Is Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" a Christian Song?

Leonard Cohen Hallelujah

Leonard Cohen, as his name suggests, was ethnically Jewish. However, he was not a faithful adherent to the Jewish faith.

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A Canadian born and raised singer and songwriter, Cohen moved to the US in 1955. His career flourished in the 1960s, which might also have been the beginning of his time of spiritual wandering. Judaism was part of his family history. His great-grandfather was a rabbinical teacher and his maternal grandfather was a rabbi. However, in adulthood, Cohen moved away from his Judaic roots and pursued other religions. He even practiced Zen Buddhism and was ordained a Buddhist monk in 1996. Yet he also continued to consider himself Jewish, having said, “I’m not looking for a new religion. I’m quite happy with the old one, with Judaism.” His real faith appears to have been obscured by the confusion of many differing beliefs.

Cohen died in 2016, but his music lives on. One of his most popular songs is “Hallelujah” — a song with biblical references. But is Cohen’s “Hallelujah” really biblical?

Is ‘Hallelujah’ a Christian Song?

First, it’s unlikely Cohen would have written anything that would be “Christian.” He apparently had an interest in Jesus, but simply considered him a universal figure, as indicated by his words:

“I’m very fond of Jesus Christ. He may be the most beautiful guy who walked the face of this earth. Any guy who says ‘Blessed are the poor. Blessed are the meek’ has got to be a figure of unparalleled generosity and insight and madness…A man who declared himself to stand among the thieves, the prostitutes and the homeless. His position cannot be comprehended. It is an inhuman generosity. A generosity that would overthrow the world if it was embraced because nothing would weather that compassion. I’m not trying to alter the Jewish view of Jesus Christ. But to me, in spite of what I know about the history of legal Christianity, the figure of the man has touched me.” (emphasis added)

Unpacking Cohen’s Words

Many have a “fondness of Jesus,” but only repenting and trusting in Jesus brings salvation and a relationship with Him.
“Any guy who says ‘Blessed are the poor. Blessed are the meek’ has got to be a figure of unparalleled generosity [true], and insight [true], and madness [false]”. Many have said that Jesus was a liar because He claimed to be God or a lunatic because He thought He was God. However, there is a third consideration–He IS God.
Cohen said, “His position cannot be comprehended.” That is not a true statement. When one comes to Christ, the Holy Spirit is received and Jesus has promised that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things. His position IS Son of God and His position can be comprehended because God has given us the Holy Scriptures.
“I’m not trying to alter the Jewish view of Jesus Christ.” The Jewish view of Jesus Christ is that He was simply Jesus a good man and prophet. He was not the Christ, the Messiah.

Hallelujah

Now, I’ve heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don’t really care for music, do you?

Hallelujah (refrain 4x)

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips, she drew the hallelujah

Biblical References

It’s clear that Cohen’s lyrics have biblical references. He makes a direct mention of King David and indirect references to Bathsheba, Samson, Delilah, and even God (“the name”/”the holy”). While David, Bathsheba, Samson, and Delilah are biblical people, the lyrical references are not biblical accounts, and his closing lyrics are biblically untrue.

You say I took the name in vain
I don’t even know the name
But if I did, well really, what’s it to you?
There’s a blaze of light in every word
It doesn’t matter which you heard
The holy or the broken hallelujah

Hallelujah (refrain 4x)

I did my best, it wasn’t much
I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I’ll stand before the lord of song
With nothing on my tongue but hallelujah

The Bible Says…

Taking God’s name (“the name”) in vain is a sin, and it does matter if we know God and whose words we listen to (God or the world).

Exo 20:7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

Luke 9:20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Doing one’s best (“I did my best…”) will never be enough and “standing before God the lord of song with nothing… but a hallelujah” will count for nothing.

Rom 14:11 For it is written: “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”

Cohen’s Hallelujah is Not a God Honoring Song

While the music is hauntingly moving, and the word Hallelujah (which means “praise Yah”/ YHWH) is repeatedly proclaimed in the refrain (29 x), the song’s lyrics do not honor God. But there is a version of this song with lyrics that magnify God and honor His name by proclaiming the work of Jesus in redeeming mankind from sin.

Hallelujah with God-Honoring Words

Video by: Reasons for Hope* Jesus Music by Leonard Cohen; Lyrical Adaptation by Kelley Mooney

About Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and Resurrection Life

Watch the Christmas version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah

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Do not be anxious about anything. (Phil 4:6)

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must rightly remember who is in control. Our God is sovereign over all things, including COVID-19. As Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) said, “The sovereignty of God is a soft pillow on which weary people lay their heads.”

Remember also God’s gracious promise, and that it is true and He is faithful to keep it: Hebrews 13:5 …”I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” The next verse remind us of the power that comes in trusting God and how we can live: Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man [or COVID-19] shall do to me.

God loves us, and in Christ we find confidence and calm in times of uncertainty and trouble. When we trust in God, fear is replaced with faith, stress is replaced with strength, anxiety is gone and hope abounds, problems become opportunities, and we are able to receive the blessings God has for us in the midst of difficult circumstances. Turn to Jesus. He will lead you to the still waters and give rest for your troubled soul.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…Hebrews 6:19

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