תְּהִלָּה
𐤕𐤄𐤋𐤄
tᵉhillâh
H8416 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An expression or act of praise, adulation, or acclaim, often directed toward a deity; specifically, a vocal or poetic utterance that extols or commends, with particular reference in biblical contexts to praise of YHWH. The term encompasses both the general act of offering praise and more formal or set compositions of praise (such as hymns or psalms).
Semantic Range
act of praise, utterance of praise, hymn, psalm of praise, song of adulation, fame, renown, reputation
Root / Etymology
From the root הלל (h-l-l), which means 'to praise, boast, exult.' The feminine noun תְּהִלָּה derives from the piel stem of this root, signifying the verbal action or result of praising.
Historical & Contextual Notes
תְּהִלָּה appears over fifty times throughout the Hebrew Bible, predominantly in poetic and liturgical contexts. It frequently denotes praise directed toward YHWH, both individual and communal, and is often associated with the context of temple worship and individual thanksgiving. In the Book of Psalms, תְּהִלָּה refers both to the act of praise and to specific songs or poems of praise, and the Hebrew title for Psalms, תְּהִלִּים (Tehillim), derives from this noun. While English translations typically use 'praise,' this can obscure the formal, performative, or literary dimensions of the term, which often describes set, artistic acts of adulation. In some contexts, תְּהִלָּה can also mean reputation or renown (e.g., in reference to the fame of an individual or deity), but this sense is less common. The word does not refer to everyday compliments or secular boasting; rather, it is predominantly reserved for divine adulation or exaltation, setting it apart from related terms like זֶמֶר (song), תּוֹדָה (thanksgiving), or בְּרָכָה (blessing), though overlap exists in poetic usage. In later periods (Second Temple and beyond), concepts of תְּהִלָּה influenced Jewish liturgical developments, but in the biblical period, its primary setting was ritual and poetic address to YHWH.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from הָלַל; laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn; praise.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
הלל (h-l-l) — to praise, to boast, to exult
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1947 | הוֹלֵלָה | acts of folly |
| H1948 | הוֹלֵלוּת | reckless foolishness |
| H1966 | הֵילֵל | shining one |
| H1974 | הִלּוּל | festal rejoicings |
| H1984 | הָלַל | I will extol |
Word Forms
16 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8416-04 |
תְּהִלָּֽה | tehilah | HNcfsa |
praise | praise-utterance | 11 |
H8416-09 |
תְּהִלָּת֖/וֹ | tehilato | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
His praise | his praise | 8 |
H8416-06 |
תְהִלָּתְ/ךָ֖ | tehilatekha | HNcfsc/Sp2ms |
your praise | your praise | 7 |
H8416-08 |
תְּהִלָּתִ֖/י | tehilati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my praise | my praise | 5 |
H8416-10 |
תְהִלֹּ֖ת | tehilot | HNcfpa |
praises | praise-utterances | 4 |
H8416-05 |
תְּהִלַּ֣ת | tehilat | HNcfsc |
praise | praise-of | 4 |
H8416-12 |
וּ/תְהִלָּ֔ה | utehilah | HC/Ncfsa |
and praise | and praise-utterance | 3 |
H8416-03 |
לִ/תְהִלָּ֖ה | litehilah | HR/Ncfsa |
for praise | for a praise-song | 3 |
H8416-14 |
וּ/תְהִלָּת֖/וֹ | utehilato | HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and His praise | and his praise-utterance | 3 |
H8416-02 |
בִּ/תְהִלָּתֶֽ/ךָ | bitehilatekha | HR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms |
in your praise | in your praise-utterance | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
58 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8416-10 |
Exodus 15:11 | תְהִלֹּ֖ת | tehilot | HNcfpa |
in praises | praise-utterances |
H8416-06 |
Deuteronomy 10:21 | תְהִלָּתְ/ךָ֖ | tehilatekha | HNcfsc/Sp2ms |
your praise | your praise |
H8416-03 |
Deuteronomy 26:19 | לִ/תְהִלָּ֖ה | litehilah | HR/Ncfsa |
for praise | for a praise-song |
H8416-13 |
Isaiah 42:8 | וּ/תְהִלָּתִ֖/י | utehilati | HC/Ncfsc/Sp1cs |
and-my-praise | and my praise |
H8416-09 |
Isaiah 42:10 | תְּהִלָּת֖/וֹ | tehilato | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
His praise | his praise |
H8416-14 |
Isaiah 42:12 | וּ/תְהִלָּת֖/וֹ | utehilato | HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and His praise | and his praise-utterance |
H8416-08 |
Isaiah 43:21 | תְּהִלָּתִ֖/י | tehilati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
My praise | my praise |
H8416-13 |
Isaiah 48:9 | וּ/תְהִלָּתִ֖/י | utehilati | HC/Ncfsc/Sp1cs |
and my praise | and my praise |
H8416-15 |
Isaiah 60:6 | וּ/תְהִלֹּ֥ת | utehilot | HC/Ncfpc |
the praises | and praises of |
H8416-04 |
Isaiah 60:18 | תְּהִלָּֽה | tehilah | HNcfsa |
Praise | praise-utterance |