“Bless You”

Whenever someone sneezes, you say “bless you” or hear someone else say these words.

Why? Why are these words spoken? A verbal blessing is made up of three powerful forces: our words, God’s Word, and God’s name. The power of our words alone is affirmed by the Scripture that states, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).

When? When did this saying originate? The practice of blessing someone who sneezes, dating as far back as at least AD 77