Psalms 150:5

"Praise him with tambourine and dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and flute!"

Key Reflection

In Psalms 150:5, the psalmist encourages a vibrant and dynamic form of worship that engages both body and soul. By commanding praise "with tambourine and dancing" as well as with "stringed instruments and flute," the text captures a holistic approach to glorifying God, emphasizing the joy and exuberance found in communal worship. This lively celebration reflects the cultural context where music and dance were integral expressions of faith, reflecting a joyful response to divine praise that engages all aspects of human experience.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Praise him upon the loud cymbals -literally, “the cymbals of sound” or hearing. That is, Let there be audibly expressed joy. The allusion here is to an instrument of music that was most distinctly heard in union with other instruments. The sound of the cymbal would be most clearly audible in its accompaniment of the other instruments referred to, as the sound of cymbals, or as the “triangle” would be now. The Hebrew word rendered cymbal means a tinkling, clanging, ringing, as of metal, or of arms; then, a whirring, as of wings (compare the notes atIsaiah 18:1); then, any tinkling or clanging instrument, as a fish-spear or harpoon; then, cymbals, instruments of music.

Related Verses

More from Psalms 150

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