(NOTE: These answers are not presented in a particular order, just in the order that they arrived from our contributors. Feel free to add your comments. If you have a burning question send it to steve@saltshakers.com or if you feel able to answer these type of questions email us to join our panel of "messianic rabbis".)

BOB DOTY answers

The word “hallelujah” originally was used by the priest in the Temple as a command for the people to begin praising God. It was not the praise itself. During the time of Yeshua and up until today, there was a controversy among the Rabbis as to what was the greatest form of worship that there was. The decision that was made is that study of the Word of God that led to obedience was the highest form of worship. Next to it was the actual obedience to the Word itself. If you make a careful search through the Gospels you will see that Yeshua says very little about worshiping God. The most profound statement that He makes is “what you do to the least of these, you do for Me.”

RABBI JOSEPH KRESEFSKY answers

Actually my holy friend, “hallelujah” is a call to praise G_d; it’s not really a means of lifting praises to Him, it’s more of a command to praise. To be honest with you, things like “O L_rd, my Rock and my Redeemer – Glory to G_d in the Highest – Hosanna” these are all exclamation of adoration to our Father in Heaven and would be better suited as a means of lifting praises to Him.

SANDRA JEFFERY answers

The word hallelujah comes from the Hallel, the praises of the Lord in Psalms 113 through 118 that were sung with immense joy at the water libation on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. It is an expression of joy and thankfulness to Almighty God for who He is; for our relationship with Him, and for His deliverance of us from death. To say ‘hallelujah’ is to encompass all of Psalms 113 through 118 in our praise of our Universal God and Creator.

EVETTE LEWIS answers

Dear Brother / Sister, I too am from a ‘Pentecostal’ background, and absolutely love the liberty that the Holy Spirit has to direct the meetings. Wow! Hallelujah indeed! Sometimes you hear someone in the congregation say or sing it. Makes your spirit in you jump up high just hearing it or saying it, doesn’t it! Therefore, literal meanings aside, I believe that uttering this word or shouting it out loud from the roof tops, it’s a two-way blessing - a way of ‘communing’ with our Father in Heaven, directly, and its amazing how hearing someone else say it, we feel more alive as our hearts agree in His regard and love. Medicine for our spirits and a blessing for Him, because in saying - or even just thinking it -He knows your intention is to pour out blessings from your heart for Him, and by His nature, He returns more to you.

Back to the meaning - according to my old Bible Dictionary (Inter Varsity Fellowship 1962) it is a ‘transliteration of the Hebrew liturgical call “hall e lu yah” = praise ye yah (the shortened name of Yahweh (G-d) occurring 24 times in the Psalter’

Hallelujah, stands at the beginning of ten of the psalms (106, 111-113, 135, 146-150), hence called "hallelujah psalms / Hallel Psalms." From its frequent occurrence it grew into a formula of praise. In the worship of the synagogue Psalms 135-136 and 146-150 were used in the daily morning service.

It’s an exclamation used chiefly in songs of praise or thanksgiving to God, and as an expression of gratitude or adoration.

I once ministered at the ‘Communion’ part of the service, and to get ready, I studied this for weeks before. I looked into the group of Psalms 113-118, which are pre-eminently psalms of praise also called "The Egyptian Hallel," (because they were chanted in the temple whilst the Passover lambs were being slain. It was chanted also on other festival occasions, as at Pentecost, the feast of Tabernacles, and the feast of Dedication. )The Levites, standing before the altar, chanted it verse by verse, the people responding by repeating the verses or by intoned hallelujahs.

So in essence, what can be said about the word ‘Hallelujah’ - well for one, it is a call for the community and all of creation to praise G-d, and I think it does bring us all together in one accord - knowing everything was created by Him, through His Son, we‘re acknowledging that we need His input in the universe and in our lives, moment by moment - as we are not self sustaining - See Psalms 148, 150.

Secondly, Yeshua, knowing He was going to be slain as the perfect lamb for us, just before the departure for the Mount of Olives on the night of the betrayal may have used these Psalms, because at the Passover, Psalms 113 and 114 were sung before the Passover feast, and Psalms 115-118 after drinking the last cup. (Matthew 26:30).

As a ‘Pentecostal’ you may know a song along the lines of Isaiah 42 v 10:

Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth; ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.

Is this the highest praise we can give to G-d? I think it probably is…The Greek form of the word (alleluia) is found in Revelation 19:1, 3, 4, 6. Take a few minutes to read these scriptures if you can- they will build you right up! You almost feel like you are there praising Him with the multitude.

And I think it is also to do what we’re called to do - loving each other and living our lives in devotion, gratitude and loyalty towards Him. In terms of how we proclaim this, privately or in public, I believe that the word Hallelujah is amazing and probably has amazing repercussions in Heaven when we pronounce it - I was in an empty church a few weeks ago and shouted out “I love you, Jesus, I do!” and that felt great, too - so if it’s from the heart, then it will bless you and your Father when you say that you love Him - however you say or it.