hallelujah

[hal-uh-loo-yuh] /ˌhæl əˈlu yə/
interjection
1.
Praise ye the Lord!
noun
2.
an exclamation of “hallelujah!”.
3.
a shout of joy, praise, or gratitude.
4.
a musical composition wholly or principally based upon the word “hallelujah.”.
Also, halleluiah.
Origin
1525-35; < Hebrew halălūyāh praise ye Yahweh; cf. alleluia
Examples from the web for hallelujah
  • hallelujah, say cosmetics- and clothing-company officials, who help to dictate the pace of change.
  • But before believers shout hallelujah, there's another finding to consider.
British Dictionary definitions for hallelujah

hallelujah

/ˌhælɪˈluːjə/
interjection
1.
an exclamation of praise to God
2.
an expression of relief or a similar emotion
noun
3.
an exclamation of "Hallelujah"
4.
a musical composition that uses the word Hallelujah as its text
Word Origin
C16: from Hebrew hallelūyāh praise the Lord, from hellēl to praise + yāh the Lord, Yahweh
Word Origin and History for hallelujah

also halleluiah, 1530s, from Hebrew hallalu-yah "praise ye Jehovah," from hallalu, plural imperative of hallel "to praise" also "song of praise," from hillel "he praised," of imitative origin, with primary sense being "to trill." Second element is yah, shortened form of Yahweh, name of God. Replaced variant formation alleluia (12c.).

hallelujah in the Bible

praise ye Jehovah, frequently rendered "Praise ye the LORD," stands at the beginning of ten of the psalms (106, 111-113, 135, 146-150), hence called "hallelujah psalms." From its frequent occurrence it grew into a formula of praise. The Greek form of the word (alleluia) is found in Rev. 19:1, 3, 4, 6.

Encyclopedia Article for hallelujah

alleluia

Hebrew liturgical expression meaning "praise ye Yah" ("praise the Lord"). It appears in the Hebrew Bible in several psalms, usually at the beginning or end of the psalm or in both places. In ancient Judaism it was probably chanted as an antiphon by the Levite choir. In the New Testament it appears only in Revelation 19, where it occurs four times. It was translated in the Septuagint (Jewish Greek version of the Bible made in the pre-Christian period) and became "alleluia" in the Vulgate (4th-century Christian Latin version). The early Christians adopted the expression in their worship services, and it appeared in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and some Protestant liturgies and in hymns.

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