Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Bearpecs AT aol.com]

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.