Hālal Yâ
Disclaimer: What you are about to read is a piece of writing pertaining to the Bible. I am not a theologian, an expert in ancient Biblical languages, etc., but I am a Christian studying the Bible in my walk with the Lord. If you find fault with any of this writing, please feel free to (lovingly) begin a discussion, so I can expand my understanding. I welcome any correction or any thoughts you may simply want to add.
"Hallelujah."
For such a common word used both in Christian circles and secular everyday speech, the term is scarcely used in the Bible. It is used a handful of times in some of the later Psalms, and then it appears in Revelation 19. But that's it! (If anybody happens to find more, let me know.)
A friend of mine recently introduced to me one of her Bible study methods, which involves taking a word, studying its meaning in a specific scripture, noting that Scripture's historical context, finding some other appearances of the word in the Bible, and then examining how that affects our view of the Lord and ourselves. The other day, I thought of the word "hallelujah" and realized I've never actually been taught, or studied for myself, what that word meant, similar to the way I know "amen" is a word of agreement, or "agape" is a Greek term for unconditional love. For a word I've heard so many times throughout my life growing up in a Christian home, I didn't know what it meant besides the sentiment of praise. We use it in musical worship. We use it in prayer. We use it when we see that the weather turned out the way we wanted it to. But what does it mean? What are we saying when we say "hallelujah?"
Here's what I found.
It isn't just a word. It's actually a phrase, made up of two Hebrew words: hālal and yâ.
According to Blue Letter Bible's interlinear concordance, these are the definitions of each:
hālal - to shine, to be clear or bright, to praise, to be praised, worthy of praise, to be commended, to boast, to act madly, to rejoice
yâ - a short form of the proper name of Jehovah/Yahweh, the one true God
In a few different translations (NLT and NKJV, to name a couple), these two words don't even appear as the word "hallelujah" aside from possibly a footnote; it simply appears as "Praise the LORD."
Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord, Praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord From this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down The Lord’s name is to be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high, Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in the heavens and in the earth?
He raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap, That He may seat him with princes— With the princes of His people. He grants the barren woman a home, Like a joyful mother of children.
Praise the Lord!
- Psalm 113 (NKJV)
I found this alternate phrase both fitting and impactful, as I learned what "hallelujah" meant, because—well—that's literally what it means. Not only is it a word of praise, which is what I assumed, but it is a word of praise specifically ascribed to the Lord, the one true God. The two words put together do not give praise to anyone else; His name is attached. It is as if you are literally saying, "Praise to the Lord" or "The Lord is worthy of praise," rather than just a simple "Praise."
I take this as a reminder, going forward, that any time I choose to say the word (or phrase, as I've learned) "hallelujah," that it is a moment in which I truly desire to give praise to the Lord. I want to be cautious about the flippant hallelujah that's thrown around without a thought given to the Lord himself. Now—does this mean I shouldn't praise the Lord when something good happens to me? Is it wrong for a knee-jerk praise-to-the-Lord to be extended? No, I believe He deserves praise for every blessing (and everything in general) in my life, and if that is the true intention of my heart in the moment to praise the Lord, then so be it. But I also want to be careful not to take the Lord's name in vain. For such a precious word of praise, that, by its nature is to be directed to the Lord alone, I find it important to check my heart—that every word of praise from my mouth be meant to praise the Lord, and be directed to or dismissed by nothing else.
Hallelujah.
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