King James Bible Dictionary

1. God blesses his people when he bestows on them some gift temporal or spiritual (Genesis 1:22; 24:35; Job 42:12; Psalms 45:2; 104:24, 35).

2. We bless God when we thank him for his mercies (Psalms 103:1, 2; 145:1, 2).

3. A man blesses himself when he invokes God's blessing (Isaiah 65:16), or rejoices in God's goodness to him (Deuteronomy 29:19; Psalms 49:18).

4. One blesses another when he expresses good wishes or offers prayer to God for his welfare (Genesis 24:60; 31:55; 1 Samuel 2:20). Sometimes blessings were uttered under divine inspiration, as in the case of Noah, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses (Genesis 9:26, 27; 27:28, 29, 40; 48:15-20; 49:1-28; Deuteronomy 33). The priests were divinely authorized to bless the people (Deuteronomy 10:8; Numbers 6:22-27). We have many examples of apostolic benediction (2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 6:23, 24; 2 Thessalonians 3:16, 18; Hebrews 13:20, 21; 1 Peter 5:10, 11).

5. Among the Jews in their thank-offerings the master of the feast took a cup of wine in his hand, and after having blessed God for it and for other mercies then enjoyed, handed it to his guests, who all partook of it. Psalms 116:13 refers to this custom. It is also alluded to in 1 Corinthians 10:16, where the apostle speaks of the "cup of blessing."

BLESS, verb transitive preterit tense and participle present tense blessed or blest.

1. To pronounce a wish of happiness to one; to express a wish or desire of happiness.

And Isaac called Jacob and blessed him. Genesis 28:3.

2. To make happy; to make successful; to prosper in temporal concerns; as, we are blest with peace and plenty.

The Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thou doest. Deuteronomy 15:4.

3. To make happy in a future life.

BLESSed are the dead who die in the Lord. Revelation 14:13.

4. To set apart or consecrate to holy purposes; to make and pronounce holy.

And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. Genesis 2:3

5. To consecrate by prayer; to invoke a blessing upon.

And Jesus took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven he blessed them. Luke 9:16.

6. To praise; to glorify, for benefits received.

BLESS the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me. Psalms 103:1.

7. To praise; to magnify; to extol, for excellencies. Psalms 104:1.

8. To esteem or account happy; with the reciprocal pronoun.

The nations shall bless themselves in him. Jeremiah 4:2.

9. To pronounce a solemn prophetical benediction upon. Genesis 2:37. Deuteronomy 33:11.

10. In this line of Spenser, it may signify to throw, for this is nearly the primary sense.

His sparkling blade about his head he blest.

Johnson supposes the word to signify to wave or brandish, and to have received this sense from the old rite of blessing a field, by directing the hands to all parts of it.

BLESS in Spenser for bliss, may be so written, not for rhyme merely, but because bless and bliss are from the same root.

BLESS'ED, participle passive Made happy or prosperous; extolled; pronounced happy.

BLESS'ED, adjective Happy; prosperous in worldly affairs; enjoying spiritual happiness and the favor of God; enjoying heavenly felicity.

Blessed-Thistle. A plant of the genus Cnicus, sometimes used in decoctions, for a bitter.

BLESS'EDLY, adverb Happily; in a fortunate manner.

BLESS'EDNESS, noun Happiness; felicity; heavenly joys; the favor of God.

1. Sanctity.

BLESS'ER, noun One that blesses or prospers; one who bestows a blessing.

For blessing before eating
Prayer, Thanksgiving Before Taking Food; Benedictions

Responsive blessings of the law
Deuteronomy 28:1-14
Curse

Contingent upon obedience

General references
Exodus 15:26; Exodus 19:5; Exodus 20:6; Exodus 23:22; Leviticus 26:3-43; Deuteronomy 4:1; Deuteronomy 4:40; Deuteronomy 5:10; Deuteronomy 5:29; Deuteronomy 29:9; Deuteronomy 7:9; Deuteronomy 7:12-15; Deuteronomy 11:26-28; Deuteronomy 12:28; Deuteronomy 15:4-5; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Joshua 1:8; 1 Kings 2:3-4; 1 Kings 3:14; 1 Kings 8:23; 1 Kings 9:3-9; 2 Chronicles 7:17-22; 1 Chronicles 22:13; 1 Chronicles 28:7-8; 2 Chronicles 26:5; 2 Chronicles 27:6; 2 Chronicles 30:9; 2 Chronicles 31:10; Job 36:11; Proverbs 3:1; Proverbs 16:7; Isaiah 1:19; Jeremiah 7:3-7; Jeremiah 7:23; Jeremiah 11:1-5; Jeremiah 12:16; Jeremiah 15:19-21; Jeremiah 17:24-27; Jeremiah 22:4-5; Jeremiah 22:15-16; Zech 3:7; Malachi 3:10-12; Matthew 10:22; Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13; Colossians 1:22-23; Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 3:14; Hebrews 6:11-12; Hebrews 10:36; Revelation 2:10
Faithfulness; Contingencies

Spiritual, from God

General references
Genesis 49:24; Exodus 15:2; Exodus 33:16; Leviticus 21:8; Exodus 31:13; Deuteronomy 33:25; Deuteronomy 33:27; 1 Samuel 2:4; Nehemiah 8:10; Job 23:6; Psalms 18:1-2; Psalms 18:28; Psalms 18:32; Psalms 18:35-36; Psalms 144:1-2; Psalms 23:2-3; Psalms 27:14; Psalms 28:8; Psalms 29:11; Psalms 30:7; Psalms 31:24; Psalms 37:6; Psalms 37:17; Psalms 37:24; Psalms 37:39; Psalms 52:8; Psalms 55:22; Psalms 61:5; Psalms 63:8; Psalms 66:9; Psalms 68:18; Psalms 68:28; Psalms 68:35; Psalms 71:16; Psalms 72:6; Psalms 72:17; Psalms 73:23; Psalms 73:26; Psalms 81:10; Psalms 84:5; Psalms 84:11; Psalms 89:17; Psalms 92:12-14; Psalms 1:3; Psalms 94:17-18; Psalms 105:4; Psalms 119:32; Psalms 119:102; Psalms 132:15-16; Psalms 138:3; Psalms 138:8; Psalms 146:5; Proverbs 10:29; Proverbs 16:6; Isaiah 1:25; Isaiah 4:3-4; Isaiah 6:6-7; Isaiah 26:12; Isaiah 28:6; Isaiah 33:5-6; Isaiah 40:11; Isaiah 40:29; Isaiah 40:31; Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 41:13-14; Isaiah 41:17-18; Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 45:8; Isaiah 45:24; Isaiah 54:17; Isaiah 57:19; Isaiah 58:8; Isaiah 58:10-11; Jeremiah 31:12; Jeremiah 31:14; Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 16:14; Daniel 11:32; Hosea 6:3; Hosea 14:5-8; Habakkuk 3:19; Zech 10:12; Zech 12:8; Malachi 3:2-3; Malachi 4:2; John 1:16; John 17:11; Acts 20:32; Romans 9:23; Romans 14:4; 1 Corinthians 12:6; 1 Corinthians 13:10; 1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Corinthians 15:10; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 2 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 9:8; 2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 1:6; Philippians 2:13; Philippians 4:7; Philippians 4:19; Colossians 1:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; Hebrews 12:10-11; James 1:17-18; 1 Peter 1:5; 2 Peter 1:2-4; 1 John 1:9; 1 John 4:4; Jude 1:1; Jude 1:24
Regeneration; Sanctification

Temporal, from God

General references
Genesis 1:30; Genesis 8:22; Genesis 9:1-3; Genesis 22:17; Genesis 26:4-5; Genesis 28:20-21; Genesis 49:24-25; Genesis 49:11-12; Genesis 49:20; Exodus 23:22; Exodus 34:24; Leviticus 25:20-22; Leviticus 26:4-10; Deuteronomy 1:10; Deuteronomy 2:7; Deuteronomy 4:4; Deuteronomy 4:40; Numbers 10:29; Deuteronomy 5:33; Deuteronomy 6:2-25; Deuteronomy 12:28; Deuteronomy 7:13-24; Exodus 15:26; Exodus 23:25-26; Deuteronomy 8:1-10; Deuteronomy 8:15-18; Deuteronomy 10:18; Deuteronomy 11:12-15; Deuteronomy 12:7; Deuteronomy 15:4; Deuteronomy 15:6; Deuteronomy 26:18-19; Deuteronomy 28:7-8; Deuteronomy 29:5; Deuteronomy 32:13-14; Joshua 1:8; Ruth 1:6; 1 Samuel 2:7-8; 2 Samuel 7:8-9; 1 Chronicles 17:7-8; 1 Chronicles 29:12; 1 Chronicles 29:14; 1 Chronicles 29:16; 2 Chronicles 1:12; 2 Chronicles 31:10; Ezra 8:22; Nehemiah 8:10; Job 5:10; Job 12:23; Job 22:18; Job 37:6; Job 37:10; Job 37:13; Job 37:16-17; Job 38:1-41; Psalms 21:3-5; Psalms 23:1; Psalms 23:5; Psalms 34:10; Psalms 36:6; Psalms 44:3; Psalms 65:8-13; Psalms 68:6; Psalms 68:9-10; Psalms 68:19; Psalms 69:35-36; Psalms 81:13-16; Psalms 85:12; Psalms 91:1-16; Psalms 103:2-5; Psalms 104:1-35; Psalms 105:24; Psalms 107:35-38; Psalms 111:5; Psalms 113:9; Psalms 115:16; Psalms 127:1-5; Psalms 135:7; Psalms 136:1-26; Psalms 144:12-15; Psalms 145:15-16; Psalms 146:5-9; Psalms 147:8-9; Psalms 147:13-14; Ecclesiastes 2:24; Ecclesiastes 3:13; Ecclesiastes 5:19; Isaiah 25:4; Isaiah 30:23-26; Isaiah 31:1-2; Isaiah 33:15-16; Isaiah 43:20; Isaiah 48:21; Isaiah 51:2; Isaiah 55:10; Jeremiah 5:24; Jeremiah 10:13; Jeremiah 51:16; Jeremiah 14:22; Jeremiah 27:4-6; Jeremiah 30:19; Jeremiah 31:35; Ezekiel 36:28-38; Daniel 5:18; Daniel 6:20; Daniel 6:22; Hosea 2:8; Hosea 11:3; Joel 2:21; Joel 2:23; Joel 2:26; Amos 4:7; Jonah 4:6; Zech 10:1; Malachi 3:10-12; Matthew 5:45; Matthew 6:26; Matthew 6:30-33; Matthew 10:29; Luke 12:22-31; John 6:31; Acts 14:17; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 7:6; 2 Corinthians 9:8-10; Philippians 4:19; 2 Peter 2:7-9
God, Goodness of; God, Providence of

Temporal, from God, exemplified:

To Noah, at the time of the flood
Genesis 7:1

To Abraham
Genesis 24:1

To Isaac
Genesis 26:12-24; Genesis 26:28

To Jacob
Genesis 35:9-15

To Israelites, in Egypt
Exodus 11:3

To Israelites, in the wilderness:

Supplying water
Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:10-11; Psalms 78:15-20; Psalms 105:41

Supplying manna
Exodus 16:14; Exodus 16:31; Numbers 11:7-9; Nehemiah 9:15; Psalms 78:23-24

Supplying quails
Numbers 11:31-33; Psalms 78:23-30; Psalms 105:40

To David
2 Samuel 5:10; 1 Chronicles 14:17

To Obed-Edom
2 Samuel 6:11

To Solomon
1 Kings 3:13; 1 Chronicles 29:25; 2 Chronicles 1:1

To Elijah, fed by ravens
1 Kings 17:2-7

To Elijah, fed by an angel
1 Kings 19:5-8

To the widow of Zerephath
1 Kings 17:12-16

To Hezekiah, prospered
2 Kings 18:6-7; 2 Chronicles 32:29

To Hezekiah, restored to health
2 Kings 20:1-7

To Asa
2 Chronicles 14:6-7

To Jehoshaphat
2 Chronicles 17:3-5; 2 Chronicles 20:30

To Uzziah
2 Chronicles 26:5-15

To Jotham
2 Chronicles 27:6

To Job
Job 1:10; Job 42:10; Job 42:12

To Daniel
Daniel 1:9

Temporal, prayer for

General references
Genesis 27:28-29; Genesis 28:20-21; Genesis 28:3-4; Genesis 48:16; Deuteronomy 1:11; Deuteronomy 26:15; Deuteronomy 33:11; Deuteronomy 33:13-16; Deuteronomy 33:24; 1 Kings 8:35-50; 1 Chronicles 4:10; 1 Chronicles 17:27; Psalms 28:9; Psalms 36:11; Proverbs 30:8; Matthew 6:11; Romans 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 3:11; 3 John 1:2
Afflictions and Adversities, Prayer in; Prayer; Prosperity

Temporal blessings, prayer for

Instances of:

Abraham
Genesis 15:2-4

Abraham's servant
Genesis 24:12

Laban
Genesis 24:60

Isaac
Genesis 25:21

Hannah
1 Samuel 1:11

Elijah
1 Kings 17:20-21; 1 Kings 18:42; 1 Kings 18:44; 1 Kings 18:42; James 5:17-18

Ezra
Ezra 8:21-23

Nehemiah
Nehemiah 1:11; Nehemiah 2:4; Nehemiah 6:9

BLESS'ING, participle present tense Making happy; wishing happiness to; praising or extolling; consecrating by prayer.

BLESS'ING,noun Benediction; a wish of happiness pronounced; a prayer imploring happiness upon another.

1. A solemn prophetic benediction, in which happiness is desired, invoked or foretold.

This is the blessing wherewith Moses--blessed the children of Israel. Deuteronomy 33:1.

2. Any means of happiness; a gift, benefit or advantage; that which promotes temporal prosperity and welfare, or secures immortal felicity. A just and pious magistrate is a public blessing The divine favor is the greatest blessing

3. Among the Jews, a present; a gift; either because it was attended with kind wishes for the welfare of the giver, or because it was the means of increasing happiness.

Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee. Genesis 33:11.