Original Word: αἶνος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: ainos
Pronunciation: AH-ee-nos
Phonetic Spelling: (ah'-ee-nos)
KJV: praise
NASB: praise
Word Origin: [apparently a primary word]

1. (properly) a story
2. praise (of God)
{used in the sense of G1868}

praise.

Apparently a prime word; properly, a story, but used in the sense of epainos; praise (of God) -- praise.

see GREEK epainos

Word Origin
of uncertain origin
Definition
praise (noun)
NASB Translation
praise (2).STRONGS NT 136: αἶνος

αἶνος, , ὁ (often used by the Greek poets);

1. a saying, a proverb.

2. praise, laudatory discourse: Matthew 21:16 (Psalm 8:3); Luke 18:43.

The Theme of Praise in the Biblical Canon

The term αἶνος (Strong’s Greek 136) gathers up the rich biblical thread of praise—verbal, musical, public, and private—directed toward the living God. Rooted in Israel’s worship and fulfilled in Messiah, it expresses the confession of God’s character, the celebration of His mighty acts, and the witness of redeemed lives.

New Testament Usage

1. Matthew 21:16. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, children proclaim Him in the Temple courts. When the authorities object, Jesus cites Psalm 8:2 (Septuagint), validating that even the smallest voices fulfill divine intention: “From the mouths of children and infants You have prepared praise.” By applying the psalm to Himself, the Lord implicitly claims deity and affirms that true praise centers on His person and saving mission.

2. Luke 18:43. At Jericho a blind man receives sight, “glorifying God. When all the people saw this, they gave praise to God.” The miracle produces an immediate verbal response that spreads through the crowd. Praise here is spontaneous, communal, and evangelistic, testifying to God’s compassion in Christ.

In both scenes αἶνος arises unbidden when God’s power intersects human need, highlighting praise as the fitting answer to grace.

Old Testament Background

αἶνος translates key Hebrew terms for praise (especially תהלה, tehillah) across the Septuagint. Notable passages include:

• Psalm 8:2—praise established from infants, anticipating Matthew 21:16.
• Psalm 33:1—“Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous.”
• Psalm 148—“Praise the LORD from the heavens.”

This background supplies a theology in which praise is both commanded and cultivated—as sacrifice (Psalm 50:23), proclamation (Psalm 96:3), and trust-filled warfare (2 Chronicles 20:22).

Christological Focus

In Matthew 21, praise intentionally converges on Jesus. The children’s cries echo the hosannas of the crowd (Matthew 21:9), revealing that Messianic recognition issues in αἶνος. The Gospels consistently present Christ as the locus of God’s redemptive acts; therefore, authentic praise is inseparable from acknowledgment of His lordship (Philippians 2:11).

Ecclesial and Liturgical Implications

αἶνος provides a biblical warrant for congregational doxology. The early church embodied this by “continually blessing God” (Acts 2:47). Corporate praise:

• Unites diverse believers around the gospel.
• Bears witness to onlookers (1 Corinthians 14:24–25).
• Anticipates the worship of the heavenly assembly (Revelation 5:9–13).

The term thus undergirds the traditional place of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in gathered worship (Ephesians 5:19).

Personal Devotion and Spiritual Formation

Scripture links praise to gratitude (Psalm 100:4), faith amid trial (Habakkuk 3:17–19), and spiritual vitality (Hebrews 13:15). By voicing God’s attributes and deeds, believers realign their perspectives, nurture joy, and resist idolatry. Daily practices—singing, spoken thanksgiving, and meditation on God’s Word—cultivate a lifestyle of αἶνος.

Missional Dimension

Luke 18:43 demonstrates how praise overflows evangelistically. When God’s works are openly celebrated, observers are drawn to consider His reality. Praise, therefore, is both doxology and proclamation, inseparable from the church’s mission “to declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Eschatological Vision

Prophetic Scripture anticipates universal αἶνος. Isaiah 42:10–12 summons islands and deserts to sing to the LORD; Revelation climaxes with every creature giving praise. Present acts of worship are thus rehearsals for the consummation when “every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11).

Summary

αἶνος in the New Testament condenses the entire biblical witness: praise springs from salvation, centers on Jesus Christ, gathers the people of God, bears testimony to the world, and foretells eternal worship. As hearts, homes, and congregations echo this praise, they participate in the grand purpose for which humanity was created—to glorify and enjoy God forever.

αινον αίνον αἶνον αίνος αίνου αίνω ainon aînonInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts

Matthew 21:16 N-AMS
GRK: θηλαζόντων κατηρτίσω αἶνον
NAS: YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF'?
KJV: sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
INT: infants you have ordained praise

Luke 18:43 N-AMS
GRK: ἰδὼν ἔδωκεν αἶνον τῷ θεῷ
NAS: saw it, they gave praise to God.
KJV: [it], gave praise unto God.
INT: having seen [it] gave praise to God

Strong's Greek 136
2 Occurrences

αἶνον — 2 Occ.