Bless


The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, / but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. - Proverbs 3:33

Biblical Blessing

Birds and Sea Creatures

God blessed the birds and sea creatures, saying to be fruitful and multiply. This is the first blessing in the Bible.

So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” - Genesis 1:21-22

Cain

Because Cain murdered his brother Abel, Cain is cursed, but God placed a mark on him and promised vengeance against anyone who kills him sevenfold.

Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. - Genesis 4:13-15

Man

God blessed man, saying to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, having dominion over all the earth and its creatures. Every plant yielding seed and every tree with seed in its fruit has been given to man for food. (Genesis 1:26-30)

The Sabbath

God rests after finishing the heavens, the earth, and all the host of them, and blessed the seventh day and made it holy.

So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

(Genesis 2:3)

Noah and his sons

God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to be fruitful and multiply and that the fear of them shall be upon every beast, bird, and fish. Every moving thing shall be food for them, but they shall not eat flesh with its blood. For their lifeblood, God will require a reckoning, be it from beast or man.

(Genesis 8)

Shem and Japheth

From Noah's sons, Shem, Ham (father of Canaan), and Japheth, the people of the whole earth were dispersed.

Noah became a man of the soil and planted a vineyard. He became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. Ham saw his father's nakedness and told his brothers. Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backwards to cover the nakedness of their father without looking upon him.

When Noah awoke and knew what his youngest son did, he said, “Cursed be Canaan; / a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.” He also said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem; / and let Canaan be his servant. / May God enlarge Japheth, / and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, / and let Canaan be his servant.”

(Genesis 9)

Abram, and in him, all families in the earth

The Lord told Abram, "And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” (Genesis 13:14-17)

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, / Possessor of heaven and earth; / and blessed be God Most High, / who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” (Genesis 14:18-20)