Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.

1 CHRONICLES 15:28KJV
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1 Chronicles 15:28 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 15:28 mean?

1 Chronicles 15:28 describes how all the people of Israel brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD into Jerusalem with great celebration, using loud shouts and a variety of musical instruments, including cornets, trumpets, cymbals, psalteries, and harps. The verse highlights the joyful and public nature of this important event.

This verse is set during King David’s reign, as he leads the people in moving the ark—a sacred chest representing God’s presence—into the city. The detailed mention of instruments and noise shows the unity and excitement of the whole nation, emphasizing how significant and festive this moment was for Israel.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 15:28

  • The word for "shouting" is תְּרוּעָה (teru‘ah), which often means a loud cry of joy or a trumpet blast. Here, it stresses the exuberant and communal nature of the celebration.
  • "Cornet" is שׁוֹפָר (shofar), a ram’s horn used for signaling and worship. Its use marks the event as both a public announcement and a sacred occasion.
  • "Trumpets" is חֲצֹצְרָה (ḥaṣoṣrah), which refers to metal trumpets used by priests in ceremonies. This shows that the celebration was organized and involved religious leaders.
  • "Cymbals" is מְצִלְתַּיִם (meṣiltayim), which are clashing percussion instruments, adding to the loud, joyful noise.
  • "Psalteries" is נֶבֶל (nevel), a type of stringed instrument, and "harps" is כִּנּוֹר (kinnor), another stringed instrument. These highlight the variety and richness of the music used in worship.

Why 1 Chronicles 15:28 matters

  • This verse clears up any idea that worship in ancient Israel was quiet or somber; it was often loud, musical, and communal, especially at major events.
  • The detailed list of instruments and the emphasis on noise show that the whole community, including priests and musicians, participated in honoring God together.
  • Understanding this verse helps connect the larger story of David’s efforts to bring the ark to Jerusalem, showing his desire to center Israel’s worship around God’s presence.

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;

“trumpets” Hebrew H2689 · used in 27 verses

  • Numbers 10:2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
  • 1 Chronicles 15:24 And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obededom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.
  • 2 Chronicles 23:13 And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.

“shouting” Hebrew H8643 · used in 33 verses

  • Leviticus 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
  • 1 Samuel 4:6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.
  • Psalms 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

“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.