Reference: Alleluia
American
See HALLELUJAH.
Easton
the Greek form (Re 19:1,3-4,6) of the Hebrew Hallelujah = Praise ye Jehovah, which begins or ends several of the psalms (106, 111, 112, 113, etc.).
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Fausets
("Praise ye Jehovah".) Never found in the palms of David and his singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun: but in later psalms, namely, those of the captivity and the return, the Fifth Book. So "Selah" is restricted to his and their psalms. Used in the temple liturgy; at the beginning, close, or both, of Psalm 106; 111; 113; 117; 135. So in the heavenly perfect liturgy (Re 19:1,3-4,6), the triumphant shout of the great multitude, the 24 elders, and four living creatures at the judgment on the whore.
The Hebrew form may imply the special interest of the Jews in the destruction of antichrist (Ps 149:8-9). Psalm 113-118 were called by the Jews the Hallel: sung on the first of the month, at the Feast of Dedication, that of Tabernacles, that of Weeks, and that of Passover. They sang Psalm 142 and Psalm 114 before the supper (according to Hillel's school, or only Psalm 113 according to Shammai's school), the rest after the last cup. This was the hymn sting by Christ and His disciples (Mt 26:30). As the full choir of Levites in the temple service took up the Alleluia, so in heaven the multitude in mighty chorus respond Alleluia to the voice from the throne, "Praise our God, all ye His servants," etc. (Re 19:1-6.)
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Hastings
Smith
Alleluia,
so written in
foll., or more properly HALLELUJAH, praise ye Jehovah, as it is found in the margin of
See Hallelujah
Ps 104:35; 105:45; 106; 111:1; 112:1; 113:1
comp. Psal 113:9; 115:18; 116:19, 117:2 The literal meaning of "hallelujah" sufficiently indicates the character of the Psalms in which it occurs as hymns of praise and thanksgiving.
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Watsons
ALLELUIA, or HALLELU-JAH, ????????, praise the Lord; or, praise to the Lord: compounded of ????, praise ye, and ?? the Lord. This word occurs at the beginning, or at the end, of many Psalms. Alleluia was sung on solemn days of rejoicing: "And all her streets shall sing Alleluia," says Tobit, speaking of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, Tob. 13:18. St. John, in the Re 19:1,3-4,6, says, "I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, who cried, Alleluia; and the four living creatures fell down, and worshipped God, saying, Alleluia." This expression of joy and praise was transferred from the synagogue to the church. At the funeral of Fabiola, "several psalms were sung with loud alleluias," says Jerom, in Epitaphio Paulae. "The monks of Palestine were awaked at their midnight watchings, with the singing of alleluias." It is still occasionally used in devotional psalmody.