One of the things that’s always drawn me to the church is Praise. It’s the one thing that all Christians are called to do and agree on, and also one of the things that the Bible commands in the book of Psalm. I have been keenly analyzing different elements in the Bible and even discussed it with my bible study members and was amazed with how often the word praised is used. So, how many times is Praise mentioned in the Bible?
Praise appears 214 times in the King James Bible (Old and New Testament), but a total of 543 times throughout the Bible in all the 13 bible translations, and Praise also appears 100 times in the book of Psalms alone.
In this post, I’ll share more about Praise in the Bible, what it means to praise God, and the biblical accounts of Praise. So, keep reading.
Before you proceed, below is a video on the same topic covered on our Youtube channel:
What is Praise according to the Bible?
In the Bible, Praise (praising God) is the most important theme across the book of Psalms, but it also pervades the whole Bible scripture. Praise appears throughout the Bible from Genesis 1, and it’s believed to represent glorifying, extolling, magnifying, exalting, and thankfulness. Therefore, praising God represents calling attention to the Glory of God.
Isaiah 43:21 and Jeremiah 13:11 regard praising God as a vocation or a God-appointed calling. These verses point to the fact that God asks that His people praise him. The Bible further notes that God’s actions, like the restoration of the Israelites from exile, led to the people exalting God’s righteousness and praising Him before all the nations of the world – Isaiah 61:11. Additionally, the Bible acknowledges that God’s predestined His church. The church is required always to praise the Lord and his glorious grace.
Praising God also means declaring someone’s total alignment with the purpose of God, and because of God’s holiness and Goodness, God should be exalted at all times. Praising God is both a delight and a duty of the Christians, as outlined in Psalm 63:3-8.
What does the Bible say about Praise?
A form of worship
The Bible regards Praise as an important expression and a reminder of the fact that believers are always meant to praise God alone and when assembled with other worshipers – Hebrews 2:12.
Appreciation for God’s love and favor
Praise is also believed to be an expression of appreciation for God’s favors, both on a large scale and on a small scale. Psalm 68:4-14 and Isaiah 12:5 talk about the fact that Praise was used to thank and praise the Lord for his glorious achievements and greatness, like how God got the Children of Israel into Egypt. Praise is also the best way of giving God the highest Glory.
God’s Self-Revelation
Praise is also deemed a way of expressing and responding to the many unique ways God reveals himself to his people. The Bible further notes that Christians use Praise to thank God for the experiences of God’s deliverance and His favor – Psalm 34, Romans 7:25, Psalm 107.
Instances of Praise in the Bible
John 12:12-13 talks about the Praise Jesus received when he made His way into Jerusalem.
Genesis 29:35 says that Leah promised to praise the Lord after conceiving and bearing a son.
Exodus 15:11 talks about and praises the majestic holiness and the Glory of the Lord.
Exodus 15:2 talks about and extols the strength of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 3:24 talks about how God showed his servant His Mighty hand and His greatness
1 Samuel 2:2 praises God for his holiness
1 Chronicles 16:34 asks believers to give thanks and Praise to the Lord for his goodness and the Lord’s steadfast love.
Psalm 35:28 speaks of the righteousness of the Lord and praises the Lord all day long.
Genesis 12:15 talks about praising and commending other people who do good.
Psalm 9:1 says that David promises to praise the Lord with all his heart.
What are the three types of Praise in the Bible?
- Hallah – Boasting about God
This is the most common name and type of Praise, and it means to brag, rave, or boast about God – Psalm 63:11, Joel 2:26, and Ezra 3:10-13.
- Tehillah – Singing or lauding God
This is the other common kind of Praise for God, which means singing out loud and praising God for all He has done. Psalm 22:3, Deuteronomy 10:21.
- Zamar – Plucking a musical instrument/ String
This kind of worship involves singing out to praise the Lord for being a rock, refuge, and deliverer because He is worthy of the Praise. This type of Praise was inspired by David, the servant of God who sang to the Lord after being saved from Saul’s hand and all the enemies he faced. Psalm 18:1-3, Ephesians 5:19. This Praise is all about rejoicing in the Lord through music.
What is the highest Praise to God in the Bible?
Although it may be open to interpretation, the highest Praise to God in the Bible is Hosanna In The Highest. This is also believed to be one of the most powerful declarations of Praise, something you say when looking for salvation, and also the highest honor that is accorded to Jesus Christ. Mark 11:8-10.
Note that Hallelujah is also regarded as the highest form of Praise. Hosannah is a Hebrew word that means Praise Yahweh (Ye YAH).
Generally, the highest Praise to God represents the Praise through which only God can give Himself.
What is the main purpose of Praise according to the Bible?
Fulfillment of a calling
As mentioned in Psalm 63:3-8, praising God is a duty for all Christians who should praise and exalt the Lord for all the good that he did for the Israelites and what he continues to do for His people.
Acknowledging God’s Unique Nature
Praising God is important because it represents a unique way of appreciating God’s nature and goodness. The Psalmist encourages this with most chapters and verses featuring sermons that ask the people to Praise the Lord. This is often followed by some kind of declaration that outlines the thing that God is to be praised for. The most common of these is praising God for his Mercy and His Majesty. Psalm 117.
Symbol of God’s Majesty
The other purpose of praising God is that Praise symbolizes God’s might and majesty, especially as an appreciation of God’s power in how he created the world and all that is in it.
Praise is also deemed an important expression of the intimate relationship between individuals and God.
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
Related posts:
What does emerald symbolize in the Bible (Biblical symbolism and meaning)?
What does jewellery symbolize in the Bible? (Symbolism and Meaning)
How many times is honor mentioned in the Bible? (What does the Bible say about honor?)
How many times is singing mentioned in the Bible? (What the Bible Says about singing, Biblical references about singing + Bible verses about singing)