HOSHIANA - PLEASE, SAVE ME!

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.

Matthew 21:9 King James Version (KJV)

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INTRODUCTION

Hosanna is by many considered a shout of praise. But the original Hebrew and Aramaic word Hoshi’ana expresses a deep cry for help. It is recognition of the need for the Messiah who can save. Our Lord and Savior Yeshua.

HOSANNA, GIVE HIM PRAISE

There He was, the long-awaited Messiah riding on a colt. Humbly, He entered the Holy City of Jerusalem. No grand apparel and no prepared fanfare made through His own hands. And yet, a crowd gathered. They were shouting Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.

They were shouting praise to the Lord above all Lords and decreeing that He is the Messiah, they were waiting upon. Hosanna, by many, is considered a shout, an exclamation of praise. (2)

HOSHIANA (HOSHI'ANA), GOD, PLEASE SAVE ME

But what many believe to be merely a shout of praise in Hebrew holds a much deeper meaning. Hoshiana (Hoshi’ana) is a deep cry for salvation. “Hoshi’na, save me!”, they cried that day. It was not just a jubilant praise, but a cry for help. It was a cry for help to the one who can save.

HOSHIANA IN THE HIGHEST

The multitudes that gathered that day realized they needed God to deliver them. They realized the condition they were in and cried out to the one who was sent to deliver them. They cried out to the Highest, hoping their cry would be heard in the throne room of God itself.

USAGE OF HOSSANA IN THE BIBLE

Hoshi’ana is Hebrew and Aramaic, and means “save us, we beseech thee.” It is most widely used in the New Testament, but has made its appearance in the Old Testament too:

• In Psalms 118:25 as an entreaty. It speaks of the Lord’s power to save and deliver

• in Psalm 86:2 and Jeremiah 31:7, it means to save. It describes the Lord turning Israel’s lament into joy

YESHUA, OUR DELIVERER AND SAVIOR

For all of us today, Hosanna is a great reminder of who our true Savior is. It is not our Pastor, mentor, father, or mother. It is not some celebrity, nor a leader. Our true Savior is and will always be the Lord above all Lords. There is no other. And to Him we should and can turn to and cry out, “Hoshi’ana, we beseech thee!”

CONCLUSION

Hossana is the transliterated English word of the Hebrew and Aramaic expression Hosni’ana. An expression that is usually associated with a shout of praise is actually a deep cry for help. It is mostly used in the New Testament, but has also been used in Psalm 118, Psalm 86, and Jeremiah 31. It is a stark reminder to all who our real Savior is. If we cry out to Him, Hoshi’ana, He will come to our aid.

Application

Let us contemplate our Yeshua as our Savior this week. Let Him reveal to us what needs to be revealed.

SOURCES

1. Image created via canva.com.

2. Vocabulary. Hosanna. Available at https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/hosanna

3. Charlotte Machado. Hosanna Meaning in Hebrew: What Does This Word Mean? March 24th 2024. Available at https://firmisrael.org/learn/hosanna-meaning-in-hebrew-what-does-this-word-mean/