📖 Biblical Definition
The prayer-shout that begs God to save and praises Him as the saving King. Hebrew hoshia-na (literally save now, save, we pray), from the same root as yasha (to save) that gives us Yeshua / Jesus. The phrase originates in Psalm 118:25 (Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity), part of the Hallel (Psalms 113-118) sung at Jewish festivals especially Passover. The crowds hailed Christ with hosanna at the triumphal entry (Matt 21:9, Mark 11:9, John 12:13): Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. The shout was simultaneously prayer (save now) and acclamation (the King is here). The same crowd that cried hosanna on Sunday cried crucify him by Friday — one of the sobering biblical pictures of crowd fickleness. The Christian liturgy still uses hosanna, particularly in the Sanctus of the communion service, joining the church across centuries to the cry of the Passover crowd.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
An exclamation of praise to God, or an invocation of blessings.
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An exclamation used by the Jews at the feast of tabernacles, signifying save, we beseech you. Also, a hymn of praise sung in honor of the Messiah.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 21:9 — "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!"
Mark 11:9 — "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"
John 12:13 — "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"
Psalms 118:25 — "Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Reduced to a cheery Palm Sunday chorus, stripped of its plea for rescue.
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Children wave palms and sing Hosanna without learning the word means save us now. The cry has been domesticated into pageantry. The Hosanna crowds wanted political deliverance and missed spiritual salvation. The word still pleads for rescue from sin, not Rome.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew yasha (to save) joined with na (please, now) becomes a saving plea.
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H3467 — yasha — to save, to deliver
G5614 — hosanna — save, we pray, an acclamation of praise
Usage
"Hosanna is a prayer disguised as a shout."
"You cannot sing Hosanna without admitting you need saving."
"The Palm Sunday word still means save us now."