“I beg you to save!”

Hosanna is a word used in some songs of praise, particularly on Palm Sunday. 

It is of Hebrew origin and was part of the shout of the multitudes as Jesus entered Jerusalem: “Hosanna to the Son of David! 

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:9).


Hosanna is often thought of as a declaration of praise, similar to hallelujah, but it is actually a plea for salvation. 

The Hebrew root words are found in Psalm 118:25, which says, “Save us, we pray, O LORD!” (ESV).

 The Hebrew words yasha (“deliver, save”) and anna (“beg, beseech”) combine to form the word that, in English, is “hosanna.”

 Literally, hosanna means “I beg you to save!” or “please deliver us!”