📖 Biblical Definition
Tehillah (תְּהִלָּה) is the Hebrew word for praise — specifically sung, declared, public praise. It comes from the verb halal, the root of hallelujah ("praise YHWH"). The Book of Psalms is called in Hebrew Tehillim — "Praises" — though it contains many laments and petitions, because praise is the genre’s ultimate posture. Tehillah is what the saint owes God for who He is and what He has done. "My mouth shall speak the praise [tehillah] of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name" (Psalm 145:21). The redeemed in Revelation sing it endlessly (5:9-14; 19:1-7). Where God’s people are silent, creation will cry out (Luke 19:40). Open your mouth.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Hebrew "praise" — sung, declared, public.
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The Hebrew word for praise, especially the public, sung, declared kind. Derived from halal (to praise, to shine), which also gives hallelujah. The Book of Psalms in Hebrew is Tehillim — "Praises" — the worship-songbook of God's people. Tehillah is owed for who God is (His character) and what He has done (His acts).
📖 Key Scripture
Psalm 33:1 — "Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright."
Psalm 22:3 — "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises (tehillah) of Israel."
Isaiah 61:3 — "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise (tehillah) for the spirit of heaviness."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Reduced to a single song-style or genre; the comprehensive declared-praise force of tehillah gets thinned.
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"Praise music" in modern usage often means a particular genre. Hebrew tehillah is broader: anything declared aloud about God's character or works. The Psalter is full of laments, complaints, imprecations, confessions, thanksgivings — all of it tehillah, because all of it declares God truthfully.
Recover the breadth: God inhabits the praises of Israel (Ps 22:3). Where He is publicly declared, He is enthroned. The garment of praise replaces the spirit of heaviness.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew tehillah, halal.
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['Hebrew', 'H8416', 'tehillah', 'praise, song of praise']
['Hebrew', 'H1984', 'halal', 'to praise, to shine']
Usage
"Tehillah is declared, public praise."
"Hallelujah — praise YHWH."
"He inhabits the praises of Israel."