Is Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” a Christian Song?

Leonard Cohen wrote the song “Hallelujah” with a beautiful melody that stirs the soul and warms the heart.  But is the song Hallelujah appropriate for church?  ​What do we know about the song and the artist?

Watch the Christian version of the song below.

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

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?

It’s unlikely Cohen would have written something “Christian.”  He  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?

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

About Lent and Holy Week

• What is Lent? Should I Give Up Something? (video)
• Lent: 40 Titles for 40 Days (download our “40 Titles” for Lenten devotions)
• This Time Called Lent (video)
• Prepare for Lent (video)
• How Should You Observe Lent? article
• How Should You Observe Lent? video
• Hosanna — Palm Sunday (Jesus Wept) (video)
• Maundy Thursday until Easter Sunday (video)
• Ponder the Prophecies of Jesus’ Mission (video and downloadable file)
• What If We Skipped Easter This Year?
• Walking with Jesus – Tested by the Chief Priests and Elders
• What is Maundy Thursday?  The Basin & The Towel
• What’s your Judas experience? The Pain of Betrayal
• What Do We Know about Judas? This Might Surprise You.
• Was Jesus crucified on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday?
• Thursday Crucifixion? Do these two reasons “nail” it?
• Why do we call it good [Friday]?
• Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
• How is Jesus Like a Worm? What’s the Crimson Worm? A Remez In Psalm 22?
• Who do you need to reconcile with today?
• Who Killed Jesus?
• Did Pilate Proclaim Jesus to be God?
• Was Jesus Forsaken by His Father?
• What Caused the Centurion to Say: “Surely This Was a Righteous Man” (a song from the foot of the cross)
• Sadness and Despair: The Darkest Days of All Time
• Journey to the Cross: Maundy Thursday and Good Friday
• The Days of Darkness

About Easter and Resurrection Life

• He’s back….and it changed everything!
• The Lord is Risen Indeed! Hallelujah!
• Because He Rose: The resurrection changed everything!  (video)
• Obituary of Jesus: Body Stolen or Risen? What do you say?
• What’s the Meaning of the Folded Napkin in the tomb?
• Keep Easter Alive in Your Heart: He Came Back (video)
• The Only Soul-Saver, Sin-Forgiver, Chain-Breaker, Pain-Taker, Way-Maker, Hope-Giver: Jesus
• Keep Looking Up
• Praise God, He’s Alive
• Because He Lives, I Can Face Tomorrow (video)
• Is Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” a Christian Song? (video: Easter version of Cohen’ “Hallelujah”)
• You’ll Never Walk Alone (video)
• Christian Internet Forwards? The Rest of “The Birdcage” Story?(video)
• Open Your Eyes to The Full Gospel
• Are you glad to see Jesus?

Watch the Christmas version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah