Hallelujah

“Hallelujah” is a word that has become common in English, although not many people are familiar with its derivation. It is a transliteration of a Hebrew word with two parts. “Hallelu” is a masculine plural imperative form of the verb that means “Praise”. It is telling a group of people to praise. The last part of the word is “Yah”, the short form of the name of God, the One who is to be praised.

The Hebrew word “Hallelujah” is used twenty-four times in the book of Psalms, mostly in the final psalms in the book. It both opens and closes a few of them. The KJV translation doesn’t transliterate the word. It translates it as “Praise ye the LORD”, which gets at the meaning very well.

This is a sacred word, the more so because it contains the name of God. It should not be tossed off flippantly as a synonym for “I’m happy”. This could be an example of using God’s name in vain. It seems like this is the major use of the word in our society.

Another way it should not be used (or sung) is to de-emphasize the last syllable to the point of almost eliminating it. The last syllable is God’s name, and it’s the whole point of the word.

Yet another mistaken use of the word is to imagine that by saying it (or its translation, “Praise God”), you are actually praising God. Praising God is recounting his works or his character and lauding him for that. Saying “Hallelujah” (or “Praise God”) is telling a group of people to praise God; it’s not actually doing it.

Because of this, it is not an appropriate thing to be saying to God. When you have songs to the effect of “Sing Hallelujah to the Lord”, you are telling God to praise himself, which makes no sense. When the psalmist says it, he is telling the congregation to praise God, and he goes on to elaborate how and why it should be done.

What about “Alleluia”, which we often find in our music and liturgy? This is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew word, and it’s only found in Revelation 19, although it’s found four times in that chapter. This is the passage on which Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” is based. It tells of a multitude in heaven exhorting each other to praise God. It also makes clear that the language being spoken on this occasion is Hebrew.

Is there any reason to use “Alleluia” in our music or liturgy? Maybe if you’re speaking or singing in Greek, as it’s a Greek transliteration of a Hebrew word. But I see no reason to use “Alleluia” in English music or liturgy. It has no meaning in Greek, only as a transliteration of Hebrew. Thus, in English we should recognize the Hebrew origin of the word and use the English transliteration, “Hallelujah”. As a choir director, I’ve asked my choirs to change “Alleluia” to “Hallelujah” in songs that they sing.

In summary, recognize that “Hallelujah” is a sacred word and use it reverently. Don’t minimize the portion of it that is God’s name. Don’t use it as a synonym for “Yippee!” And don’t tell God to praise himself. But get in the habit of praising God yourself and encouraging others to do the same.