What Does Psalm 98:5 Mean in the King James?
Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew uses one root for both singing and the psalm: praise is both the act of making music and the song it makes.
THE MEANING
The verse meets you in praise made audible: the harp rings, and a human voice gives the psalm its utterance. The same Hebrew root joins the act of singing with the song itself, holding them together as one movement.
THE ROOT
זַמְּרוּ
zammeru zimrah
GROWS FROM
זמר
z-m-r
To sing, play music, or make melody
“Sing; psalm” in this verse is zammeru zimrah. The imperative זַמְּרוּ (zammeru, “sing”) and the noun זִמְרָה (zimrah, “song”) come from the same root. English separates the action from the psalm, while Hebrew holds them as the making and the made song.
ALSO GROWS
mizmor: A psalm or musical song of praise
מִזְמוֹר
This branch names a song shaped for music, echoing the verse’s voice of a psalm.
zimrah: Song, melody, or praise
זִמְרָה
This is the noun in the verse, sharing its root with the command to sing.
THE PATTERN
Praise takes audible form as song moves through both voice and instrument.
Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.THE THREAD
Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.Psalm 33:2 uses זמר (z-m-r, “sing or make music”) in its command to sing. Psalm 98:5 uses that same root for “sing” and for “psalm,” joining the musical act to the song it brings forth.
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