Hallal
Hallal is a primary Hebrew root word for praise. Our word “hallelujah” comes from this base word. It means “to be clear, to praise, to shine, to boast, show, to rave, celebrate, to be clamorously foolish.”
- Praise (hallal) ye the Lord, praise (hallal) o ye servants of the Lord, praise (hallal) the name of the Lord. (Psalm 113:1-3)
- Praise (hallal) the Lord! Praise (hallal) God in His sanctuary; Praise (hallal) Him in His mighty expanse. (Psalm 150:1)
- Let them praise (hallal) His name in the dance: let them sing praises with the timbrel and harp. (Psalm 149:3)
Other References: Judges 16:24; 2 Samuel 14:25; 2 Chronicles 7:6; Ezra 3:10-11; Nehemiah 5:13; Psalms 18:3, 56:4, 63:5, 150:2-4; Isaiah 62:9; Jeremiah 20:13; Joel 2:26
Yadah
Yadah is a verb with root meaning, “the extended hand, to throw out the hand, therefore to worship with extended hand, to lift the hands.” According to the Lexicon, the opposite meaning is “to bemoan, the wringing of the hands.”
- Give thanks (yadah) to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting (2 Chronicles 20:21)
- So I will bless the as long as I live; I will (yadah) lift up my hands in thy name. (Psalm 63:1)
- Oh that men would praise (yadah) the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men. (Psalm 107:15)
Other References: Genesis 29:35, 49:8; 2 Chronicles 7:3,6; Psalms 67:3, 108:3; Isaiah 12:1,4; Jeremiah 33:11
Towdah
Towdah comes from the same principle root word as yadah, but is used more specifically. Towdah literally means, “an extension of the hand in adoration, avowal, or acceptance.” By way of application, it is apparent in the Psalms and elsewhere that it is used for thanking god for “things not yet received” as well as things already at hand.
- Offer unto God praise (towdah) and pay thy vows unto the most high. (Psalm 50:14)
- Whoso offereth praise (towdah) glorifieth Me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God. (Psalm 50:23)
Other References: Psalms 42:4, 56:12; Jeremiah 17:26; Jeremiah 33:11
Shabach
Shabach means, “to shout, to address in a loud tone, to command, to triumph.”
- O clap your hands, all peoples; shout (shabach) to God with the voice of joy (or triumph). (Psalm 47:1)
- One generation shall praise (shabach) Thy works to another and declare Thy mighty acts. (Psalm 145:4)
- Cry aloud and shout (shabach) for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 12:6)
Other References: Psalms 63:3, 117:1, 145:4; Ecclesiastes 4:2
Barak
Barak means “to kneel down, to bless God as an act of adoration, to salute.”
- come let us worship and bow down; let us kneel (barak) before the Lord our maker. (Psalm 95:6)
- Then David said to the assembly, “Now bless (barak) the Lord your God.” And all the assembly blessed (barak) the Lord, the God of their fathers, and bowed low and did homage to the Lord and to the king. (1 Chronicles 29:20)
- I will bless (barak) the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Psalm 34:1)
Other References: Judges 5:2, Psalms 72:15, 96:2, 103:1-2
Zamar
Zamar means to “pluck the strings of an instrument, to sing, to praise; a musical word which is largely involved with joyful expressions of music with musical instruments.
- Be exalted O Lord, in Thine own strength, so will we sing and praise (zamar) Thy power. (Psalm 21:23)
- Sing to Him, sing praises (zamar) to Him; speak of all His wonders. (1 Chronicles 16:9)
- Awake my glory; awake harp and lyre, I will awaken the dawn! I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord among the peoples; I will sing praises (zamar) to Thee among the nations. (Psalm 57:8-9)
Other References: Judges 5:3; 2 Samuel 22:50; Psalms 61:8, 147:1,7
Tehillah
Tehillah is derived from the word halal and means “the singing of the halals, to sing or to laud; perceived to involve music, especially singing; hymns of the Spirit or praise.”
- Yet Thou art holy, O Thou who art enthroned upon the praises (tehillah) of Israel. (Psalm 22:3)
- To grant to those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise (tehillah) instead of the spirit of fainting, So they shall be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3)
Other References: Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 10:21; Nehemiah 9:5; Psalms 9:14, 22:25; Jeremiah 48:2
SOURCE: Aglow International
