Why do we say, ʺGod bless you,ʺ when someone sneezes?

Answer

The expression “God bless you” in response to a sneeze has ancient origins, and various stories exist about its initial source. The custom of saying “God bless you” when someone sneezes is not derived from the Bible, and there is no mention of this practice in the Bible. Nevertheless, the phrase “God bless you” was utilized by both Hebrews “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:”, (Numbers 6:24) and early Christians as a benediction.

The tradition of blessing someone after a sneeze likely dates back to the first century. The origin of this tradition is probably based on superstitions: the belief that a sneeze is the body’s way of expelling evil spirits, the idea that the heart momentarily stops when a person sneezes, or the fear that a sneeze leaves the body vulnerable to evil spirits. In these instances, saying “God bless you” served as a form of protection or a good luck charm to safeguard the sneezer from spiritual intrusion or malevolent influences. Other cultures have similar responses to sneezes, viewing a sneeze as a potential indicator of poor health: they may say “Salud” (Spanish for “health”), “Gesundheit” (German for “health”), “Sláinte” (Irish Gaelic for “good health”), or “Jeebo” (Bengali for “stay alive”).

During a plague in Italy in AD 590, sneezing was considered a sign of contracting the disease. Legend has it that Pope Gregory I decreed that whenever a sneeze was heard, the individual should be blessed by saying “God bless you” (and making the sign of the cross over their mouth) as a safeguard against the plague. Once again, there is no biblical basis for such superstitions. Simultaneously, there is no biblical rationale to view blessing someone after a sneeze as sinful—instead, it could be an opportune moment to offer a kind gesture.

and say, “God bless you.”