said to his father, “Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that your soul may bless me.”
Ezra 7:27Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify Yahweh’s house which is in Jerusalem;
Nehemiah 8:6Then Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God. All the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” with the lifting up of their hands. They bowed their heads, and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the ground.
Nehemiah 9:5Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless Yahweh your God from everlasting to everlasting! Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise!
Nehemiah 9:5Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless Yahweh your God from everlasting to everlasting! Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise!
Nehemiah 11:2The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.
Job 1:5It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts.” Job did so continually.
Job 1:10Haven’t you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
Job 1:11But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face.”
Job 1:21He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked will I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be Yahweh’s name.”
Job 2:5But stretch out your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce you to your face.”
Job 2:9Then his wife said to him, “Do you still maintain your integrity? Renounce God, and die.”
Job 31:20if his heart hasn’t blessed me, if he hasn’t been warmed with my sheep’s fleece;
Psalms 68:19Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation.
Psalms 68:26“Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!”
Job 42:12So Yahweh blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand female donkeys.
Psalms 5:12For you will bless the righteous. Yahweh, you will surround him with favor as with a shield.
Psalms 10:3For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings. He blesses the greedy and condemns Yahweh.
Psalms 16:7I will bless Yahweh, who has given me counsel. Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.
Psalms 18:46Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock. Exalted be the God of my salvation,
Psalms 26:12My foot stands in an even place. In the congregations I will bless Yahweh.
Psalms 28:6Blessed be Yahweh, because he has heard the voice of my petitions.
Psalms 28:9Save your people, and bless your inheritance. Be their shepherd also, and bear them up forever.
Psalms 29:11Yahweh will give strength to his people. Yahweh will bless his people with peace.
Psalms 31:21Praise be to Yahweh, for he has shown me his marvelous loving kindness in a strong city.
Psalms 34:1I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.
Psalms 37:22For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.
Psalms 41:13Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting and to everlasting! Amen and amen.
Psalms 45:2You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips, therefore God has blessed you forever.
Psalms 49:18Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself—
Psalms 62:4They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly.
Psalms 63:4So I will bless you while I live. I will lift up my hands in your name.
Psalms 65:10You drench its furrows. You level its ridges. You soften it with showers. You bless it with a crop.
Psalms 66:8Praise our God, you peoples! Make the sound of his praise heard,
Psalms 66:20Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor his loving kindness from me.
Psalms 67:1May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us.
Psalms 67:6The earth has yielded its increase. God, even our own God, will bless us.
Psalms 67:7God will bless us. All the ends of the earth shall fear him.
Psalms 68:35You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God!
Psalms 72:15They shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba. Men shall pray for him continually. They shall bless him all day long.
Psalms 72:17His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed.
Psalms 72:18Praise be to Yahweh God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
Psalms 72:19Blessed be his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and amen.
Psalms 89:52Blessed be Yahweh forever more. Amen, and Amen.
Psalms 95:6Oh come, let’s worship and bow down. Let’s kneel before Yahweh, our Maker,
Psalms 96:2Sing to Yahweh! Bless his name! Proclaim his salvation from day to day!