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  • From: Bearpecs AT aol.com
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] "Hosanna in the highest" in Hebrew?
  • Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 22:46:14 EST


Wouldn't it make sense to think that NT use of hosanna appropriately reflects
the cry of "hosha` na" addressed to someone considered to be the messiah by
the callers? What doesn't make sense is "in the highest", which seems to
indicate that the expression "hosha` na" was misunderstood as a call of
praise
rather than petition.
I wonder if Greek-speaking Jews were using it in the Hallel (psalms of
praise) as part of the liturgy, and just didn't understand the literal
meaning. (I
suppose many English-speaking Jews today would make a similar mistake.) They
then simple used it to express praise, and added "in the highest" to make it
superlative.




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