The Aaronic Blessing in Hebrew בִּרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים — with transliteration and word-by-word meaning
The Aaronic Blessing in Hebrew, as it is said: the Hebrew with full vowel points, every word broken into syllables with the STRESSED syllable in capitals, the meaning of each word beneath it, and the English of every line. Hebrew reads right to left. Tap Listen to hear a line read slowly by a Hebrew voice.
The blessing God gave Aaron and his sons to put His name on Israel. Said by parents over their children on Friday night, at the close of services, and at weddings.
Traditional wording
יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ
The LORD bless you and keep you.
יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ
The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם
The LORD lift up His face toward you and give you peace.
Messianic wording
Messianic congregations often close the blessing in the name of Yeshua, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ
The LORD bless you and keep you.
יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ
The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם
The LORD lift up His face toward you and give you peace.
בְּשֵׁם יֵשׁוּעַ הַמָּשִׁיחַ שַׂר הַשָּׁלוֹם אָמֵן
In the name of Yeshua the Messiah, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
The Aaronic Blessing in English
The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The LORD lift up His face toward you and give you peace.
How to read the Hebrew
Each card is one word. The Hebrew on top is fully pointed (with nikkud, the vowel marks). Under it the word is spelled out syllable by syllable in English letters, with a slash between syllables; the syllable in CAPITALS carries the stress — in Biblical Hebrew that is usually the last one. The third line is what the word means, with any attached prefix spelled out (and, the, in, to…). Read the cards from right to left, as the Hebrew goes.
Open the Aaronic Blessing in Hebrew Blessings & Prayers →
More Hebrew blessings and prayers
- הַמּוֹצִיאBlessing over Bread HaMotzi
- קִדּוּשׁBlessing over Wine Kiddush for Shabbat evening
- שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵלThe Shema Shema Yisrael, with Baruch Shem and V'ahavta
- אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִםThe Lord's Prayer Avinu Shebashamayim — Matthew 6:9–13
- מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִדPsalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd
- הַלֵּל — תְּהִלִּים 113Psalm 113 Hallel — 1 of 6
- שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת — תְּהִלִּים 120Psalm 120 Shir HaMa'alot — Song of Ascents 1 of 15