The word “hallelujah” is an English transliteration of the Hebrew phrase “halelu yah” which means “praise Yah” or “praise the Lord.” Yah is a shortened version of God’s name YHWH (often pronounced Yahweh or Jehovah). So the word hallelujah literally means to praise Yahweh.
In the Hebrew Bible, the word hallelujah is most frequently found in the book of Psalms where it begins and ends many of the psalms. The Psalms were songs used in ancient Jewish worship, so the word hallelujah was a way to call the congregation to praise God at the beginning or end of a song or psalm. Some examples of psalms that incorporate hallelujah include:
– Psalm 106:1 – “Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”
– Psalm 111:1 – “Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.”
– Psalm 112:1 – “Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!”
– Psalm 113:1 – “Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD!”
– Psalm 115:18 – “But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD!”
– Psalm 116:19 – “in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!”
– Psalm 117:1-2 – “Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!”
So in these psalms, the word hallelujah is inviting the congregation to lift up praises and thanks to God. It calls everyone to worship Yahweh and recognize his goodness, power, love and faithfulness.
The word hallelujah is also found extensively in the book of Revelation, where it is part of worship scenes praising God for his righteous judgments, salvation and glory. Some examples include:
– Revelation 19:1-6 – “After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God…Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory…”
So in Revelation, the word hallelujah is praising God particularly for his work of salvation, judgment and establishing his eternal kingdom. It is recognizing and worshipping God for his supreme power and authority over all creation.
Beyond its use in Scripture, the word hallelujah has endured as a popular expression of praise to God in many Christian worship services and songs over the centuries. The word essentially encapsulates the call to praise Yahweh for his goodness, power, love, glory and eternal reign. So when Christians today say “hallelujah”, they are continuing an ancient tradition of worshipping Yahweh that originated in the Psalms and was carried on in Revelation. Saying “hallelujah” is spiritually connecting with all the saints over history who have lifted their voices to praise the eternal God.
Some key themes associated with hallelujah in Scripture include:
Praise for God’s Power and Sovereignty:
Many psalms that incorporate hallelujah are praising God for his supreme power and authority over all creation (Psalm 115:18, Psalm 113:1). The book of Revelation uses hallelujah specifically to praise God for his power to judge evil and establish his eternal kingdom (Revelation 19:6).
Praise for God’s Goodness and Love:
Psalms that contain hallelujah often praise God for his steadfast love and faithfulness towards his people (Psalm 106:1, Psalm 117:2). His benevolence, mercy and loyalty towards those who follow him are reasons to worship.
Praise for Salvation through Jesus:
In Revelation, the worship scenes with hallelujah specifically praise God for the salvation he offers through Jesus’ sacrifice. There is rejoicing over God’s work of redemption and deliverance from sin through Christ (Revelation 19:1).
Corporate Praise and Worship:
Most hallelujah references in Scripture are calls for groups and communities to praise God together. Saying hallelujah is an invitation to join in corporate worship of Yahweh (Psalm 111:1, Psalm 113:1).
Recognizing God’s Eternal Reign:
The hallelujahs in Revelation praise God because his reign and kingdom are everlasting. He is eternal, and his sovereign rule will have no end (Revelation 19:6).
So in summary, the biblical meaning behind the word hallelujah is fundamentally praise and worship of Yahweh. It calls everyone to stand in awe of who God is and what he has done, specifically his power, love, goodness, salvation and eternal reign. The writers of the Psalms and Revelation therefore use this phrase to rally the reader to join with all of creation in worshipping Yahweh with joyful praise and thanksgiving. When Christians today exclaim “hallelujah”, they are continuing this rich tradition of acknowledging God’s attributes and praising him as the true King over all.
Here are some more key Bible passages that reveal the meaning and significance of hallelujah:
Psalm 150
This entire psalm is dedicated to praising the Lord, culminating with repetitive hallelujahs:
“Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!”
The psalmist calls everyone and everything capable of praise to worship Yahweh. The hallelujahs conclude the song as a final call to enthusiastically praise God’s greatness.
Revelation 4:8-11
This passage describes a heavenly worship scene with the four living creatures continually declaring “Holy, holy, holy” and offering praise to God:
“And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.””
This passage is significant because it portrays the continuous praise of God in heaven. The hallelujahs are ongoing and eternal. The elders recognize God’s supreme worthiness and worship him for his work in creation and salvation.
Psalm 148
This psalm calls all of creation to praise the Lord together:
“Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created…
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the Lord!”
This psalm envisions all of creation joining together in a cosmic chorus of praise. Everything from celestial bodies to weather patterns to animals and landscapes are called to worship Yahweh. The psalmist bookends the passage with hallelujahs to emphasize that praising God should be the perpetual focus and purpose behind all of life.
So in conclusion, hallelujah is fundamentally a joyful praise directed towards God. From the Psalms to Revelation, Scripture shows how all of creation is summoned to worship Yahweh for his eternal power, love, sovereignty and salvation. Both in ancient days and today, saying “hallelujah” invites the worshipper to join with all saints across time and space in honoring the greatness and worthiness of our God.