musical(-ick), X sing(-er, -ing), song

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(muse). Anciently known (Gen. 4:21; 31:27²¹And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. (Genesis 4:21)
²⁷Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? (Genesis 31:27); Job 21:12¹²They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. (Job 21:12)). Vocal and instrumental, reached highest perfection in temple choirs (2 Sam. 6:5⁵And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. (2 Samuel 6:5); 1 Chron. 25). Usual instruments, harp, timbrel, Psalter, trumpet, flute, pipe, and so forth.

“Music, Musicians, Musical Instruments” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

Download (1.6 MB)

The harp and the organ, or pipe, were in use as early as Genesis 4:21²¹And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. (Genesis 4:21). Laban, when chiding with Jacob for secretly leaving him, said he would have sent him away “with songs, with tabret, and with harp” (Gen. 31:27²⁷Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? (Genesis 31:27)). The monuments show that the Egyptians had various musical instruments, the Israelites, therefore, if they had not known their use before going into Egypt, could have learned it there. When Moses sang the song of triumph at the Red Sea, Miriam answered with a tabret in her hand; and Samuel told Saul that he would meet a company of prophets with a psaltery, a tabret, a pipe, and a harp (1 Sam. 10:5⁵After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: (1 Samuel 10:5)).

Download (2.2 MB)

There must have been with these prophets some knowledge of music, which doubtless under David was further cultivated and devoted to the service of God, their music being intimately connected with temple worship. He had several companies of singers, and players on instruments, which are often mentioned in the Psalm. As these were indited under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we may conclude that this way of celebrating the praises of God was in accordance with the dispensation that then was. Such an exhortation as “Praise Him with the psaltery and harp,” is beautifully in place in the Psalms; but in the New Testament dispensation it is, “singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”; and “I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” “They that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

In the headings of fifty-five of the Psalm the words occur, “To the chief musician”; the word is natsach, and simply means “to the chief or the leader,” and may therefore apply as much to the singers as to the musicians. The musical instruments are considered under their various names.

“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 10:12¹²And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the Lord, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day. (1 Kings 10:12)). In Habakkuk 3:19¹⁹The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. (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. 68:25²⁵The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels. (Psalm 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. 14:15¹⁵What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. (1 Corinthians 14:15); compare 1 Cor. 14:26²⁶How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. (1 Corinthians 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. 5:19¹⁹Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (Ephesians 5:19)). “In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16)). There will be singing in heaven (Rev. 5:9⁹And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9)). Singing and PRAISE naturally go together. At the institution of the Lord’s supper they “sang a hymn,” margin “psalm,” ὐμνέω (Matt. 26:30³⁰And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:30)). The same word is translated “sang praises” unto God, when Paul and Silas were in prison (Acts 16:25²⁵And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. (Acts 16:25)); and the Lord sings praise in the midst of the assembly (Psa. 22:22²²I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. (Psalm 22:22); Heb. 2:12¹²Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. (Hebrews 2:12)).

“Songs” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

See HYMNS.

Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:

Number:

7892 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Transliteration:

shiyr

Phonic:

sheer

Meaning:

or feminine shiyrah {shee-raw'}; from 7891; a song; abstractly, singing

KJV Usage:

musical(-ick), X sing(-er, -ing), song