Hosanna* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Psalm 118 is a declaration of confidence in the Lord’s salvation, made in a time of need. The psalm as a whole was part of a longer hymn (the Hallel) that was sung on great occasions. Verse 25 in particular was used in the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. At the point in the worship when this verse was read, the people would wave branches of myrtle, willow, and palm. Branches may have been waved at other times also as a general expression of jubilation. This happens in 2 Maccabees 10:6-7, at a ceremony for the rededication of the temple after it had been defiled.

Show passage in OET: MA2 10:6–7

OET-RV MA2 10:6

6 They observed eight days with gladness in the manner of the feast of tabernacles, remembering how not long before, during the feast of tabernacles, they were wandering in the mountains and in the caves like wild animals.

OET-RV MA2 10:7

7 Therefore carrying wands wreathed with leaves, and beautiful branches, and palm fronds also, they offered up hymns of thanksgiving to him who’d successfully brought to pass the cleansing of his own place.

OET-LV MA2 10:6

6 and with/after joy ⟦ἦγον⟧ day eight ⟦σκηνωμάτων⟧ way, to_remember which/how before small time the/this/who the/this/who ⟦σκηνῶν⟧ festival in/on/among the/this/who mountain and in/on/among the/this/who cave wild_animal way to_be ⟦νεμόμενοι⟧.

OET-LV MA2 10:7

7 for ⟦θύρσους⟧ and branch ⟦ὡραίους⟧, still but/and ⟦φοίνικας⟧ to_have/be, ⟦ὕμνους⟧ ⟦ἀνέφερον⟧ the/this/who ⟦εὐοδώσαντι⟧ ⟦καθαρισθῆναι⟧ the/this/who my/your/him-self place.

Jump to OET MA2 10:6–7 section.

The crowd welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem with the cry of “Hosanna” (Mt 21:9; Mk 11:9-10; Jn 12:13), followed by a proclamation, “Blessed be he who enters in the name of the Lord” (Ps 118:26, rsv). This means the crowd was greeting Jesus as Messiah. Already before Jesus’ time the phrase “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” was taken to refer to the Messiah. And it is possible that the word “Hosanna” by itself had messianic significance. Other expressions in the report of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem support this. In Matthew 21:9 Jesus is called the “Son of David”; in Mark 11:10 there is reference to “the coming kingdom of our father David”; in John 12:13, Jesus is called “the King of Israel.” All of these have messianic overtones.

Show passage in OET: MAT 21:9

OET-RV MAT 21:9

9 The crowd that walked ahead of him and the crowd that followed along behind all yelled out, “David’s descendant, honoured rescuer! Blessed one who comes in Yahweh’s name! Supreme honoured rescuer!”

OET-LV MAT 21:9

9 And the crowds which going _before him and the ones following were _crying _out saying:
Honoured _saviour to _the son of _Dawid/(Dāvid).
The one coming in the_name of_the_master having _been _blessed.
Honoured _saviour in the highest.

Show passage in OET: MRK 11:9–10

OET-RV MRK 11:9

9 Some went ahead and others came along behind, shouting, “This is the saviour who comes with the authority and blessing from Yahweh—

OET-RV MRK 11:10

10 the promised ancestor of King David who is blessed as he ushers in his kingdom—the blessed saviour from heaven.”

OET-LV MRK 11:9

9 And the ones going _before and the ones following were _crying _out:
Honoured _saviour.
Having _been _blessed is the one coming in name of_the_master.

OET-LV MRK 11:10

10 Having _been _blessed is the coming kingdom of _the father of _us, Dawid/(Dāvid).
Honoured _saviour in the highest.

Show passage in OET: JHN 12:13

OET-RV JHN 12:13

13 took long branches from palm trees and brought them out as they went to meet him. They called out, “Honoured saviour! The one coming in Yahweh’s authority has been blessed by God. This is Yisrael’s (Israel’s) king.”

OET-LV JHN 12:13

13 they _took the palm _branches of _the palm _trees and came _out in meeting to _him, and they _were _crying _out:
Honoured _saviour.
Having _been _blessed is the one coming in the_name of_the_master, and the king of_ the _Israaʸl/(Yisrā^ʼēl).

Show passage in OET: PSA 118:26

OET-RV PSA 118:26

26 Blessed is anyone who comes with Yahweh’s authority.
⇔ We bless you from Yahweh’s residence.

OET-LV PSA 118:26

26 The_one_who_comes in/on_name _of YHWH be_blessed we_bless _you(pl) from_the _house _of YHWH.

Show passage in OET: MRK 11:10

OET-RV MRK 11:10

10 the promised ancestor of King David who is blessed as he ushers in his kingdom—the blessed saviour from heaven.”

OET-LV MRK 11:10

10 Having _been _blessed is the coming kingdom of _the father of _us, Dawid/(Dāvid).
Honoured _saviour in the highest.

Jump to OET MAT 21:9 section.

Jump to OET MRK 11:9–10 section.

Jump to OET JHN 12:13 section.

Jump to OET PSA 118:26 section.

Jump to OET MRK 11:10 section.

We need not suppose that in shouting “Hosanna” the people had a political deliverance in mind. They probably did not know in what way Jesus would be a deliverer. The most one can say is they believed Jesus was one sent by God for their salvation. Had there not been something in their response to him that Jesus could recognize as proper worship, he would hardly have accepted their praise. It would only appear later, in his death and resurrection, what his messiahship really meant.