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Hosanna Meaning
What does Hosanna mean? The Hebrew word hoshia-na literally means 'save, we pray.' Discover its origin in Psalm 118 and use in the Gospels.
What Does "Hosanna" Mean?
The word hosanna is a Greek transliteration (Ὡσαννά, Hōsanná) of a Hebrew expression: הוֹשִׁיעָה נָּא (hoshia-na), which literally means "save, we pray" or "save now, we beseech thee." It combines two Hebrew words:
- Yasha (יָשַׁע, Strong's H3467) — "to save, deliver, rescue"
- Na (נָּא, Strong's H4994) — a particle of entreaty: "please, I pray, now"
Over time, this plea for salvation became a liturgical cry of praise and celebration — acknowledging the one who saves.
Biblical Origin: Psalm 118
The phrase originates in Psalm 118:25–26, part of the Hallel (Psalms 113–118), sung at Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot):
"Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD."
At Sukkot, worshippers circled the altar waving palm, myrtle, and willow branches (the lulav), crying "hoshia-na" — a communal plea for God's deliverance.
Hosanna in the Gospels
By the first century, "Hosanna" had become a shout of joyful acclamation. All four Gospels record crowds using it when Jesus entered Jerusalem the week before Passover:
- Matthew 21:9, 15 — "Hosanna to the Son of David" / "Hosanna in the highest"
- Mark 11:9–10 — "Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord"
- John 12:13 — palm branches spread before Jesus
The combination of palm branches (a Sukkot symbol) and the Hallel cry (a Passover psalm) signaled the crowd's recognition of Jesus as the awaited messianic figure — the one coming "in the name of the LORD."
Frequency in the Bible
The word Hosanna appears 6 times in the New Testament — all during the Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21:9 twice and 21:15; Mark 11:9–10; John 12:13). It is never directly used in the Old Testament in its transliterated form, though its Hebrew source phrase occurs in Psalm 118:25.
What does Hosanna mean in the Bible?
The Bible addresses hosanna with deep compassion and clarity. From the Psalms to the words of Jesus, Scripture meets you in this exact feeling and offers comfort, strength, and direction. Here are the most powerful verses — each chosen because they speak directly to what you're going through.
Most Powerful Verses
Psalms 118:25
“Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.”
— Bible
Psalms 118:26
“Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.”
— Bible
Matthew 21:9
“And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”
— Bible
Matthew 21:15
“And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,”
— Bible
Mark 11:9
“And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:”
— Bible
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Mark 11:10
“Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.”
John 12:13
“Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
Zechariah 9:9
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ...”
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