And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.

1 CHRONICLES 15:16KJV
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1 Chronicles 15:16 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 15:16 mean?

1 Chronicles 15:16 describes how King David instructed the leaders of the Levites to choose their fellow Levites to serve as singers, using musical instruments like lyres, harps, and cymbals, and to raise their voices joyfully. The verse shows David organizing a group of musicians for a special, joyful celebration.

David is speaking to the chief men among the Levites, the tribe set apart for temple duties, as part of preparations to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. The verse highlights the importance of music and joyful singing in worship, as well as David’s careful planning to make the event both orderly and festive.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 15:16

  • לְהַעֲמִיד (leha'amid, "appoint"): This word means to set up or establish. David is not just asking for volunteers, but giving the Levite leaders the responsibility to officially assign people to these musical roles.
  • שִׁיר (shir, "singers"): This word refers to those who sing, emphasizing that music was a central part of the event, not just background noise.
  • שָׂמֵחַ (sameach, "joy"): The word for "joy" here points to an atmosphere of gladness and celebration, not just a formal or somber ceremony.
  • כֵּלִי (keli, "instruments"): This word means "vessels" or "tools," showing that the musical instruments were considered important tools for worship, not just entertainment.

Why 1 Chronicles 15:16 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that worship in ancient Israel was only about sacrifices or rituals; it shows that music and joyful singing were also central to honoring God.
  • The verse emphasizes David’s leadership in making sure worship was both organized and heartfelt, involving the right people in the right roles.
  • By connecting music, joy, and worship, 1 Chronicles 15:16 helps explain why music remains such an important part of many worship traditions today.

Where else these words appear

“cymbals” Hebrew H4700 · used in 13 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 13:8 And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
  • 1 Chronicles 16:42 And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.
  • 2 Chronicles 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

“psalteries” Hebrew H5035 · used in 37 verses

  • 1 Samuel 1:24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
  • 1 Chronicles 25:6 All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.
  • Psalms 108:2 Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

“harps” Hebrew H3658 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 4:21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
  • 1 Chronicles 25:6 All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.
  • Psalms 81:2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

“singers” Hebrew H7891 · used in 79 verses

  • Exodus 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
  • Ezra 10:24 Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.
  • Psalms 68:4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.