Hebrew – Worship

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The 10 most prominent words used for worship in the Hebrew Scriptures are listed below in detail, there are a further 58 words in the entire list!

Barak - בָּרַךְ

330 occurrences, phonetic, ba-rach: to bless, kneel, bow giving reverence to God as an act of adoration. Being continually conscious of giving regard to God, being attuned to Him and His presence;

  • Psalm 28:9 - Save Your people, bless Your possession, shepherd them, and carry them forever.
  • Psalm 67:6 - The earth has produced its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.
  • Psalm 95:6 - Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

Shachah - שָׁחָה

172 occurrences, phonetic, sha-kha: to bow down/prostrate in homage or loyalty to God, to fall down face to the ground;

  • Psalm 5:7 But I enter Your house by the abundance of Your faithful love; I bow down toward Your holy temple in reverential awe of You.
  • Psalm 86:9 All the nations You have made will come and bow down before You, Lord, and will honour Your name.
  • Psalm 95:6 Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

Halal - בָּרַךְ

165 occurrences, phonetic, ha-lal: to shine, praise, make a show or rave about, to glory in or boast upon, to be clamorously foolish about your adoration of God (as in Hallelujah); 

  • Psalm 34:2 - I will boast in the LORD; the humble will hear and be glad.
  • Psalm 35:18 - I will praise You in the great congregation; I will exalt You among many people.
  • Psalm 84:4 - How happy are those who reside in Your house, who praise You continually. Selah

Yadah - יָדָה    

114 occurrences, phonetic, ya-da: to throw or cast away, to revere or worship with extended hands, praise thankful, thanksgiving;

  • Psalm 7:17I will thank the LORD for his righteousness; I will sing about the name of the LORD Most High.
  • Psalm 100:4Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless His name. 
  • Psalm 107:8 - Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness,
    And for His wonders to the sons of men!

Shuwr - שִׁיר

87 occurrences, phonetic, shu-er: to sing, a group of strolling singers;

  • Psalm 13:6 - I will sing to the LORD because He has treated me generously.
  • Psalm 33:3Sing a new song to Him; play skilfully on the strings, with a joyful  shout.
  • Psalm 149:1 Hallelujah! Sing to the LORD a new song, His praise in the assembly of the godly.

Tehillah - תְּהִלָּה 

57 occurrences, phonetic, teh-hil-la: song of praise, to sing a new song, a hymn of spontaneous praise glorifying God from an overflowing of the heart; 

  • Psalm 34:1 - I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
  • Psalm 40:3 - He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
    Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD.
  • Psalm 51:15 - O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise.

Ranan - רָנַן

52 occurrences, phonetic, ra-nan: to overcome, to give a ringing cry, emit a harsh, shrill or grating sound, to shout aloud for joy!

  • Psalm 5:11 - But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them shout for joy forever. May You shelter them, and may those who love Your name boast about You.
  • Psalm 71:23 - My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You because You have redeemed me.
  • Psalm 98:4 - Shout to the LORD, all the earth; be jubilant, shout for joy, and sing.

Zamar - זָמַר    

45 occurrences; phonetic, za-mar: to make music by playing a stringed instrument, and also singing in celebration and praising God;

  • Psalm 9:2 - I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
  • Psalm 21:13 - Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength; We will sing and praise Your power.
  • Psalm 57:9 - I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the [fn]nations.

Guwl - גִּיל     

44 occurrences,  phonetic, gho-ol: to rejoice, tremble, spin round, under the influence of violent emotion;

  • Psalm 2:11 - Serve the LORD with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling.
  • Psalm 35:9 - Then I will rejoice in the LORD; I will delight in His deliverance.
  • Psalm 118:24 - This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Todah - תּוֹדָה   

32 occurrences, phonetic, to-da: an extension of the hand, adoration, a choir of worshipers, confession, sacrifice of praise, thanksgiving;

  • Psalm 69:30 -I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving.
  • Psalm 95:2 - Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with [fn]psalms.
  • Psalm 100:4 - Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.