2006-12-12 19:52:49 · 5 answers · asked by young_scholar2005 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It has lots of meanings, let me give you it's origin with it:
The Hebrew for salvum fac or serva nunc was hoshi'a na. This was repeated so frequently that it became abbreviated into hosanna; the seventh day of the feast was called the Great Hosanna; and the palm-branches of willow, myrtles, etc., received the name of hosannas.
The Feast of Tabernacles was a season of great rejoicing, and it was a saying amongst the Jews that those who had not witnessed it did not know what joy meant. In this way hosanna became associated with rejoicing.
...On these occasions hosanna was, doubtless, exclaimed in tones of joy and triumph. Like all acclamations in frequent use it lost its primary meaning, and became a kind of vivat or hurrah of joy, triumph, and exultation. It is clear from the Gospels that it was in this manner it was uttered by the crowd on Palm Sunday. St. Luke has instead of hosanna in excelsis "peace in heaven and glory on high".
2006-12-12 20:01:22 · answer #1 · answered by lieselot h 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It speaks of praises to God and comes from the Hebrew Hoshanah. The Hoshanah Rabbah are prayers given at the fall harvest festival of Sukkot in which a booth is made with an open ceiling twined with vines and decorated with fruits of the fall harvest. The praises are for a benevolent God who brings fertilizing rains and creates the environment in which we can grow food and have plenty.
2006-12-12 20:05:20 · answer #2 · answered by SympatheticEar 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Means : Save us
2006-12-12 19:55:11 · answer #3 · answered by P 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Essentially a cry of praise to God.
2006-12-12 19:56:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hosanna comes from hosha (or hoshiya) na and means: Save us or rescue us, please. Adding in "ya" makes it God save us, please.
2006-12-12 20:03:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋