Hallelujah
“Praise ye Yah (the LORD)”
Summary
Hallelujah is a Hebrew expression meaning "Praise ye the Lord" that became a formula of praise in Jewish worship and was adopted by the Christian church as a triumphant acclamation.
☩Meaning and Usage
The Hebrew word hallelujah combines "hallelu" (praise ye) with "Yah" (a shortened form of Yahweh), meaning "Praise ye the Lord." From its frequent occurrence at the beginning of certain Psalms, it grew into a formula of praise chanted on solemn days of rejoicing. The Psalms 113-118, known as the Hallel, were sung at major festivals, with the congregation responding "Hallelujah" at specified intervals.
☩In Jewish Worship
The Hallel Psalms were sung at the Feast of Dedication, the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of Weeks, and the Passover. At Passover, Psalms 113-114 were sung before the meal, and the remainder after drinking the last cup. The hymn sung by Christ and His disciples after the Last Supper is believed to have been part of this Hallel. This expression of joy and praise was transferred from the synagogue to the Christian church, where it still occasionally appears in worship.
☩In Revelation
In John's vision of heaven, a great multitude like the voice of mighty thunderings cries "Alleluia (Hallelujah), for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth," celebrating the destruction of Babylon and the marriage of the Lamb. This echoes the Temple service, as John had often witnessed it, with its antiphonal responses and full chorus of Levites. The heavenly chorus responds to the call from the throne: "Praise our God, all ye his servants."
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Hallelujah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Hallelujah," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).