Matthew 21:9
And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
Greek word · Strong G5614
What does Hosanna mean?
Hosanna comes from the Hebrew hoshia-na and means “save, please!” or “save now!”. It was a cry for help addressed to God that, over time, became a shout of praise. It is what the crowd cries as Jesus enters Jerusalem: “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Matthew 21:9).
ὡσαννά
hōsanná · transliteration
- In Strong’s lexicon
- oh save!; hosanna (i.e. hoshia-na), an exclamation of adoration
- In the King James
- Hosanna5
- Appears in
- 5 verses
See the full G5614 entry →Also in the lexicon: H3467 יָשַׁע · H4994 נָא
The meaning of Hosanna in the Bible
Its source is Psalm 118, sung at Israel's feasts: “Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD” (Psalm 118:25). The next verse blesses the one who comes in the name of the LORD, and the crowd joins the two as they welcome Jesus with branches. To cry “save!” to someone was to acknowledge him as the king God had sent.
The New Testament uses hosanna six times, in five verses, always at Jesus' entry into Jerusalem (Matthew, Mark and John). “Hosanna in the highest” is praise rising to God for the Messiah who comes. Like hallelujah, hosanna began in Hebrew and passed untranslated into other languages.
Where Hosanna appears
Mark 11:9
And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
John 12:13
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Psalms 118:25
Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
Frequently asked questions
- What does hosanna in the highest mean?
- It is praise: “save!” spoken to God in the highest heaven, for the Messiah who has come. At Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, a plea for salvation becomes acclamation.
- Is hosanna a prayer or praise?
- Both. The word is a plea (“save, please”), but addressed to Jesus as the promised king it became a way of praising him.
More Bible words
- Shalom
- Yahweh (YHWH)
- Hallelujah
- Selah
- Elohim
- Agape
- Adonai
- Amen
- Abba
- Immanuel
- Tetelestai
- Kairos
- El Shaddai
- Maranatha
- Ebenezer
- Jehovah Jireh
- Jehovah Rapha
- El Roi
- Metanoia
- Jehovah Nissi
- Hesed
- Rhema
- Koinonia
- Logos
- Sheol
- Nephilim
- Number 7
- Number 3
- Number 12
- Number 40
- 666
- 444
- 333
- 222
- 111
- Iniquity
- Gentleness
- Longsuffering
- Grace
- Lasciviousness
- Concupiscence
- Strife
- Covetousness
- Reproach
- Redemption
- Godliness
- Burnt offering
- Sodomite
- Heretic
- Exhort
- Equity
- Would to God
- Stiff-necked