Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

PSALMS 33:2KJV
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Psalms 33:2 (KJV)

What does Psalms 33:2 mean?

Psalms 33:2 calls on people to praise the LORD by making music with instruments like the harp, the psaltery, and a ten-stringed instrument. The verse encourages using joyful music as a way to honor and celebrate God.

In this psalm, the writer is inviting a group—likely the worshiping community of Israel—to express gratitude and reverence for the LORD (the personal name for God) through music. The mention of specific instruments shows that worship involved more than words; it included skilled and heartfelt musical expression as a fitting response to God’s greatness.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 33:2

  • "Praise" (יָדָה, yadah): This word often means to give thanks or confess, but here it carries the sense of publicly acknowledging and celebrating God, especially through music.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal, covenant name for God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing a close relationship between God and His people.
  • "Harp" (כִּנּוֹר, kinnor): The kinnor was a stringed instrument, likely similar to a lyre, used in ancient Israelite worship. Its mention highlights the role of music in expressing praise.
  • "Sing" (זָמַר, zamar): This verb means to make music or sing praises, often with instruments, stressing that worship was lively and creative.
  • "Psaltery" (נֶבֶל, nevel): The nevel was another stringed instrument, possibly larger or with a different sound than the kinnor, showing variety in musical worship.
  • "Strings" (עָשׂוֹר, asor): This refers to an instrument with ten strings, underlining the richness and diversity of musical praise.

Why Psalms 33:2 matters

  • Psalms 33:2 shows that worship in ancient Israel was not just spoken but also musical, involving skill and artistry as a way to honor God.
  • The verse emphasizes that praising God can be a communal, joyful act, using the best instruments and talents available.
  • By naming specific instruments, the verse connects with the wider psalm, which celebrates God’s creative power and invites everyone to join in expressive, heartfelt worship.

Where else these words appear

“strings” Hebrew H6218 · used in 16 verses

  • Genesis 24:55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.
  • Numbers 29:7 And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein:
  • Jeremiah 52:4 And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about.

“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 108:2 Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

“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 81:2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

“sing” Hebrew H2167 · used in 41 verses

  • Judges 5:3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.
  • Psalms 57:7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
  • Psalms 98:5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.