Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 81:2
Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
2. Take a psalm &c.] Or, Raise a psalm and sound the timbrel. The timbrel, or tabret, was a tambourine or hand drum; the psaltery, like the harp, a stringed instrument.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Take a psalm – literally, Lift up a psalm; perhaps, as we should say, Raise the tune. Or, it may mean, Take an ode, a hymn, a psalm, composed for the occasion, and accompany it with the instruments of music which are specified.
And bring hither the timbrel – For the purpose of praise. On the meaning of this word rendered timbrel – toph – see the notes at Isa 5:12.
The pleasant harp – On the word here rendered harp – kinnor – see also the notes at Isa 5:12. The word translated pleasant – naym – means properly pleasant, agreeable, sweet, Psa 133:1; Psa 147:1. It is connected here with the word harp, as meaning that that instrument was distinguished particularly for a sweet or pleasant sound.
With the psaltery – On the meaning of the word used here – nebel – see the notes at Isa 5:12. These were the common instruments of music among the Hebrews. They were employed alike on sacred occasions, and in scenes of revelry. See Isa 5:12.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. Take a psalm] zimrah. I rather think that this was the name of a musical instrument.
Bring hither the timbrel] toph; some kind of drum or tom tom.
The pleasant harp] kinnor. Probably a sistrum, or something like it. A STRINGED instrument.
With the psaltery.] nebel, the nabla. The cithara, Septuagint.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
All which instruments were then prescribed and used in their solemn meetings.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. unites the most joyful kindsof music, vocal and instrumental.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Take a psalm,…. Or “lift one up” y; hold up the book, and read and sing it; or rather, lift up the voice in singing a psalm:
and bring hither the timbrel; or “give one” z, put the hand to one:
the pleasant harp with the psaltery; make use of all these musical instruments in singing, and so make an agreeable melody: these were used in the times of the Old Testament, and were typical of the spiritual joy and melody in the heart, expressed by vocal singing, under the New Testament; see Re 5:8.
y “attollite”, Piscator; “tollite”, Cocceius, Amama, Gejerus. z “date”, Pagninus, Montanus, &c.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) Take a psalm.Rather, Strike up a tune (with voice and harp).
Bring hither the timbrel.Literally, Give a timbrel (or, drum), which evidently means sound the timbrel, and may, perhaps, be explained by a phrase sometimes found in HebrewGive a voice, i.e., speak. Such phrases as Let them have the drum, Give them the drum, may illustrate the expression. (For the instrument, tph, see Exo. 15:20, and consult Bible Educator, 2:214 seq.)
Harp . . . psaltery.See Note, Psa. 33:2.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Take a psalm Bring a song: addressed to the Levites appointed for choristers, as the “shout aloud,” (Psa 81:1,) was to the people.
Bring the timbrel Hebrew, , ( toph,) also translated tabret; a sort of hand drum, as the tambourine. It was much used in public festivities and triumphal processions, as a bass accompaniment, and often played by women. Psa 68:25; Nah 2:7.
Harp , ( kinnor,) the favourite national stringed instrument of the Hebrews, here called “the pleasant harp,” used much on occasions of joyfulness and praise, though not unsuited to meditative or solemn strains. See Psa 92:3. It had ten, sometimes twenty-four, and even forty-seven strings. Its general shape was triangular, like the modern harp, with a rounded or arched rim at its broadest end, from which last circumstance Furst supposes it derived its name, rather than from its stridulous sound, as Gesenius thinks.
Psaltery Another harplike stringed instrument, made to accompany the voice. In Psa 33:2, (which see,) it is translated, “an instrument of ten strings,” literally, the ten-stringed psaltery.
Psa 81:2. Take a psalm Lift up your voices in a psalm, or take up a psalm. Green.
Psa 81:2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
Ver. 2. Bring hither the timbrel ] These instruments then used in God s service (as a part of the Jewish pedagogy) were types of that spiritual joy which we should express in holy duties, no less than if we heard the most exquisite music. There should be continual music (habitual joy) in the temple of the Holy Ghost.
Take a psalm. = Raise a song.
timbrel. Hebrew. toph. See note on Exo 15:20.
psaltery = lute.
Psa 92:3, Psa 95:1, Psa 95:2, Psa 149:1-3, Mar 14:26, Eph 5:19, Col 3:16, Jam 5:13
Reciprocal: Exo 15:20 – all the 1Ch 15:21 – harps 1Ch 25:1 – harps Psa 33:2 – Praise Psa 43:4 – upon Psa 98:6 – trumpets Psa 108:2 – Awake Psa 137:2 – we hanged Psa 149:3 – with the timbrel Psa 150:3 – with the sound Isa 30:32 – every place Rev 5:8 – having
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge