ὡσαννά (hōsanna)
hōsanna
Hosanna
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The word hōsanna is an exclamation that functions as both a shout of praise and a plea for deliverance. It appears only five times in the New Testament, primarily during the events surrounding Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:9-10; John 12:13). Rather than being a standard greeting or simple cheer, it carries the weight of a desperate yet hopeful cry for salvation.
Its origin lies in Hebrew, combining words that mean "save, we pray" or "give salvation." This dual nature explains why crowds used it when welcoming Jesus: they were celebrating his arrival while simultaneously asking God to act through him. In Matthew 21:9 and 15, the children cry it out, linking the shout directly to the "Son of David," a title that emphasizes royal deliverance.
Translators often keep the word as "Hosanna" because its original meaning has faded in modern English. It preserves the ancient liturgical feel of the moment, reminding readers that the crowd’s joy was intertwined with a request for divine intervention. The term bridges the gap between worship and supplication, capturing a complex emotional state where praise and need are inseparable.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hōsanna began as a simple prayer: “Save us, we pray.” Over time, it became a shout of praise, yet its heart remains a cry for help. When the crowds waved palms and shouted this word at Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, they were not just celebrating a king; they were asking God to act. It is a beautiful reminder that worship and need often walk hand in hand.
In our own lives, we too can bring our hopes and fears to God together. We do not have to separate our joy from our struggles. This word invites us to lift up our requests with confidence, trusting that the One who comes in the name of the Lord hears both our praise and our plea for deliverance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Hosanna4×
- Hosanna!2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὡσαννὰ4×
- ὡσαννά,2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 21:9
The multitudes who went in front of him, and those who followed, kept shouting, “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
This verse links the cry directly to Jesus as the 'Son of David,' framing the request for salvation within the context of royal deliverance.
-
Mark 11:10
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
Here the shout expands to include the coming kingdom, showing that the plea for help is tied to God's broader plan of restoration.
-
John 12:13
they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet him, and cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!”
John identifies Jesus specifically as the 'King of Israel,' grounding the exclamation in a clear claim to messianic authority.