"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."
— Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
Numbers 6:24-26 is the priestly blessing, often called the Aaronic blessing: "The LORD bless you and keep you." This page gives the blessing, where it sits in Numbers 6, and a plain reading. For more verses on the theme, see Bible verses about blessings, Bible verses about peace, and Bible verses about grace.
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The verse
The King James says, "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."
"Bless" is barak (H1288). "Keep" is shamar (H8104), to guard or watch over. "Face" is panim (H6440), and "shine" is or (H215), to give light. "Be gracious" is chanan (H2603), to show favor. "Turn his face toward" (KJV "lift up his countenance") uses nasa (H5375), to lift. "Peace" is shalom (H7965), wholeness and well-being.
Where it sits in Numbers 6
God gives Moses the words for the priests to say: "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:'" (Numbers 6:23). The three lines follow.
Right after the blessing, God explains what it does: "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them" (Numbers 6:27). The priests speak the words, but the blessing is God's.
What the verse is saying
The name "LORD" comes three times, once in each line, and each line builds on the one before: God's care, then his favor, then his peace. To have God's face shine on you is to have him look at you with kindness instead of turning away.
That is why the blessing is still spoken at the end of church services, at weddings, and over children. It asks for nothing less than God's own attention and peace. For more, see Wedding Bible readings, Psalm 121, John 14:27, and Bible verses about God's presence.
Questions people ask
What does Numbers 6:24-26 say?
In the NIV it says, "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." The KJV ends, "The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
Why is it called the Aaronic or priestly blessing?
God told Moses to give these words to Aaron and his sons, the priests, as the way they were to bless Israel (Numbers 6:22-23).
What does "make his face shine on you" mean?
"Face" is the Hebrew panim and "shine" is or, to give light. It pictures God looking on you with favor and kindness, the opposite of hiding his face.
Can Numbers 6:24-26 be used at a wedding?
Yes. Many couples and pastors use it as a closing blessing. See Wedding Bible readings for more passages often read at weddings.
What verse goes well with Numbers 6:24-26?
Numbers 6:27 completes it: "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them." John 14:27 adds Jesus' words, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you."
