Bless vs Oblige - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between bless and oblige

is that bless is to make something blessed; to confer blessing upon while oblige is to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means.

As an interjection bless

is Used as an expression of endearment, or (ironically) belittlement.

bless
English

Etymology 1
From (etyl) blessen, from (etyl) . More at bleed.
Verb

To make something blessed; to confer blessing upon.

To make the sign of the cross upon; to cross (oneself).

(Holinshed)

To praise, or glorify; to extol for excellences.

* Bible, Ps. ciii. 1

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

To esteem or account happy; to felicitate.

* Bible, Jer. iv. 3

The nations shall bless themselves in him.

(obsolete) To wave; to brandish.

* Spenser

And burning blades about their heads do bless .

* Fairfax

Round his armed head his trenchant blade he blest .

To turn (a reference) into an object.

(archaic) To secure, defend, or preserve from .

* Shakespeare

Bless' me ' from marrying a usurer.

* Milton

to bless' the doors ' from nightly harm

Antonyms
* curse * condemn * unbless
Related terms
* blessed * blessing
Etymology 2
An ellipsis for an expression such as .
Interjection
(en interjection)
(UK, informal)

* 1998 , "Peter Coffey", New Alternative View Of Atomic Structure'' (on Internet newsgroup ''sci.chem )

Ah bless ! You must be the welcoming committee for anyone who dares express ignorance.

* 2000 , "Hellraiser" (on Internet newsgroup uk.people.teens )

oh bless . *hug* that is not true. nobody here bears a grudge against 13 year old dear or against you.

* 2001 , "Will", Am I still here?'' (on Internet newsgroup ''uk.religion.pagan )

Aw bless ... have white chocolate fudge muffin....a new batch.... made them last night after Nigella....

Anagrams
* ----
oblige
English

Verb
(oblig)
To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means.

I am obliged to report to the police station every week.
{{quote-Fanny Hill, part=3 , Tho' he was some time awake before me, yet did he not offer to disturb a repose he had given me so much occasion for; but on my first stirring, which was not till past ten o'clock, I was oblig'd to endure one more trial of his manhood.}}
To do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation).

He obliged me by not parking his car in the drive.

*

To be indebted to someone.

I am obliged to you for your recent help.

To do a service or favour.

The singer obliged with another song.

Derived terms
* disoblige
Usage notes
"Obliged" has largely replaced "obligate"; the latter being more common in the the 17th through 19th centuries.The New Fowler’s Modern English Usage (1996)
Related terms
* much obliged * noblesse oblige * obligate * obligation * obligatory * obligee * obligor
Anagrams
*
References
English control verbs English intransitive verbs English transitive verbs ----