The Meaning Behind "Hallelujah"

FYI folks… These are wonderful renderings of a gorgeous song written by Leonard Cohen. They are almost worshipful. I am unable to decipher the meaning behind all Cohen’s words, but you can read the lyrics here.

A good reason to pray for all these musicians

From the Haiti telethon:
Justin Timberlake & Matt Morris

You may not like K.D. Lang, but this was from the opening night of the Olympics:

For clarities sake, HALLELUJAH (or Alleluia) is primarily used in the Biblical Old Testament and  defined as praise, and hail to Jehovah. “Hail to God, the strong One, the Creator and to Jehovah, the Redeemer.”  It is also connected to the overthrow of the wicked. These references can be found frequently in the Book of Psalms, many of which were written by the Psalmist, King David; who Cohen refers to in his lyric. 

The first HALLELUJAH in the New Testament  (Revelation 19.1-6) is proclaimed as a judgment on the wicked and sung and shouted by a great multitude in heaven.

Now, I don’t know if Leonard Cohen in writing the song or any of the people singing it (or for that matter those who bandy the term around in religious conversation or church meetings) were aware of that fact.  But I just thought you’d like to know.

End of class.

Scott Ross