Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Halleluyah, or Alleluia, is a transliteration of the Hebrew word הַלְלוּיָהּ (Standard Halləluya, Tiberian Halləlûyāhהַלְּלוּ) Jah (Yah) (יָהּ)" (Sometimes rendered as "Praise (הַלְּלוּ) the Lord (יָהּ) or God"). It is found mainly in the book of Psalms. It has been accepted into the English language. The word is used in Judaism as part of the Hallel prayers. Alleluia is the Latin form of the word; it is used by Anglicans and Catholics in preference to Hallelujah.

For most Christians, "Hallelujah" is considered the most joyful word of praise to God, rather than an injunction to praise Him. In many denominations, the Alleluia, along with the Gloria in Excelsis Deo, is not spoken or sung in liturgy during the season of Lent, instead being replaced by a Lenten acclamation.

Halleluyah is a composite of Hallelu and Jah (YahJah is the shortened form of the name Jehovah (Yahweh), referred to as the Tetragrammaton.

The term is used 24 times in the Hebrew Bible (mainly in the book of Psalms (e.g. 111-117, 145-150), where it starts and concludes a number of Psalms) and four times in Greek transliteration in Revelation.