Topic(s): Bible Study, Worship

Todd Clippard

Romans 15:9 is a quotation of 2 Samuel 22:50 and Psalm 18:49. The words under consideration in both testaments definitely refer to singing and not instrumental music.

The primary definition of the Hebrew zamar is "to sing." The Hebrew zamar appears 45 times in the Old Testament. Of these occurrences, it is translated "sing" or "sing praise(s)" 43 times. In Psalm 57:7 and 108:1 it is translated "give praise", but in direct connection with singing. Admittedly, it is used in connection with instrumental music (Psalm 147:7 and 149:3), but even these note the singing is done in connection with the use of instrumental music, and is not to be equated with instrumental music. There is singing, and there is singing with instrumental music.

In both Old Testament passages, the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures), translates zamar as psallo. Therefore, it would be consistent to hold the New Testament meaning of psallo in our understanding of these passages.

Consider the evidence from the following lexicon definitions for psallo in the New Testament:

1. Abbot and Smith, manual grammar of the New Testament: "in NT, to sing a hymn, sing praise." p 487
2. Green, Greek and English Lexicon to the New Testament: "In N.T., to sing praises" p 206
3. Analytical Greek Lexicon: "in NT to sing praises" p 441
4. Thayer's Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament: "In the N.T. to sing a hymn, sing praise" p 675
5. Bauer, Arndt, & Gingrich Lexicon of the New Testament: "Abs (meaning in the absolute sense - TC) ; to sing" p 899

All the above reference works cite the Old Testament usage of psallo, but make a distinction between that usage and its New Testament usage. This, in connection the with Septuagint translation of zamar as psallo, further strengthens the argument against the use of instrumental music in the worship of the New Testament church.

Since the primary meaning of zamar is "to sing," and since the exclusive New Testament usage of psallo is "to sing," it is logical to understand these passages as making reference to singing, and not playing mechanical instruments of music.