What is…
hallelujah

also known as: hallelu jah

Hebrew: הַלְּלוּיָהּ

Meaning: literally “praise Jah (Yah);” praise Jehovah

The Greek form of the word is alleluia (ἀλληλούϊα) and is found in Rev. 19:1, 3-4, 6.

In Hebrew, this is a 2 word phrase.

  1. Hallelu (הַלְּלוּ) is a 2nd-person imperative masculine plural, thus an exhortation to at least several people (or all) to praise Jehovah (praise you all Jehovah).
  2. Jah (יָהּ) is a 2 letter contraction of the 4 letter name YHWH (Yahweh) meaning Jehovah.

This word is frequently translated as “Praise ye the LORD” and stands at the beginning of 10 of the Psalms (106, 111-113, 135, 146-150), hence they are called “hallelujah psalms.” The word is also used at the conclusion of various Psalms.

Due to its frequent occurrance, it grew into a formula of praise.

The use of the word in the Hallelujah Chorus of Handel’s Messiah is a reference to Revelation 19:1-6 describing grat praise in Heaven after the Messiah’s defeat of the Whore of Babylon at the end of the Great Tribulation, as the Messiah’s Millennium reign on Earth begins.

Article Version: June 4, 2019