ὑμνέω (humneō)
humneō
to praise
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb humneō means to sing praises or to hymn to someone, specifically God. It appears in only four New Testament verses, creating a distinct pattern where it marks moments of communal worship and transition. In Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26, Jesus uses this word after the Last Supper to describe singing the Passover hymns with his disciples before heading to Gethsemane. These songs were likely drawn from Psalms 113–118, known as the Hallel, grounding the moment in Jewish liturgical tradition.
Its theological weight deepens in Hebrews 2:12, where Jesus declares he will "sing praises" to God among his brothers. Here, the word connects Christ’s humanity with corporate worship, showing him participating fully in the praise of the community rather than standing apart from it. The term derives from humnos, meaning a hymn or song of praise, and in the Septuagint, it often translates Hebrew words for singing or making music to the Lord.
Translators typically render humneō as "sing praises" or simply "praise," though this can miss the musical element inherent in the Greek. Unlike general terms for speaking about God’s goodness, humneō implies a structured, sung expression of worship. This specificity highlights how early Christians viewed praise not just as speech but as song—a shared act that binds believers together in reverence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word humneō points us toward a specific kind of worship that involves singing. It is not merely speaking about God, but offering structured song to Him. This distinction reminds us that praise in the Bible often includes melody and rhythm, engaging our hearts through music as well as words.
Consider how Jesus used this term after the Last Supper. He sang with His disciples before facing the cross. This shows that worship is not reserved for perfect moments but is part of our journey, even when we face difficult times ahead.
Similarly, Paul and Silas sang hymns in prison. Their song was not an escape from reality but a declaration of trust in God’s presence. When we sing praises, we join a long line of believers who have found strength in shared worship. This act connects us to Christ, who Himself praised the Father among His brothers.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having sung a hymn2×
- they were singing praises to1×
- I will sing praises1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὑμνήσαντες2×
- ὕμνουν1×
- ὑμνήσω1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 26:30
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
This verse anchors the word in the historical moment of the Last Supper, showing Jesus initiating communal song before His arrest.
-
Hebrews 2:12
saying, “I will declare your name to my brothers. Among the congregation I will sing your praise.”
Here the word highlights Christ’s identification with humanity as He joins the congregation in praising God.
-
Acts 16:25
But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
This occurrence demonstrates the power of sung praise to transform a dire situation into a testimony for others.