What does the word ‘hallelujah’ mean?

TL;DR:

The word “hallelujah” is a call to praise the personal and covenant-keeping God of Israel. Hallelujah is a deeply meaningful expression of worship that reminds us to give God the glory due His name.

The Bible presents “hallelujah” as a command to praise God, drawn from the Hebrew imperative halelu (“praise”) and the shortened form of God’s personal name, Yah (Psalm 113:1; Psalm 146-150). Note that the “jah” at the end of the English word “Hallelujah” comes from an old English translation of “Yah” which was originally thought to be pronounced “Jehovah.”

In Hebrew poetry, particularly the Psalms, this call to praise is frequently repeated as a direct command to the people of God. The focus is always on God’s nature and deeds—His justice, compassion, majesty, and faithfulness (Psalm 146:6-9; Psalm 147:5-6).

In the New Testament, the term appears in Revelation 19, where the heavenly multitude praises God for His salvation, glory, and righteous judgments (Revelation 19:1–6). The use of “Hallelujah” here shows it is not merely an emotional response but a thoughtful declaration of who God is.

Together, these Scriptures show that saying “hallelujah” is a purposeful act of worship directed to the one true God, affirming His name, His acts, and His worthiness of all praise.

from the old testament

The English word “Hallelujah” is a single-word transliteration of two words in Hebrew, namely Halelu (“praise”) and Yah (intimate form of “Yahweh”). Yahweh is God’s personal name which He gave to be spoken and known by His people (Exodus 3:15). “Yah” is even more personal in the way that one might say “Tom” instead of “Thomas.”
We often see the words Halelu Yah together in the Psalms. For example, Psalm 113:1 reads, “Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD!” The phrase, “Praise the LORD” is Halelu Yah.

from the new testament

The word Hallelujah is found two times in the New Testament, both in Revelation. John said, “After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God’” (Revelation 19:1) and “then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns’” (Revelation 19:6). In both cases, the “multitude” (likely believers and/or angels) are shouting praises to God for who He is and what He has done.

implications for today

In both the Psalm 113 passage and the Revelation 19 ones, God is praised because He is unlike any other, bringing justice while sovereignly working out all things according to His plan. To declare Hallelujah is to express praise for who God is and what He does. In short, it is an exclamation of praise for the One who deserves all honor and glory (Revelation 4:11).

Because the word “Hallelujah” is in so many songs and exclamations, the meaning is often forgotten or even unknown. Instead of saying “Praise God,” it is often just a simple exclamation for something we like or a nice sound while singing. While we might say, “Hallelujah, I finally got paid!,” we often say that without thinking about God or actually praising Him.

Let us take this as a reminder of the One who we should praise. The next time you sing or hear someone say “Hallelujah,” purposefully remind yourself what it means and who you are praising.

understand

Hallelujah means “Praise Yah,” a call to praise God’s name.
Hallelujah appears in the Psalms and Revelation as a command to worship God’s character and deeds.
Saying “hallelujah” is a purposeful declaration of worship, not just an expression of emotion.

reflect

How do you personally connect with the meaning of “hallelujah” as a call to praise God’s name and character?
How can you make your praise more intentional and focused on God’s nature rather than just an emotional response?
How could pausing to remember the true meaning behind the word “hallelujah” help you better praise God when you say or sing it?

engage

How does understanding “hallelujah” as a command to praise deepen our worship experience together?
What impact does recognizing God’s personal name “Yah” have on our sense of relationship and intimacy with Him?
How can we encourage one another to make our use of “hallelujah” more meaningful and aligned with its biblical significance?