Strong’s Greek 134 conveys the active, vocal celebration of God’s character and works. In Scripture it consistently describes praise directed to the Lord, never to men or angels. This word assumes that God’s deeds are objective realities calling forth a fitting human response; therefore praise is not optional enthusiasm but the rightful acknowledgment of divine glory.

Usage in the New Testament

The eight occurrences fall naturally into four settings.

1. Incarnation (Luke 2:13; Luke 2:20) – From the angelic host to the Bethlehem shepherds, praise erupts at the revelation of the Savior’s birth. The shepherds returned “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20). This early instance sets the pattern: praise follows God’s self-disclosure in Jesus Christ.

2. Public Ministry (Luke 19:37) – As Jesus approaches Jerusalem, “the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen” (Luke 19:37). Praise here recognizes messianic authority and foretells the coming kingdom, even while the cross looms.

3. Early Church (Acts 2:47; Acts 3:8-9) – Luke records that the infant church was “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people” (Acts 2:47). Praise is both a corporate discipline and a powerful witness, as seen when the healed beggar “went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping and praising God” (Acts 3:8).

4. Universal and Eschatological (Romans 15:11; Revelation 19:5) – Paul cites Psalm 117 to affirm that Gentile believers fulfill the prophetic call, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles” (Romans 15:11). Revelation 19:5 extends that call to the consummation: “Praise our God, all you who serve Him and those who fear Him, small and great alike!” Thus the word spans redemptive history from Nativity to New Creation.

Connection with Old Testament Worship

The Septuagint frequently employs this verb to translate Hebrew halal. By using the same word, the New Testament writers signal continuity with Israel’s worship. The command “Praise the Lord” surfaces in Psalms of enthronement, thanksgiving, and victory. When Paul and John apply it to the multi-ethnic church, they proclaim that the covenant blessings anticipated in the Psalms are realized in Christ.

Christological Focus

Although the word technically “praises God,” its contexts are saturated with Christ. Angels praise because the Messiah is born; disciples praise as Jesus rides toward the cross; the church praises in the power of the risen Lord; heaven praises while the Lamb prepares to reign. The vocabulary of praise therefore becomes a vehicle for christological confession—acknowledging who Jesus is and what He has done.

Corporate Praise in the Early Church

Acts links praise with fellowship, teaching, breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42-47). Praise is not an isolated spiritual high but an integral element of gathered life. It fosters unity (“favor of all the people”), evangelistic impact (“the Lord added to their number daily”), and resilience under opposition (Acts 4:24-31 uses a cognate noun). These passages provide a template for contemporary congregational worship: God-centered, word-driven, Spirit-empowered.

Eschatological Praise

Revelation 19:5 situates praise at the threshold of the marriage supper of the Lamb. The imperative form underscores that eternal praise is both commanded and embraced by redeemed hearts. It also affirms the equality of “small and great alike,” foreshadowing the restoration of all things under Christ’s lordship.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Preaching: Each occurrence invites proclamation of God’s mighty acts—incarnation, redemption, healing, inclusion of the nations, ultimate victory.
• Liturgy: The biblical pattern encourages responsive readings and songs that echo explicit scriptural calls to praise.
• Pastoral Care: Like the healed man in Acts 3, personal testimony fused with praise signs and seals God’s work in individual lives.
• Missions: Romans 15:11 legitimizes targeting every people group so that global praise may ascend to the throne.

Concluding Observations

Strong’s Greek 134 traces an unbroken line of doxology from heaven to earth and back to heaven. Whether voiced by angels, shepherds, apostles, or future saints, the verb always directs attention to the Lord’s unrivaled excellence. Its limited but strategic appearances challenge believers in every generation to join the eternal chorus and to let praise shape doctrine, community, and witness.