If you’ve ever attended a church service, wedding, baby dedication, or really any other church gathering, you’ve likely heard someone share benedictions in the Bible, usually to conclude the service.
Benedictions are simply blessings spoken over a person or congregation, and contrary to popular belief, their use isn’t limited to pastors and priests. In fact, you could speak benedictions in the Bible over anyone you’d like!
But which should you use? Lucky for you, we’ve collected lots of benedictions in the Bible, all in one place!
Context of Benedictions in the Bible
Biblical Benedictions
Biblical benedictions are typically short, prayer-like statements. You can find them throughout the scriptures, particularly at the end of epistles in the New Testament.
For instance, 2 Corinthians 13:14 is a well-known benediction that extends grace, love, and fellowship to its recipients:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Another example, from the Old Testament, is the Aaronic blessing in Numbers 6:24-26, which is often recited to invoke God’s favor and peace:
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Divine Power and Blessing
A benediction prayer during a worship service showcases a belief in God’s power and the desire to receive God’s blessing. These prayers are not just well-wishes; they are considered a conduit of God’s actual grace and favor.
When you hear, “The Lord bless you and keep you,” from Numbers 6:24-26, it’s an invocation for God’s presence to be a tangible force in your life—protecting, comforting, and guiding you.
When you hear or speak a benediction, you’re participating in a tradition that dates back millennia. This connects you with countless generations who have sought the same divine peace and comfort.
God of Hope and Peace in Benedictions
When you encounter benedictions in the Bible, they often encompass desires for divine peace and hope to be granted to those receiving the blessing.
The Peace of God and Christ Jesus
The peace of God, as mentioned in Philippians 4:7, is a profound blessing that goes beyond our understanding. It’s not merely the absence of conflict but a deep-seated tranquility provided by the God of peace Himself:
(May) the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Similarly, the peace of Christ Jesus is an active force, as suggested by Colossians 3:15:
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
This peace is something that governs your life, guiding you through turmoil with a sense of calm assurance.
Hope Through Blessings
Benedictions also bring forth divine blessing from the God of hope, as in Romans 15:13:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
This isn’t a fleeting feeling; it’s described as good hope, a steadfast assurance from the God of hope that permeates every aspect of a believer’s life. It encourages you to remain steadfast and confident in your faith journey.
Covenant and Fellowship
In the Biblical context, covenant refers to an agreement established by God, often sealed with a sacred act or ritual. Meanwhile, fellowship denotes the Holy’s Spirit guidance in your life, leading, encouraging, and empowering you in your faith.
These themes are particularly significant because they illustrate the relationship between God and humanity.
Eternal Covenant
The blood of the eternal covenant is a powerful concept that you’ll encounter in the Scriptures. It speaks of the binding agreement that God made through Christ Jesus that endures beyond time, offering you eternal comfort and assurance.
For instance, Hebrews 13:20 says:
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Spiritual Fellowship
When you come across the term fellowship of the Holy Spirit, it’s referring to a unifying presence that binds believers together. One great example of a fellowship blessing can be found in 2 Corinthians 13:14:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Benedictions and the Church Community
But of course, benedictions in the Bible are most often used at the close of a church service to invoke God’s grace and peace upon the congregation.
Corporate Worship and Prayer
When you gather for corporate worship, the benediction serves as a communal prayer, unifying the congregation in seeking God’s favor.
It’s a powerful moment where you, along with others, experience the living tradition of speaking blessings that resonate with the New Testament’s teachings. As phrases like “May God fill you with joy…” echo throughout the sanctuary, they create a sense of shared spiritual well-being.
A few examples of benedictions used in church services include:
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:14
God’s Grace in Communal Living
Benedictions also extend the preaching of Jesus Christ beyond the walls of the church out into everyday life.
Through these prayers, you carry the message of God’s grace into your interactions with family, friends, and even strangers. Benedictions in the Bible serve as a reminder that the good things in life are manifestations of the favor and love of God upon you and your community.
More Beneditions in the Bible
May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.
Genesis 31:49
Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.
Deuteronomy 33:12
Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword.
Deuteronomy 33:29
May all who love you Lord be like the sun when it rises in its strength.
Judges 5:31
May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord.
Ruth 2:12
Go in peace, and may God grant you what you have asked of him.
1 Samuel 1:17
Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!
1 Samuel 25:6
May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness.
2 Samuel 2:6
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us.
Psalm 67:1
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.
Psalm 90:17
Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.
Psalm 112:1-3
May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 115:14-15
The blessing of the Lord be on you.
Psalm 129:8
May the Lord bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth!
Psalm 134:3
Peace be with you.
Luke 24:36
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Acts 20:32
To all who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:7
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:5–6
The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Romans 15:33
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
Romans 16:20
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:3
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
1 Corinthians 16:23
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:2
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.
Galatians 1:3-4
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters.
Galatians 6:18
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:2
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Ephesians 1:18-19
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19
Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Ephesians 6:23-24
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:2
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11
May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
1 Thessalonians 3:13
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
2 Peter 1:2
To God’s elect, who have been chosen according to the fore knowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
1 Peter 1:1-2
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Jude 1:24–25
So…which benedictions will you use? And do you have any favorite benedictions in the Bible that we missed?
Be sure to share in the comments! And friend? May the Lord bless you and keep you!
P.S. Do you want to pray for your family more consistently, but struggle to know what exactly to pray for them? Here are 10 meaningful things to pray for your spouse, 10 to pray for your children, plus printable reference cards to help you make prayer a habit! Download yours free HERE.
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