בָּרַךְ
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)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.
What does בָּרַךְ (barak) mean in the Bible?
בָּרַךְ (barak) is a Hebrew word meaning "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)". Blessing the Lord frames repentance within worship, emphasizing God’s exalted name.
Full entry for בָּרַךְ (H1288) · Browse the biblical lexicon
Meaning
Blessing flows from kneeling posture of submission; carries covenantal power to confer or withhold benefit.
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) BDB: kneel Usage: × abundantly, × altogether, × at all, blaspheme, bless, congratulate, curse, × greatly, × indeed, kneel (down), praise, salute, × still, thank.
Why This Word Matters
Blessing the Lord frames repentance within worship, emphasizing God’s exalted name. Isaiah 19:23-25
The Lord’s spoken blessing defines the nations’ restored status. Nehemiah 9:1-5
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 64×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 79×
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 11×
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others 1×
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Showing 8 of 330 occurrences in the biblical text.
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.