HALLELUJAH . . .                                                         The Highest Praise!

 

THE SEVEN HEBREW PRAISES

 

1. SHABACH (loud shout). Shabach is to loudly give adoration to God in the form of testimony; to address in a loud voice, tone, shout. To command, triumph or glory; to shout proclaiming with a loud voice. Ps. 63:3, 117:1, 145:4, 147:12. The phrase "shout unto the Lord" can be understood as the action of Shabach – Ps. 32:11, 35:27, 47:1, 65:13, 132:9. 

 

2.  BARAK (kneel down). Barak is translated “to kneel or bow as an act of adoration.” Psalm 95:6. It implies a continual, conscious acknowledgment of God – an attitude of expectancy, in a worshipful attitude expecting to receive, but is not a begging attitude, but yielded. Praise, salute, thanks. Often translated to bless or blessed – Judges 5:2, Ps. 16:7, 34:1, 63:4, 66:8, 100:4, 96:2, 103:1-2, 20- 22, 134:1-3.

 

3. TOWDAH (extend hands in thansgiving) [court of law] In the Old Testament, it translated as “Confession”. The New Testament translates it as “to say the same thing.” The word comes from Yadah and means to extend the hands. To declare openly, freely, unreservedly. Admit as real or true. The lifting of the hands signifies agreement. The ATTITUDE for TOWDAH is: I’m thanking God. I don’t care what it looks like. I’m agreeing with what His word says. Sacrifice of Praise!  Ps.100:4,50:23.

 

4. YADAH (throw hands out to God) The Hebrew word YADAH comes from two root words. YAD which means the open hand, direction, power. And AH which has reference to Jehovah. Together they are rendered Hands to God. It carries the meaning of absolute surrender as a child does to a parent – “pick me up, I’m all yours.” Adoration with "cupped hands" in expectation, ready to receive God's Blessings!  Genesis 29:35, 2 Chronicles 20:21, Psalm 42:9-11; 109:30, Isaiah 12:1

 

5. HALAL (to celebrate)  [root word for hallelu-jah] to shine, boast over God, celebrate foolishly -- an abandonment of self and a boasting in the Lord and being in love with the Lord. Praise to Yahweh, speaking the glorious attributes, workings, mercy, goodness, power, love, etc. to God. Psalm 104 – 106 are perfect examples of this. Translated praise, praised, praises – 2 Chronicles 20:19, 21; Psalm 22:22-23, 26, 111:1-3 

 

6. TEHILLAH (sing in song) to sing halal, a hymn, song of spontaneous praise, glorying in God in song. This is the kind of praise God inhabits. There are more than 300 times we are exhorted to sing with some different Hebrew words for "sing", so psalms, hymns etc could be praise and yet not be tehillah. It is songs of the spirit – unprepared – that flow forth spontaneously from our spirits. It implies to total involvement of oneself in praise to God. Psalm 100:4, 22:3, 9:14, 33:1, 34:1, 65:1, 147:1-2, 149:1-2; Isaiah 61:3.

 

7. ZAMAR (singing with music) to touch the strings; to sing and play with instruments. Translated many times as "sing praises" and implies the singing of praise, in set composition of words and music. This kind of praise is mostly rejoicing. 1 Chronicles 15:16.  Psalm 92:1-3, 98:5, 6; 144:1, 9; 147:7