Hallelujah

Hallelujah is derived from the Hebrew halal Yah, which is an imperative, meaning praise Yahweh or, as it appears in many English translations, Praise the Lord¹. Hallelujah is rendered two ways in New Testament Greek. In Revelation 19, it’s transliterated as Alleluia. Elsewhere, it’s translated as aineo Kurios (praise the Lord).  Psalm 117; Revelation 19; Romans 15:11

Hallelujah is an instruction to others, telling them to praise God. It’s a very common term in the Psalms and in modern hymns.

Hallelujah and Praise the Lord should not be used irreverently, because these phrases include God’s name.  Psalm 135

There are many reasons to say, “Hallelujah!” God is perfectly good, faithful, and holy. God is love. God created everything. God provided salvation with his sacrifice. God deserves our praise.  Psalm 18; Psalm 106; Psalm 148; Revelation 19

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Hallelujah!  Psalm 150:6

Footnotes:

¹ God’s name in the original Hebrew is YHWH, which is rendered Yahweh, Jehovah, or Lord in English Bibles. Like the word hallelujah, many Hebrew names contain jah or iah, the shortened form of YHWH (Elijah, Isaiah, etc).

~ SR

Related articles: Names of God, hosanna, exalt

Citation
Ruhmann, Scott. “Word of the Week: Hallelujah.” 27th Street Church of Christ. Access date: . http://www.churchofbend.com/wow/hallelujah.htm