Hallelujah

Occurrences in Scripture

In the Old Testament the word appears only in the Psalms. It is commonly counted as occurring 24 times in the Hebrew text, usually at the beginning or end of psalms between Psalm 104 and Psalm 150. In particular, each of the five psalms from Psalm 146 through Psalm 150 begins and ends with "Hallelujah," so that the Psalter as a whole concludes on a note of praise. The final psalm, Psalm 150, closes by calling for the LORD to be praised in His sanctuary and in the heavens, with many instruments, and by "every thing that hath breath."

In the New Testament the word occurs only four times, in Revelation 19:1, 3, 4, and 6. A great multitude in heaven, the twenty-four elders, and the four living creatures cry out "Alleluia." They celebrate God's judgment on the great whore, Babylon, and God's reign, and their cry leads into the announcement of the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Meaning and Background of the Word

"Hallelujah" is a compound of two Hebrew words:

• Hallelu: "praise," a plural imperative addressed to a group of people.
• Yah: a shortened form of the divine name Yahweh (the LORD).

The Hebrew title of the Psalms, Tehillim ("praises"), comes from the same root, halal ("to praise"). The Greek Old Testament, the Septuagint, did not translate the word but transliterated it as allēlouia, and Revelation uses the same spelling. From there it passed through the Latin alleluia into many languages untranslated. The Korean Revised Version, New Revised Edition, likewise transliterates the word as "Hallelujah" in many places in the Psalms.

In Jewish tradition, Psalms 113–118 are known as the "Hallel" (praise) and are said to have been sung at festivals such as Passover. According to Mark 14:26, after the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples, "when they had sung an hymn," went out into the Mount of Olives. Many interpreters hold that what they sang was the Hallel.

Significance in the Whole of Scripture

In the Old Testament, Hallelujah is a call to the congregation of Israel to join together in praising God. In Revelation, the same word carries over into heavenly worship as a cry celebrating God's final victory and reign. Just as the Psalms end with Hallelujah, so in the last book of the Bible the word appears in the passage that celebrates the consummation of the kingdom of God. Some interpreters draw attention to this parallel.

Interpretation and Points of Discussion

• Use as a greeting: In Scripture, Hallelujah is a cry of praise offered to God. There is no instance of its being exchanged between people as a greeting; its use as a greeting is a later church custom. Some regard this custom as a good habit that brings praise into everyday life, while others caution against shouting the word out of habit without considering its meaning.
• Seasonal use: In churches that follow a liturgical tradition (a fixed form of worship), such as the Catholic Church and the Anglican churches, it is customary to refrain from singing the "Alleluia" during Lent and to resume it at Easter. Many Korean Protestant churches make no such distinction and use the word throughout the year.

In the Korean Church

It is common for a preacher to call out "Hallelujah!" and for the congregation to respond with "Amen" or "Hallelujah." Church members also exchange it as a greeting. It is reportedly used especially often in churches of the Pentecostal tradition. The Catholic Church in Korea renders the same word as "Alleluia."

The "Hallelujah" chorus from Handel's oratorio Messiah takes its text from Revelation 19:6 and other passages. It is frequently sung by Korean church choirs around Christmas and Easter.