Hebrew word · H7445

רְנָנָה

renanah

triumphing

A ringing cry, a shout of joy; from the verb ranan, to cry out loudly, especially in jubilation.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. · Updated October 23, 2026

What it means

ringing cry, shout (for joy)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

Range of meaning: A ringing cry, a shout of joy; from the verb ranan, to cry out loudly, especially in jubilation.
Against the English: 'Joyful lips' (KJV, BSB, WEB) can sound like a gentle smile. NIV 'singing lips' and YLT 'singing lips' catch the sound. The Hebrew is loud, out-loud celebration.
Used elsewhere in the period: Rare noun: Job 3:7 (no ringing cry in a cursed night), Job 20:5 (the 'triumphing' of the wicked), Ps 100:2 ('come before him with renanah'). The verb ranan is used for festive shouting in worship (Ps 95:1).

Range of meaning: A rare noun from the root rnn, 'to give a ringing cry'. It means a shout of joy, a cry of jubilation, or exultation. It occurs only four times: Job 3:7 (a joyful cry at a birth), Job 20:5 ('the triumphing of the wicked', hence Strong's gloss), Ps 63:5[6] ('with lips of ringing joy') and here. The verb rānan is used of the people shouting when fire fell on the altar (Lev 9:24) and of the morning stars 'singing together' at creation (Job 38:7).
Against the English: KJV and WEB say 'singing', BSB and NIV 'joyful songs', NLT 'singing with joy'. 'Singing' is possible, since the root does include song, but it can suggest a choir or hymn. The Hebrew picture is louder and rawer: a crowd's jubilant shout.
Used elsewhere in the period: The LXX renders it agalliasis, 'exultation, leaping joy', and the Vulgate exsultatio. Both translators heard more than plain singing.

Range of meaning: A ringing cry, a shout or song of jubilation. It comes from ranan, "to give a ringing cry," a verb used of crowds rejoicing, worshippers singing, and even the morning stars (Job 38:7). It names joy made loud and public.
Against the English: KJV, WEB and NASB: "triumphing." BSB: "triumph." ESV: "exulting." NIV: "mirth." YLT: "singing." "Triumph" brings out the idea of victory. YLT keeps the sound. "Mirth" makes it sound like light amusement, which loses the volume.
Used elsewhere in the period: Job 3:7: "let no joyful cry (rənanah) come into it" (Job cursing the night he was conceived). Psalm 63:5: "with joyful lips" (sifte rənanot). Psalm 100:2: "come before him with joyful songs."

Job · 2

Job 3:7 רְנָנָ֣ה a cry of joy

Behold, may that night be barren; may no joyful voice come into it.
Job 20:5 רִנְנַ֣ת [the] cry of joy of

the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?

Here: A loud cry of joy you can hear, the shout of people celebrating a win or a harvest. It comes from the verb *ranan*, "to cry out, sing aloud." It names the noisy, public celebration of the wicked, not a quiet inner feeling.

Psalms · 2

Psalm 63:5 רְ֝נָנ֗וֹת cries of joy

My soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods; with joyful lips my mouth will praise You.

Here: Loud, ringing cries of joy, the noise of celebration rather than quiet contentment. The plural intensifies: lips full of shouts.
Psalm 100:2 בִּרְנָנָֽה׃ with cries of joy

Serve the LORD with gladness; come into His presence with joyful songs.

Here: 'With a ringing shout': a loud, high cry of jubilation, the sound of a festival crowd or a victory celebration. It may include song, but it is louder and less polished than the English word 'singing' suggests.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.