Numbers 6 26

Numbers 6:26 kjv

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Numbers 6:26 nkjv

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." '

Numbers 6:26 niv

the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."?'

Numbers 6:26 esv

the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:26 nlt

May the LORD show you his favor
and give you his peace.'

Numbers 6 verses

Numbers 6 26 Meaning

Numbers 6:26 is the third and culminating line of the Aaronic Priestly Blessing. It asks that the LORD actively turn His face towards His people with deliberate and positive attention, signifying divine favor, personal recognition, and a deep, intimate connection. The request then specifies that this active turning will result in the LORD granting "peace"—not merely the absence of conflict, but a profound, comprehensive state of wholeness, well-being, prosperity, security, and spiritual harmony that stems directly from His presence and approval.

Numbers 6 26 Context

Numbers 6:26 is the third line of the Priestly Blessing, commanded by the LORD to be spoken by Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel (Num 6:22-27). This blessing is found within the book of Numbers, which details the wilderness wanderings of Israel after their exodus from Egypt, their preparations for entering the Promised Land, and the establishment of various laws and ordinances for their covenant relationship with God. The immediate context places the blessing right after the laws concerning the Nazirite vow (Num 6:1-21) and before the account of the dedication of the Tabernacle and its altar (Num 7:1ff). Historically, the ancient Israelites lived in a world where gods were often perceived as distant or capricious, requiring elaborate rituals or sacrifices to gain their attention. The Priestly Blessing offered a profound counter-narrative, establishing Yahweh as a benevolent, covenant-keeping God who desires to actively turn towards His people and bestow holistic well-being upon them through His appointed priests. It assured Israel of God's continuous and active care, crucial for their challenging journey in the wilderness and their future life in Canaan.

Numbers 6 26 Word analysis

• The LORD:
  • Hebrew: YHWH (transliterated as Yahweh), rendered "the LORD" (Adonai) out of reverence.
  • Significance: Refers to the personal, covenantal, self-existent God of Israel. It emphasizes His unchanging nature and His intimate relationship with His people. He is not a generic deity but the specific God who reveals Himself and actively participates in their lives.
• lift up:
  • Hebrew: Yisa (from the root nasa).
  • Significance: Implies a deliberate and intentional act of turning attention or favor. It's not a casual glance but an active turning towards, often signifying an open, benevolent posture. The act of "lifting" can also suggest the removal of a burden or the bestowal of honor. Here, it denotes God raising His visage from perhaps an obscured or indifferent posture to one of direct, loving engagement.
• His countenance:
  • Hebrew: panav (plural of panim, "face").
  • Significance: Anthropomorphic language for God's personal presence, attention, and disposition. To "lift His countenance" (or "face") towards someone means to regard them with favor, approval, and affection. Conversely, to hide or turn away one's face signifies displeasure, abandonment, or withdrawal of blessing. This blessing seeks God's direct, benevolent engagement.
• upon you:
  • Hebrew: eilekha.
  • Significance: Denotes direct, personal, and active engagement with the recipient. The blessing is individualized, ensuring that each person who heard it received the benefit of God's focused attention.
• and give:
  • Hebrew: v'yasem (from the root sum).
  • Significance: Conveys a tangible bestowal, an active placement or granting. It's not merely a wish but a performative declaration, empowered by God Himself, to impart something concrete. It speaks of divine action that establishes and actualizes the state of peace.
• you peace:
  • Hebrew: lekha shalom.
  • Peace (shalom): The deepest and most comprehensive term in the Hebrew Bible for well-being.
  • Significance: Far exceeds mere absence of war or conflict. It encompasses:
    • Wholeness and Completeness: Spiritual, physical, mental, and social health.
    • Prosperity and Security: Well-being in resources, relationships, and safety.
    • Harmony: Reconciliation with God, self, others, and creation.
    • Inner Tranquility: A state of rest and calm, irrespective of external circumstances.
  • It is the ultimate good, granted directly by God, that establishes holistic flourishing.
• "The LORD lift up His countenance upon you":
  • This phrase captures God's desire for an intimate, personal relationship with His people, where He actively bestows His approval and attention. It counters any perception of God as distant or indifferent, portraying Him as lovingly engaged and desiring direct interaction. This reflects the warmth and depth of God's covenant love.
• "and give you peace":
  • This phrase emphasizes that peace is a divine gift, not something achievable solely by human effort. It flows from God's favorable presence (His lifted countenance). It underscores that ultimate, holistic well-being (shalom) is solely derived from and established by God's gracious act, making Him the source and sustainer of true rest and harmony for His people.

Numbers 6 26 Bonus section

The progressive nature of the Priestly Blessing, moving from grace ("be gracious") to shining light ("make His face shine") and culminating in deep favor ("lift up His countenance") and holistic peace (shalom), reflects an escalating depth of God's intended blessing. Each phrase builds upon the last, intensifying the divine outpouring. The three-fold repetition, echoing a divine pattern found throughout Scripture, also indicates a comprehensive, complete, and firm blessing. The increasing word count in the Hebrew (3 words in v.24, 5 in v.25, 7 in v.26) symbolizes the expanding and escalating nature of the divine favor bestowed. This blessing acts as a foundational promise for Israel’s identity as God's treasured possession, ensuring His continuous benevolent oversight and the provision of profound, all-encompassing peace amidst their challenging journey. It prefigures the complete and everlasting peace offered through the Messiah.

Numbers 6 26 Commentary

Numbers 6:26 encapsulates the climactic request of the Priestly Blessing, seeking God’s most profound interaction with His people. "The LORD lift up His countenance upon you" goes beyond mere notice; it is a request for God to turn His entire being towards the individual with complete favor, acknowledgment, and benevolent intent. This speaks to a deeply personal and active divine attention that transforms human existence. When God’s face is upon His people, it signifies His presence, approval, and intimate care, removing any sense of alienation or fear of divine wrath. Following this active divine engagement, "and give you peace" (shalom) is the comprehensive result. This "shalom" is not merely the cessation of conflict but the establishment of holistic well-being: spiritual reconciliation, inner tranquility, physical health, material prosperity, and relational harmony. It is God's antidote to the brokenness of a fallen world, flowing directly from His unreserved favor. In the New Testament, this blessing finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is God's face revealed (2 Cor 4:6) and the very embodiment of our peace (Eph 2:14), reconciling us to God and bestowing upon us the peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:7). The verse reassures believers that their deepest desire for security, wholeness, and an unhindered relationship with their Creator is promised and ultimately fulfilled in God's saving work.

Examples:

• In moments of deep sorrow, finding solace in the assurance that God’s presence brings comfort.
• When navigating uncertain paths, trusting in God's gift of shalom provides inner stability and direction.
• In reconciling broken relationships, the belief in God as the giver of peace can empower forgiveness and restoration.