The Priestly (Aaronic) Blessing or priestly benediction, (Hebrew: ברכת כהנים; Birkat Kohanim), also known in rabbinic literature as raising of the hands.
According to the Torah, Aaron blessed the people, and God promises that "I will place my name on their hands" (the Kohanim's hands) "and bless them" (the Jews receiving the blessing) The Jewish Sages stressed that although the priests are the ones carrying out the blessing, it is not them or the ceremonial practice of raising their hands that results in the blessing, but rather it is God's desire that His blessing should be symbolized by the Kohanim's (priests) hands.
Even after the destruction of the second Hebrew Temple in Jerusalem, the practice has been continued in Jewish synagogues, and today in most Jewish communities, Kohanim bless the worshippers in the synagogue during special Jewish prayer services.
The text to be used for the blessing is specified in Numbers 6:24–26:
[May] Adonai bless you, and guard you – יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה, וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ
[May] Adonai make His face shine unto you, and be gracious to you – יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וִיחֻנֶּךָּ
[May] Adonai lift up His face unto you, and give to you peace – יִשָּׂא יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם
This is the oldest known Biblical text that has been found; amulets with these verses written on them have been found in graves near the City of David, dating from the First Temple Period.
We created this beautiful collection of Christian Jewelry and Faith Jewelry with these words of blessing, to keep with you as protection wherever you are.
