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.
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.