This word is spoken all over the world, in every language, by Christians and Jews alike. The word is of Hebrew origin. It is the combination of two Hebrew words, Halal and Yah. Ha-lal in Hebrew is a word which means: to be clear, to rave or boast, to make a show, to act clamorously foolish, to celebrate. (Stongs and other concordances) It is one of the Hebrew words for praise. This form of praise seems to get you up on your feet acitvely praising Yahweh.
Some scriptures which use this word are:
Praise (halal) ye the Lord, praise (halal) o ye servants of the Lord, praise (halal) the name of the Lord. Ps 113: 1-3
Praise (halal) the Lord! Praise (halal) God in his sanctuary (sacred place) ; Praise (halal) him in his mighty expanse. Ps 150:1
Let them praise (halal) his name in the dance: let them sing praises (zamar) with the timbrel and harp. Ps 149:3
In Hebrew the name for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (and my God) is YHVH. Because the Jewish people stopped pronouncing the name of God, except for the priests, thousands of years ago we are uncertain of how His name is pronounced. The Jews considered it profaning the name for it to be spoken, or even written. Instead, they substituted “Adonai- Lord” or “HaShem -The Name”. In our modern English Bibles whenever you see LORD in the Old Testament, this is YHVH in Hebrew. Even the priests lost the pronunciation of His Holy Name after the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, or before. What we do know is that His Name may be pronounced close to Yahweh. At least the Yah is right. Yah is a short version for the full name of God. Thus, when you say Hallelujah, you are really saying Halal Yah, or Praise Yahweh or Praise Ye Yahweh!
HalleluYah!
