“After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God” (Revelation 19:1 ESV).
“Hallelujah” is a familiar term to many, even among those who are aren’t very spiritual. But what does this word mean and how can we apply it in a manner that honors God? To answer those questions, we can begin with some definitions.
The word “hallelujah” is derived from two Old Testament words. The first is “hallal,” a word that means to praise or celebrate. (1) The second word is “jah,” which is a shortened form of “Yahweh,” the covenant name of God. (2) If we put these together, they form a word that means “praise God,” or “praise the Lord.” (3) “Alleluia” is an alternate form of this word that appears most prominently in the King James Bible and its derivative translations. Somewhat surprisingly, the only New Testament appearance of this word is here in Revelation chapter nineteen.
While “hallelujah” is an oft-repeated phrase in some circles, we would do well to consider these important definitions. For instance, when we praise a great athlete, we are giving that person the recognition he or she deserves. This is not a mindless platitude; instead, we take note of that individual’s performance and offer the praise that he or she warrants. The same is true of God on a greater scale.
We can turn to other examples to illustrate this idea as well. Most of us probably know what it’s like to work without receiving the credit we deserve for our efforts. It’s also likely that many of us know how it feels to toil away at a task while others receive credit for our work. But this heavenly assembly from Revelation 19:1 gave credit where it was due as they offered praise and recognition to God for his glorious attributes.
Our text from Revelation chapter nineteen thus serves as an important reminder. For example, does God receive the recognition He deserves for His provision in our lives? Does He receive credit for His blessings and benefits? Do we offer our thanks and appreciation for the things He has done on our behalf? Unfortunately, there are many who fail to do so.
There are multitudes who begin their days without thought or recognition of God. They eat and drink with little or no appreciation for the God who graciously provides those things. They go to work or school and use their God-given skills and talents without consideration for the God who has blessed them with those qualities. Therefore, we should avoid these negative examples and follow the good example we find here in Revelation nineteen as we offer God the praise and recognition He deserves.
(1) H1984 – halal – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h1984/kjv/wlc/0-1/
(2) H3050 – yâ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3050/kjv/wlc/0-1/
(3) G239 – hallelouia – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g239/kjv/tr/0-1/