What I Learned in Seminary: Prayer and Praise in Biblical Hebrew (July 2026)

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Greetings, friends!

This month in seminary I've been enjoying my study of biblical Hebrew, and one lesson especially encouraged my heart.

I learned about the Hebrew words tefillah (prayer, תְּפִלָּה) and tehillah (praise, תְּהִלָּה). Although they come from different Hebrew roots, their similar forms remind us of something we see throughout the Book of Psalms: prayer and praise are deeply connected.

Many of the psalms are both prayers and songs. The writers didn't merely speak their prayers—they often sang them. Their praise flowed out of their prayers, and their prayers often became songs of worship.

That reminded me that when we don't know what to do, we should pray. And sometimes, if our hearts are full, we can even sing our prayers to God. Music has a way of expressing what words alone sometimes cannot.

Christian songwriter Rich Mullins once suggested that perhaps God enjoys hearing us sing our prayers more than just speaking them. Whether we pray quietly, cry out in sorrow, or lift our voices in song, our heavenly Father hears us.

So this month I want to encourage you: keep praying, keep trusting the Lord, and every now and then, sing to Him. The Psalms repeatedly encourage God's people to "sing to the Lord a new song." May our prayers and our praise continually rise to Him with thankful hearts.

I'd love to hear from you. Have you ever found that singing a hymn or worship song became a prayer from your heart? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Much love,

Christopher




About Seminary Journey:

Seminary Journey is a monthly series where I share insights from my seminary studies in biblical Hebrew, theology, and Scripture, with the goal of encouraging believers to love God and understand His Word more deeply.


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Welcome! Thank you for taking the time to read. I enjoy hearing from fellow students of God's Word. Please feel free to share your thoughts, ask Bible questions, or offer encouragement. All comments are moderated to keep the discussion respectful and Christ-centered.

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