PRAISE!

The authors of the Bible didn’t just use the word “praise”. When the Bible was put into words we could read, “praise” is just the English word they used. In Bible times they spoke Hebrew, and that is the original language our words for “praise” come from. They had seven different words for “praise”, and each one had a different meaning.

Yadah

This word means to hold out the hand, revere, (regard with deep respect and awe) worship with extended hands. To lift hands and heart publicly. The main point here is to QUIT SITTING ON YOUR HANDS!! PUT THEM UP IN THE AIR!! If your mom asked you what you would rather have for dinner, pizza or green bean casserole, how many of you would rather have pizza? Good. Now, keep your arm up and raise your other one. Be as decided about your reverance for God as you are about that pizza!

2 Chron. 20: 19-21 and Ps 141:2

Halahl

This word means to shine or boast, to be loudly foolish….to rave in unrestrained praise!….to celebrate!! This type of praise is usually done in the assembly. It is the type of praise that David did while bringing the Ark of the Covenant up to Jerusalem. When you praise in this way, you are not worried about what people think of you…..you just want to Praise the LORD! It means to dance happily, to whirl, to jump, skip, stamp, and spring about. You loudly proclaim your praise to God -- you boast about how great He is….you GO WILD WITH PRAISE to Him!! You CELEBRATE!!

I Chron. 16:4

Tehilla

This word is close to the meaning of Halal. This kind of praise displays the Glory of the LORD! This word means High Praises; War Praises; our recognizing the awesomeness of our God. This is the praise God pours on us and demands of us. Think of God taking His shekinah glory (His divine presence; the Manifest Glory of God) and placing it on us! (Think pillar of fire, or burning bush!) When we worship in this way, we recognize His awesome glory, and God responds to us.

Ps. 22:3 “God inhabits the Tehilla of His people”

Shabak

This word was only used four times and it means “to address in a loud tone, commend, glory, triumph”.
When we say “Thank You Jesus!!” or "Amen" in a loud tone, commending Him, we are ‘shabak-ing’.

Lk 19:37-39

Todah

To offer the sacrifice of praise,
especially in the form of a choir of worshippers, choreography, and/or processions.

Ps. 50:23

Barak

To kneel down, to bless God as an act of adoration, expecting to receive something from Him.

Judges 5:2

Zamar

Singing praise and playing instruments.

Ps. 57:7 and I Chron. 15:16