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.

1 CHRONICLES 16:42KJV
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1 Chronicles 16:42 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 16:42 mean?

1 Chronicles 16:42 describes how Heman and Jeduthun were assigned to play trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments dedicated to God, while the sons of Jeduthun served as gatekeepers. This verse highlights the organized roles in worship at the time of King David, showing both musical and practical service in the temple.

The context is David establishing worship practices after bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Heman and Jeduthun were leaders among the Levites, responsible for music, while their sons had the important job of guarding the entrances. This arrangement shows the care and structure David put into temple worship, involving both music and security.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 16:42

  • חֲצֹצְרוֹת (ḥăṣōṣrōṯ, "trumpets"): This word refers to long, straight trumpets used in temple worship, often for signaling or ceremonial announcements. Their use here points to formal, public praise.
  • מְצִלְתַּיִם (meṣiltayim, "cymbals"): Cymbals were percussion instruments that added rhythm and emphasis to the music, showing the lively and joyful nature of worship.
  • כְּלֵי (kelē, "instruments"): This word means "vessels" or "instruments" and here refers to musical instruments set apart for use in worship, emphasizing their sacred purpose.
  • בְּנֵי (benē, "sons"): This term simply means "sons" or "descendants," but in this context, it highlights the family-based service in the temple, with specific roles passed down.
  • שֹׁעֵרִים (sho‘erim, "porters"): This word means "gatekeepers" or "doorkeepers," showing that some Levites were responsible for guarding and managing access to the temple area.

Why 1 Chronicles 16:42 matters

  • This verse clarifies that worship in ancient Israel was not just about music but also about order and responsibility, with different families assigned specific tasks.
  • It shows how David organized temple service, blending musical praise with practical duties like guarding the temple, reflecting a holistic approach to worship.
  • The mention of "musical instruments of God" underlines that these tools were set apart for sacred use, not just ordinary music, pointing to the seriousness and reverence of temple worship.

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 16:5 Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;
  • 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;

“Jeduthun” Hebrew H3038 · used in 14 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 9:16 And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.
  • 1 Chronicles 25:3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.
  • 2 Chronicles 35:15 And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.

“Heman” Hebrew H1968 · used in 15 verses

  • 1 Kings 4:31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.
  • 1 Chronicles 15:19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;
  • 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.

“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.