בָּרַךְ
Barach
To bless; to kneel
Barach (בָּרַךְ) is a Hebrew word meaning “to bless; to kneel,” pronounced “ba-RAKH.” Derived from the root ב-ר-ך, barach appears 330 times in the Hebrew Bible (Strong's H1288).
| Hebrew | בָּרַךְ |
|---|---|
| Transliteration | Barach |
| Pronunciation | ba-RAKH |
| Meaning | To bless; to kneel |
| Root Letters | ב-ר-ך |
| Occurrences in Hebrew Bible | 330× |
| Key Verse | Numbers 6:24 |
| Strong's Number | H1288 |
| Category | Greetings & Blessings |
The Hebrew word for bless hides a picture most readers never see. Barach (בָּרַךְ) is built from the same three letters — bet-resh-kaf — that spell berech (בֶּרֶךְ), the knee. To bless, in the oldest layer of the word, is to bend down. And it runs in two directions: when God blesses, He stoops to give — life, favor, fruitfulness; when we bless the LORD (Psalm 103:1), we kneel before Him in thanks. Same verb, both directions. That is why the most famous blessing in Scripture, the Aaronic Blessing of Numbers 6:24, opens here: the first thing God tells His priests to say over His people is that He will bend down toward them.
Key Bible Verse: Numbers 6:24
“The LORD bless you (yevarechecha) and keep you.”
What Is the Root of Barach in Hebrew?
Barach comes from the root ב-ר-ך (bet-resh-kaf), the same three consonants that form berech (knee). The shared root ties blessing to the posture of kneeling — both giving a gift and receiving one.
What Does Barach Mean in the Bible?
Barach appears over 300 times in the Hebrew Bible. God blesses creation (Genesis 1:28) and Abraham (Genesis 12:2); people bless God in praise (Psalm 103:1); and priests carry God's blessing to the people (Numbers 6:23-27). The related passive form barukh — 'blessed' — opens countless Hebrew blessings.
How Is Barach Used in Modern Hebrew?
To this day a Jewish blessing typically opens with Barukh atah Adonai — 'Blessed are You, LORD' — the passive form of this same verb. Christians have quietly inherited the instinct too: we say 'Bless the Lord, O my soul.'
How to Use Barach in Prayer & Worship
Read Numbers 6:24 slowly and receive it — the LORD bless you and keep you — as God bending down to you. Then turn the verb back to Him: kneel, in posture or in heart, and bless the One who first stooped to bless you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Barach
How do you say “To bless; to kneel” in Hebrew?
“To bless; to kneel” in Hebrew is Barach (בָּרַךְ), pronounced “ba-RAKH.” Barach comes from the root ב-ר-ך (bet-resh-kaf), the same three consonants that form berech (knee). The shared root ties blessing to the posture of kneeling — both giving a gift and receiving one.
What does Barach mean in the Bible?
Barach (בָּרַךְ) means “To bless; to kneel” in Biblical Hebrew. Barach appears over 300 times in the Hebrew Bible. God blesses creation (Genesis 1:28) and Abraham (Genesis 12:2); people bless God in praise (Psalm 103:1); and priests carry God's blessing to the people (Numbers 6:23-27). The related passive form barukh — 'blessed' — opens countless Hebrew blessings.
How do you pronounce Barach?
Barach is pronounced “ba-RAKH.” The word comes from the Hebrew root ב-ר-ך.
Why does the Hebrew word for bless mean kneel?
Barach (בָּרַךְ) shares its root with berech (בֶּרֶךְ), the word for knee. In the oldest layer of the language, to bless is to bend the knee — the posture of both giving a gift and receiving one. When God blesses He stoops to give; when we bless God we kneel to adore.
What is the difference between barach and berachah?
Barach is the verb — the act of blessing (or kneeling). Berachah (בְּרָכָה) is the noun — the blessing itself, the gift that is given. The verb blesses; the noun is what changes hands.
How do you pronounce barach?
Barach is pronounced 'ba-RAKH,' two syllables with the stress on the second. The final kh is the soft guttural sound of the ch in Bach.
Sources & Further Study
- Blue Letter Bible — H1288: Barach
- Bible Gateway — Numbers 6:24 (ESV)
- Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB) — entry for ב-ר-ך
More Greetings & Blessings Words
Explore other Hebrew words in the Greetings & Blessings category
Related Hebrew Words
The Biblical Hebrew Starter Kit — $19
5 printable PDFs: alphabet reference, top 50 Bible words, names of God, 10 biblical name certificates, alphabet wall print. Yours to keep forever.
Go Deeper
Top 10 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know
Essential Hebrew words that will transform your Bible reading — from chesed and shalom to ruach and shema.
Read articleHebrew Numbers 1–10: Complete Guide
Hebrew counting with masculine and feminine forms, pronunciation, and the spiritual significance of numbers in Scripture.
Read articleLearn a New Hebrew Word Every Day
Join 12,000+ Christians discovering the depth of Scripture through Biblical Hebrew.