ἀλληλουϊα
allēlouïa
G239 exclamation
SILEX Entry
Definition
A liturgical exclamation meaning 'praise Yah' or 'praise God,' functioning as a call or command to praise, especially used in hymnic or worship contexts. Used as an acclamation in communal worship settings, it expresses collective praise or exhortation to praise the divine.
Semantic Range
liturgical acclamation, exhortation to praise (God), exclamation of praise, refrain in hymns or psalms
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew phrase הַלְלוּ יָהּ (halĕlû yāh), 'praise Yah,' where הָלַל (halal) means 'to praise' and יָהּ (Yah) is a shortened form of the divine name. The Greek ἀλληλουϊα transcribes the Hebrew and is not a native Greek word.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Septuagint, ἀλληλουϊα is frequently left untranslated as a liturgical refrain, especially in the Psalms, preserving the Hebrew form rather than rendering it into Greek. In Second Temple and New Testament usage, the word retains its function as a communal acclamation in acts of worship, notably in Revelation 19:1–6. Early Greek-speaking communities recognized it as a direct borrowing from Hebrew, primarily associated with formal praise or worship settings. Later Christian liturgy also adopted ἀλληλουϊα in a similar fashion. Modern translation traditions often use 'Alleluia' or 'Hallelujah,' but these transliterations do not convey the imperative sense ('Praise Yah'). The term should be understood as both an exhortation and an exclamation of praise in worship contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (imperative of הָלַל and יָהּ); praise ye Jah!, an adoring exclamation:--alleluiah.
Root Family
ἀλληλουϊα (allēlouia) — praise, acclaim, celebrate (the deity)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G239-01 |
ἁλληλουϊά | allelouia | EXCL |
Hallelujah | Praise Yah! | Praise Yah | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G239-01 |
Revelation 19:1 | ἁλληλουϊά | allelouia | EXCL |
Hallelujah | Praise Yah! | Praise Yah |
G239-01 |
Revelation 19:3 | ἁλληλουϊά | allelouia | EXCL |
Hallelujah! | Praise Yah! | Praise Yah |
G239-01 |
Revelation 19:4 | ἁλληλουϊά | allelouia | EXCL |
Hallelujah | Praise Yah! | Praise Yah |
G239-01 |
Revelation 19:6 | ἁλληλουϊά | allelouia | EXCL |
Hallelujah | Praise Yah! | Praise Yah |