Commentators explain that the crowd's cry, "Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord," is a direct quote from Psalm 118:26. While "Hosanna" literally means "save now," it had become a common shout of praise. This phrase was typically used to welcome pilgrims to Jerusalem for the Passover feast, but Mark shows it being applied uniquely to Jesus as the Messianic King.