[Answered] God bless you

[kite]

Dear all members.
As you know in our day to day life, we can hear people saying god bless you. I believe it is the short form. So I would like to know what the full form is or what the full sentence is. Is it "May the God bless you"?

Thanks.

 

[emsr2d2]

Drop the article and I would say you're probably right. I don't say it (and I don't hear it very often) but I assume it's "May God bless you".

 

[Barb_D]

When people sneeze, in the US, it's pretty common to hear "God bless you" as well as "bless you." It's just habit. Even people who aren't very religious say it.

 

[engee30]

Same here, in the UK. This morning when I was at church one person sneezed and another said to the other bless you. But I strongly believe that the phrase God bless you has been mistakenly used as an alternative.

 

[Barb_D]

"mistakenly"? Why so?

 

[engee30]

Well, that's my personal belief. As a religious person, I've tried to restrain myself from saying God in everyday use ever since I was a child. I still remember being told by the catechist not to use God's name in vain (Exodus 20:7 NIV - ?You shall not misuse the name of the - Bible Gateway). Besides, God bless you is kind of asking God for protection, and sneezing has nothing to do with such, I feel.

 

[Grumpy]

Well, that's my personal belief. As a religious person, I've tried to restrain myself from saying God in everyday use ever since I was a child. I still remember being told by the catechist not to use God's name in vain (Exodus 20:7 NIV - ?You shall not misuse the name of the - Bible Gateway). Besides, God bless you is kind of asking God for protection, and sneezing has nothing to do with such, I feel.

On the contrary, the origin of saying "Bless you" to someone who has just sneezed lies in ancient beliefs relating to sneezing. Some believed that evil spirits could enter via the nose during sneezing; others believed that the soul left the body momentarily during a sneeze. Also, sneezing was one of the early symptoms of some types of plague. In all cases, those present asked God to protect the sneezer - and, by implication, themselves.

 

[bhaisahab]

"May God's blessings be upon you."

 

[konungursvia]

Similarly, goodbye is actually a contraction of God be with you. Interestingly, all Christian societies had some sort of blessing for sneezers -- Jesus, santinha, Gesundheit, à tes souhaits...

 

[engee30]

On the contrary, the origin of saying "Bless you" to someone who has just sneezed lies in ancient beliefs relating to sneezing. Some believed that evil spirits could enter via the nose during sneezing; others believed that the soul left the body momentarily during a sneeze. Also, sneezing was one of the early symptoms of some types of plague. In all cases, those present asked God to protect the sneezer - and, by implication, themselves.

Interesting. That will certainly justify the use.