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Hosanna

Culture & Society

âš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)

Hosanna is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew phrase meaning 'save, we pray,' functioning as an acclamation of praise that appears six times in the Gospels, particularly during the entry into Jerusalem and the temple cleansing.

What is the meaning of Hosanna in the Bible?

Hosanna is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew phrase meaning 'save, we pray,' functioning as an acclamation of praise that appears six times in the Gospels, particularly during the entry into Jerusalem and the temple cleansing.

SIGNIFICANCE

Recognizing the literal meaning of hosanna as a plea for salvation illuminates the crowd's complex reception of Jesus, highlighting both their immediate worship and their deeper political or spiritual expectation for divine deliverance.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Hosanna. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
  • Why did the biblical author mention Hosanna in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Hosanna clarify?

Source Attribution & Provenance

Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.

How to Cite This Entry

"Hosanna." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/hosanna/
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