Halleluyah. A Call to Praise

"Hallelujah" is a word most of us are familiar with. But Halleluyah looks like a misspelling, a mistake. But it isn't. 

Did you know that in Hebrew there is no "J" sound.

What we read in English, Hallelujah, in Hebrew is actually Halleluyah (הַלְלוּ־יָהּ) 

“Hallelu” means “praise.”
It’s a command, spoken to a group.

“Yah” is a shortened form of God’s name, connected to YHWH.

Together, it means: “Praise Yah.”

In English, we often see it translated as “Praise the Lord.”
But in Hebrew, it carries a fuller sense of active praise, expressed in song, in declaration, and in gathered worship.

It is not passive.
It is alive.
It is meant to be expressed.

Throughout the Psalms, “Halleluyah” often appears as both the beginning and the end of a psalm, creating a framework of praise.

It calls people into praise and sends them out in praise. 

Listen to how Psalm 150 both begins and ends:

“Praise the Lord. 
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
…
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:1, 6)

In Hebrew, those opening and closing words are the same:

Halleluyah.

Digging even deeper, beyond Psalms. It is only used in one place in the New Testament. Revelation 19:1-6.

The great multitude in heaven declare "Halleluyah! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God."

These verses are in response to the fall of Babylon. Praising the Lord for salvation, glory and honor that belong to Him alone. 

The same praise we see in Psalms is echoed in heaven. 

“Halleluyah” is not meant to be whispered, silent, or isolated.

It is a call to lift our eyes beyond what we see and remember who God is.

He is sovereign over all things.
He is good in every season.
He is faithful to his promises.
He is the redeemer.

This is why we praise.

Not because life is easy, but because He is worthy.

Halleluyah.