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'{{otheruses}} {{wiktionarypar|hallelujah|alleluia}} {{TOCright}} '''Hallelujah''', '''Halleluyah''', or '''Alleluia''', is a [[transliteration]] of the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] word {{lang|he|הַלְלוּיָהּ}} (<small>[[Standard Hebrew|Standard]]</small> ''Halləluya'', <small>[[Tiberian Hebrew|Tiberian]]</small> ''Halləlûyāh'') meaning "praise ({{lang|he|הַלְּלוּ}}) Yah ({{lang|he|יָהּ}})". It is found mainly in the book of [[Psalms]] and has a similar pronunciation in many, but not all, languages. The word is used in [[Judaism]] as part of the [[Hallel]] prayers, and in Christian praise. It has been accepted into the [[English language]], but its Latin form '''Alleluia''' is used by many English-speaking Christians in preference to Hallelujah. ==In the Bible== The term is used 24 times in the [[Hebrew Bible]] (mainly in the book of [[Psalms]], e.g. {{bibleverse-nb||Psalms|111-117|HE}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Psalms|145-150|HE}}, where it starts and concludes a number of Psalms) and four times in [[Greek language|Greek]] transliteration in the Christian [[Book of Revelation]]. The word "hallelujah" mentioned in Psalms is the Hebrew word for requesting a congregation to join in praise. The best translation of hallelujah is "Praise Yah, you people", usually worded in English versions as "Praise ye the Lord" or "Praise the Lord", however Yah is the creators name, He was never referred to as lord by the ancient hebrew israelites.<ref>E.g. {{cite encyclopedia |last=Woods|first=F. H.|author=|authorlink=|coauthors= |editor=[[James Hastings]] |encyclopedia=[[Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible|A Dictionary of the Bible]] |title=Hallelujah|url=http://www.ccel.org/ccel/hastings/dictv2/Page_287.html |accessdate= |accessyear= |accessmonth= |edition= |date= 1902|year= |month= |publisher= |volume= |location= |id= |isbn= |doi= |pages= |quote= }}</ref> In the [[Hebrew Bible]] "hallelujah" is actually a two-word phrase, not one word. The first part, ''hallelu,'' is the second person imperative masculine plural form of the Hebrew verb ''hallal.''<ref>Page H. Kelley, ''[[Biblical Hebrew]], an Introductory Grammar,'' page 169. Ethics & Public Policy Center, 1959. ISBN 978-0802805980.</ref> However, "hallelujah" means more than simply "praise Yah", as the word ''hallel'' in Hebrew means a joyous praise, to boast in God, or to act madly or foolishly.<ref>George Fohrer. ''Hebrew and Aramaic Dictionary of the Old Testament,'' under הלל. Walter de Gruyter, 1973. ISBN 978-3110045727. </ref> The second part, ''Yah,'' is a shortened form of the name of God [[YHWH]], sometimes rendered in English as "[[Yahweh]]" or "[[Jehovah]]". The [[Septuagint]] translates Yah as Kurios (the LORD). In {{bibleverse||Psalm|150:6|HE}} the Hebrew reads ''kol han'shamah t'hallel yah;''<ref>All quotes from the Hebrew are taken from ''[[Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia]]'', EDITIO FUNDITUS RENOVATA, cooperantibus H. P. Ruger et J. Ziegler ediderunt K. Elliger et W. Rudolph, Textum Masoreticum curavit H. P. Ruger MASORAM ELABORAVIT G. E. WEIL, Editio quinta emendata opera A. Schenker, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.</ref> the final word ''"yah"'' is translated as "[[the LORD]]", or "YHWH". It appears in the Hebrew Bible as הללו~יה and הללו יה. In {{bibleverse||Psalm|148:1|HE}} the Hebrew says "הללו יה ''hallelu yah".'' It then says ''"hallelu eth-YHWH"'' as if using ''"yah"'' and "YHWH" interchangeably. The word ''"Yah"'' appears by itself as a divine name in poetry about 49 times in the Hebrew Bible (including ''hallelu yah''), such as in {{bibleverse||Psalm|68:4-5|HE}} "who rides upon the deserts by his name ''Yah"'' and {{bibleverse||Exodus|15:2|HE}} ''"Yah'' is my strength and song". It also often appears at the end of Israelite [[theophoric name]]s such as [[Isaiah]] ''"yeshayah(u),'' Yahweh is salvation" and [[Jeremiah]] ''"yirmeyah(u),'' Yahweh is exalted". The word Halelu-Yah appears in Revelation 19 in Greek transliteration as "allelouia", the great song of praise to God for his triumphant reign. The Septuagint also transliterates Halelu-Yah as "allelouia". '''''HALLELUYAAA!!!''''' ==Usage by Christians== For most [[Christians]], "Hallelujah" is considered a joyful word of [[praise]] to [[God]], rather than an injunction to praise him. In many western denominations, the [[Alleluia]], along with the [[Gloria in Excelsis Deo]], is not spoken or sung in [[liturgy]] during the season of [[Lent]], instead being replaced by a Lenten acclamation, while in Eastern Churches, Alleluia is chanted throughout the lent in the beginning of the [[Matins]] service, replacing the [[Theos Kyrios]], which is considered more joyful. At the Easter service and throughout the [[Pentecostarion]], [[Christos anesti]] is used in the place where Hallelujah is chanted in the western rite. Among many Christians, the expressions of '''Hallelujah''' and '''Praise the Lord''' are acceptable, spontaneous expressions of joy, thanksgiving and praise towards God, requiring no specific prompting or call or direction from those leading times of praise and singing. ==See also== *[[Alhamdulillah]], a similar Arabic word meaning ''praise be to God'' *[[Messiah (Handel)#Hallelujah|Hallelujah Chorus]] ==References== {{Reflist}} [[Category:Psalms]] [[Category:Christian prayer]] [[Category:Christian liturgy, rites, and worship services]] [[Category:Hebrew words and phrases]] [[Category:Biblical phrases]] [[ca:Al·leluia]] [[cs:Aleluja]] [[de:Halleluja]] [[el:Αλληλούια]] [[es:Aleluya]] [[eo:Haleluja]] [[fa:هله‌لویا]] [[fr:Alléluia]] [[ko:할렐루야]] [[hr:Aleluja]] [[ia:Alleluia]] [[it:Alleluia]] [[he:הללויה]] [[lt:Aleliuja]] [[ln:Aleluya]] [[nl:Hallelujah]] [[ja:ハレルヤ]] [[no:Halleluja]] [[nn:Halleluja]] [[pl:Alleluja]] [[pt:Aleluia]] [[ru:Аллилуйя]] [[sc:Alleluia]] [[sk:Haleluja (slovo)]] [[sr:Алелуја]] [[fi:Halleluja]] [[sv:Halleluja]] [[tl:Aleluya]] [[zh:哈利路亞]]'