Sit nomen Domini benedictum
“Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Vulgate Bible, Psalm 112:2; Job 1:21
What does “Sit nomen Domini benedictum” mean?
Sit nomen Domini benedictum translates as “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
A prayer of praise to God, said in good times and in bad.
“Sit nomen Domini benedictum” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Sit | let it be | third person singular present subjunctive of sum, “I am”; here a wish or blessing (jussive): “let it be” |
| nomen | name | nominative singular neuter of nomen, “name”; subject of the sentence |
| Domini | of the Lord | genitive singular masculine of Dominus, “lord”; shows possession: “the Lord’s name” |
| benedictum | blessed | nominative singular neuter of benedictus, “blessed” (from benedico, “I bless”); agrees with nomen |
How to pronounce “Sit nomen Domini benedictum”
The main differences are in benedictum: Classical has a hard c (dik), Church Latin has a soft c (deek, with a ch sound only before e or i, so none here). Stress falls on the first syllable of nomen, the first of Domini and the third of benedictum.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “let the name of the Lord be blessed”. The subjunctive sit turns the statement into a wish or an act of praise.
The wording comes from the Latin Vulgate, the Bible translation largely made by Jerome around 400 AD. It stands at Psalm 112:2 in the Vulgate numbering (113:2 in most modern Bibles) and in Job’s reply after he loses everything (Job 1:21).
The phrase still lives in Catholic worship: it opens the pontifical blessing a bishop gives, and its English form, “Blessed be the name of the Lord”, is familiar from hymns and prayers.
How to use “Sit nomen Domini benedictum”
A fitting tattoo, wall print or card message for someone who wants a short line of praise or trust in God, especially one meant to hold in both joy and hardship. It also suits a faith-themed caption or a motto above a doorway or desk.
- Latin
- Sit nomen Domini benedictum
- English
- Blessed be the name of the Lord.
- Source
- Vulgate Bible, Psalm 112:2; Job 1:21
- Era
- Late Antiquity
- Theme
- Faith
Common mistakes
- Sit is not “is”. It is a subjunctive wish, so “Let the name of the Lord be blessed” is closer than “The name of the Lord is blessed”.
- Benedictum must agree with nomen (neuter). Changing the noun, for example to Dominus or a feminine word, means changing the ending to benedictus or benedicta.
- Psalm numbering differs: the Vulgate reference is Psalm 112:2, while most modern English Bibles number the same verse 113:2.
- Domini is “of the Lord”, not “the Lord”. Dropping the genitive ending changes the meaning.
Questions about “Sit nomen Domini benedictum”
What does “Sit nomen Domini benedictum” mean literally?
“Let the name of the Lord be blessed.” Sit is a wish form (subjunctive) of “to be”, and benedictum means “blessed”, literally “well spoken of”.
Where does “Sit nomen Domini benedictum” come from?
It appears in the Vulgate at Psalm 112:2 and in Job 1:21, where Job responds to his losses. It also opens the pontifical blessing of a Catholic bishop.
How do you pronounce “Sit nomen Domini benedictum”?
Classical: sit NOH-men DOH-mih-nee beh-neh-DIK-toom. Church Latin: sit NOH-men DOH-mee-nee beh-neh-DEEK-toom. Stress falls on the capitalised syllables.
Is “Sit nomen Domini benedictum” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is grammatically sound and comes straight from the Vulgate. Keep the word order and endings exactly as written, and use the full line for the full meaning.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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