Dictionaries :: Hosanna

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Hosanna:

Save now! or Save, we beseech, (Mat 21:9). This was a customary form of acclamation at the feast of Tabernacles. (Psa 118:25.)

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Hosanna:

save I pray thee; keep; preserve

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Hosanna:

ho-zan'-a (hosanna): This Greek transliteration of a Hebrew word occurs 6 times in the Gospels as the cry of the people when our Lord entered Jerusalem as the Messiah represented by Zec (9:9), and of "the children" when He cleansed the temple (Mt 21:9 bis, 15; Mr 11:9 f; Joh 12:13). In Mt 21:9 it is "Hosanna to the son of David!" followed by "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!"; in 21:15 it is also "Hosanna to the Son of David!"; in Mr 11:9 f it is "Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Blessed is the kingdom that cometh, the kingdom of our father David: Hosanna in the highest"; and in Joh 12:13 it is "Hosanna: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel." Thus in all the evangelists it is an acclamation or ascription of praise. This has raised the question whether the supposed derivation from Ps 118:25, beginning with ‘annah YHWH hoshi‘ah nna'," Save now, pray" (which is followed (118:26) by "Blessed be he that cometh (the Revised Version margin "or entereth") in the name of Yahweh") is correct. (See Thayer, HDB; Cheyne, EB; Dalman, Words of Jesus.) Various other explanations have been suggested. Thayer remarks, "It is most natural to regard the word Hosanna, as respects its form, as neither syncopated nor contracted, but the shorter Hiphil imperative with the appended enclitic" (hosha‘na'; compare Ps 86:2; Jer 31:7), for which there is Talmudic warrant. "As respects its force, we must for.... contextual reasons, assume that it had already lost its primary supplicatory sense and become an ejaculation of joy or shout of welcome." It is said to have been so used in this sense at the joyous Feast of Tabernacles, the 7th day of which came to be called "the Great Hosanna," or "Hosanna Day." But, while the word is certainly an ejaculation of praise and not one of supplication, the idea of salvation need not be excluded. As in Re 7:10 (compare 19:1), we have the acclamation, "Salvation unto God.... and unto the Lamb," so we might have the cry, "Salvation to the son of David"; and "Hosanna in the Highest," might be the equivalent of "Salvation unto our God!" He who was "coming in the name of the Lord" was the king who was bringing salvation from God to the people.

Written by W. L. Walker

King James Dictionary

Hosanna: "save Now!"; "save, I Pray!".

On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 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. (John 12:12-13)

Nave's Topical Bible

Hosanna: A Form of Jewish Acclamation

Mat 21:9, 15; Mar 11:9, 10; Jhn 12:13

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Hosanna:

in the Hebrew, means "save, we pray." The word seems to have become an utterance of praise rather than of prayer, though originally, probably, a cry for help. The people's cry at the Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mat 21:9, 15; Mar 11:9, 10; Jhn 12:13) was taken from Ps. 118, which was recited at the Feast of Tabernacles (see FEAST) in the great Hallel (Psalms 113 to 118) in responses with the priest, accompanied by the waving of palm and willow branches. "The last day of the feast"was called "the great Hosanna;" the boughs also were called "hosannas."

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Hosanna:

(save now). "Save, we pray!" the cry of the multitudes as they thronged in our Lord's triumphal procession into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:9; 21:15; Mark 11:9-10; John 12:13). The Psalm from which it was taken, the 118th, was one with which they were familiar from being accustomed to recite the 25th and 26th verses at the feast of tabernacles, forming a part of the great hallel (Psalm 113-118).