Our purpose is to study the Greek word psallo as it is used in the Septuagint, the Greek Version of the Old Testament. We have not listed all of the occurrences which could be listed in the first part, but have listed all of the occurrences which fit into the second part and the third part. If you find a reference we have not listed and you believe it fits into the second part or third part, please forward that information to me. The words of scripture translated from psallo are in bold letters.
References where psallo is translated
sing, sing a psalm, praise, or sing praise:
| Scripture Reference |
Septuagint | |
King James Version |
| Judges 5:3 |
sing a psalm | |
sing praises |
| II Sam. 22:50 |
sing | |
sing praise |
| Ps. 21:13 |
praise | |
praise |
| Ps. 8:4 |
sing praise | |
sing praise |
References where psallo is used
and a mechanical instrument of music is named:
| Scripture Reference |
Septuagint | |
King James Version |
| I Sam. 16:16 |
skilled to play on the harp | |
cunning player on an harp |
| I Sam. 16:16 |
he shall play on his harp | |
he shall play with his hand |
| I Sam. 16:23 |
David took his harp and played with his hand | |
David took an harp, and played with his hand |
| Ps. 33:2 |
sing...with psaltery and with instrument of ten strings | |
sing...with psaltery and with an instrument of ten strings |
| Ps. 71:22 |
I will sing psalms to thee on the harp | |
I will sing with the harp |
| Ps. 98:5 |
sing to the Lord with a harp | |
sing unto the Lord with the harp |
| Ps. 144:9 |
I will play to thee on a psaltery of ten strings | |
upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises |
| Ps. 147:7 |
I will sing praises....on the harp | |
sing praise upon the harp |
| Ps. 149:3 |
Let them sing praises...with timbrel and psaltery | |
Let them sing praises...with the timbrel and harp |
References where psallo occurs and
the context implies a mechanical instrument of music:
| Scripture Reference |
Septuagint | |
King James Version |
| I Sam. 6:17 |
skillful player | |
play well |
| I Sam. 18:10 |
| |
David played with hand |
| I Sam. 19:9 |
David was playing on the harp with his hands | |
David played with his hand |
| II Kings 3:15 |
harper, harper harped | |
minstral, minstral played |
| Ps. 33:3 |
play skillfully with a loud noise | |
play skillfully with a loud noise |
| Ps. 68:25 |
the players on instruments | |
the players on instruments |
Conclusion
In the OT, a mechanical instrument of music DOES NOT inhere in psallo. If psallo is used in a context with a mechanical instrument of music, the instrument is named or implied. If the mechanical instrument of music inhered in psallo, it would have to be so translated. A related article is on the back page. Study Carefully. - Glenn Melton