Sometimes you can get a better understanding of the definition of a word if you look at a word than means the exact opposite. Take the word “bless” for example. The exact opposite of bless is “curse.” In the dictionary “curse” is defined as “an appeal to a supernatural power to harm someone or something.” “Bless” is “an appeal to a supernatural power to favor or protect someone or something.” God is the only supernatural power who does good; who dispenses his favor and protection. This is confirmed in the Scriptures. God is in complete control of his creation so he can also dispense curses where sin is involved. On the flip side, the other supernatural power (Satan) can dispense only evil. One of the spiritual truths of heaven is that a good tree will only bear good fruit and a bad tree will only bear bad fruit.
Genesis 3:17 – (God speaking to Adam) – Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life.
Genesis 3:14 – (God speaking to the serpent in the Garden of Eden) – Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every other beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.
Genesis 12:1-3 – Now the Lord had said to Abram: Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will BLESS you and make your name great; and you shall be a BLESSING. I will BLESS those who BLESS you, and I will CURSE him who CURSES you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be BLESSED.
Psalm 113:1-3 – Praise the Lord! Praise O servants of the Lord, BLESSED be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore!
God chose Abraham to be the father of his chosen people (Israel) and God’s blessings are poured out on the Jewish people. Abraham is Israel and Israel is Abraham. When God says Abraham is a blessing to the Gentiles he means salvation unto eternal life is from the Jews because Jesus Christ is a Jewish rabbi and direct descendant of Abraham. Christ is also the son of God and the only way to enter heaven is through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The above verses are very revealing. Our job on this earth is to seek out God’s blessings and avoid God’s curses. Therefore, make it a point to NEVER curse or do anything bad to Israel or any Jewish person because God will surely punish those who do. Instead, bless the Jewish people with your lips in prayer and look for ways to help Jewish people. God will love you for it and bless (reward) you accordingly.
1 Peter 1:3 – BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Ephesians 1:3 – BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has BLESSED us with every spiritual BLESSING in heavenly places in Christ.
Psalm 1:1-2 – BLESSED is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but delights in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 24:3-6 – Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive BLESSING from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
God also made a covenant with Gentiles through the blood of the Lamb of God; Jesus Christ, the son of God, who died on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven by a just God and our fellowship with God restored:
Ephesians 1:3-5 – BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has BLESSED us with every spiritual BLESSING in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.
Psalm 112:1-2 – Praise the Lord! BLESSED is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on the earth; the generation of the upright will be BLESSED.
Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 8:34 – BLESSED is the man who listens to Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting at the posts of My doors.
The Bible is full of curses and blessings. The word curse appears 101 times in the Bible. Cursed appears 72 times and other forms of the word curse appear another 34 times. 207 curses in total. The word bless appears 127 times in the Bible. Blessing or blessings appears 79 times and other forms of the word bless another 14 times. 220 blessings in total. As believers, if we want to curry God’s favor (blessings) and avoid God’s wrath (curses) we need to read the Bible daily and study God’s word for knowledge, understanding and wisdom. We cannot do God’s will and obey his commandments if we don’t know what they are. It would be like walking through a minefield blindfolded. When you read your Bible and you see the word blessing aimed at God think praise and worship and you’re on the right track. When we thank God in prayer God is also honored and glorified. When you see the word curse in the Bible attached to any promise from God pay particular attention to it so you can avoid it at all costs. Make sure all your actions only bring God’s blessings and none of God’s curses. God never fails to deliver what he has promised, whether good or bad.
Psalm 119:1-2 – BLESSED are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord! BLESSED are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!
Jeremiah 17:7 – BLESSED is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.
Romans 4:8 – BLESSED is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.
Revelation 1:3 – BLESSED is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keeps those things which are written in it, for the time is near.
The word “curse” in the biblical sense only has one meaning. On the other hand, the word “bless” has a dual meaning, depending on who is doing the blessing and who is receiving the blessing. When God is doing the blessing we have the most common definition which is a supernatural God dispensing favor or protection to his creatures or creation. When something is blessed it’s made holy. Holy means morally and spiritually excellent. God is perfect and the definition of holiness. For man, holiness is something we strive for and something God is working in us for our sanctification. When man is the one blessing and the recipient is God then the definition of “bless” or “blessing” means to praise God. We can clearly see this is what God means in Psalm 34:1.
Psalm 34:1-2 – I will BLESS the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Proverbs 10:6 – BLESSINGS are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
Titus 2:13 – Looking for the BLESSED hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Provers 28:20 – A faithful man will abound with BLESSINGS, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
If you want a primer on the blessings of God check out the beatitudes in the book of Matthew, chapter five. If you want an awareness of the curses of God and how to avoid them don’t neglect reading the Pentateuch; especially the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy. Below are some definitions you need to know:
Praise – show respect and gratitude
Worship – show deep respect and admiration
Glorify – to praise and worship God
Reverence – deep respect or admiration for someone or something
Fear – show awe and reverence
Psalm 34: 1, says we are to bless the Lord at all times with our lips. The definition of bless is “to praise God.” Praise means to show respect and gratitude. Worship means to show deep respect and admiration so praise and worship are essentially the same thing. Reverence is showing that respect and admiration for someone, which in our case is God. Biblical “fear” is when we show awe and reverence for God. People sometimes ask the question, “How do I worship God?” or “Am I worshipping God correctly?” Worshipping God doesn’t have to be intricate or hard. Worshipping God can be as simple as saying, “Bless you Lord for my salvation” or “Bless you Lord for loving me” or “Thank you God for watching over me.” You can bless the Lord in endless ways by using the word bless (which means praise) and then adding any of God’s many attributes or any of the ways God has helped you (i.e. Thank you Lord for your tender mercies). The point is, blessing God is meant to be quick and easy so we can do it often throughout the day and this is confirmed in the Scriptures.