Psalm 147:7 kjv
Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
Psalm 147:7 nkjv
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God,
Psalm 147:7 niv
Sing to the LORD with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp.
Psalm 147:7 esv
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre!
Psalm 147:7 nlt
Sing out your thanks to the LORD;
sing praises to our God with a harp.
Psalm 147 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 33:2-3 | Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp... Sing to him a new song... | Call to use instruments and new songs in praise. |
| Psa 92:1-3 | It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love... with the lute and the harp, with the melody of the lyre. | Emphasis on thankfulness and use of specific instruments. |
| Psa 98:4-6 | Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody... | Universal call to joyful song and instrumental praise. |
| Psa 100:1-5 | Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!... Come into his presence with singing!... Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!... | Collective and joyful entry into worship with thanks. |
| Psa 149:1-3 | Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song... Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! | Expressive and instrument-accompanied praise. |
| Psa 150:3-5 | Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!... Praise him with strings and pipe!... Praise him with resounding cymbals! | Broad spectrum of instruments for praise. |
| Col 3:16 | Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly... teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. | Thanksgiving and singing as a characteristic of spiritual life. |
| Eph 5:19-20 | addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father... | Heartfelt singing and constant thankfulness. |
| Heb 13:15 | Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. | Praise as a continuous offering. |
| 1 Chr 16:7-9 | Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the Lord by Asaph and his brothers... sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! | Organized thanksgiving and singing in worship. |
| 1 Chr 23:5 | 4,000 were gatekeepers, and 4,000 praised the Lord with the instruments that I made for praise. | Large scale instrumental worship. |
| 2 Chr 29:28-30 | ...all the assembly bowed themselves and sang the song, and sounded the trumpets, until the burnt offering was finished. And when they had finished offering, the king and all who were present... bowed themselves and worshiped. And Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. | Organized worship with song and instruments, connected to sacrifice. |
| Neh 12:46 | For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. | Historical practice of organized singing and thanksgiving. |
| Jer 33:10-11 | Thus says the Lord: In this place... there shall be heard again the voice of mirth... the voice of those who sing, "Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good..." | Prophecy of future restoration characterized by thanks and song. |
| Isa 12:5-6 | Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. | Joyful singing as a response to God's mighty acts. |
| Rev 5:9-10 | And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God..." | Eternal singing of praise and redemption. |
| Rev 14:2-3 | And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters... and the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they sang a new song before the throne... | Heavenly worship involving instruments and new songs. |
| Ex 15:21 | And Miriam sang to them: "Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea." | Earliest biblical instance of communal celebratory singing. |
| Psa 69:30 | I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. | Magnifying God through song and thanksgiving. |
| Psa 105:2 | Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! | Calls for both singing praises and recounting God's deeds. |
| Phil 4:6 | do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. | Thanksgiving is central to communication with God. |
| Jonah 2:9 | But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you... | Thanksgiving as a vocal offering or sacrifice. |
Psalm 147 verses
Psalm 147 7 Meaning
Psalm 147:7 is an imperative call to worship, urging the people of God to express joyful praise and gratitude to the Lord. It commands the congregation to sing with hearts full of thanksgiving and to accompany their vocal praise with instrumental music, specifically on the lyre, directing all worship towards God. This verse encapsulates an active, celebratory response to God's benevolent actions, rooted in profound thankfulness.
Psalm 147 7 Context
Psalm 147 is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, celebrating God's power and benevolence, particularly evident in two main areas: His mighty work in creation and His provident care for His people, Israel. The psalm likely stems from the post-exilic period, reflecting the joy and gratitude of the returned exiles who experienced God's faithfulness in rebuilding Jerusalem and regathering His scattered people (Ps 147:2, 13-14). Historically, the Jews returning from Babylon faced the monumental task of restoration. This context imbues the call to praise in verse 7 with particular fervor, as it serves as a communal declaration of reliance on and worship of the God who has miraculously brought them home and sustained them. The specific instructions for praise serve as an affirmation of identity and allegiance to Yahweh, contrasting sharply with the gods of the surrounding nations who lacked such power and care for their adherents.
Psalm 147 7 Word analysis
- Sing (Hebrew:
שִׁירוּ, shiru): This is an imperative verb, a command for collective action. It refers to vocal expression, a natural human response to joy, wonder, or strong emotion. In biblical contexts, singing often implies a heartfelt and active engagement in worship, not merely passive listening. It signifies participation and proclamation of truth through melodic sound. - to the Lord (Hebrew:
לַיהוָה, la-YHWH): The preposition "to" indicates the direct object of their singing and the focus of their praise.YHWH(Yahweh) is the sacred covenant name of God, revealing His personal, relational, and self-existent nature. This emphasizes that the worship is exclusively directed towards the one true God, differentiating Him from any idols or pagan deities. - with thanksgiving (Hebrew:
בְּתוֹדָה, b'todah): The preposition "with" (בְּ, b') denotes the manner or accompanying attitude of the singing.Todahmeans thanksgiving, praise, or confession. It signifies that the singing is not merely an aesthetic performance but an expression rooted in a grateful acknowledgment of God's goodness, deeds, and character. This often implies public acknowledgment and recounting of divine acts of deliverance and provision. - make melody (Hebrew:
זַמְּרוּ, zammeru): Another imperative verb, synonymous yet distinct fromshiru.Zammeruimplies a form of melodic praise, often, though not exclusively, with instrumental accompaniment. It refers to a musical expression of praise or worship, often accompanied by plucking stringed instruments, suggesting rhythmic and structured melodic delivery. - to our God (Hebrew:
לֵאלֹהֵינוּ, le'loheinu): The preposition "to" again directs the praise.Eloheinu("our God") combinesElohim(a common Hebrew term for God, denoting His power, sovereignty, and might) with the possessive suffix "our." This emphasizes the personal and collective relationship of the community with God. He is their God, known intimately through covenant and experience, further strengthening the call for worship based on personal and shared testimony of His faithfulness. - on the lyre (Hebrew:
בְכִנּוֹר, b'kinnor): Theb'preposition means "on" or "with," specifying the instrument to be used. Thekinnorwas a prominent stringed instrument in ancient Israel, often associated with joyous praise, prophecy, and professional musicians (e.g., David). Its mention here emphasizes that praise should engage all faculties – voice, heart (thanksgiving), and instrumental skill – demonstrating dedication and joy in worship.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving: This phrase unites vocal praise with a specific heartfelt attitude – gratitude. It underscores that true worship flows from a recognition of God's benevolent actions and character. The act of singing is thus not ritualistic rote, but a deeply felt expression of appreciation for who God is and what He has done.
- make melody to our God on the lyre: This extends the call to praise beyond vocal expression, including instrumental accompaniment. It indicates a comprehensive approach to worship, utilizing various forms of artistic expression. The specific mention of "our God" reinforces the intimate and covenantal relationship that motivates such elaborate and personal praise. The use of an instrument like the lyre, associated with skill and joy, points to intentional, well-resourced worship given to God.
Psalm 147 7 Bonus section
The juxtaposition of שִׁירוּ (shiru) and זַמְּרוּ (zammeru) demonstrates Hebrew parallelism, offering slightly different shades of the same action—praise through music. While shiru broadly refers to singing, zammeru often implies singing with specific skill, perhaps more akin to performing melody. This indicates a desire for both spontaneous outburst and refined musical offering in worship. The inclusion of the kinnor (lyre) highlights that worship was not limited to unaccompanied voice but fully embraced instrumental expression, recognizing that beauty and skill could be offered back to the Creator. This reflects a holistic understanding of worship where intellect, emotion, and physical expression all play a role.
Psalm 147 7 Commentary
Psalm 147:7 issues a vibrant, two-fold command for worship, emphasizing both the "what" and the "how." The "what" is unqualified praise to the Lord; the "how" involves vocal expressions ("sing," "make melody") and instrumental accompaniment ("on the lyre"), all infused with "thanksgiving." This is not a reluctant duty, but a spontaneous, grateful outpouring from a people who have witnessed God's majestic power in the cosmos and His intimate care in their own lives. The pairing of "Lord" (Yahweh, the covenant God) and "our God" (Elohim, the mighty one who belongs to them) signifies both His transcendent power and His immanent, personal relationship with His people. Worship, therefore, is portrayed as an active, public, and wholehearted response, encompassing joy, music, and a profound sense of gratitude for God's sustaining grace and redemptive acts.