Hosanna Meaning

A Hebrew Cry Transliterated into Greek

Hosanna is a Greek transliteration — hōsanna (ὡσαννά, Strong's G5614) — of a Hebrew phrase from the Psalms. The underlying Hebrew is hoshi'ah-na (הוֹשִׁיעָה־נָּא), meaning "save now" or "save, we pray." It is a two-word compound:

• Hoshi'ah (הוֹשִׁיעָה) — imperative of yasha (יָשַׁע, Strong's H3467), "to save, deliver, rescue." The same verb that gives the names Yeshua ("YHWH saves," the Hebrew form of Jesus) and Joshua.
• Na (נָא) — a particle of entreaty, often translated "please" or "we pray." It softens an imperative into a plea rather than a command.

Combined, the cry means something like "save us, we pray!" — not a statement of praise, but a direct appeal for rescue.

The Source: Psalm 118:25

Psalm 118:25 — "Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity."

The Hebrew first line is anna YHWH hoshi'ah na — "O LORD, save now!" The word hoshi'ah-na is the central verb of that verse. Psalm 118 was one of the Hallel Psalms (Psalms 113–118) — a cluster of six psalms sung during the major Jewish feasts, especially Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles.

The psalm continues in the next verse with a line that also became part of the Hosanna acclamation: "Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the LORD" (Psalm 118:26). The two lines together — "save now… blessed is he that cometh" — formed a liturgical formula used at festivals to welcome pilgrims and appeal for God's help.

From Plea to Praise

By the first century AD, the meaning of "Hosanna" had shifted in liturgical usage. The word originated as a genuine petition ("save now!") but came to function as an acclamation of praise — shouted at festivals in much the same way modern English uses "Hallelujah" outside its literal sense.

The Gospels record the crowds shouting not only "Hosanna" but also:

• "Hosanna to the Son of David" (Matthew 21:9)
• "Hosanna in the highest" (Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:10)
• "Hosanna: Blessed [is] the King of Israel" (John 12:13)

These formulations do not always make literal sense if "Hosanna" is read strictly as "save us." They make better sense as acclamations — the word functioning as a marker of praise rather than a direct verb of request.

The Gospel Occurrences

"Hosanna" appears in all four Gospels, all at a single event — Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on what is now called Palm Sunday:

• Matthew 21:9, 15 — "Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."
• Mark 11:9–10 — "Hosanna; Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord... Hosanna in the highest."
• John 12:13 — "Hosanna: Blessed [is] the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord."

Luke's account (Luke 19:38) paraphrases the cry for his Greek-speaking audience rather than transliterating it, but preserves the Psalm 118:26 acclamation: "Blessed [be] the King that cometh in the name of the Lord."

Why This Psalm at This Moment?

The crowd's use of Psalm 118 at Jesus's entry was deliberate and loaded. Psalm 118 was the psalm appointed for Passover — the feast about to begin. Verses 25–26 were sung as pilgrims arrived at the Temple. The crowd greeting Jesus with these exact words was not improvising — they were using the Passover acclamation, applied to him as the arriving king. Matthew specifies that after the cleansing of the temple, children in the temple courts continued the cry: "the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David" (Matthew 21:15). The title "Son of David" was explicitly messianic.

Later Liturgical Use

"Hosanna" entered Christian liturgy very early. The Didache (late first or early second century) preserves a eucharistic prayer ending "Hosanna to the God of David" (Didache 10:6). The word became part of the Sanctus in Christian liturgies by the 4th century: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts… Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest."

Summary

• Hosanna — Hebrew hoshi'ah-na, "save now, we pray."
• Originally a direct plea from Psalm 118:25; by the first century, a liturgical acclamation.
• Shouted by the crowd at Jesus's entry into Jerusalem (all four Gospels).
• Rooted in the Hallel Psalms (113–118), the liturgy of Passover.
• Preserved in Christian worship from the Didache onward.