A Biblical Dictonary meaning of Praise

I know this is wordy, but this helps define praise.'s
Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, edited for blog points
Praise [N] [T]
Praise, mostly of God, is a frequent theme in the psalms, the Hebrew title of which is "Praises." Yet praise is a theme that pervades the whole of Scripture. Genesis 1 is indirect praise; direct praise is found in hymns scattered throughout the books of Exodus, 2 Samuel, Isaiah, Daniel, Ephesians, and Revelation. Words that are often used as synonyms or in parallel with "praise, " and so help point to its meaning, are "bless, " "exalt, " "extol, " "glorify, " "magnify, " "thank, " and "confess." To praise God is to call attention to his glory. In the light of this calling to praise God, the oft-declared intention, "I will praise you, O God, " and the exhortations for others to praise God take on additional meaning. In giving oneself to praise the worshiper declares his or her total alignment with God's purposes. The environment of those gathering for worship, judged by such admonitions, was one of lavish praise to God. Since God is holy and fully good, God is not to be faulted, as some do, for requiring praise of himself. Praise is fitting for what is the highest good, God himself. Praise is both a duty and a delight (Psalm 63:3-8).
Reasons for Praising God. In addition to being the fulfillment of a calling, praise is prompted by other considerations, chief of which is the unique nature of God (1 Chron 29:10-13). One genre of the psalms, the hymns, is characterized by an initial summons, such as "Praise the Lord, " which is followed by a declaration of praise, introduced by the word "for, " which lists the grounds for offering praise, often God's majesty and mercy. The shortest psalm (117), a hymn, offers a double reason for praise: God's merciful kindness (loyal love) is great, and his truth endures forever. Other hymns point out that God is good (Ezra 3:10-11; Psalm 100:5; 135:3), or that his ordinances are just (Psalm 119:164), that he remembers his covenant (Psalm 105:7-8), that his love is enduring (Ps. 136), or that he is incomparable (Psalm 71:19). The biblical examples of praise to God, apart from citing his attributes and role, point to God's favors, usually those on a large scale in behalf of Israel. A hymn in the Isaiah collection exhorts, "Sing praise to the Lord for his glorious achievement" (Isa 12:5; nab ). Exhortations to praise are sometimes followed by a catalogue of God's actions in Israel's behalf (Neh 9:5; Psalm 68:4-14). God's most spectacular action involves the incarnation of Jesus, an event heralded in praises by angels in the heavens and shepherds returning to their fields: "Glory to God in the highest" (Luke 2:14,20). Praise is the legitimate response to God's self-revelation. Personal experiences of God's deliverance and favor also elicit praise (Psalm 34; 102:18; 107; cf. Dan 2:20-23; Rom 7:25; the healed paralytic, Luke 5:25; Zechariah, Luke 1:68; the response at Nain, Luke 7:16; and Jesus himself, Matt 11:25).
The Bible speaks also of persons praising or commending others (Gen 12:15; 49:8; Prov 31:28, 30; 2 Cor 8:18). However, it counsels, even warns, about the giving and receiving of praise lest it be for the wrong reasons or be misconstrued (Psalm 49:18; Prov 12:8; 27:2, 21; John 5:44).
Unquestionably the Book of the Psalms is centerpiece for any discussion about praise. In it the believer's vocation to praise is wonderfully modeled, so that even laments (one-third of all the psalms) contain elements of praise. As a book of praises, the psalms build to a remarkable crescendo of praise (Pss. 145-150), in which all creatures are summoned to incessant praise of God, as are the stars and planets in the heavens, and even the angels.