Words & expressions
Hosanna
A plea meaning “Save, please,” which also became a shout of praise and welcome.
What it means
A plea meaning “Save, please,” which also became a shout of praise and welcome.
Psalm 118 uses the underlying Hebrew appeal within a festival song. By the first century the expression could carry both request and celebration.
How it appears in the Bible
Crowds shout it when Jesus enters Jerusalem, joining a prayer for rescue with royal and messianic expectation.