What is a benediction? What are some of the benedictions in the Bible?

what does the bible say?

A benediction is a short statement of blessing, often given at the end of a worship service or biblical letter. The term "benediction" comes from the Latin words bene, meaning "good," and dicere, meaning "say." The term refers to "good words" spoken over someone. In the Bible, benedictions are blessings from God or His representatives to His people, expressing wishes for God's favor, protection, and peace. Examples include the priestly blessing in Numbers 6:24–26, various blessings in the Old Testament used at the tabernacle and temple, and the concluding blessings found in many New Testament letters. Today, we can speak blessings over others to uplift and encourage them, fostering unity and reflecting God's love and grace in our daily interactions

from the old testament

One of the best known benedictions in the Bible is found in Numbers 6:24–26 and was known as the priestly blessing, or Aaronic blessing, that was to be spoken by the priest to the people of Israel: "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."In the Old Testament, benedictions were often used at the tabernacle, temple, and within the home. In Leviticus 9:22–23 we see that after offering sacrifices, Aaron lifted his hands and blessed the people. In 1 Kings 8:55–61, King Solomon blesses the assembly of Israel after the dedication of the temple. We see another benediction when Jacob blesses his twelve sons; this also included prophecies about their futures (Genesis 49:1–28). Moses gives a final blessing to the tribes of Israel before his death (Deuteronomy 33:1–29:), and Psalm 67:1–2 is a psalm asking for God's blessing.

from the new testament

In the New Testament, several benedictions are found at the conclusion of various books. For example, near the end of Ephesians, Paul wrote, "Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible" (Ephesians 6:23–24). Similarly, in 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 we read, "Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints."Another powerful benediction is found at the conclusion of the Book of Jude. Jude 1:24–25 says, "Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

implications for today

We can apply the biblical practice of benedictions in our daily lives to uplift and encourage those around us. For example, what would it look like to encourage someone with what we think about them and how we pray for them? We could begin each day by speaking a blessing over our families, such as "May God bless you with wisdom, protection, and joy today." In our workplaces, we can conclude meetings with a brief word of encouragement, like "May we be guided by grace and collaboration in all we do." When writing emails or messages, we could include a simple benediction, such as "Wishing you peace and strength." During community gatherings or church services, we can end with a blessing to foster a sense of unity and faith, pointing to the Lord and reminding us we belong to one another in Christ. By consciously verbalizing blessings, we affirm and support others, building a more compassionate and connected community, reflecting the love and grace of God in everyday interactions.