αἶνος G0136
praise, commendation, approval expressed in words
This poetic and somewhat archaic noun denotes praise or commendation—approval expressed in words. In Matthew 21:16, Jesus quotes Psalm 8 to the indignant chief priests: 'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise.' In Luke 18:43, after Jesus heals the blind beggar, all the people 'gave praise to God.' The word emphasizes verbal expression of approval and honor, particularly directed toward God. It's the articulated response of wonder and gratitude, recognition of greatness spoken aloud.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Cross-linguistic glosses uniformly render as praise—Spanish 'alabanza,' French 'louange,' German preserving the Greek accusative form 'αἶνον.' Matthew 21:16 quotes the Septuagint's use of this term for the praise children offer; Luke 18:43 describes the crowd's response to healing. Both contexts involve vocal praise directed to God. The multilingual evidence supports this as expressed commendation and honor, praise articulated in words. It's the speech act of recognition and gratitude, particularly in worship contexts. 2×
AR["تَسبيحًا"]·ben["প্রশংসা"]·DE["αἶνον"]·EN["praise"]·FR["louange"]·heb["שֶׁבַח", "תְּהִלָּה"]·HI["स्तुति"]·ID["pujian"]·IT["lode"]·jav["pamuji", "pujèn"]·KO["찬양-을", "찬양을"]·PT["louvor?"]·RU["хвалу", "хвалу?"]·ES["alabanza"]·SW["sifa"]·TR["övgü"]·urd["حمد"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
αἶνος, ὁ, (αἰνέω) poetry and Ionic dialect word, tale, story, Refs 8th c.BC+; αἰνεῖν αἶνον to tell a tale, Refs 5th c.BC+: especially story with moral, fable, Refs 8th c.BC+: generally, saying, proverb, παλαιὸς αἶ.Refs 5th c.BC+; riddle, Refs __II = Attic dialect ἔπαινος, praise, NT+8th c.BC+ __III decree, resolution, τῶν ἈχαιῶνRefs; κατ᾽ αἶνον, opposed to κατὰ ψήφισμα, Refs