What Does “Blessed” Mean?
The first word in the book of Psalms is “blessed.” True blessedness is, in a sense, the theme of the Psalter. It is noteworthy, then, that the theme of blessedness in Psalm 1 is linked to our attitude toward God’s law, and this is at the very beginning of Israel’s songbook. This should grab our attention because it signals that the blessedness of being God’s people—the blessedness from and about which we sing—is wonderfully connected to our relationship to his word.
Psalm 119—the longest psalm of all—begins similarly: “Blessed are those . . . / who walk in the law of the Lord! / . . . who keep his testimonies” (Ps. 119:1–2). Blessedness is the theme of Psalm 119, and the psalm as a whole may be seen as an expanded meditation on the blessedness that comes through God’s word. So it is fitting to pause and reflect on what it means to be “blessed.”
Blessed
I have a nagging sense that when we read the word blessed, we either feel indifferent or suspicious. Both of these responses are likely the result of the way the term is (over)used in our day-to-day lives. Scrolling through social media, you’ll find pictures of people admiring themselves in the mirror with the caption “#Blessed.” We see posts of luxurious spa days, beautiful vacations, acceptance letters to grad school, perfect family pictures—not to mention the extravagant exploits of countless celebrities—all tagged with “#Blessed.” One writer remarks cynically,
Twenty warm, engaging readings, based primarily on Psalm 119, encourage regular meditation on God’s gifts in Scripture—including blessedness, hope, and peace—as well as warnings and wisdom that bring repentance.
Calling something “blessed” has become the go-to term for those who want to boast about an accomplishment while pretending to be humble, fish for a compliment, acknowledge a success (without sounding too conceited), or purposely elicit envy. Blessed . . . is now used to explain that coveted Ted talk invite as well as to celebrate your grandmother’s 91st birthday.1
In our culture, to be blessed is to have something you know many others would want or something you know is beyond the experience of the average person. This same writer quips, “There’s nothing quite like invoking holiness as a way to brag about your life.” While there are many examples of the term being used in appropriate and even humble ways, the omnipresence of its use, the things it is normally attached to, and the context in which it’s used has largely cheapened what should be a rich and meaningful term. Does this way of understanding the blessed life have any connection to the biblical meaning of the word?
True happiness is being seen as we really are by God.
There are two Hebrew terms normally translated “blessed.” The first, baruk, often refers to giving or receiving some kind of gift. In the creation account, the man and woman are “blessed” as those created in God’s image and called to carry out his mandate (Gen. 1:28). Abraham is “blessed” as the partner in God’s covenant (Gen. 12:2). In this case, blessing is about bestowing gifts from one party to another. The second term, ashre, refers to the state of true happiness, and it is this term that we find here in Psalm 119, as well as in Psalm 1. Now being “blessed” (baruk) and being happy (ashre) are clearly related. The one who experiences true blessedness (ashre) is certainly someone blessed (baruk) by God. The terms overlap but are distinct. Outward blessing is not an automatic indicator that someone’s life is truly blessed (ashre). Celebrity lives are a cautionary tale in this regard.
This is also the sense of blessedness we find in the Beatitudes. Our Lord says, “Blessed are those who mourn. . . . Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (Matt. 5:4, 10). True happiness is not found in circumstances or in stuff. Mourning and persecution are not the kinds of things we would normally label with #Blessed. True happiness is being seen as we really are by God. In fact, true happiness is being connected to God despite our situation or feelings. To be blessed is to experience fullness of life.
Notes:
- Jessica Bennet, “They Feel ‘Blessed,’” New York Times, May 2, 2014, https://www .nytimes.com/.
This article is adapted from The Goodness of God in the Gift of Scripture: 20 Meditations by Uche Anizor.
