Re: [Worship] The "real" meaning of Hallelujah?? Part 2 (was Re: Weak Choruses]

["Bruce L. Johnson" <bjohnson@worshipmap.com>]

So what DOES the Hebrew word 'Hallelujah "REALLY" mean?    Well, the answer
is not hidden in the back of a concordance;   it's not something we couldn't
possibly guess from our English translations,   but readily accessible to
those who READ the Word.

Briefly:    The common translation of "Hallelujah"  as "Praise the LORD!"
is about right.    If we want to expand on it a bit, we might  of "lauding
someone, for a superior quality or great acts".

"Hallelu"  is the plural command "Praise (ye)!"    --a call (or invitation)
for the
whole group to praise him.       It's not just a 'private' word of my
raise  --but very public.    If I say "Hallelujah"  about something it's
because I want to declare it aloud, to let other know and to invite them to
join me in praising
God.


Beyond knowing the basic meaning the best way to "understand" the word is
not by speculating about "root meanings" but simply by READING the places
where it's used in the Bible.    The main examples are in Psalms 104-106,
111-117, ** 135,    and 146-150.     Often it is used as the introduction
and/or conclusion to a psalm, with the rest of the psalm giving the reasons
for praising him.     (The great exceptions are Psalms 148 and 150 in which
the expression is repeated again and again, the first calling ALL creatures
to praise him, the second heaping up calls to praise him with every kind of
instrument we can find.)

One thing I observe from all of these is that "Hallelujah!" is generally
very loud  --the cry of a great throng worshiping him (or at least the
invitation FOR a great throng TO worship him!)

So, what about this "LOUDNESS" ?        It might be helpful to look at
related used of halal in the Piel for "praise" --such as the reference to
Pharaoh's officials praising Sarah's beauty to Pharaoh (Gen 12;15,   cf. 2
Sam 14:25, Prov 31:28,31).    Another closely related use is the sense of
"boasting" (e.g. 1 Kings 20:11).
Looking at these contexts,  of humans praising other humans (or boasting in
themselves!) I don't see that the word HAS to refer to being loud.   It IS a
PUBLIC act  --and so it is "a-loud".    Frequently that will end up being
loud as well  --because of the speaker's joy and because you want others to
hear and know the greatness of the one you are praising!

This especially fits with the use of the call to praise (Hallelujah)  in
joyous PUBLIC worship settings in the Psalms.    A great throng declaring
the praise of their King, using all sorts of instruments, etc.   Of course
it's loud.
But "loudness" is not so clearly bound up with the word itself.   And so,
the quiet praise of the chorus "Alleluia" is not necessarily a misuse of the
word.     (Note, too, that  in these scenes there is nothing connecting the
word with irrational behavior.)

What does Hallelujah call us to do?    To take note of the Lord's greatness
and to declare it.  To tell him how great he is   --specifically   and with
joy.     To tell others that he is great,  and WHAT is great about him.
The CONTENT of that praise  --is written all over the Psalms, and throughout
Scripture for us to see, hear and declare.

I hope this helps

Bruce Johnson
www.worshipmap.com




Dean Thomas <deanthom@mindspring.com>
>HOWEVER!!!! Look at the root word here. Look at the force of the word. It
is NOT
>a sentimental word. It is an extremely strong imperative. That is a
technical,
>grammatical term for a command. A literal translation is kind of hard and
it
>won't matter who answers it, so I won't go into it, but the basic
underlying
>meaning is intense praise, usually in a form that is described as
enthusiastic,
>uninhibited, clamourous, foolish (in the eyes of the Michals of the world
or the
>church), violently active [not malevolent!]. Do you see quickly that the
>wonderful lyrical melody is diametrically opposite of the "spirit" of the
word
>itself? That does not negate the very real Holy Ghost-bumps that this song
>inspires around the world. Just because it says "YOU,
>SPIN-AROUND-IN-VIOLENT-EXPRESSION-OF-YOUR-EMOTION the Lord!" That is the
Thomas
>translation of Psalm 150:1a.




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