{"id":44668,"date":"2020-11-05T13:43:47","date_gmt":"2020-11-05T10:43:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=44668"},"modified":"2025-05-07T16:45:19","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T13:45:19","slug":"44668","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/11\/05\/44668\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does “Hosanna” Mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The <\/span>word “<\/span>Hosanna” <\/span>is <\/span>of <\/span>Hebrew <\/span>origin, <\/span>and <\/span>it <\/span>means “<\/span>Save <\/span>us” <\/span>or “<\/span>Save, <\/span>please.” <\/span>It <\/span>is <\/span>derived <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>Hebrew <\/span>phrase “<\/span>hoshiya <\/span>na,” <\/span>which <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>plea <\/span>for <\/span>deliverance <\/span>or <\/span>salvation. <\/span>The <\/span>term <\/span>first <\/span>appears <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>Bible <\/span>during <\/span>a <\/span>significant <\/span>moment <\/span>when <\/span>Jesus <\/span>entered <\/span>Jerusalem. <\/span>The <\/span>people <\/span>joyfully <\/span>welcomed <\/span>Him, <\/span>shouting “<\/span>Hosanna!” <\/span>as <\/span>they <\/span>waved <\/span>palm <\/span>branches <\/span>and <\/span>praised <\/span>God.<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>event <\/span>is <\/span>described <\/span>in <\/span>several <\/span>places <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>New <\/span>Testament, <\/span>including <\/span>in <\/span>John <\/span>12:<\/span>12-<\/span>13<\/span><\/strong>:<\/span>
“<\/span>The <\/span>next <\/span>day <\/span>the <\/span>great <\/span>crowd <\/span>that <\/span>had <\/span>come <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>festival <\/span>heard <\/span>that <\/span>Jesus <\/span>was <\/span>on <\/span>His <\/span>way <\/span>to <\/span>Jerusalem. <\/span>They <\/span>took <\/span>palm <\/span>branches <\/span>and <\/span>went <\/span>out <\/span>to <\/span>meet <\/span>Him, <\/span>shouting, ‘<\/span>Hosanna! <\/span>Blessed <\/span>is <\/span>He <\/span>who <\/span>comes <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>name <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Lord! <\/span>Blessed <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>King <\/span>of <\/span>Israel!'”<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>NIV)<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>same <\/span>scene <\/span>is <\/span>also <\/span>recorded <\/span>in <\/span>Matthew <\/span>21:<\/span>9<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>Matthew <\/span>21:<\/span>15<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>and <\/span>Mark <\/span>11:<\/span>9-<\/span>10<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why <\/span>Did <\/span>the <\/span>People <\/span>Use <\/span>the <\/span>Word “<\/span>Hosanna”?<\/span><\/h3>\n

The <\/span>question <\/span>arises: <\/span>why <\/span>did <\/span>the <\/span>people <\/span>shout “<\/span>Hosanna” <\/span>instead <\/span>of <\/span>saying <\/span>something <\/span>else, <\/span>like “<\/span>Welcome, <\/span>O <\/span>Messiah” <\/span>or “<\/span>Come, <\/span>O <\/span>Savior”? <\/span>The <\/span>reason <\/span>is <\/span>deeply <\/span>rooted <\/span>in <\/span>Jewish <\/span>tradition <\/span>and <\/span>their <\/span>expectations <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Messiah.<\/span><\/p>\n

At <\/span>the <\/span>time <\/span>of <\/span>Jesus’ <\/span>earthly <\/span>ministry, <\/span>the <\/span>Jewish <\/span>people <\/span>were <\/span>living <\/span>under <\/span>Roman <\/span>rule. <\/span>The <\/span>Roman <\/span>Empire, <\/span>under <\/span>Emperor <\/span>Caesar, <\/span>was <\/span>the <\/span>dominant <\/span>power <\/span>controlling <\/span>much <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>known <\/span>world, <\/span>including <\/span>Israel. <\/span>The <\/span>Jewish <\/span>people, <\/span>therefore, <\/span>lived <\/span>as <\/span>subjects <\/span>of <\/span>a <\/span>foreign <\/span>empire, <\/span>paying <\/span>taxes <\/span>to <\/span>Caesar <\/span>and <\/span>under <\/span>political <\/span>oppression. <\/span>As <\/span>a <\/span>result, <\/span>they <\/span>eagerly <\/span>awaited <\/span>the <\/span>arrival <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Messiah, <\/span>who <\/span>they <\/span>believed <\/span>would <\/span>deliver <\/span>them <\/span>from <\/span>this <\/span>oppressive <\/span>rule, <\/span>restore <\/span>their <\/span>kingdom, <\/span>and <\/span>establish <\/span>a <\/span>reign <\/span>of <\/span>peace <\/span>and <\/span>righteousness.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>Zechariah <\/span>14:<\/span>3<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>the <\/span>prophecy <\/span>speaks <\/span>of <\/span>a <\/span>time <\/span>when <\/span>the <\/span>Lord <\/span>will <\/span>fight <\/span>against <\/span>the <\/span>nations <\/span>on <\/span>behalf <\/span>of <\/span>Israel:<\/span>
“<\/span>Then <\/span>the <\/span>Lord <\/span>will <\/span>go <\/span>out <\/span>and <\/span>fight <\/span>against <\/span>those <\/span>nations, <\/span>as <\/span>He <\/span>fights <\/span>on <\/span>a <\/span>day <\/span>of <\/span>battle.”<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>NIV)<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>prophecy <\/span>and <\/span>others <\/span>led <\/span>the <\/span>Jewish <\/span>people <\/span>to <\/span>anticipate <\/span>a <\/span>Messiah <\/span>who <\/span>would <\/span>deliver <\/span>them <\/span>from <\/span>their <\/span>political <\/span>and <\/span>military <\/span>enemies, <\/span>including <\/span>the <\/span>Romans.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thus, <\/span>when <\/span>the <\/span>people <\/span>saw <\/span>Jesus <\/span>entering <\/span>Jerusalem, <\/span>many <\/span>of <\/span>them <\/span>believed <\/span>He <\/span>was <\/span>the <\/span>fulfillment <\/span>of <\/span>these <\/span>prophecies. <\/span>They <\/span>believed <\/span>He <\/span>was <\/span>the <\/span>Messiah <\/span>who <\/span>had <\/span>come <\/span>to <\/span>rescue <\/span>Israel <\/span>from <\/span>Roman <\/span>oppression. <\/span>That\u2019s <\/span>why <\/span>they <\/span>shouted “<\/span>Hosanna” \u2014 <\/span>they <\/span>were <\/span>calling <\/span>out <\/span>to <\/span>Jesus <\/span>to “<\/span>Save <\/span>us, <\/span>please!” <\/span>They <\/span>expected <\/span>Him <\/span>to <\/span>establish <\/span>an <\/span>earthly <\/span>kingdom <\/span>and <\/span>free <\/span>them <\/span>from <\/span>their <\/span>political <\/span>enemies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Theological <\/span>Significance <\/span>of “<\/span>Hosanna” <\/span>in <\/span>Jesus’ <\/span>Entry<\/span><\/h3>\n

The <\/span>people, <\/span>including <\/span>His <\/span>disciples, <\/span>thought <\/span>Jesus\u2019 <\/span>entry <\/span>into <\/span>Jerusalem <\/span>signified <\/span>the <\/span>beginning <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>physical <\/span>salvation <\/span>they <\/span>had <\/span>longed <\/span>for. <\/span>In <\/span>fact, <\/span>shortly <\/span>after <\/span>His <\/span>resurrection, <\/span>the <\/span>disciples <\/span>asked <\/span>Jesus <\/span>in <\/span>Acts <\/span>1:<\/span>6<\/span><\/strong>:<\/span>
“<\/span>Then <\/span>they <\/span>gathered <\/span>around <\/span>Him <\/span>and <\/span>asked <\/span>Him, ‘<\/span>Lord, <\/span>are <\/span>You <\/span>at <\/span>this <\/span>time <\/span>going <\/span>to <\/span>restore <\/span>the <\/span>kingdom <\/span>to <\/span>Israel?'”<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>NIV)<\/span><\/p>\n

They <\/span>still <\/span>expected <\/span>a <\/span>political <\/span>kingdom <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>established. <\/span>However, <\/span>Jesus’ <\/span>answer <\/span>in <\/span>Acts <\/span>1:<\/span>7-<\/span>8<\/span><\/strong> reveals <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>kingdom <\/span>He <\/span>was <\/span>establishing <\/span>was <\/span>not <\/span>of <\/span>this <\/span>world:<\/span>
“<\/span>He <\/span>said <\/span>to <\/span>them, ‘<\/span>It <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>for <\/span>you <\/span>to <\/span>know <\/span>the <\/span>times <\/span>or <\/span>dates <\/span>the <\/span>Father <\/span>has <\/span>set <\/span>by <\/span>His <\/span>own <\/span>authority. <\/span>But <\/span>you <\/span>will <\/span>receive <\/span>power <\/span>when <\/span>the <\/span>Holy <\/span>Spirit <\/span>comes <\/span>on <\/span>you; <\/span>and <\/span>you <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>My <\/span>witnesses <\/span>in <\/span>Jerusalem, <\/span>and <\/span>in <\/span>all <\/span>Judea <\/span>and <\/span>Samaria, <\/span>and <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>ends <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>earth.'”<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>NIV)<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus <\/span>came <\/span>to <\/span>bring <\/span>spiritual <\/span>salvation, <\/span>not <\/span>to <\/span>immediately <\/span>overthrow <\/span>the <\/span>Roman <\/span>Empire. <\/span>His <\/span>kingdom <\/span>was <\/span>not <\/span>a <\/span>political <\/span>one, <\/span>but <\/span>a <\/span>spiritual <\/span>one, <\/span>open <\/span>to <\/span>all <\/span>who <\/span>believe <\/span>in <\/span>Him <\/span>and <\/span>receive <\/span>salvation <\/span>through <\/span>His <\/span>death <\/span>and <\/span>resurrection.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Future <\/span>Fulfillment <\/span>of <\/span>the “<\/span>Hosanna” <\/span>Cry<\/span><\/h3>\n

While <\/span>the <\/span>people <\/span>of <\/span>Israel <\/span>were <\/span>calling <\/span>out <\/span>for <\/span>deliverance <\/span>from <\/span>political <\/span>oppression, <\/span>the <\/span>true <\/span>salvation <\/span>Jesus <\/span>offers <\/span>is <\/span>from <\/span>sin <\/span>and <\/span>eternal <\/span>death. <\/span>His <\/span>mission <\/span>was <\/span>to <\/span>bring <\/span>redemption <\/span>through <\/span>His <\/span>sacrifice <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>cross, <\/span>and <\/span>His <\/span>kingdom <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>spiritual <\/span>one <\/span>that <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>fully <\/span>realized <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>future. <\/span>The <\/span>Bible <\/span>speaks <\/span>of <\/span>a <\/span>time <\/span>when <\/span>Christ <\/span>will <\/span>return <\/span>to <\/span>establish <\/span>His <\/span>reign <\/span>on <\/span>earth, <\/span>and <\/span>at <\/span>that <\/span>time, <\/span>the <\/span>ultimate “<\/span>Hosanna” <\/span>cry <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>answered <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>physical <\/span>sense.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>Revelation <\/span>19:<\/span>11-<\/span>16<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>we <\/span>see <\/span>a <\/span>picture <\/span>of <\/span>Jesus\u2019 <\/span>return <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>conquering <\/span>King:<\/span>
“<\/span>I <\/span>saw <\/span>heaven <\/span>standing <\/span>open <\/span>and <\/span>there <\/span>before <\/span>me <\/span>was <\/span>a <\/span>white <\/span>horse, <\/span>whose <\/span>rider <\/span>is <\/span>called <\/span>Faithful <\/span>and <\/span>True. <\/span>With <\/span>justice <\/span>He <\/span>judges <\/span>and <\/span>wages <\/span>war. <\/span>His <\/span>eyes <\/span>are <\/span>like <\/span>blazing <\/span>fire, <\/span>and <\/span>on <\/span>His <\/span>head <\/span>are <\/span>many <\/span>crowns. <\/span>He <\/span>has <\/span>a <\/span>name <\/span>written <\/span>on <\/span>Him <\/span>that <\/span>no <\/span>one <\/span>knows <\/span>but <\/span>He <\/span>Himself. <\/span>He <\/span>is <\/span>dressed <\/span>in <\/span>a <\/span>robe <\/span>dipped <\/span>in <\/span>blood, <\/span>and <\/span>His <\/span>name <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>Word <\/span>of <\/span>God… <\/span>On <\/span>His <\/span>robe <\/span>and <\/span>on <\/span>His <\/span>thigh <\/span>He <\/span>has <\/span>this <\/span>name <\/span>written: <\/span>King <\/span>of <\/span>kings <\/span>and <\/span>Lord <\/span>of <\/span>lords.”<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>NIV)<\/span><\/p>\n

At <\/span>that <\/span>time, <\/span>the <\/span>true <\/span>deliverance <\/span>of <\/span>Israel <\/span>will <\/span>occur, <\/span>and <\/span>Jesus <\/span>will <\/span>fulfill <\/span>all <\/span>the <\/span>prophecies <\/span>concerning <\/span>the <\/span>Messiah\u2019s <\/span>reign. <\/span>The <\/span>people\u2019s <\/span>cry <\/span>for <\/span>salvation <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>answered <\/span>in <\/span>its <\/span>fullest <\/span>sense <\/span>when <\/span>Christ <\/span>returns <\/span>to <\/span>establish <\/span>His <\/span>1,000-<\/span>year <\/span>kingdom <\/span>of <\/span>peace <\/span>and <\/span>righteousness, <\/span>as <\/span>described <\/span>in <\/span>Revelation <\/span>20:<\/span>1-<\/span>6<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion: <\/span>The <\/span>Ultimate <\/span>Meaning <\/span>of “<\/span>Hosanna”<\/span><\/h3>\n

In <\/span>the <\/span>present <\/span>day, “<\/span>Hosanna” <\/span>serves <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>reminder <\/span>of <\/span>both <\/span>the <\/span>initial <\/span>salvation <\/span>Jesus <\/span>brought <\/span>through <\/span>His <\/span>death <\/span>and <\/span>resurrection <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>future <\/span>salvation <\/span>He <\/span>will <\/span>bring <\/span>when <\/span>He <\/span>returns <\/span>to <\/span>establish <\/span>His <\/span>kingdom. <\/span>If <\/span>you <\/span>have <\/span>not <\/span>yet <\/span>placed <\/span>your <\/span>trust <\/span>in <\/span>Christ, <\/span>the <\/span>door <\/span>of <\/span>grace <\/span>is <\/span>still <\/span>open, <\/span>and <\/span>now <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>time <\/span>to <\/span>receive <\/span>His <\/span>salvation.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>Romans <\/span>10:<\/span>9<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>the <\/span>apostle <\/span>Paul <\/span>reminds <\/span>us:<\/span>
“<\/span>If <\/span>you <\/span>declare <\/span>with <\/span>your <\/span>mouth, ‘<\/span>Jesus <\/span>is <\/span>Lord,’ <\/span>and <\/span>believe <\/span>in <\/span>your <\/span>heart <\/span>that <\/span>God <\/span>raised <\/span>Him <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>dead, <\/span>you <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>saved.”<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>NIV)<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>cry <\/span>of “<\/span>Hosanna” <\/span>is <\/span>both <\/span>a <\/span>cry <\/span>for <\/span>salvation <\/span>and <\/span>a <\/span>declaration <\/span>of <\/span>faith <\/span>in <\/span>Jesus <\/span>as <\/span>the <\/span>Savior. <\/span>Will <\/span>you <\/span>respond <\/span>to <\/span>this <\/span>call <\/span>today <\/span>and <\/span>place <\/span>your <\/span>faith <\/span>in <\/span>Christ? <\/span>If <\/span>so, <\/span>you <\/span>can <\/span>have <\/span>the <\/span>assurance <\/span>of <\/span>eternal <\/span>life <\/span>with <\/span>Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maranatha!<\/span><\/strong> (“<\/span>Come, <\/span>Lord <\/span>Jesus”)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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