Hosanna (/hoʊˈzænə/) is anAramaicliturgical word inJudaism andChristianity. In Judaism it is a cry expressing an appeal forGod’s help.[1] In Christianity it is a cry of praise.
The wordhosanna (Latinosanna,Greekὡσαννά,hōsanná) is fromHebrewהוֹשִׁיעָה־נָּא,הוֹשִׁיעָה נָּאhôšîʿâ-nā, and especially the short formהוֹשַׁע נָּאhôšâ-nā, and related toAramaicܐܘܿܫܲܥܢܵܐ (ʾōshaʿnā) meaning 'save, rescue, savior'.[2]
Greek ὡσαννά (hōsanná) transliterates Hebrew הוֹשִׁיעָה־נָּא (hôšîʿā-nnāʾ) “save, we pray” (Psalm 118:25); originally a plea for help that later became a liturgical acclamation."Hosanna".Encyclopaedia Britannica.
In theHebrew Bible it is used only in verses such as "help" or "save, I pray" (Psalms 118:25). However, in theGospels it is used as a shout of jubilation,[3] and this has given rise to complex discussions.[4]In that context, the wordHosanna seems to be a "special kind of respect" given to the one who saves, saved, will save, or is saving now. If so Hosanna means "a special honor to the one who saves". The literal interpretation "Save, now!",[5] based onPsalm 118:25, does not fully explain the occurrence of the word.[3]
InJewish liturgy, the word is applied specifically to the Hoshana Service, a cycle of prayers from which a selection is sung each morning duringSukkot, the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles. The complete cycle is sung on the seventh day of the festival, which is calledHoshana Rabbah (הושענא רבה, "Great Hoshana").[5]: 726 In Judaism it is always used in its originalHebrew form,הושע נאHosha na orהושענאHoshana.
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Since Jesus and those welcoming him uponhis entry into Jerusalem, some would interpret the cry of "Hosanna" in its proper meaning as a cry by the people for salvation and rescue.[citation needed]
"Hosanna" many interpret as a shout of praise or adoration made in recognition of themessiahship ofJesus on hisentry into Jerusalem.[3]
It is applied in numerous verses of theNew Testament, including "Hosanna! blessed is the one who comes in the name of theLᴏʀᴅ!" (Matthew 21:9,15;Mark 11:9–10;John 12:13), which forms part of theSanctus prayer; "hosanna in the highest" (Mark 11.10); and "hosanna to the Son of David" (Matt 21:9). These quotations, however, are of words in the JewishPsalm 118. Although not used in thebook of Luke, the testimony of Jesus's entry into Jerusalem is recorded inLuke 19.
The "Hosanna Anthem",[6] based on the phraseHosanna, is a traditionalMoravian Church anthem written by BishopChristian Gregor ofHerrnhut sung onPalm Sunday and the first Sunday ofAdvent. It isantiphonal, i.e. acall-and-response song; traditionally, it is sung between the children and adult congregation, though it is not unheard of for it to be done in other ways, such as between choir and congregation, or played betweentrombone choirs.
Many songs for church use bear the title "Hosanna", including songs written by New Zealand singerBrooke Fraser Ligertwood (released on the 2007Hillsong United albumsAll of the Above and live onSaviour King and covered by the Canadian groupStarfield on their albumI Will Go); another song byPaul Baloche on his 2006 albumA Greater Song; another by gospel artistKirk Franklin, and another byAndrew Peterson on his 2008 albumResurrection Letters II. Sidney Mohede's "Hosanna (Be Lifted High)" was included onIsrael Houghton's 2011 Grammy Award-winning albumLove God, Love People. "Hosanna! Loud Hosanna" is a well-known hymn byJeanette Threlfall.
In predominantlyCatholicPhilippines, particularly inTagalog-speaking provinces, the termOsanahan refers to aprocession of the faithful with the priest from a prayer station (sometimes termedkuból orGalilea) after theblessing of the palms to the local church for the remainder of the Palm Sunday liturgy. At each stop, children dressed as angels greet the priest or image of theHumenta (Christ mounted on a donkey), then sing theantiphonHosanna filio David in Filipino or Latin, accompanied by traditional music from arondalla or brass band.[7]
The Latin phrase
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
[Glory! Hosanna in the highest!]
features in the refrain of the 1924Christmas carol "Ding Dong Merrily on High".
ArchitectFrank Lloyd Wright famously used the word in his exclamation "Hosanna! A client!" after securing a commission, breaking a long, dry spell.[8]
In the 1969 Broadway musical1776 the word is used repeatedly as part of the chorus of the song "Cool, Cool, Considerate Men".
"Hosanna" is the name of one of the songs in the 1971rock operaJesus Christ Superstar. The song covers the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem onPalm Sunday. The message that Jesus conveys in this sequence is "There is not one of you that cannot win the kingdom, / The slow, the suffering, the quick, the dead."[9] The crowd's Hosannas become progressively tinged with foreboding ("Hey JC, JC, won't you smile for me/fight for me/die for me").[9] Their adoration is seen as a dangerous civil disturbance by the high priestCaiaphas, witnessing the event with members of theSanhedrin and thePharisees. ("Tell the rabble to be quiet/We anticipate a riot/This common crowd is much too loud.").[9] There is also areprise of the chorus when Jesus is sent toKing Herod.
A. R. Rahman composed the song "Hosanna" for the 2010 Tamil movieVinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa. Here the word is used as an exclamation of joy when a man sees his beloved. TheCatholic Secular Forum (CSF) objected to this song and asked film-makers Fox Star Studios to remove it from thefinal cut of theHindi remake of the film,Ekk Deewana Tha.[10]
Paul McCartney's albumNew, released in 2013, features a song titled "Hosanna". Contextually, he uses the phrase as a cry for help in light of the world's current state of affairs.
American comediansTim & Eric use the phrase "blessed Hosanna" freely in their piece "Morning Prayer with Skott and Behr".[11]
TheSwedish Black Metal bandFuneral Mist song "Hosanna" uses the cry with the opposite intent of its Christian origins, as the band typicallydoes with biblical references.
David Gilmour references Hosanna in the song "A Single Spark" in his album,Luck and Strange, singing "Who will keep things rolling, who to sing Hosannas to".[12]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Aherne, Cornelius (1910). "Hosanna". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.).Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
The dictionary definition ofhosanna at Wiktionary
