What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative verb lobet (praise), the masculine article den (the) and the noun Herrn (Lord).
Which one should you use?
While lobet den Herrn is liturgical and archaic, lobt den Herrn is the modern standard imperative used in contemporary speech.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form lobet den Herrn uses the -et ending, which gives it a formal, archaic or liturgical tone typical of religious texts and traditional hymns. For a formal way of expressing praise towards God, you can also use Gelobt sei der Herr, which translates to "Praised be the Lord".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of southern Germany and Austria, people may say Gelobt sei Gott (Praised be God) instead of Gelobt sei der Herr.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form lobet is the second-person plural imperative, used when addressing a group of people, such as a congregation, to command them to praise. The word Herrn is the accusative form of Herr, which is required because the Lord is the direct object of the verb lobet.
When do people say it?
Some German-speaking regions may use Preiset den Allmächtigen (Praise the Almighty) as an alternative expression.
Did you know?
- The word Herr is an 'n-declension' noun, meaning it must add an 'n' in the accusative case even though it is not plural, resulting in den Herrn.
- The word loben is used in everyday German to mean 'to praise' a child or employee for a job well done, moving the phrase from the divine to the professional sphere.
- The word Lob can be used to describe a simple compliment in a coffee shop, a stark contrast to the heavy, divine weight of the phrase lobet den Herrn.
Examples in context
- Lobet den Herrn!Praise the Lord!This example shows how to use lobet den Herrn as an exclamation.Tatoeba #2594708 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2594384 by Hybrid
- Der Pastor sagte: "Lobe den Herrn für seine großartige Gnade."The pastor said, "Praise the Lord for His amazing grace."
- Die Gemeinde jubelte "Halleluja" während des Gottesdienstes.The congregation shouted "Halleluja" during the service.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Maximilian are discussing a miracle in church.
- JuliaDas ist ein echtes Wunder.That is a real miracle.
- MaximilianJa, lobet den Herrn!Yes, praise the Lord!
- JuliaEr hat uns wirklich geholfen.He really helped us.
- MaximilianWir sollten sehr dankbar sein.We should be very grateful.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
what a great, carefully crafted answer, many thanks!