Hallelujah — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Important Christian acclamation used extensively in the church’s worship and liturgy from early times. “Hallelujah” is a transliteration into Greek, and thence into English, of two Hebrew words that mean “Praise the Lord.” This combination of the two Hebrew words forms the characteristic call to praise. Jews living in the Dispersion in pre-Christian times were already using the transliteration in their synagogue worship. “Hallelujah,” according to ancient Hebrew tradition, is to be written as one word, except in Psalm 135:3. It occurs nowhere in the OT but in the Psalter, where it occurs 23 times, and for the first time in Psalm 104:35. Each of Psalms 111 to 113 begins with “Hallelujah”; each of Psalms 115 to 117 ends with the word; and each of Psalms 146 to 150 begins and ends with it.

Show passage in OET: PSA 135:3

OET-RV PSA 135:3

3 Praise Yahweh, because he is good.
⇔ ≈ Sing praises to his name because it’s pleasant,

OET-LV PSA 135:3

3 Praise Yah if/because is_good YHWH sing _praises to_name _of_his if/because it_is_pleasant.

Show passage in OET: PSA 104:35

OET-RV PSA 104:35

35 May sinners be destroyed from the world,
⇔ and may there be no more wicked people.
⇔ I will bless Yahweh with my entire being.
⇔ Praise Yah.

OET-LV PSA 104:35

35 Sinners let _them _be _destroyed from the_earth/land and_wicked_people be_again not_they bless my _self _of_my DOM YHWH praise Yah.

Show passage in OET: PSA 111:1–10

OET-RV PSA 111:1

111 Praise Yah.
⇔ I will give sincere thanks to Yahweh
⇔ in the assembly of the godly people—in their gathering.

OET-RV PSA 111:2

2 The things that Yahweh does are amazing,
⇔ eagerly awaited by all those who desire them.

OET-RV PSA 111:3

3 His work is majestic and incredible,
⇔ and his righteousness endures forever.

OET-RV PSA 111:4

4 He does wonderful things that will be remembered.
⇔ Yahweh is gracious and merciful.

OET-RV PSA 111:5

5 He gives food to his faithful followers.
⇔ He will always call to mind his agreement.

OET-RV PSA 111:6

6 He showed his powerful works to his people
⇔ in giving them the inheritance of other nations.

OET-RV PSA 111:7

7 The works of Yahweh’s hands are trustworthy and right.
⇔ All his instructions are reliable.

OET-RV PSA 111:8

8 They are established forever,
⇔ to be observed faithfully and properly.

OET-RV PSA 111:9

9 He sent his people out of slavery.
⇔ He ordained his agreement forever.
⇔ His name is holy and awe-inspiring.

OET-RV PSA 111:10

10 Honouring Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.
⇔ Those who carry out his instructions have good understanding.
⇔ His praise endures forever.

OET-LV PSA 111:1

111 Praise Yah I _will _give _thanks _to YHWH in_all the_heart in_the_council _of upright_people and_the_congregation.

OET-LV PSA 111:2

2 Are_great the _works _of YHWH they_are_studied to/from_all/each/any/every those_delighting _of_in _them.

OET-LV PSA 111:3

3 Is_splendour and_majesty work _of_his and_righteousness _of_his is_enduring forever_forever.

OET-LV PSA 111:4

4 Remembrance he _has _appointed of_wonders _of_his is_gracious and_compassionate YHWH.

OET-LV PSA 111:5

5 Food he _gives to_those_fearing _of_him he _remembers forever_perpetuity covenant _of_his.

OET-LV PSA 111:6

6 The _power _of his _works _of_his he _has _declared to_people _of_his to_give to/for_them an _inheritance _of nations.

OET-LV PSA 111:7

7 The _works _of his _hands _of_his are_faithfulness and_justice are_reliable all _of precepts _of_his.

OET-LV PSA 111:8

8 They_are_sustained forever_ever forever_perpetuity they_are_done in_faithfulness and_uprightness.

OET-LV PSA 111:9

9 Redemption he _sent for_people _of_his he _ordained forever_perpetuity covenant _of_his is_holy and_to _be _feared his/its_name.

OET-LV PSA 111:10

10 Is_the_beginning _of wisdom the _fear _of YHWH an _understanding good to/from_all/each/any/every those _of_who_do _them praise _of_his is_enduring forever_eternity.

Show passage in OET: PSA 146:1–10

OET-RV PSA 146:1

146 Praise Yah.
⇔ ≈ I’ll praise Yahweh with my whole being.

OET-RV PSA 146:2

2 I’ll praise Yahweh with my life.
⇔ ≈ I’ll sing praises to my god as long as I live.

OET-RV PSA 146:3

⇔  3 Don’t trust in politicians
⇔ ≈ or in people—none of them can save you.

OET-RV PSA 146:4

4 When their breath ceases, they return to the ground—
⇔ all their plans come to an end at that time.

OET-RV PSA 146:5

⇔  5 Blessed are the people who have Ya’akov’s (Jacob’s) god to help them—
⇔ whose hope is in their God Yahweh:

OET-RV PSA 146:6

6 He’s the one who made the heavens and earth, the sea, and all that is in them.
⇔ He’s the one who remains faithful forever.

OET-RV PSA 146:7

7 He’s the one who executes justice for the oppressed.
⇔ He’s the one who gives food to the hungry.
⇔ Yahweh liberates the prisoners.

OET-RV PSA 146:8

8 Yahweh opens the eyes of the blind.
⇔ Yahweh straightens up those who are bowed down under heavy loads.
⇔ Yahweh loves those who do what is right.

OET-RV PSA 146:9

9 Yahweh guards the refugees.
⇔ He sustains orphans and widows,
⇔ but he subverts the plans of the wicked.

OET-RV PSA 146:10

10 Yahweh reigns forever.
⇔ Tsiyon (Zion), your god reigns throughout the generations.
⇔ Praise Yahweh.

OET-LV PSA 146:1

146 Praise Yah praise my _self _of_my DOM YHWH.

OET-LV PSA 146:2

2 I _will _praise YHWH in_life _of_my I _will _sing _praises to_god _of_my in_my_duration.

OET-LV PSA 146:3

3 Do _not trust in_noble_people in_a _child _of humankind whom_there_is_not to_him/it deliverance.

OET-LV PSA 146:4

4 His/its_breath/wind/spirit it _will _go _out he _will _return to_earth _of_his in _the_day (the)_that plans _of_his they _have _perished.

OET-LV PSA 146:5

5 How _blessed is_one_who _the _god _of Yaˊₐqoⱱ/(Jacob) is_(in)_help _of_his hope _of_his is_on YHWH his/its_god.

OET-LV PSA 146:6

6 Who_made heaven and_earth DOM the_sea and_DOM all _of that is_in_them the_one_who_keeps faithfulness forever_perpetuity.

OET-LV PSA 146:7

7 Who_does justice for_oppressed who_gives food to_people YHWH is_setting _free prisoners.

OET-LV PSA 146:8

8 YHWH is_opening blind_people YHWH is_raising _up those _who _are_bowed _down YHWH is_loving righteous_people.

OET-LV PSA 146:9

9 YHWH is_watching _over DOM sojourners the_fatherless and_widow[s] he _helps _up and_the_way _of wicked_people he _makes _crooked.

OET-LV PSA 146:10

10 YHWH he _will _reign forever_perpetuity god _of_your Oh _Tsiyyōn/(Zion) to_a _generation and_a _generation praise Yah.

Jump to OET PSA 135:3 section.

Jump to OET PSA 104:35 section.

Jump to OET PSA 111:1–10 section.

Jump to OET PSA 146:1–10 section.

In the Septuagint version of Psalms 113–118 OET PSA 113:1–9 · OET PSA 114:1–8 · OET PSA 115:1–18 · OET PSA 116:1–19 · OET PSA 117:1–2 · OET PSA 118:1–29, all the individual psalms are headed “Allelujah.” Through the Vulgate, this form of the word “Hallelujah” has come into use in the church. Like another famous Hebrew liturgical term, “Amen,” “Hallelujah” has passed from the OT to the NT, and thence to the Christian church. But in the KJB and erv the phrase is rendered “Praise ye the Lord,” and similarly, in the rsv and NLT, it is rendered “Praise the Lord.”

Show passage in OET: PSA 113:1–9

OET-RV PSA 113:1

113 Praise Yahweh.
⇔ Praise him, you servants of Yahweh.
⇔ Praise Yahweh’s name.

OET-RV PSA 113:2

2 May Yahweh’s name be blessed
⇔ both now and forever into the future.

OET-RV PSA 113:3

3 ⇔Yahweh’s name should be praised
⇔ from when the sun rises until it sets again.

OET-RV PSA 113:4

4 Yahweh is high above all nations,
⇔ ≈ and his glory reaches above the skies.

OET-RV PSA 113:5

5 Who is like our god Yahweh who has his throne on high—

OET-RV PSA 113:6

6 who looks down at the sky and at the earth?

OET-RV PSA 113:7

7 He raises the poor up out of the dirt
⇔ and lifts the needy up from the ash heap,

OET-RV PSA 113:8

8 so that he may become one of the leaders—
⇔ one of the leaders of his people.

OET-RV PSA 113:9

9 He gives a home to the barren woman of the house—
⇔ he makes her into a happy mother with children.
⇔ Praise Yahweh.

OET-LV PSA 113:1

113 Praise Yah praise Oh _servants _of YHWH praise DOM the _name _of YHWH.

OET-LV PSA 113:2

2 May _it _be the _name _of YHWH blessed from_now and_unto perpetuity.

OET-LV PSA 113:3

3 From_the_rising _of the_sun to setting _of_its the _name _of YHWH is_to _be _praised.

OET-LV PSA 113:4

4 Is_exalted over all _of nations YHWH is_above the_heavens glory _of_his.

OET-LV PSA 113:5

5 Who is_like_YHWH god _of_our who_makes_high _of to_sit.

OET-LV PSA 113:6

6 Who_makes_low _of to_see on_heavens and_on_earth.

OET-LV PSA 113:7

7 He_is_raising _of from_the_dust the_poor from_the_ash _heap he _lifts _up the_needy.

OET-LV PSA 113:8

8 To_make_him_sit with noble_people with the _noble_people_of his _people _of_his.

OET-LV PSA 113:9

9 He_is_causing _to _dwell _of the _barren_woman_of the _house the _mother _of the _children joyful praise Yah.

Show passage in OET: PSA 114:1–8

OET-RV PSA 114:1

114 When Yisrael (Israel) left Mitsrayim (Egypt)
⇔ (Ya’akov’s (Jacob’s) descendants leaving a people who spoke a foreign language),

OET-RV PSA 114:2

2 Yehudah (Judah) became his sacred place,
⇔ ≈ and Yisrael his kingdom.

OET-RV PSA 114:3

3 The Red Sea looked and fled.
⇔ ≈ The Yarden (Jordan) river turned back.

OET-RV PSA 114:4

4 The mountains skipped like rams,
⇔ ≈ and the little hills like lambs.

OET-RV PSA 114:5

5 Why did you flee, sea?
⇔ ≈ Yarden, why did you turn back?

OET-RV PSA 114:6

6 Mountains, why did you skip like rams?
⇔ ≈ You little hills, why did you skip like lambs?

OET-RV PSA 114:7

7 Tremble, earth, before the master—
⇔ ≈ at the presence of Ya’akov’s (Jacob’s) god.

OET-RV PSA 114:8

8 He turned the rock into a pool of water,
⇔ ≈ and the hard rock into a spring of water.

OET-LV PSA 114:1

114 When_ Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _went _out from_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) the _house _of Yaˊₐqoⱱ/(Jacob) from_a _people who_spoke _a _foreign _language.

OET-LV PSA 114:2

2 Yəhūdāh/(Judah) it _became (into)_sanctuary _of_his Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) dominion(s)_of_his.

OET-LV PSA 114:3

3 The_sea it _saw and_it _fled the_Yardēn/(Jordan) it _turned _around to_backwards.

OET-LV PSA 114:4

4 The_mountains they _leaped _about like_rams hills like_young _ones _of sheep.

OET-LV PSA 114:5

5 What is_to_you the_sea that/for/because/then/when you _will _flee Oh_Yardēn you _will _turn _around to_backwards.

OET-LV PSA 114:6

6 Oh_mountains you(pl)_will _leap _about like_rams Oh _hills like_young _ones _of sheep.

OET-LV PSA 114:7

7 From_to/for_face/front/presence the_master tremble Oh _earth from_to/for_face/front/presence the _god _of Yaˊₐqoⱱ.

OET-LV PSA 114:8

8 Who_turned _of the_rock a _pool _of water flint into_a _of_spring water.

Show passage in OET: MAT 26:30

OET-RV MAT 26:30

30 Then they sang some songs before heading out of the city to the Mt. of Olives.

OET-LV MAT 26:30

30 And having _sung _hymns, they _came _out to the Mount of_ the _Olives.

Show passage in OET: MRK 14:26

OET-RV MRK 14:26

26 Then after they’d sung some songs, they left the town and went across to the Mt. of Olives.

OET-LV MRK 14:26

26 And having _sung _hymns, they _came _out to the Mount of_ the _Olives.

Jump to OET PSA 113:1–9 section.

Jump to OET PSA 114:1–8 section.

Jump to OET MAT 26:30 section.

Jump to OET MRK 14:26 section.

“Hallelujah” does not appear anywhere in the NT except in Revelation 19:1-6. There it is a chant of the saints in heaven. It was taken over into the liturgy and hymnody of the church at an early date. It became the characteristic expression of joy and was therefore sung especially at Eastertide, as is witnessed by Augustine. The choice by the Christian church of Psalms 113, 114, and 118 from the Hebrew Hallel as the psalms to be sung on Easter day marks the liturgical connection of Easter with Passover.