Hebrew word · Strong's H1288

בָרַךְ

bârak · baw-rak' · verb · “to bless, kneel”

In a sentence

Barak means to bless — and, from a root meaning to kneel, to honor God in worship. God blesses his people with good; his people bless him in grateful praise.

Barak works in two directions. God “blesses” people — bestowing favor, life, and good — as he blessed Abraham to be a blessing to all nations. And people “bless” God, kneeling in grateful worship.

The famous priestly blessing — “The LORD bless you and keep you” — captures the first; “Bless the LORD, O my soul” captures the second. To be blessed by God and to bless him are the rhythm of covenant life.

Strong's reference

Definition: 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)

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

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

Numbers 6:24 “‘May the LORD bless you and keep you;” Genesis 12:2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” Psalms 103:1 “Bless the LORD, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name.”

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.