Pieter’s Rap

Even though English is a rich language with an illustrious history, when it comes to biblical understanding it often fails to bring us to a real understanding. A very good example is the word praise. When we read the psalms we only have it translated in this one word. This has actually robbed us from the rich Hebrew understanding of the variety of praise forms. Having a better understanding of the various definitions can only enhance your relationship with Jesus Christ. Praise is definitely one aspect that is very overlooked when it comes to living a victorious life in Christ. Our faith benefits greatly, but most importantly He demands and desire our daily praise. We see in Chronicles how Father God appointed priests that gave him praise and thanksgiving 24/7.

Included is 10 forms of praise ( there is more) that exists in Hebrew and we will be wise to apply these forms our live:

1) Todah – It is an extension of the hands in adoration and worship

Psalm 50:14 Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High.

Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Psalms 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Be thankful to him, and bless his name.

Praise involves confessing. Our Father requires honesty from us, as Jesus said to the woman at the well in John 4.

2) Tehilla – to sing hallal, a new song, a hymn of spontaneous praise glorifying God in song

Psalm 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 40:3 He has put a new song in my mouth — praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.

Psalm 149:1 Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and his praise in the assembly of saints.

De 20:21 He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen

3) Shevach – to adore, to adulate

Dan 2:23 I thank you, and praise you, you God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king’s matter.

Dan 4:34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.

4) Shavach – to address in a loud tone, a loud adoration, a shout, proclaiming with a loud voice (unashamed), to glory, triumph, power, a testimony of praise

Psalm 63:3 Because your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you.

Psalm 106:47 Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the Gentiles, to give thanks to your holy name, to triumph in your praise.

Psalm 145:4 One generation shall praise your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.

5) Yadah - to use, hold out the hand, to throw (a stone or arrow) at or away, to revere or worship (with extended hands, praise thankful, thanksgiving)

Psalm 33:2 Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to him with an instrument of ten strings.

Psalm 61:8 So I will sing praise to your name forever, that I may daily perform my vows.

Psalm 18:49 Therefore I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name.

6) Zamar – to touch strings or part of a musical instrument, to make music accompanied by voices

Ps 21: 13 Be exalted, Yahweh, in your strength, So we will sing and praise your power.

Ps 108:1 My heart is steadfast, God. I will sing and I will make music with my soul.

Dan 3:10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image

7) Hallal - to praise, to make a show or rave about, to glory in or boast upon, to be clamorously foolish about you adoration of God

Psalm 22:23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him, and fear him, all you offspring of Israel!

Psalm 44:8 In God we boast all day long, and praise your name forever. Selah

Psalm 63:5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise you with joyful lips.

8) Hilluwl - a sense of rejoicing, a celebration of thanksgiving for harvest, merry, praise

Leviticus 19:24 But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to the Lord.

judges 9:27 They went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod the grapes, and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

9) Guwl - to spin around, under the influence of any violent emotion

Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Psalm 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; It shall rejoice in his salvation.

Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

10) Barak - to kneel or bow, to give reverence to God as an act of adoration, implies a continual conscious giving place to God, to be atuned to him and his presence

Psalm 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Be thankful to him, and bless his name.

Psalm 95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our maker.