Paul,

You just keep calling me kid... I like that. And here is the info you
requested from Nelson's, International, and New Unger's Bible Dictionaries ...

BLESS
BLESS
(barakh): This word is found more frequently in the Old Testament than in
the New Testament, and is used in different relations.
(1) It is first met in Gen 1:22 at the introduction of animal life upon the
earth, where it is written, "And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and
multiply," etc. The context furnishes the key to its meaning, which is the
bestowal of good, and in this particular place the pleasure and power of
increase in kind. Thus it is generally employed in both Testaments, the
context always determining the character of the bestowal; for instance
(where man is the recipient), whether the good is temporal or spiritual, or
both.
Occasionally, however, a different turn is given to it as in Gen 2:3 the
King James Version, where it is written, "And God blessed the seventh day,
and hallowed it." Here the good consists in the setting apart and
consecrating of that day for His use.
(2) In the foregoing instances the Creator is regarded as the source of
blessing and the creature the recipient, but the order is sometimes
reversed, and the creature (man) is the source and the Creator the
recipient. In Gen 24:48, for example, Abraham's servant says, "I bowed my
head, and worshipped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master
Abraham," where the word evidently means to worship God, to exalt and
praise Him.
(3) There is a third use where men only are considered. In Gen 24:60, her
relatives "blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister, be thou the
mother of thousands of ten thousands" (the King James Version "millions"),
where the word expresses the wish or hope for the bestowal of the good
designated. There are also instances where such a blessing of man by man
may be taken in the prophetic sense, as when Isaac blessed Jacob (Gen
27:4,27), putting himself as it were in God's place, and with a sense of
the Divine concurrence, pronouncing the good named. Here the word becomes
in part a prayer for, and in part a prediction of, the good intended.
Balaam's utterances are simply prophetic of Israel's destiny (Num
23:9-11,23 m,24).
Although these illustrations are from the Old Testament the word is used
scarcely differently in the New Testament; "The blessing of bread, of which
we read in the Gospels, is equivalent to giving thanks for it, the thought
being that good received gratefully comes as a blessing"; compare Matt
14:19 and 15:36 with 1 Cor 11:24 (Adeney, Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible
(five volumes), I, 307). See also BENEDICTION.
(from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database
Copyright (c)1996 by Biblesoft)



BLESS
BLESS, BLESSING
The act of declaring, or wishing, God's favor and goodness upon others. The
blessing is not only the good effect of words; it also has the power to
bring them to pass. In the Bible, important persons blessed those with less
power or influence. The patriarchs pronounced benefits upon their children,
often near their own deaths (Gen 49:1-28). Even if spoken by mistake, once
a blessing was given it could not be taken back (Gen 27).
Leaders often blessed people, especially when getting ready to leave them.
These included Moses (Deut 33), Joshua (22:6-7), and Jesus (Luke 24:50).
Equals could bless each other by being friendly (Gen 12:3). One can also
bless God, showing gratitude to Him (Deut 8:10) in songs of praise (Ps
103:1-2).
God also blesses people by giving life, riches, fruitfulness, or plenty
(Gen 1:22,28). His greatest blessing is turning us from evil (Acts 3:25-26)
and forgiving our sins (Rom 4:7-8).
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas
Nelson Publishers)

BLESS
BLESS, BLESSING. Acts of blessing may be considered: (1) When God is said
to bless men (Gen 1:28; 22:17). God's blessing is accompanied with that
virtue that renders His blessing effectual and which is expressed by it.
Because God is eternal and omnipresent, His omniscience and omnipotence
cause His blessings to avail in the present life in respect to all things
and also in the life to come. (2) When men bless God (Ps 103:1-2; 145:1-3;
etc.). This is when they ascribe to Him those characteristics that are His,
acknowledge His sovereignty, express gratitude for His mercies, etc. (3)
Men bless their fellowmen when, as in ancient times under the spirit of
prophecy, they predict blessings to come upon them. Thus Jacob blessed his
sons (Gen 49:1-28; Heb 11:21), and Moses the children of Israel (Deut 33).
It was the duty and privilege of the priests to bless the people in the
name of the Lord (see BENEDICTION). Further, men bless their fellowmen when
they express good wishes and pray to God in their behalf. (4) At meals. The
psalmist says, "I shall lift up the cup of salvation, and call upon the
name of the Lord" (Ps 116:13), an apparent reference to a custom among the
Jews. A feast was made of a portion of their thank offerings when, among
other rites, the master of the feast took a cup of wine, offering thanks to
God for His mercies. The cup was then passed to all the guests, each
drinking in his turn. At family feasts, and especially the Passover, both
bread and wine were passed and thanks offered to God for His mercies.
(From The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press
of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.)