Leading Idea 5:  The act of Blessing

In this passage God blesses three things.

• The animal kingdom – the first blessing is to flourish and ‘become many’

• Human Beings – the second blessing is to flourish, become many,  to  subdue/tame  the rest of creation and have dominance / predominance in relation to it.

• Shabbat – the third blessing is to be made holy / sanctified.

What is it to bless something / someone? Is a blessing something conferred by one being onto another? (without their participation) or is it relational? What is the difference between blessing animals, persons, and a day, and the difference in the content of these three blessings?