What Does “Hosanna” Mean in the Bible?

3 Min Read

Where did the word hosanna come from? It is most likely an English transliteration of a Greek adaptation and transliteration of an Aramaic version of a Hebrew exclamation found in Psalm 118:25. The Hebrew is hoshiah na, while the Aramaic is hosha na. The move from the Aramaic to the Greek hōsanna is obvious, though it combines two words in Hebrew and Aramaic into one in Greek. The phrase in Hebrew (and in Aramaic) means, “Save, please!”—at least, that is the explanation most favored by scholars. Other suggestions for the origin have also been offered. One proposal is that it derives from the joining of two Greek words hōs ana, which literally means “into up” and has the sense of exhorting people to lift up a word of praise. Another proposal is that it comes from the Aramaic word ushena, which means “power.” These alternate proposals have not been convincing to most who have studied the question.

Apart from the Hebrew original in Psalm 118:25, hosanna is found only in the gospel accounts of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:9, 15; Mark 11:9, 10; John 12:13). In Mark’s account, the use of the word is followed immediately by a quotation from Psalm 118:26, making it more likely that hosanna originated from the phrase in Psalm 118 (see Mark 11:10). The word does not occur in Luke’s account of the triumphal entry.

Meaning

Save us, we pray, O Lord!
O Lord, we pray, give us success! (Ps. 118:25)

What does hosanna mean? If the word is derived from Psalm 118:25, then its meaning is “Save, please!” and is directed at the Lord. A similar phrase using the same verb is found in Jeremiah 31:7:

O Lord, save your people,
the remnant of Israel.

Other occurrences of the same verb used in a similar fashion are found in 2 Samuel 14:4 and 2 Kings 6:26. Over time, however, the phrase probably lost much of its original meaning and became a more general exclamation of praise, much like hallelujah. W.D. Davies and Dale C. Allison, in their Matthew commentary, put it this way: “Further, Did[ache] 10:6 preserves a eucharistic prayer in which ‘hosanna’ must mean ‘praise’ (‘Hosanna to the Son of David’). And then there is Lk 19:37-8, which omits ‘hosanna’ but refers to ‘praise’.” (The Didache is an ancient Christian work commonly collected with a number of early Christian writings known as “The Apostolic Fathers.”)

The modern reader should understand the word hosanna to be an exclamation of praise directed especially at the promised Messiah, recognizing His person and rejoicing in the completion of His work.

Use

How was hosanna used? By the New Testament period, it was used as an exclamation of praise, though the connection with Psalm 118 does not seem to have entirely disappeared. Psalm 118 was part of what came to be known as the Hallel Psalms (Psalms 113–118). These psalms were chanted (or sung) at both Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles. Most scholars consider it likely that the “hymn” sung by Jesus and the disciples as they left the upper room was this singing of the Hallel Psalms (Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26). Again, this connects the use of hosanna with the concluding section of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

It appears to be the case that by the first century, hosanna had acquired messianic overtones. Thus, the shouting of the crowd implied that they recognized Jesus as the long-promised Messiah. The response of the Pharisees to the shouting of the crowd also indicates that the scribes and the Pharisees understood the messianic implications of the shout (see Matt. 21:15–16; Luke 19:39–40). Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees shows that not only did Jesus recognize the messianic interpretation, but that He affirmed it as applying to Himself. By making clear the connection of this event with the concluding section of Jesus’ ministry, the gospel writers clearly expect the reader to accept the conclusion that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, sent to save His people.

Application

In sum, the modern reader should understand the word hosanna to be an exclamation of praise directed especially at the promised Messiah, recognizing His person and rejoicing in the completion of His work. The use of hosanna in early Christian liturgies supports this view of the word. When we sing “Hosanna” in worship, we should remember the context of the great Hallel, especially Psalm 118 and the way it looks forward to the coming of the Messiah. We should also remember Jesus’ triumphal entry and the praise of the crowd, however fleeting. We should be directed to praise our messianic Savior with a deeper commitment and the prayer that our praise may not be fleeting, but enduring.