The Aaronic Blessing

Published on Updated on Future, Holiness, Ministry, Power of God

In ancient days, Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them. This is sometimes called the “Priestly Blessing.”

 

 

OVERVIEW

 

In ancient days, Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them.

This is known by many terms:

  • The Priestly Blessing
  • The priestly benediction
  • The raising of the hands
  • The rising to the platform
  • Dukhenen
  • Duchening

Christians sometimes call it the “Aaronic blessing.”

After the time of Aaron, the Priestly Blessing was done by the Kohanim. That is, by the Hebrew Priests who are patrilineal descendants of Aaron.

The blessing hints of holiness and the future, as well as the power of God.

 

In our day, some Christian ministers imitate the Aaronic blessing. They lift their hands and repeat the words.

However, those Christian ministers are almost certainly not patrilineal descendants of Aaron. And they are almost certainly not patrilineal descendants of Levi.

 

BIBLE VERSES

 

Leviticus 9:22. Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them; and he came down from offering the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings.

Numbers 6:24-26. The LORD bless you, and keep you. The LORD make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you. The LORD lift up his face toward you, and give you peace.

Numbers 6:27. So they shall put my name on the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

Deuteronomy 10:8. At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the LORD’s covenant, to stand before the LORD to minister to him, and to bless in his name, to this day.

Deuteronomy 21:5. The priests the sons of Levi shall come near, for them the LORD your God has chosen to minister to him, and to bless in the LORD’s name; and according to their word shall every controversy and every assault be decided.

Psalm 115:14. May the LORD increase you more and more, you and your children.

 

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.