Psalms 150:4

Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

Praise {H1984} him with the timbrel {H8596} and dance {H4234}: praise {H1984} him with stringed instruments {H4482} and organs {H5748}.

Praise him with tambourines and dancing! Praise him with flutes and strings!

Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; praise Him with strings and flute.

Praise him with timbrel and dance: Praise him with stringed instruments and pipe.

Psalms 150:4 KJV is a vibrant call to worship, encouraging the use of diverse musical and bodily expressions in praising God. This verse, nestled within the final Psalm, emphasizes a full-bodied, enthusiastic, and instrument-rich adoration of the Divine.

Context

Psalm 150 is the grand finale of the entire book of Psalms, serving as a climactic doxology that culminates all previous calls to praise. It is part of the "Hallelujah Psalms" (Psalms 146-150), each beginning and ending with "Praise ye the LORD" (Hallelujah). The entire chapter is a passionate, six-fold command to praise God, specifying various instruments and actions. Verse 4 details specific instruments and the act of dance, broadening the scope of acceptable worship expressions.

Key Themes

  • Holistic Praise: The verse calls for praise that involves not just the voice, but also physical movement (dance) and a variety of instruments, suggesting that all aspects of creation and human expression can be used to glorify God. This aligns with a broader Biblical theme of praising God with dance, seen elsewhere in Scripture.
  • Diversity in Worship: By listing different instruments—from percussion (timbrel) to strings and wind instruments (organs)—the psalm illustrates God's delight in a wide array of worship forms. It implies that various expressions of joy and reverence are welcome in His presence.
  • Joyful Adoration: The instruments and the act of dance are typically associated with celebration and joy, underscoring that praise should be a heartfelt, enthusiastic, and joyful response to God's greatness. This resonates with the call to make a joyful noise unto the LORD found throughout the Psalms.

Linguistic Insights

  • Timbrel (תֹּף - toph): This Hebrew word refers to a hand drum or tambourine, a percussion instrument commonly used in ancient Israel for celebrations, processions, and joyful occasions, as seen with Miriam after the Red Sea crossing.
  • Dance (מָחוֹל - machol): This term denotes a circular dance, often associated with festive occasions and communal rejoicing. It signifies a physical outpouring of joy and worship, famously exemplified by King David dancing before the Lord.
  • Stringed Instruments (מִנִּים - minnim): This likely refers to stringed instruments such as lyres or harps, known for their melodic qualities and often used in temple worship and prophetic settings.
  • Organs (עוּגָב - ugab): This word describes a wind instrument, likely a pipe or flute, rather than the large, modern pipe organ. It represents the wind section of the ancient orchestra, adding another dimension to the sound of praise.

Practical Application

This verse encourages believers today to consider the breadth of their worship. It reminds us that praise is not limited to solemn hymns but can encompass energetic, physical, and diverse musical expressions. It challenges us to offer our whole selves—body, soul, and spirit—in adoration to God, using whatever gifts and instruments are available. The heart of the worshipper is paramount, but the means of expression can be varied and joyful, reflecting the boundless nature of God's glory. Ultimately, Psalm 150:4, along with the entire psalm, serves as a powerful reminder that all of life, and every form of expression, can and should be used to glorify God, culminating in the final exhortation of Psalms 150:6.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 149:3

    Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

  • Isaiah 38:20

    The LORD [was ready] to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.

  • Exodus 15:20

    And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

  • Psalms 92:3

    Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.

  • Psalms 144:9

    ¶ I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery [and] an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

  • Job 30:31

    My harp also is [turned] to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.

  • Psalms 45:8

    All thy garments [smell] of myrrh, and aloes, [and] cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

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