Bible Blessings: Verses to Speak Over Family and Friends

Scripture is full of ready-made blessings, words meant to be said over another person. Here are eleven of them from the Berean Standard Bible, grouped by occasion, starting with the oldest and best known.

The priestly blessing

‘May the LORD bless you and keep you; may the LORD cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’ (Numbers 6:24–26, BSB)

God gave these words to Moses for Aaron and his sons, saying, “This is how you are to bless the Israelites,” and adding, “So they shall put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them” (Numbers 6:23, 27). It is also called the Aaronic blessing.

Two tiny silver scrolls found in 1979 in a burial cave at Ketef Hinnom, just outside Jerusalem’s Old City, carry a nearly identical blessing. Most scholars date them to around 600 BC, making them among the oldest known fragments of biblical text. They are on display at the Israel Museum. Many churches still close Sunday worship with this blessing or with 2 Corinthians 13:14.

Blessings to speak over children

In many Jewish homes, parents place their hands on their children’s heads at the Friday night Shabbat meal and bless them, ending with Numbers 6:24–26. Christian parents who want a similar habit often use the same words at bedtime.

May the LORD give you increase, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 115:14–15, BSB)

The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul. The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121:7–8, BSB)

“Your coming and going” makes Psalm 121:7–8 a good send-off for a child leaving for college or a first job.

May the LORD bless you from Zion, that you may see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life, that you may see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel! (Psalm 128:5–6, BSB)

Psalm 128 pictures a home where God is honored. “That you may see your children’s children” is a fitting line for grandparents.

Birthdays

Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers. (3 John 1:2, BSB)

May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed. (Psalm 20:4, BSB)

3 John 1:2 is the opening greeting of a short letter from “the elder” to his friend Gaius. It blesses body and soul together, which suits an older friend’s birthday.

Weddings

Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5–6, BSB)

Paul prayed this for a whole church, but “harmony with one another” is a good blessing for a couple. For the passage read at many weddings, see 1 Corinthians 13.

The new year

You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your paths overflow with plenty. (Psalm 65:11, BSB)

Psalm 65 is a harvest psalm of thanks. It fits a card written in late December or the first week of January.

To close a gathering or send someone off

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. (2 Corinthians 13:14, BSB)

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13, BSB)

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen. (Jude 1:24–25, BSB)

2 Corinthians 13:14 is the last verse of the letter and names the Father, Son and Holy Spirit together. It is short enough for a small group to say aloud as it ends. Jude 1:24–25 closes the whole book of Jude and makes a good farewell for a friend who is moving away.

How to use them

• Say it aloud. Numbers 6:24–26 is three lines and easy to memorize. Say the person’s name first, then the blessing.
• Write it in a card. Copy the verse as written, put the reference on its own line, and add one sentence of your own.
• Make it a habit. Pick one blessing for the year and use it at the same moment each time: bedtime, the door on the way out, or the end of a family meal.

Writing holiday cards? See our Christmas verses for cards and Thanksgiving verses for cards.

Write it by hand

Practice a blessing on the free lined copywork pages before writing it in a card. Penned Grace lets you write scripture by hand, letter by letter, on iPhone, iPad or Android, with your finger or Apple Pencil. It is free to download.

For more verses by occasion, see birthday Bible verses for cards and wedding Bible verses for cards.