give praise, sing forth praises, psalms
Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(play a stringed instrument). In Hebrew, “Praises.” The collection of one hundred and fifty lyrics which compose the nineteenth O. T. book. The liturgical hymnbook of the Hebrews, and accepted by early Christians. Authorship of seventy of them ascribed to David. The most perfect specimens of Hebrew poetry extant.
“Praise” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
See SINGING.
“Psalms” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
This word occurs in the Old Testament only in connection with the Psalms of David and those in the Book of Psalms. David is called “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Sam. 23:1). There can be no doubt that in connection with the “singers,” and the praising God with instruments, the Psalms were used. We read “sing psalms unto him,” “Make a joyful noise unto him with psalms,” &c. In New Testament days, for a time at least, the Psalms of David may have been sung by believers, but there were also hymns and spiritual songs, and it is to be remarked that in the singing at the institution of the Lord’s supper a hymn (ὑμνέω) is spoken of, not a psalm (φαλμός). See PASSOVER. The latter Greek word (besides the occurrences which refer to the Book of Psalms) is found in 1 Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16.
“Singing” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
In the Old Testament we find there were courses of singers, and there were some who were “taught to sing praise.” Instruments were also appointed for the singers (1 Kings 10:12). In Habakkuk 3:19, at the end of the prophet’s poetical “prayer,” it says, “To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.” “The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels” (Psa. 68:25).
Such organized choirs have no place in the New Testament They that worship God “must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” This also applies to the singing: “I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also” (1 Cor. 14:15; compare 1 Cor. 14:26). “Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody [or chanting] in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). “In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16). There will be singing in heaven (Rev. 5:9). Singing and PRAISE naturally go together. At the institution of the Lord’s supper they “sang a hymn,” margin “psalm,” ὐμνέω (Matt. 26:30). The same word is translated “sang praises” unto God, when Paul and Silas were in prison (Acts 16:25); and the Lord sings praise in the midst of the assembly (Psa. 22:22; Heb. 2:12).
Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:
Meaning:
a primitive root (perhaps ident. with 2168 through the idea of striking with the fingers); properly, to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument, i.e. play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music
KJV Usage:
give praise, sing forth praises, psalms