Original Word: רַנֵּן
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: rannen
Pronunciation: rah-nen
Phonetic Spelling: (ran-nane')
KJV: singing
Word Origin: [intensive from H7442 (רָנַן - sing for joy)]

1. shouting (for joy)

singing

Intensive from ranan; shouting (for joy) -- singing.

see HEBREW ranan

Word Origin
the same as ranan, q.v.

Root and Semantic Range

רַנֵּן (Strong’s 7444) is an adjectival or substantival off-shoot of the verb רָנַן (Strong’s 7442, “to cry aloud, shout for joy”). Though the exact form רַנֵּן never appears in the Old Testament text, its meaning—“resonant, ringing, resounding”—is inseparable from a family of words that fill Scripture with the sound of jubilant praise (e.g., רָנַן, רִנָּה, תְּרוּעָה). It evokes the idea of a sustained, vibrant tone that penetrates the air when God’s people lift their voices in triumph, thanksgiving, or intercession.

Usage in Israel’s Worship Life

1. Festival Gatherings. The Mosaic calendar ordained a rhythm of feasts in which “joyful shouting” (רָנַן) was expected. Psalm 81:1 reflects this Festal note: “Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob”. The absent yet implied adjective רַנֵּן captures the quality of sound the congregation was to generate—ringing, unrestrained, and communal.
2. Levitical Choirs. David’s liturgical reforms aimed at creating a constant atmosphere of רננה. “David told the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as singers to lift up their voices with rejoicing” (1 Chronicles 15:16). Instruments supplied harmony, but it was the “resonant” vocal line that carried the theology of praise.
3. Temple Dedication. When Solomon finished the house of the LORD, trumpeters and singers were “as one, to make one sound” (2 Chronicles 5:13). The event illustrates what a רַנֵּן sound accomplishes: it unites worshipers, magnifies divine glory, and invites the cloud of God’s presence.

Covenantal and Prophetic Significance

A resonant cry often marks pivotal covenant moments:
• Deliverance: “Shout for joy, all you upright in heart” (Psalm 32:11).
• Restoration: “Cry out and sing, O citizen of Zion, for great among you is the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 12:6).
• Eschatological Hope: Zechariah 9:9 foretells the Messiah’s arrival with a call to “Rejoice greatly… shout in triumph,” a prophecy fulfilled as multitudes acclaimed Jesus in Jerusalem (Matthew 21:9). The yet-unused רַנֵּן still underlies the prophetic summons, emphasizing the quality of praise suitable for the King.

Theology of Sound

Scripture treats sound as more than acoustics; it is a vehicle of covenant communication. A “resonant” cry:
• Asserts God’s rulership (Psalm 47:1–2).
• Emboldens the faithful in battle (2 Chronicles 13:14-15).
• Anticipates cosmic renewal: “The mountains and hills will burst into song before you” (Isaiah 55:12).

New Testament Echoes

While Greek vocabulary shifts, the concept of resonant praise carries into the New Covenant community. Paul exhorts: “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19), urging believers to embody the ancient רַנֵּן spirit. The heavenly multitude in Revelation 19:6 models the ultimate fulfillment—“like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder”—an everlasting, resonant chorus.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

• Corporate Worship: Encourage full-voiced congregational singing; volume is not vanity but a biblical expression of unity and conviction.
• Personal Devotion: Vocal praise can shatter isolation and unbelief (Acts 16:25).
• Missions: Joyful, resonant proclamation testifies powerfully across cultural lines (Psalm 96:1-3).
• Counseling: Teaching penitents to “shout for joy” after forgiveness (Psalm 32) anchors assurance in audible confession.

Christological Perspective

Jesus embodies the theme of resonant praise. His entry into Jerusalem releases a roar that prophets had foreseen; His resurrection inspires disciples to return to the temple “continually in the temple, blessing God” (Luke 24:53). The risen Christ remains the center of every רַנֵּן outburst, turning mere sound into gospel proclamation.

Summary

Even without direct textual occurrences, רַנֵּן supplies a theological lens through which the Bible’s calls to shout, sing, and rejoice gain depth. It points to a praise that is vibrant, communal, and theologically rich—an audible testimony that the LORD reigns, saves, and will consummate His kingdom in a symphony of everlasting joy.

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts