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.

PSALMS 71:22KJV
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Psalms 71:22 (KJV)

What does Psalms 71:22 mean?

Psalms 71:22 expresses a personal promise to praise God with music, specifically mentioning the psaltery and harp, and to honor God’s truth and holiness. The speaker addresses God as the “Holy One of Israel” and commits to singing in recognition of God’s faithfulness.

In this verse, the psalmist—traditionally understood to be David—speaks directly to God, likely during a time of reflection on God’s help throughout his life. The mention of musical instruments highlights a heartfelt, public act of worship, while calling God the “Holy One of Israel” emphasizes God’s unique relationship with the people of Israel and His trustworthy character.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 71:22

  • praise (יָדָה, yadah): This word often means to give thanks or confess, and here it carries the sense of openly acknowledging God’s goodness with gratitude.
  • psaltery (כְּלִי, keli; נֶבֶל, nevel): Two Hebrew words are tagged for “psaltery.” נֶבֶל (nevel) refers to a stringed instrument, similar to a lyre or harp, used in temple worship. כְּלִי (keli) is a general word for “vessel” or “instrument,” but here it likely points to a specific musical instrument.
  • truth (אֱמֶת, emet): This word means firmness, faithfulness, or reliability. The psalmist praises God not just for what He does, but for His dependable character.
  • sing (זָמַר, zamar): This verb means to make music or sing praises, often with accompaniment, showing that worship here is both vocal and instrumental.
  • harp (כִּנּוֹר, kinnor): This is another stringed instrument, commonly associated with joyful worship in ancient Israel.
  • One (קָדוֹשׁ, qadosh): Used in the phrase “Holy One of Israel,” this word highlights God’s set-apartness and purity.

Why Psalms 71:22 matters

  • The verse clarifies that worship in ancient Israel was both musical and deeply personal, involving specific instruments and heartfelt praise.
  • By calling God the “Holy One of Israel,” the psalmist connects his personal praise to the larger story of God’s relationship with the nation, not just an individual experience.
  • The focus on God’s “truth” (אֱמֶת, emet) reminds readers that worship is rooted in God’s faithfulness and reliability, not just in emotional expression.

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

“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 47:7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
  • Psalms 98:5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.

“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.

“One” Hebrew H6918 · used in 106 verses

  • Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
  • 2 Kings 19:22 Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
  • Isaiah 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.