FAMOUS CHURCH LINGOS 1 – HALLELUJAH

HALLELUJAH is translated from a combination of two root Hebrew words. One is a variant of halal (הָלַל) which is hallel (לְהַלֵל). This means to praise; to glorify. The other word is Yah (יָהּ), the shortened form of God’s name, Yahweh (יְהוָֹה).

Psalms 68:4(NKJV)

Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By His name YAH, and rejoice before Him.

So, Hallelujah (Alleluia) simply means PRAISE GOD! (or PRAISE THE LORD!) Alleluia is the Latin word from the Greek transliteration of Hallelujah.

However, it is worthy of note that this is neither an instruction nor an appeal to praise God, but rather a praise of God in itself.

In essence, HALLELUJAH means PRAISE BE TO GOD!

It is not a heavenly language; it is rather coined from the Hebrew language.

When someone says "Hallelujah" and is replied with "Praise God" or the other way round, it wasn't actually designed to be just a call-and-response; it is rather a translation of the same thing (in Hebrew).

Revelation 19:1,4-6(NKJV)

[1]After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!

Notice that the words that follow (which I put in italics) are closely what Alleluia means in itself.

[4]And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!"

These elders were worshipping God by saying Alleluia. Can you see that? By saying so, they weren't instructing others to praise God but they were themselves praising God.

[5]Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!"

[6] And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!

Here, an instruction was given and Alleluia followed as a response. This further reveals that Alleluia is a praise of God in itself.

So when next you say “Hallelujah!” or “Praise God!”, know that what you are actually saying in essence is “Praise be unto God!”

The next article of this series will help further.

Victor Ibosiola © 2019

Edited (2022)