The Hebrew word, “Halal-yahh,” or “Hallelujah,” meaning, “praise ye Jehovah,” is frequently rendered, “Praise ye the LORD,” or “Praise the Lord,” and stands at the beginning of ten of the Psalms (106 & 111-113 & 135 & 146-150).  Hence, they are called the “Hallelujah Psalms.”  From its frequent occurrences, it grew into a formula of praise.  The Greek form of the word, which is, “Alleluia,” is found in Revelation, Chapter 19, verses 1 & 3 & 4 & 6.  It is an exclamatory expression of praise or adoration.

 

The word is not a compound, like many of the Hebrew words, which are composed of the abbreviated form of “YHWH,” i.e., “Yahweh,” and some other words, but has become a compound word in the Greek and other languages.  Even if the Jews, perhaps, had become accustomed to use it as a compound, it has never been written as such in the text.

 

In some Psalms, “Hallelujah” is an integral part of the song, such as found in Psalm 135:3, while in other Psalms, it simply serves as a liturgical interjection found either at the beginning, such as in Psalm 111:1-10, or at the close, such as in Psalm 104, and or, at the beginning and the end, as found in Psalm 146, Verse 1, then verse 10.

 

The “Hallelujah Psalms” are found in three groups:  104 through 106; 111 through 113; (and actually 4 here) 146 through 150.  In the first group, “Hallelujah” is found at the close of the Psalm, as a liturgical interjection, except in Psalm 106:1 where it is an integral part of the Psalm.  In the second group, “Hallelujah” is found at the beginning, noting that in Psalm 113, verse 9, is an integral part of the Psalm, depending upon the use of the adjective, “joyful.”  In the third group, “Hallelujah” is found both at the close and at the beginning of the Psalm.  In all other cases, (Psa. 115; 116; 117:1-2), “Hallelujah” seems to be an integral part of the Psalms.

 

These three groups were probably taken from an older collection of Psalms, like the grouped Psalms of 120 through 134.  In the New Testament, the equivalent of “Hallelujah,” which is “Alleluia,” is found as part of the song of the Heavenly host (see Rev. 19:1).  The Christian Church generally preserves the word as a liturgical interjection (intricate placement).

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