What is the priestly blessing in Numbers?

It is the blessing God gave Aaron and his sons to speak over Israel, found in Numbers 6:24-26. It asks God to bless, protect, and give peace, and it is still spoken in churches and synagogues today.

Why is the book called Numbers?

The name comes from the two censuses of Israel recorded in the book, one near the start and one near the end. The Hebrew title actually means "in the wilderness," which describes the story better.

Random Verse from Numbers

1,288 verses across 36 chapters.

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:

Numbers 6:24KJV

TranslationFrom

Drawing from 1,288 verses

Numbers follows Israel through roughly forty years in the wilderness, from Mount Sinai to the edge of the Promised Land. The name comes from the two censuses taken along the way.

The book is traditionally attributed to Moses. It mixes travel narrative, laws, complaints, rebellions, and some of the most memorable episodes in the Old Testament.

This is where you find the twelve spies, the bronze serpent, Balaam and his talking donkey, and a generation learning to trust God the hard way.

The themes are faithfulness and failure. Israel grumbles, doubts, and wanders, yet God keeps providing food, water, guidance, and forgiveness the entire time.

Numbers also contains one of the most beloved blessings ever spoken. The priestly blessing in chapter 6 has been prayed over children, congregations, and graduations for thousands of years.

A random verse from Numbers suits anyone in a long, in-between season. If you are waiting on something, this book was written inside the waiting.

Its verses speak to perseverance, God's patience, honest doubt, and the difference between fear and faith.

Use the picker above to draw a random verse from any of the book's 36 chapters. You might land in the census lists, a law, or a moment of high drama.

Whatever you draw, keep the setting in mind. Every verse in Numbers happens on the road, somewhere between rescue and arrival, which is where most of us live anyway.

Frequently asked questions

What is the priestly blessing in Numbers?: It is the blessing God gave Aaron and his sons to speak over Israel, found in Numbers 6:24-26. It asks God to bless, protect, and give peace, and it is still spoken in churches and synagogues today.
Why is the book called Numbers?: The name comes from the two censuses of Israel recorded in the book, one near the start and one near the end. The Hebrew title actually means "in the wilderness," which describes the story better.