Another matter, “blessed be one who blesses you” – it is taught: An idol worshiper who blesses the Name, one answers amen after him; with the Name, one does not answer amen after him.6If a gentile blesses God, one should answer ‘Amen.’ If he blesses a Jew using the name of God, one should not answer ‘Amen,’ to indicate that his blessing does not help (Etz Yosef). Rabbi Tanḥuma said: If one idolater blesses you, answer amen after him, as it is written: “You shall be blessed more than all the peoples [mikol haamim]” (Deuteronomy 7:14).7Literally – “from all the nations.”
A certain idolater encountered Rabbi Yishmael and blessed him. He said to him: ‘The response is already stated.’ A certain idolater encountered Rabbi Yishmael and cursed him. He said to him: ‘The response is already stated.’
They said to him: ‘What you said to this one, you said to that one.’ He said to them: ‘So it is written: “Those who bless you are blessed, and those who curse you are cursed”’ (Numbers 24:9).