“Baruch atah H-shem....” is universally translated into English as “Blessed are You, G-d..” or “You are blessed...” The typical understanding of the average person not deeply versed in Biblical Hebrew and the Hebrew scriptures is that man is blessing God. When someone, in English, says “Blessed are you/Bless you” he is offering something positive or projecting something positive in the future to the receiver. A person can bless another person, generally meaning it is his wish for, or it is a recognition of something positive about the receiver. But H”shem is the creator of all things and of all thoughts and ideas. How can H”shem receive anything that He created – in fact, everything created or thought of is literally some “part” of H”shem – nothing else exists. So, really, in saying BLESSED or BLESS, in the sense of bestowing something, what can the created offer this Creator? If it is meant as an expression of reverence, adoration, and acknowledgment of G-ds exalted status and divine qualities rather than bestowing something upon the Creator, how can this best be expressed in English? But, the problem here is: that in context, "BLESS" may have other or even multiple meanings. Here are some: 1. Consecrate 2. Sanctify 3. Favor 4. Endow 5. Grace 6. Bestow 7. Empower 8. Honour 9. Enrich 10. Anoint 11. Eulogize 12. Hallow 13. Indulge 14. Exalt 15. Fortify 16. Gladden 17. Celebrate 18. Enshrine 19. Commend 20. Best wishes and even “Thank you” So, how can we tell from the simple expression in Hebrew? I do understand Rabbi Lewis's Q/A short answer. It is similar to my current thought. The reason for my question is I need to solidify my thoughts about this for my "Targum Tehillim" sefer before publication, a companion to my published "Targum Chumash". Thank you.

Firstly, I wish and bless you all the best and Hatzlacha Rabba on your important endeavor! You are correct that God, Who created everything and by definition is perfect, does not need my blessings nor really anything from anyone! Accordingly, it's important to stay away from most of the terms you mentioned, which connote that we bestow or add anything to Him. It's more accurate to explain that He is and was always already and eternally blessed (!) with having essential perfection, way before us, or the world, and how much more so, before our "blessings". Obviously, just like the olden-day Temple sacrifices, the blessings are for us, not for Him, and accomplish several goals, including: 1. Humility, remembering that we don't really "run the world". 2. This also stresses to us His greatness and perfection, which will motivate us that much more to observe His commands, as the perfect advice. 3. Knowing and defining precisely what we should emulate in our Imitateo Dei, or Tzelem Elokim, our goal of copying God. For example, we bless Him that He heals the sick, revives the dead, supports the fallen, etc. so we must search for way how to emulate those traits and actions in our own lives. 4. To solidify our relationship with Him. Any mature relationship, e.g. a man and wife, demands a "two-way" giving. So even if a relationship with God is obviously different from anything, these are the concepts that we are familiar with. Accordingly, when we gave a sacrifice or when we praise God, it's like a little child giving his primitive nursery drawing to his mother, and she graciously accepts it (even if it is far from professional and she doesn't really need it!) and hangs it on the refrigerator in order to make the child happy, and solidify their relationship, as well as to teach him to give. You are also correct that these concepts cannot be easily translated in a few words, so I suggest adding a more lengthy footnote or introduction which contains the aforementioned ideas.