Praise the Lord (greeting)

This article is about the Christian greeting phrase. For other uses, see Praise the Lord (disambiguation).

Praise the Lord is a Christian greeting phrase used in various parts of the world in English, as well as other languages.^[1][2] The salutation is derived from the Bible, where it and related phrases occurs around two hundred and fifty times (cf. Psalm 117:1–2).^[3][4] The usage of the greeting phrase is indicative of the Christian religious identity of an individual, especially in a multi-faith society such as the Indian subcontinent,^[5][6] where it is translated into languages such as the lingua franca Hindi-Urdu (Jai Masih Ki).^[7] In Poland, the Christian greeting phase "Praise the Lord" (Polish: Niech będzie pochwalony) has been used especially in the countryside to initiate conversation, especially in the pre-World War II era.^[8][2][9] It has been used among the Polish diaspora too, in places like Detroit.^[10]

In the United Methodist Church, among other Christian denominations, the "Praise the Lord" is used as a liturgical greeting during the season of Eastertide in the Christian calendar.^[11] In the Methodist worship, it serves as the response to the presider's blessing,^[12] as well as being an ejaculatory prayer during revival meetings.^[13] The Church of England, mother Church of the Anglican Communion, uses "Praise the Lord" as a call to worship too.^[14]

See also

• Christianity portal

• Shalom aleichem
• As-salamu alaykum
• Namaste

References

1. Nuthalapati, B. E. Bharathi (14 March 2017). Brother Bakht Singh: Theologian and Father of the Indian Independent Christian Church Movement. Langham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78368-253-9.
2. Brendel, Jànos; Jakóbczyk, Stanisław (1998). Culture of the time of transformation: international congress: materials, Poznań, 2-5 February 1994. WiS Publishers. p. 132. ISBN 978-83-87346-60-7. In prewar Poland , especially in the countryside , one would often hear the traditional "Praise the Lord !" ("Niech będzie pochwalony"). ... this greeting was part of a ritual intended to initiate small talk or perhaps an invitation to share a pitcher of milk and a more extended conversation.
3. Wilkin, Bob (1 November 1992). "Praise the Lord!". Grace Evangelical Society. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
4. Sanford, David (19 May 2020). "What Does it Mean to Praise God?". Christianity.com. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
5. "Motorcycle Diaries: 'Praise the Lord'". International Christian Concern. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
6. Stark, William (29 July 2015). "A Christian Greeting Turns into a Night of Terror for Christians in Southern India". Persecution. ICC. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
7. Duerksen, Darren (12 January 2015). Ecclesial Identities in a Multi-Faith Context: Jesus Truth-Gatherings (Yeshu Satsangs) among Hindus and Sikhs in Northwest India. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-62564-655-2. In Punjabi the greeting one uses is tied directly to the religion of the one being greeted. The proper greetings for Hindus is Namaste and for Muslims it's Asalam-o-Alaikum. ... saying Jai Masih ki (Praise the Lord).
8. Essays in Colorado History, Issues 5-10. Colorado Historical Society. 1987. p. 101. "Niech będzie pochwalony Jezus Chrystus" in Polish, a common verbal and written greeting among the Polish peasantry.
9. Silverman, Deborah Anders (2000). Polish-American Folklore. University of Illinois Press. p. 94. ISBN 978-0-252-02569-3. Another informant whose family used the "niece bedzie Pochwalony Jezuz Chrystus" greeting told me it was given because it was customary to do so. "The [people] had respect for the Lord. They were Christians, you know, and they'd come to your door, whether it was a man or a woman or what. ... But when that man came to the door, 'Niech bedzie pochwalony,' he'd always take his hat off."
10. Wytrwal, Joseph Anthony (1992). The Polish Experience in Detroit. Endurance Press. p. 27. The greetings "Niech Bedzie Pochwalony Jezus Chrystus" and "Bog Zaplac" were encouraged by both priests and sisters.
11. "Greetings and Opening Prayers for Various Occasions". GBOD. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
12. "An Order of Sunday Worship Using the Basic Pattern". Discipleship Ministries. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
13. "Shouting Methodists". JFLT. 20 January 2017. Archived from the original on 4 April 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
14. "A Gathering and Greeting: Greetings, calls to worship and other introductions". Society of Archbishop Justus. Retrieved 3 June 2021.