Sacred Symphony: ψαλμός (Strong’s G5568: psalmos) Echoes Divine Praise

Strong’s G5568: From psallo, meaning “to pluck.” A sacred song accompanied by stringed instruments, particularly referring to the Psalms of David. Originally denoting the twanging of a bowstring or harp string, it evolved to mean songs sung to musical accompaniment in worship.

U- Unveiling the Word

The word ψαλμός fundamentally represents the intersection of musical artistry and divine worship. Originally referring to the action of plucking strings, it evolved to encompass the entire composition – both the instrumental accompaniment and the sacred text. In the New Testament context, ψαλμός specifically refers to the Old Testament Psalms and similar Christian hymns. The early church embraced this term to bridge Jewish worship traditions with new expressions of praise to the Messiah. Today, it reminds us that worship through music isn’t merely performance but a divine appointment, where instrumental skill and spiritual truth harmonize to glorify God.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ψαλμός, psalmos, /psä-mos’/
• Detailed pronunciation: PSAHL-moss (stress on first syllable)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• ψάλλω (psallo) – root verb meaning “to pluck”
• -μός (-mos) – noun-forming suffix indicating result of action
• Combined meaning: “that which is plucked” or “plucking”

D – Defining Meanings

• A song accompanied by plucked strings
• A sacred song of praise
• Specifically, a Psalm from the Old Testament
• A Christian hymn

For compound words:
Not a compound word, but derives from ψάλλω with the -μός suffix indicating the result of the action

Translation Options:

• “psalm” – most precise for biblical context
• “sacred song” – captures worship aspect
• “stringed melody” – emphasizes musical origin

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ὕμνος (hymnos) /hoom’-nos/ – focuses more on praise content than musical form. See G5215
• ᾠδή (ode) /o-day’/ – general term for song, including secular usage. See G5603
• μέλος (melos) /mel’-os/ – refers to melody or tune. See G3196

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

• Case: Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative
• Number: Singular (ψαλμός), Plural (ψαλμοί)
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: Second declension

Examples:

• Nominative singular: ψαλμός (the psalm)
• Genitive singular: ψαλμοῦ (of the psalm)
• Accusative plural: ψαλμούς (psalms)

Related words:

• Verb form: ψάλλω (to pluck, sing)
• Adjective form: ψαλμικός (psalmic)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The lexicons reveal fascinating layers of meaning in ψαλμός. BDAG emphasizes its development from purely instrumental origins to religious significance. Thayer’s highlights its specific application to the Davidic psalms while acknowledging broader usage in early Christian worship. LSJ traces its classical evolution from “plucking strings” to “sacred song.” Vine’s notes its distinction from hymns and spiritual songs. Strong’s connects it to Hebrew מִזְמוֹר (mizmor). Moulton and Milligan’s papyri findings show its usage in everyday religious context beyond formal temple worship, indicating its integration into daily spiritual life.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“And David himself says in the Book of psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand”‘” Luke 20:42

Additional References:
Luke 24:44, Acts 1:20, Acts 13:33, 1 Corinthians 14:26, Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The journey of ψαλμός from its humble origins as a technical term for plucking strings to its elevated status in divine worship reflects God’s pattern of transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. This word embodies the marriage of skillful musicianship and spiritual devotion, reminding us that worship engages both our artistic abilities and our hearts. The good news of King Jesus is proclaimed through psalms, which continue to serve as vehicles of praise, lament, and testimony to God’s faithfulness across generations.

D – Did You Know?

• The word ψαλμός appears exactly 150 times in the Septuagint, matching the number of psalms in the Bible
• Early Christian manuscripts show musical notation above ψαλμός texts, indicating continued musical performance
• The term influenced English words like “psalmody” and “psaltery”

Strong’s G5568: A sacred song accompanied by stringed instruments, particularly referring to the Psalms of David. Originally denoting the twanging of a bowstring or harp string, it evolved to mean songs sung to musical accompaniment in worship.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: worship, music, praise, Old Testament, David, stringed instruments, hymns, sacred songs, temple worship, Christian worship​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​