Seven Hebrew Words for Praise (Part 1)

1. halal (haw-lal’) – (verb)

to praise… to shine…

to make a show… to boast…

and thus to be clamorously foolish…

to rave… to celebrate…

This is the most commonly used word for praise,

found 165 times in Bible,

131 times translated as “praise” or “glory.”

In Psalm 150, every time the word praise is used, it uses this VERB:

1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

Here we are instructed to praise God in a clamorously foolish way.
To praise him with a blast of the trumpet.

Exuberant praise.

Extravagant praise.
None of this hands-in-the-pocket praise!

We are urged to praise Him with the tambourine and dancing.

It’s a celebration, after all!
Christ has risen from the dead and defeated the power of our enemy.
Celebration is appropriate!
Why wouldn’t I dance and make a show for my Master, my Leader, my Lord?
When I go to hockey games, I yell (that’s what Canadians do).
Why would I be forever silent and timid at church?

We are commanded to praise Him with a clash of cymbals.

Not with soft and dainty cymbals.
Loud clanging cymbals!