The best texts read κατευλόγει τιθεὶς τὰς χεῖρας ἐπ' αὐτά, blessed them, laying his hands upon them; including the laying on of hands in the blessing. The compound rendered blessed occurs only here in the New Testament. It is stronger than the simple form, and expresses the earnestness of Christ's interest. Alford renders fervently blessed.