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בָרַךְ
bârak · Hebrew · Strong's H1288 · 330 occurrences
The KJV renders 15 different Hebrew and Greek words as “praise”
What it means
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)
a primitive root;
How the KJV renders it
blaspheme, bless, congratulate, curse, kneel, praise, salute, thank
Where that flattens a distinction
The same English word is also used for these other originals, so the distinction between them disappears in translation.
“praise”
“curse”
also renders anáthema (G331), katanathematízō (G2653), kakologéō (G2551), ará (G685), kataráomai (G2672), katanáthema (G2652), anathematízō (G332), ʼâlâh (H422), ʼâlâh (H423), nâqab (H5344), taʼălâh (H8381)
“blaspheme”
also renders gâdaph (H1442), châraph (H2778), nâʼats (H5006), nâqab (H5344)
“bless”
“kneel”
also renders bᵉrak (H1289)
“thank”
also renders yᵉdâʼ (H3029)
Answers that weigh this word
- Does Colossians 2:16 abolish the Sabbath?
- Is the seventh-day Sabbath binding on Gentiles?
- Will there be a literal thousand-year reign (the millennium)?
- Is tithing required for Christians?
- What does Romans 14:5 mean about esteeming one day above another?
- What does Malachi 3:10 mean about the tithe?
Where it appears
330 occurrences in the Hebrew text, first 60 verses shown.
1 Chronicles 4:10 · HVpa
Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border! May your hand be with me, and may you keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” God granted him that which he requested.
1 Chronicles 13:14 · HC/Vpw3ms
God’s ark remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months; and Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom’s house and all that he had.
1 Chronicles 16:2 · HC/Vpw3ms
When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in Yahweh’s name.
1 Chronicles 16:36 · HVqsmsa
Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. All the people said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh.
1 Chronicles 16:43 · HR/Vpc
All the people departed, each man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.
1 Chronicles 17:27 · HC/VPsmsa
Now it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Yahweh, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”
1 Chronicles 18:10 HC/R/Vpc/Sp3ms1 Chronicles 23:13 HC/R/Vpc1 Chronicles 26:5 HVpp3ms/Sp3ms1 Chronicles 29:10 HC/Vpw3ms1 Chronicles 29:20 HC/Vpw3mp1 Kings 1:47 HR/Vpc1 Kings 1:48 HVqsmsa1 Kings 2:45 HVqsmsa1 Kings 5:7 HVqsmsa1 Kings 8:14 HC/Vpw3ms1 Kings 8:15 HVqsmsa1 Kings 8:55 HC/Vpw3ms1 Kings 8:56 HVqsmsa1 Kings 8:66 HC/Vpw3mp1 Kings 10:9 HVqsmsa1 Kings 21:10 HVpp2ms1 Kings 21:13 HVpp3ms1 Samuel 2:20 HC/Vpq3ms1 Samuel 9:13 HVpi3ms1 Samuel 13:10 HR/Vpc/Sp3ms1 Samuel 15:13 HVqsmsa1 Samuel 23:21 HVqsmpa1 Samuel 25:14 HR/Vpc1 Samuel 25:32 HVqsmsa1 Samuel 25:33 HC/Vqsfsa1 Samuel 25:39 HVqsmsa1 Samuel 26:25 HVqsmsa2 Chronicles 2:12 HVqsmsa2 Chronicles 6:3 HC/Vpw3ms2 Chronicles 6:4 HVqsmsa2 Chronicles 6:13 HC/Vqw3ms2 Chronicles 9:8 HVqsmsa2 Chronicles 20:26 HVpp3cp2 Chronicles 30:27 HC/Vpw3mp2 Chronicles 31:8 HC/Vpw3mp2 Chronicles 31:10 HVpp3ms2 Kings 4:29 HVpi2ms/Sp1cp2 Kings 10:15 HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3ms2 Samuel 2:5 HVqsmpa2 Samuel 6:11 HC/Vpw3ms2 Samuel 6:12 HVpp3ms2 Samuel 6:18 HC/Vpw3ms2 Samuel 6:20 HR/Vpc2 Samuel 7:29 HC/Vpv2ms2 Samuel 8:10 HC/R/Vpc/Sp3ms2 Samuel 13:25 HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3ms2 Samuel 14:22 HC/Vpw3ms2 Samuel 18:28 HVqsmsa2 Samuel 19:39 HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3ms2 Samuel 21:3 HC/Vpv2mp2 Samuel 22:47 HC/VqsmsaDeuteronomy 1:11 HC/Vpi3msDeuteronomy 2:7 HVpp3ms/Sp2msDeuteronomy 7:13 HC/Vpq3ms
Occurrences and morphology are taken from the primary Hebrew text, never from an English translation. Strong's Hebrew lexicon and Westminster Leningrad Codex morphology used under CC BY-SA 4.0 / CC BY 4.0 (OpenScriptures). Strong's Greek lexicon is public domain.