from זָמַר; properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes; psalm.
Transliteration:mizmôwr
Pronunciation:miz-more'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term *mizmôwr* (`{{H4210}}`) is derived from the verbal root *zāmar* (`{{H2167}}`), which carries the primary meaning "to sing," "to make music," or "to praise with song." Consequently, *mizmôwr* properly refers to instrumental music, or more broadly, a "poem set to notes." Its semantic range encompasses both the melodic aspect (a tune, a melody) and the lyrical aspect (a song, a poem). In its most common biblical usage, it denotes a "psalm," a sacred composition intended for musical performance, often with vocal and instrumental accompaniment. It signifies a piece of literature specifically composed to be sung rather than merely read.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term *mizmôwr* occurs 57 times in the Hebrew Bible, overwhelmingly concentrated in the book of Psalms. It appears almost exclusively in the superscriptions (titles) of individual psalms, serving as a genre indicator. For example:
* [[Psalm 3:1]]: "A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son."
* [[Psalm 4:1]]: "To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David."
* [[Psalm 5:1]]: "To the choirmaster: for flutes. A Psalm of David."
* [[Psalm 100:1]]: "A Psalm for giving thanks."
Its placement in these titles confirms that the subsequent text is to be understood as a "psalm"—a song or poem meant for musical rendition in worship. The accompanying notes in many superscriptions, such as "To the choirmaster" (לַמְנַצֵּחַ - lamnatsêach, `{{H5329}}`) or references to specific instruments (e.g., *neginoth* - stringed instruments), further underscore the musical and liturgical context of these compositions. The content of psalms designated as *mizmôwr* is diverse, ranging from laments and prayers to songs of trust and praise, indicating that *mizmôwr* refers to the *form* of the composition (a sung poem) rather than a specific thematic category.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **`{{H2167}}` (zāmar):** The verbal root from which *mizmôwr* is derived. It signifies the action of singing or making music, especially in praise. *mizmôwr* is the product of this action.
* **`{{H7892}}` (shiyr):** This is a more general term for "song" or "singing." While *shiyr* can refer to any song, *mizmôwr* often carries a more specific connotation of a sacred, liturgical composition, frequently with instrumental accompaniment. Some psalms are titled "A Psalm, a Song" (e.g., [[Psalm 30:1]], [[Psalm 65:1]]), suggesting a close relationship and sometimes overlapping usage, with *mizmôwr* emphasizing the performance aspect.
* **`{{H8416}}` (tehillah):** Meaning "praise" or "song of praise." This term often describes the *content* of the song (praise to God), whereas *mizmôwr* describes the *form* (a sung composition). The entire book of Psalms is known in Hebrew as *Tehillim* ("Praises").
* **`{{H5058}}` (neginah/neginoth):** Referring to "stringed instruments" or "music of stringed instruments." This term frequently appears alongside *mizmôwr* in superscriptions (e.g., [[Psalm 4:1]]), explicitly linking the psalm to instrumental performance and reinforcing its musical nature.
* **`{{G5568}}` (psalmos):** The Greek equivalent used in the Septuagint and New Testament. Like *mizmôwr*, *psalmos* derives from a verb meaning "to pluck" (strings) or "to play a stringed instrument," and by extension, "to sing to the accompaniment of a lyre." This linguistic parallel highlights the shared emphasis on instrumental accompaniment for sacred songs in both Hebrew and Greek traditions.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of *mizmôwr* is profound, as it designates the very nature of the sacred songs that form the heart of Israel's worship and prayer life.
* **Vehicle for Worship:** The *mizmôwr* psalms served as the primary means for ancient Israel to express adoration, supplication, confession, and thanksgiving to Yahweh. They provide a divinely inspired framework for communal and individual engagement with God.
* **Inspired Expression of Faith:** As part of the canon of Scripture, the psalms designated as *mizmôwr* offer a divinely sanctioned pattern for expressing the full spectrum of human emotion—joy, sorrow, anger, doubt, trust—within the context of a covenant relationship with God. They validate the honesty of human experience before the Creator.
* **Liturgical Function:** The frequent mention of "choirmaster" and musical instruments underscores the liturgical and communal function of these psalms. They were not merely private meditations but compositions intended for public worship, shaping the spiritual life of the Israelite community.
* **Christological Foreshadowing:** Many psalms designated as *mizmôwr* are understood by Christian theology to be messianic, containing prophecies and types that find their ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ (e.g., [[Psalm 2]], [[Psalm 22]], [[Psalm 110]]). Thus, *mizmôwr* becomes a conduit for divine revelation concerning the Messiah.
### Summary
The Hebrew word *mizmôwr* (`{{H4210}}`), derived from the root `{{H2167}}` ("to sing, make music"), fundamentally denotes a "psalm" or a "song set to notes," typically accompanied by instruments. Its frequent appearance in the superscriptions of the book of Psalms identifies the following text as a sacred song intended for musical performance in worship. This term emphasizes both the lyrical content and the musical form, distinguishing it from a mere spoken poem. Theologically, *mizmôwr* signifies an inspired and divinely sanctioned means of worship, praise, lament, and instruction within the covenant community. It highlights the central role of music in ancient Israelite devotion and provides timeless models for expressing the depths of human faith and experience before the Almighty.
TRV