Lexical Definition

‎בָרַךְ‎ bârak (baw-rak') to bless ^H:V
a primitive root

[idiom] abundantly, [idiom] altogether, [idiom] at all, blaspheme, bless, congratulate, curse, [idiom] greatly, [idiom] indeed, kneel (down), praise, salute, [idiom] still, thank.

• to kneel
• by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit)
• also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason)

1) to bless, kneel
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to kneel
1a2) to bless
1b) (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself
1c) (Piel) to bless
1d) (Pual) to be blessed, be adored
1e) (Hiphil) to cause to kneel
1f) (Hithpael) to bless oneself
2) (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse

See Greek: αἰνέω · ἐνευλογέω · εὐλογέω · εὐλογητός · εὐλογία · κλαίω · πίπτω

Extended Information

• Aramaic equivalent: be.rakh (‎ב‎ְּ‎ר‎ַ‎ך‎ְ "to bless" בְּרַךְ)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Aramaic form: בְּרַךְ
Also see: בָּרוּךְ

[‎בָּרַךְ‎]₃₂₉ verb kneel, bless (Late Hebrew id.; Arabic ; Ethiopic : Aramaic ‎בְּרֵךְ‎ (praise), Palmyrene especially in ‎בריך שמו לעלמא‎ Vog^{Palm. 74 ff.} compare 94, 144) —

Qal Imperfect ‎יִבְּרַךְ‎ 2Chr 6:13 ‎נִבְרְכָה‎ Ps 95:6 ‎בָּרוֺךְ‎ (see Pi`el); Passive participle ‎בָּרוּךְ‎ Gen 9:26 + 70 t.; —

1. kneel down (so Arabic, Syriac, Ethiopic): ‎וַיִּבְרַךְ עַלבִּֿרְכָּיו‎ and he kneeled upon his knees 2Chr 6:13 ‎׳‎‎נִבְרְכָה לפני י‎ let us kneel before Yahweh Ps 95:6.

2. bless (only passive participle).
a. of God: ‎׳‎‎בָּרוּךְ י‎ blessed be (or is) ‎׳‎‎י‎ Exod 18:10 (E) Gen 9:26; Gen 24:27 (J) Ruth 4:14; 1Sam 25:32: 1Sam 25:39; 2Sam 18:28; 1Kgs 1:48; 1Kgs 5:21*; 1Kgs 8:51; 1Kgs 8:56; 1Kgs 10:9; 1Chr 16:36; 1Chr 29:10; 2Chr 2:11*; 2Chr 6:4; 2Chr 9:8; Ps 28:6; Ps 31:22*; Ps 41:14*; Ps 72:18; Ps 89:53*; Ps 106:48; Ps 119:12; Ps 124:6; Ps 135:21; Ps 144:1; Zech 11:5 ‎אלהים‎ ‎׳‎‎ב‎ Ps 66:20; Ps 68:36* ‎אדני‎ ‎׳‎‎ב‎ Ps 68:20* (probably for an original ‎יהוה‎); ‎אל עליון‎ ‎׳‎‎ב‎ Gen 14:20 (E); ‎צוּרִי‎ ‎׳‎‎ב‎ 2Sam 22:47 (= Ps 18:47*); ‎׳‎‎כבוד י‎ ‎׳‎‎ב‎ Ezek 3:12 ‎שׁם‎ ‎׳‎‎ב‎ ‎כבודו‎ Ps 72:19.
b. of men: Gen 27:33 (J) Num 22:12 (E) Deut 7:14; Deut 28:3; Deut 28:6; Deut 33:20; Deut 33:24; 1Sam 25:33; 1Sam 26:25; Judg 17:2; 1Kgs 2:45; Ps 118:26; Isa 19:25; Jer 17:7; Jer 20:14 ‎מברכך ברוך‎ blessed be the one blessing thee Gen 27:29; Num 24:9 (E); ‎ליהוה‎ ‎׳‎‎ב‎ Ruth 2:19; Ruth 2:20; Ruth 3:10; 1Sam 15:13; 1Sam 23:21; 2Sam 2:5; Ps 115:15 ‎לאל עליון‎ ‎׳‎‎ב‎ Gen 14:19 ‎׳‎‎בְּרוּךְ י‎ Gen 24:31; Gen 26:29 (J); ‎׳‎‎בְּרוּכֵי י‎ Isa 65:23.
c. things: ‎בָּרוּךְ פרי‎ ‎בטנך‎ blessed be the fruit of thy womb Deut 28:4 compare Deut 28:5; 1Sam 25:33; Prov 5:18. Niph`al Perfect ‎נִבְרְכוּ‎ Gen 12:3; Gen 18:18; Gen 28:14 (J) bless oneself (compare Hithpa`el). Pi`el₂₃₃ Perfect ‎בֵּרַךְ‎ Gen 24:1 + 29 t.; ‎בֵּרֵךְ‎ Ps 10:3; Num 23:20 ‎בֵּרְכוּ‎ 2Chr 20:26 ‎וּבֵרֲכוּ‎ Job 1:5 suffix ‎בֵּרֲכוֺ‎, ‎בֵּרֲכַּנִי‎, etc., Gen 27:27 + 5 t.; ‎בֵּרַכְךָ‎ Deut 2:7 + 9 t.; Imperfect ‎יְבָרֵךְ‎, ‎וַיְּבֶ֫רֶךְ‎ etc., Gen 28:3 + 52 t.; ‎אֲבָֽרֲכָה‎ Gen 12:3 + 2 t.; plural ‎יְבָֽרֲכוּ‎ Gen 24:60 + 11 t.; suffix ‎יְבָרֶכְךָ‎ Gen 27:10 + 21 t.; ‎יְבָֽרֲכֶךָּ‎ Gen 49:25 + 2 t.; ‎יְבָֽרֲכֵהוּ‎ Gen 14:19 + 16 t.; ‎יְבָֽרֲכֵם‎ Gen 48:20 + 6 t.; ‎אֲבָרֶכְכָה‎ Gen 27:7 ‎תְּבָֽרֲכַּ נִּי‎ Gen 27:19; Gen 27:31 ‎יְבָֽרֲכֶנְהוּ‎ Ps 72:15 ‎יְבָֽרֲכוּכָה‎ Ps 145:10 Imperative ‎בָּרֵךְ‎ Deut 33:11 + 29 t.; Infinitive construct ‎בָּרֵךְ‎ Gen 22:17 + 24 t.; Infinitive absolute ‎בָּרוֺךְ‎ Josh 24:10 (Ki, compare Kö^{i. 191}, Ew^{§ 240 b, 2} Ol Sta); Participle ‎מְבָרֵךְ‎ Prov 27:14 + 4 t.; —

1. bless God, adore with bended knees: accusative ‎׳‎‎ברך י‎ Gen 24:48 (J) Deut 8:10; Judg 5:2; Judg 5:9; 1Chr 29:10; 1Chr 29:20; 2Chr 20:26; 2Chr 31:8; Neh 9:5; Ps 16:7; Ps 26:12; Ps 34:2*; Ps 63:5*; Ps 103:20; Ps 103:21; Ps 103:22; Ps 115:18; Ps 134:1; Ps 134:2; Ps 135:19; Ps 135:20; Ps 145:2; Ps 145:10 ‎ברכי‎ ‎׳‎‎נפשׁי את י‎ Ps 103:1; Ps 103:2; Ps 103:22; Ps 104:1; Ps 104:35 ‎ברך שׁם‎ bless the name of Yahweh Neh 9:5; Ps 96:2; Ps 100:4; Ps 145:1; Ps 145:21 ‎ברך‎ ‎אלהים‎ Josh 22:33; Ps 66:8; Ps 68:27* (doubtless for an original ‎יהוה‎), with ‎לְ‎ 1Chr 29:20 ‎מְבָרֵךְ אָוָן‎ Isa 66:3 (of idolatrous worship).

2. God blesses
a. men: absolute Num 23:20 (E) Ps 109:28 with accusative Gen 32:27; Gen 32:30*; Gen 48:16; Exod 20:24; Num 24:1; Josh 24:10 (E) Gen 12:2; Gen 12:3; Gen 22:17; Gen 24:1; Gen 24:35; Gen 26:12; Gen 30:27; Gen 30:30; Gen 39:5; Gen 49:25; Josh 17:14 (J) Gen 1:22; Gen 1:28; Gen 5:2; Gen 9:1; Gen 17:16; Gen 17:20; Gen 25:11; Gen 26:3; Gen 26:24; Gen 28:3; Gen 35:9; Gen 48:3; Num 6:24; Num 6:27 (P) Deut 1:11; Deut 2:7; Deut 7:13; Deut 12:7; Deut 14:24; Deut 14:29; Deut 15:4; Deut 15:6; Deut 15:10; Deut 15:14; Deut 15:18; Deut 16:10; Deut 16:15; Deut 23:21*; Deut 24:13; Deut 24:19; Deut 26:15; Deut 28:8; Deut 30:16; Deut 2:11; Deut 2:12; Deut 7:29; Deut 1:10; Deut 13:14*; Deut 17:27; Deut 26:5; Deut 2:10; Ps 5:13*; Ps 28:9; Ps 29:11; Ps 45:3*; Ps 67:2*; Ps 67:7*; Ps 67:8*; Ps 107:38; Ps 115:12; Ps 115:13; Ps 128:5; Ps 134:3; Ps 147:13; Prov 3:33; Isa 19:25; Isa 51:2; Isa 61:9; Jer 31:23; Hag 2:19,
b. things: Sabbath Gen 2:3; Exod 20:11 (P); field Gen 27:27 (E); bread Exod 23:25 (E); work Deut 28:12; Job 1:10 compare Deut 33:11; Ps 65:11*; Ps 132:15.

3. men bless men: priests & kings ‎׳‎‎בשׁם י‎ Deut 10:8; Deut 21:5; 2Sam 6:18; 1Chr 16:2; 1Chr 23:13; Ps 129:8 Melchizedek Abraham Gen 14:19 Moses Deut 33:1; Exod 12:32; Exod 39:43 Joshua Josh 14:13; Josh 22:6; Josh 22:7 priests Lev 9:22; Lev 9:23; Num 6:23; Deut 27:12; Josh 8:33; 2Chr 30:27; Ps 118:26 Solomon 1Kgs 8:14; 1Kgs 8:55 ( = 2Chr 6:3); David 2Sam 6:20 (= 1Chr 16:43) 2Sam 19:40* Eli 1Sam 2:20 Balaam Num 22:6; Num 23:11; Num 23:20; Num 23:25; Num 24:10 fathers, especially on death-bed Gen 27:4 + 12 t. Gen 27 (all J E) Gen 28:1; Gen 28:6 (P) Gen 32:1* (E) Gen 48:9 (P) Gen 48:15; Gen 48:20; Gen 49:28 (J) 2Sam 13:25 in consecrating a sacrifice 1Sam 9:13.

4. salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing (stronger than ‎שׁלום‎):‎בך יברך ישׂראל‎ with thee will Israel bless Gen 48:20 (E).
a. in meeting Gen 47:7 (P) 2Kgs 4:29; 2Kgs 10:15; 1Sam 13:10.
b. in departing Gen 24:60 (J) Gen 47:10 (P) 1Kgs 8:66.
c. by messengers 1Sam 25:14; 2Sam 8:10; 1Chr 18:10.
d. in gratitude Job 31:20; Prov 30:11; Neh 11:2.
e. morning salutation Prov 27:14. feminine congratulations for prosperity Gen 12:3 (J) Gen 27:29; Num 24:9 (E) 1Kgs 1:47; Ps 49:19*; Ps 62:5*.
g. in homage 2Sam 14:22; Ps 72:15.
h. in friendliness 2Sam 21:3.

5. bless, with the antithetical meaning curse (Thes) from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates: 1Kgs 21:10; 1Kgs 21:13; Job 1:5; Job 1:11; Job 2:5; Job 2:9; Ps 10:3. Pu`al Imperfect ‎יְבֹרַךְ‎ 2Sam 7:29 + 3 t.; ‎תְּבֹרַךְ‎ Judg 5:24; Prov 20:21 Participle ‎מְבֹרָךְ‎ Num 22:6 + 3 t.; feminine ‎מְבֹרֶכֶת‎ Deut 33:13 ‎מְבֹרָכָיו‎ Ps 37:22 —

1. passive to be blessed, adored: ‎׳‎‎שׁם י‎ Job 1:21; Ps 113:2

2. prospered by God:
a. persons 2Sam 7:29; 1Chr 17:27; Ps 37:22; Ps 112:2; Ps 128:4; Prov 20:21.
b. things Deut 33:13.

3. have prosperity invoked, by Balaam Num 22:6.

4. in gratitude Prov 22:9; Judg 5:24. Hiph`il ‎וַיַּבְרֵךְ חַגְּמַלִּים‎ and he made his camels kneel Gen 24:11 (J). Hithpa`el ‎הִתְבָּרֵךְ‎ Deut 29:18* + 3 t.; Imperfect ‎יִתְבָּרֵךְ‎ Isa 65:16; Ps 72:17 Participle ‎מִתְבָּרֵךְ‎ Isa 65:16 — bless oneself, congratulate onself ‎בלבבו‎ in his heart Deut 29:18* ‎בזרעך‎ with or by (compare ‎בְּ‎ III.

2. d) thy seed (invoke for oneself the blessing of the see of Abraham) Gen 22:18; Gen 26:4 (J); by the Messianic king Ps 72:17 ‎באלהי אמן‎ Isa 65:16 by ‎׳‎‎י‎ Jer 4:2.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References