Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

PSALMS 150:3KJV
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Psalms 150:3 (KJV)

What does Psalms 150:3 mean?

Psalms 150:3 calls people to praise God using musical instruments, specifically mentioning the trumpet, psaltery, and harp. The verse highlights that worship can be expressed joyfully and loudly through music, not just words.

The writer of Psalms, traditionally understood as David or temple musicians, is urging the community to celebrate God with music in the temple setting. The verse is part of the final psalm, which is a song of exuberant praise, inviting everyone to use various instruments as part of worship. This shows that praising God was meant to be a full, lively experience involving the whole community and a variety of sounds.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 150:3

  • "Praise" (הַלֵּל, halal): This word means to boast, celebrate, or shine, and here it is a call for enthusiastic, public praise. It is not a quiet or private act, but something done openly and energetically.
  • "Sound" (תְּקוּעָה, tequ‘ah): This word refers to the blast or ringing sound of a trumpet, suggesting a loud, attention-grabbing noise that signals celebration or announcement.
  • "Trumpet" (שׁוֹפָר, shofar): The shofar is a ram’s horn, often used in ancient Israel for religious ceremonies and public gatherings. Its mention here connects worship with important communal events.
  • "Psaltery" (נֵבֶל, nevel): This is a stringed instrument, similar to a lyre or harp, used in temple music. Including both the nevel and the harp (כִּנּוֹר, kinnor) shows a range of musical expression in worship.

Why Psalms 150:3 matters

  • Psalms 150:3 makes clear that worship in ancient Israel was not limited to words or silent prayer, but embraced music and instruments as vital ways to honor God.
  • The verse helps correct the idea that only certain forms of worship are acceptable, showing that God is praised through a variety of sounds and creative expressions.
  • By listing specific instruments, Psalms 150:3 connects personal and communal praise with the larger tradition of temple worship, tying individual acts of praise into the shared life of the faith community.

Where else these words appear

“psaltery” 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 25:1 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
  • Psalms 92:3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.

“harp” 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 25:3 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.
  • Psalms 71:22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

“trumpet” Hebrew H7782 · used in 63 verses

  • Exodus 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
  • 1 Samuel 13:3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.
  • Isaiah 27:13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.

“Praise” Hebrew H1984 · used in 140 verses

  • Genesis 12:15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
  • Psalms 63:5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
  • Psalms 148:2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.