Greek word · G5567

ψάλλω

psallō

to sing praise

Originally to pluck or twang, as with a bowstring or the strings of a harp. From there it came to mean playing a stringed instrument, and then singing to it. In the Greek Old Testament it translates Hebrew zamar, 'make music, sing praise', and is directed to God.

Appears 5 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ψάλλω

[in LXX chiefly for זָמַר pi. (Judges 5:3, Psalms 7:17, al.), also for נָגַן pi. (1 Samuel 16:16 ff, al.) ;]

1. to pull, twitch, twang (as a bowstring, etc.; Æsch., Eur., al.), hence,

2. absol.,

(a) to play a stringed instrument with the fingers (Hdt., Plat., al.);

(b) later, to sing to a harp, sing psalms (LXX); in NT, to sing a hymn, sing praise: James 5:13; with dative of person(s), Romans 15:9 (LXX), Ephesians 5:19; dative instr., 1 Corinthians 14:15.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of James 5:13

Range of meaning

Originally to pluck or twang, as with a bowstring or the strings of a harp. From there it came to mean playing a stringed instrument, and then singing to it. In the Greek Old Testament it translates Hebrew zamar, 'make music, sing praise', and is directed to God. By the NT period it means 'sing praise / sing a psalm'. Whether an instrument was still implied is debated.

Against the English

KJV and YLT 'sing psalms' can sound as if only the biblical Book of Psalms is meant. 'Sing praise(s)' (BSB, ESV, NASB, WEB, NLT) and 'sing songs of praise' (NIV) show that the singing is aimed at God, but they drop the word's link to the Psalms tradition.

How it drifted

The modern word 'psalm' means a text from the Psalter. The Greek verb names an activity, singing praise, which certainly included the Psalms but was not limited to them (compare 1 Cor 14:26, 'each has a psalm').

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX 1 Sam 16:16–23 uses it of David playing the lyre. LXX Ps 7:18 has 'I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High'. LXX Ps 97:5 (Heb 98:5) has 'sing praise to the Lord with the lyre'. In the NT: Rom 15:9 (quoting Ps 18:49), 1 Cor 14:15 ('I will sing praise with the spirit and with the mind'), Eph 5:19.

From the study of 1 Corinthians 14:15

Range of meaning

In classical Greek: to pluck or twang (a bowstring or the strings of a harp). Then to play a stringed instrument. In the Septuagint it mostly translates Hebrew zamar, 'make music, sing praise', with or without instruments. In the New Testament (Rom 15:9; 1 Cor 14:15; Eph 5:19; Jas 5:13): to sing praise to God.

Against the English

Most versions say 'sing'. YLT says 'sing psalms', which keeps the link to the Psalms but may suggest that only the biblical Psalms are meant. In 14:26 a member brings 'a psalm' (psalmos), which seems to be a new composition.

How it drifted

Little drift in ordinary English. The live question is the word's history: whether the old 'pluck strings' sense still clings to it (see debates).

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Psalms often pair psallō with praise: 'I will sing praise (psalō) to your name' (Ps 18:49 [17:50 LXX], quoted in Rom 15:9). Eph 5:19 has 'singing and making melody (psallontes) in your heart to the Lord'. Pliny the Younger (Letters 10.96, about 112 AD) reports Christians meeting to 'sing a hymn to Christ as to a god'.

From the study of Romans 15:9

Range of meaning

Originally to pluck or twang (a bowstring or the strings of an instrument). In the LXX it renders Hebrew zamar, "to make music, sing praise", often with lyre or harp. In the NT (Rom 15:9; 1 Cor 14:15; Eph 5:19; Jas 5:13) it means simply to sing praise.

Against the English

"Sing" (KJV, WEB) or "sing hymns" (BSB). "Hymns" can make a modern reader think of a hymnal. The Greek means sung praise of any kind, and here specifically the praise of a psalm.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in the Greek Psalms, e.g. LXX Ps 7:18; 9:3; 17:50; 29:5. It is the root of psalmos, "psalm".

Where it appears

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 15:9 ψαλῶ. will I sing.

    so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to Your name.”

    Here: "I will sing praise." It stands for Hebrew zamar, praise sung in worship, often with instruments. It is the word behind "psalm".

1 Corinthians · 2

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:15 ψαλῶ ψαλῶ I will sing praise

    What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.

    Here: 'I will sing praise.' The word originally meant plucking strings. By Paul's time, in Jewish and Christian use, it meant singing praise to God, the language of the Psalms.

Ephesians · 1

  1. Ephesians 5:19 ψάλλοντες making melody

    Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,

    Here: Originally 'to pluck' a string. In the Greek Old Testament it is the usual word for singing praise to God, with or without instruments. Paired with 'singing', it gives a doublet: 'singing and making music'.

James · 1

  1. James 5:13 ψαλλέτω. he should sing praises.

    Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.

    Here: 'He must sing praise', and the present tense again means keep doing it. The word comes from the Greek Bible's language for praising God in song, often the Psalms. Good spirits are to be turned into praise directed to God.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.