Lexical Summary ainos: Praise, hymn Original Word: αἶνος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance praise. Apparently a prime word; properly, a story, but used in the sense of epainos; praise (of God) -- praise. see GREEK epainos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin Definition praise (noun) NASB Translation praise (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 136: αἶνοςαἶνος, , ὁ (often used by the Greek poets); 1. a saying, a proverb. 2. praise, laudatory discourse: Matthew 21:16 (Psalm 8:3); Luke 18:43. The term αἶνος (Strong’s Greek 136) gathers up the rich biblical thread of praise—verbal, musical, public, and private—directed toward the living God. Rooted in Israel’s worship and fulfilled in Messiah, it expresses the confession of God’s character, the celebration of His mighty acts, and the witness of redeemed lives. New Testament Usage 1. Matthew 21:16. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, children proclaim Him in the Temple courts. When the authorities object, Jesus cites Psalm 8:2 (Septuagint), validating that even the smallest voices fulfill divine intention: “From the mouths of children and infants You have prepared praise.” By applying the psalm to Himself, the Lord implicitly claims deity and affirms that true praise centers on His person and saving mission. 2. Luke 18:43. At Jericho a blind man receives sight, “glorifying God. When all the people saw this, they gave praise to God.” The miracle produces an immediate verbal response that spreads through the crowd. Praise here is spontaneous, communal, and evangelistic, testifying to God’s compassion in Christ. In both scenes αἶνος arises unbidden when God’s power intersects human need, highlighting praise as the fitting answer to grace. Old Testament Background αἶνος translates key Hebrew terms for praise (especially תהלה, tehillah) across the Septuagint. Notable passages include: • Psalm 8:2—praise established from infants, anticipating Matthew 21:16. This background supplies a theology in which praise is both commanded and cultivated—as sacrifice (Psalm 50:23), proclamation (Psalm 96:3), and trust-filled warfare (2 Chronicles 20:22). Christological Focus In Matthew 21, praise intentionally converges on Jesus. The children’s cries echo the hosannas of the crowd (Matthew 21:9), revealing that Messianic recognition issues in αἶνος. The Gospels consistently present Christ as the locus of God’s redemptive acts; therefore, authentic praise is inseparable from acknowledgment of His lordship (Philippians 2:11). Ecclesial and Liturgical Implications αἶνος provides a biblical warrant for congregational doxology. The early church embodied this by “continually blessing God” (Acts 2:47). Corporate praise: • Unites diverse believers around the gospel. The term thus undergirds the traditional place of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in gathered worship (Ephesians 5:19). Personal Devotion and Spiritual Formation Scripture links praise to gratitude (Psalm 100:4), faith amid trial (Habakkuk 3:17–19), and spiritual vitality (Hebrews 13:15). By voicing God’s attributes and deeds, believers realign their perspectives, nurture joy, and resist idolatry. Daily practices—singing, spoken thanksgiving, and meditation on God’s Word—cultivate a lifestyle of αἶνος. Missional Dimension Luke 18:43 demonstrates how praise overflows evangelistically. When God’s works are openly celebrated, observers are drawn to consider His reality. Praise, therefore, is both doxology and proclamation, inseparable from the church’s mission “to declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). Eschatological Vision Prophetic Scripture anticipates universal αἶνος. Isaiah 42:10–12 summons islands and deserts to sing to the LORD; Revelation climaxes with every creature giving praise. Present acts of worship are thus rehearsals for the consummation when “every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11). Summary αἶνος in the New Testament condenses the entire biblical witness: praise springs from salvation, centers on Jesus Christ, gathers the people of God, bears testimony to the world, and foretells eternal worship. As hearts, homes, and congregations echo this praise, they participate in the grand purpose for which humanity was created—to glorify and enjoy God forever. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 21:16 N-AMSGRK: θηλαζόντων κατηρτίσω αἶνον NAS: YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF'? KJV: sucklings thou hast perfected praise? INT: infants you have ordained praise Luke 18:43 N-AMS |
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