Psalm 33:2 kjv
Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
Psalm 33:2 nkjv
Praise the LORD with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
Psalm 33:2 niv
Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
Psalm 33:2 esv
Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
Psalm 33:2 nlt
Praise the LORD with melodies on the lyre;
make music for him on the ten-stringed harp.
Psalm 33 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 92:1-3 | It is good to give thanks to the LORD... with the ten-stringed instrument. | Praise and music go together |
| Ps 108:2 | Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn! | Instruments used to stir worship |
| Ps 144:9 | I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will sing | Ten-stringed instrument in new songs |
| Ps 150:3-5 | Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp... | Extensive use of instruments in praise |
| 1 Chr 15:16 | David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites... | Levites appointed for musical worship |
| 1 Chr 16:4 | He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD.. | Appointed Levites to minister with instruments |
| 1 Chr 23:5 | 4,000 were gatekeepers, and 4,000 praised the LORD with instruments | Thousands devoted to musical praise |
| 2 Chr 29:25-27 | He stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps... | King Hezekiah re-establishing musical worship |
| Neh 12:27 | At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought out the Levites... | Music central to public celebrations |
| Eph 5:19 | speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs... | New Testament call to musical expression |
| Col 3:16 | Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly... as you sing psalms, hymns... | Heartfelt praise with musical forms |
| Ps 71:22 | I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God... | Praise tied to God's character and attributes |
| Ps 98:5 | Make melody to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of song! | Call for musical worship in new contexts |
| Isa 30:29 | You will have songs as in the night when a holy festival is kept... | Festive, joyful worship with song |
| Rev 5:8 | Each of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense... | Harps in heavenly worship |
| Rev 14:2-3 | I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of many waters... with harps | Heavenly scene with harps of God |
| Ps 57:7 | My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make.. | Intentional heart behind instrumental praise |
| Ps 68:25 | Singers in front, musicians behind, among them young women playing tambourines | Organized processional music |
| Ps 81:2 | Raise a song; strike the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. | Diverse instruments for worship |
| Hab 3:19 | The LORD God is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes.. | Director's note for musical accompaniment |
| Jas 5:13 | Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing | Rejoicing leads to musical praise |
| Ps 43:4 | Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy... | Instruments lead to God's presence |
| Ps 92:3 | upon the ten-stringed harp and upon the lyre, with the melody of the harp. | Emphasis on stringed instruments for worship |
| Ps 100:1-2 | Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! | Universal call to joyous worship |
Psalm 33 verses
Psalm 33 2 Meaning
Psalm 33:2 is a joyous and fervent invitation to praise and give thanks to the LORD, calling for the active and skillful use of musical instruments in worship. It emphasizes that gratitude and acclamation should be expressed with the best of human artistry, dedicated wholly to the one true God, Yahweh. The verse sets a tone for celebratory and deliberate worship, signaling that the act of giving thanks and singing praises is not a passive reception but an active, harmonious outpouring from the worshiper.
Psalm 33 2 Context
Psalm 33 is a communal psalm of praise, celebrating God's majesty, creative power, divine counsel, and providential care over all creation and humanity. It begins with an exhortation to the righteous to "shout for joy" (v. 1) and immediately follows with the call to musical praise in verse 2, setting the tone for a psalm dedicated to magnifying the LORD. This initial call to worship provides the proper response of humanity to the God whose word is powerful, whose plans are eternally secure, and who is the sovereign ruler over all nations (vv. 4-11). The instruments are not mere accompaniment but are an integral part of this enthusiastic and skilled adoration, mirroring the precise and orderly creation of God, which is then elaborated upon in the rest of the chapter.
Psalm 33 2 Word analysis
- Give thanks (הוֹדוּ, hodu): This Hebrew root means to praise, confess, or acknowledge, especially for what God has done or who He is. It often implies a public and declarative acknowledgment of divine goodness, faithfulness, and power. It's more than passive gratitude; it is an active offering of verbal and often musical acknowledgment.
- to the LORD (לַֽיהוָה, la-YHWH): Refers to Yahweh, the covenantal and personal name of God, revealing His self-existent and faithful nature. The worship is directed exclusively and personally to Him.
- with the harp (בְּכִנּוֹר, bə-khinnor): The kinnor was a lyre or harp, likely the most prominent stringed instrument in ancient Israel, often associated with joyous celebration and prophecy (1 Sam 10:5). It was David's instrument and often used in temple worship (1 Chr 25:6). Its pleasant sound suggests beauty and harmony dedicated to God.
- sing praises (זַמְּרוּ, zammeru): From the root zamar, meaning "to sing praise," "to make melody," or "to prune." It indicates making music specifically for the purpose of extolling or celebrating. It denotes musical skill employed in worship, inviting a song-like praise.
- to him (לוֹ, lo): An emphatic dative pronoun, reinforcing that the praise and music are exclusively for Yahweh. It emphasizes the direct and intentional direction of all worship.
- with the lute (בְּנֵבֶל, bə-nevel): The nevel was another type of stringed instrument, often translated as lute, psaltery, or harp. It likely differed in shape or string arrangement from the kinnor, possibly being a larger, louder instrument used more in public or temple worship. It signified another valuable musical means for worship.
- and the ten-stringed lyre (וַעֲלֵי עָשׂוֹר, wa‘ălê ‘asor): The term 'asor specifically means "ten" and often refers to a "ten-stringed instrument" or, more likely, a specific nevel or similar stringed instrument with ten strings (as seen in Ps 92:3). This detail suggests a more complete, fuller, or even perfect form of musical worship, implying richness and a full spectrum of praise, using skillfully crafted instruments to their full potential.
- Words-group analysis:
- "Give thanks... sing praises": This pairing emphasizes that worship involves both an intellectual and spiritual acknowledgment of God's deeds and attributes (thanksgiving) and a melodic, joyful expression of that acknowledgment (praise). It's a holistic act combining heart, mind, and voice.
- "with the harp... with the lute and the ten-stringed lyre": The mention of multiple instruments signifies the breadth and richness of musical worship. It indicates that all forms of artistic skill, specifically musical ones, should be dedicated to glorifying God. The instruments mentioned were central to Israelite cultic worship, signifying an appeal to established and accepted methods of sacred music. The variety also suggests a comprehensive, multi-faceted praise using different sounds and harmonies to lift up the Lord.
Psalm 33 2 Bonus section
The emphasis on specific instruments in Psalm 33:2 highlights the high value placed on musical excellence in ancient Israelite worship. The stringed instruments mentioned were central to temple rituals and personal devotion, symbolizing the heart's outpouring and emotional depth in praise. The choice of stringed instruments—which produce continuous, melodious sound—might suggest the flowing, ceaseless nature of appropriate praise for God's eternal attributes. This verse precedes the call to "sing to him a new song" (Ps 33:3), indicating that these instruments are foundational for creative, ever-renewed expressions of worship, as the worshiper continues to discover new reasons to praise the steadfast character of the LORD. The use of specific instruments also reinforces the ordered and deliberate nature of Israelite worship, contrasting it with potential chaotic or improvisational pagan rituals, subtly pointing back to the order and precision of God’s own creative work in the cosmos.
Psalm 33 2 Commentary
Psalm 33:2 provides a clear, actionable mandate for worship: an earnest and artful call to express gratitude and adoration to God using musical instruments. It reflects the understanding in ancient Israel that music was not merely entertainment but a powerful, sanctified means of approaching the divine. The mention of specific stringed instruments like the kinnor, nevel, and the "ten-stringed lyre" is a call for skillful and excellent worship, urging believers to offer their very best, using prepared and suitable means to glorify the Lord. It implies a worship that is not haphazard but thoughtful, dedicated, and communal, setting the stage for the rest of the Psalm's declaration of God's praiseworthy attributes and actions. It reminds us that our response to God’s greatness should involve our complete being and all our faculties, including artistic ones.For example, in personal devotion, it can inspire using songs or instruments as a direct expression of thanks and praise. In congregational worship, it underlines the importance of music, urging believers to sing heartily and appreciate instrumental contributions, fostering a collective, joyful noise to the Lord.