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Another Hebrew word in which the He sound figures prominently, and
which is recognizable even to many who do not know Hebrew, is “Hallelu-Jah.”
This is often translated “Praise the Lord.” The “Jah” part, taken from the name
“Jehovah” and ending with a He, refers to the Lord. (Ibid. 6880) The first part of
the compound comes from the Hebrew verb halal, which can mean “to praise”
or “to celebrate.” This calls to mind the little Egyptian hieroglyph, mentioned
above, that stands for someone calling out with arms upraised.
The sound of He – the pure, unlimited breath – lies at the heart of the
Lord’s name “Jehovah,” which means “He Who is, and Who was, and Who
is to come,” which is because “the past and the future in Him are present.
Consequently He is eternal independently of time, and infinite independently
of place.” (Apocalypse Revealed 13:2)
And so the He is the sound of the infinite; a fitting sound with which to
hail the Lord: “Hallelu-Jah.”
The Rev. Stephen D. Cole was ordained in 1977 and into the
second degree in 1978. He has been a General Church minister in
Ohio, Detroit and San Diego. He is Assistant Professor of Religion
and Philosophy in Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, and of
Theology in the Theological School. He is also head of the Religion
Major in the College. He and his wife, Jennifer (Smith), live in Bryn
Athyn. Contact: [email protected]
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