Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 33:2
Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery [and] an instrument of ten strings.
2. Give thanks unto the Lord with harp:
Sing praises unto him with the psaltery of ten strings (R.V.).
The harp and psaltery were both stringed instruments, differing somewhat in form.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Praise the Lord with harp – For a description of the harp, see the notes at Isa 5:12.
Sing unto him with the psaltery – For the meaning of this word, also, see the notes at Isa 5:12, where the word is rendered viol.
And an instrument of ten strings – The word and is supplied here by the translators as if, in this place, a third instrument was referred to, distinct from the harp and the psaltery. The more correct rendering, however, would be, a psaltery (or lyre) of ten strings. The same construction occurs in Psa 144:9. In Psa 92:3, however, the two words are separately used as denoting different instruments. The lyre or psaltery was probably not always made with the same number of strings, and it would seem that the one that was made of ten strings had something special about it as an instrument of uncommon sweetness or power. Hence, it is particularly designated here; and the idea is that the instruments of especial power and sweetness should be on this occasion employed in the service of God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 33:2
Sing unto Him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
A harp of ten strings
Most of us, if we praise the Lord at all, play upon one string, or two, or three, when we ought to take a harp full chorded and with glad fingers sweep all the strings. Instead of being grateful for here and there a blessing we happen to think of, we ought to rehearse all our blessings so far as we can recall them, and obey the injunction of my text to sing unto Him with an instrument of ten strings.
1. Have you appreciated the fact that on most of your tables are luxuries that do not come to all? Have you realized what varieties of flavour often touch your tongue, and how the saccharine and the acid have been afforded your palate? For the fine flavours and the luxurious viands you have enjoyed for a lifetime, perhaps you have never expressed to God a word of thanksgiving. That is one of the ten strings that you ought to have thrummed in praise to God, but you have never yet put it in vibration.
2. Have you thanked God for eyesight? Haw you realized the privation those suffer to whom the day is as black as the night, and who never see the face of father or mother or wife or child or friend? Through what painful surgery many have gone to get one glimpse of the light. The eyes–so delicate, and beautiful, and useful–that one of them is invaluable!
3. Notice how many pass through life in silence because the ear refuses to do its office. Have we devoutly thanked God for these two wonders of our hearing, with which we can now put ourselves under the charm of sweet sound, and also carry in our memories the infantile song with which our mothers put us to sleep?
4. There are many who never recognize how much God gives them when He gives them sleep. Oh, the felicities of slumber! Let all who have this real benefaction celebrate it. That is one of the sweetest strings in all the instrument of ten strings.
5. Acknowledge the power of physical locomotion. To be able to go where we wish, and all unaided–what a kindness! What multitudes have to call in the aid of crutch and invalids chair, and their whole life is a hinderment. How hard to get about with lack of strong and healthy and supple limbs.
6. Celebrate on the instrument of ten strings our illumined nights. They spread their tents over us, and some of us hardly go out to look at them. During the nights other worlds come in sight. Thank God for lunar and stellar illumination.
7. Celebrate the possession of our reason. Amid the increasing dementia of the world, let us appreciate the goodness of God to us if our mental faculties are in equipoise. Voyaging from New Zealand to Australia, a storm swooped upon us, and we saw all around us fragments of ships that had been caught in the same tempest; and how thankful we were, sailing into Sydney harbour, that we had escaped! So that man and that woman, whose intellect goes safely through the storms of this life, in which so many have foundered, ought every day and every night to employ one of the ten strings in gratitude for that particular mercy.
8. Another string of this instrument I now touch–friendships, deep and abiding. With one such friend you can defy the world.
9. Gospel advantages. That Gospel rocked our cradle, and it will epitaph our grave. It soothes our sorrows, brightens our hopes, inspires our courage, forgives our sins, and saves our souls. It takes a man who is all wrong and makes him all right. What that Gospel has done for you and me is a story that we can never fully tell. (T. De Witt Talmage.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 2. Praise the Lord with harp] kinnor; probably something like our harp: but Calmet thinks it the ancient testudo, or lyre with three strings.
The psalter] nebel. Our translation seems to make a third instrument in this place, by rendering asor, an instrument of ten strings; whereas they should both be joined together, for nebel-asor signifies the nebal, or nabla, with ten strings, or holes. Calmet supposes this to have resembled our harp. In one of Kennicott’s MSS., this Psalm begins with the second verse.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He mentions these instruments, because they were used in the public worship and praises of God in the tabernacle.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Praise the Lord with harp,…. An instrument David was well skilled in the use of, the inventor of which was Jubal, Ge 4:21;
sing unto, him with the psaltery; the name of this instrument is in the Hebrew language “nebel”: the account which Josephus w gives of this, and of the former, is,
“the harp is extended with ten strings, and is plucked with a quill; the “nabla”, or psaltery, has twelve sounds, and is played upon with the fingers;”
some make this and the next to be the same:
[and] an instrument of ten strings; and read them together thus, “with the psaltery of ten strings”: and so the Targum, Septuagint, and other versions x: but it seems from Josephus that it was not a stringed instrument, but had holes, and those twelve; and besides it is distinguished from the instrument of ten strings, Ps 92:3; it was in the form of a bottle, from whence it had its name.
w Antiqu. l. 7. c. 12. s. 3. x Vid. Jarchium in loc. & R. Mosem in Aben Ezra in loc.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2. Praise Jehovah upon the harp. It is evident that the Psalmist here expresses the vehement and ardent affection which the faithful ought to have in praising God, when he enjoins musical instruments to be employed for this purpose. He would have nothing omitted by believers which tends to animate the minds and feelings of men in singing God’s praises. The name of God, no doubt, can, properly speaking, be celebrated only by the articulate voice; but it is not without reason that David adds to this those aids by which believers were wont to stimulate themselves the more to this exercise; especially considering that he was speaking to God’s ancient people. There is a distinction, however, to be observed here, that we may not indiscriminately consider as applicable to ourselves, every thing which was formerly enjoined upon the Jews. I have no doubt that playing upon cymbals, touching the harp and the viol, and all that kind of music, which is so frequently mentioned in the Psalms, was a part of the education; that is to say, the puerile instruction of the law: I speak of the stated service of the temple. For even now, if believers choose to cheer themselves with musical instruments, they should, I think, make it their object not to dissever their cheerfulness from the praises of God. But when they frequent their sacred assemblies, musical instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting up of lamps, and the restoration of the other shadows of the law. The Papists, therefore, have foolishly borrowed this, as well as many other things, from the Jews. Men who are fond of outward pomp may delight in that noise; but the simplicity which God recommends to us by the apostle is far more pleasing to him. Paul allows us to bless God in the public assembly of the saints only in a known tongue, (1Co 14:16.) The voice of man, although not understood by the generality, assuredly excels all inanimate instruments of music; and yet we see what St Paul determines concerning speaking in an unknown tongue. (672) What shall we then say of chanting, which fills the ears with nothing but an empty sound? Does any one object, that music is very useful for awakening the minds of men and moving their hearts? I own it; but we should always take care that no corruption creep in, which might both defile the pure worship of God and involve men in superstition. Moreover, since the Holy Spirit expressly warns us of this danger by the mouth of Paul, to proceed beyond what we are there warranted by him is not only, I must say, unadvised zeal, but wicked and perverse obstinacy.
(672) “ Et neant moins nous voyons ce que Sainct Paul en determine.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) Harp.Heb., khinnr (LXX. and Vulg., cithara), most probably a trigon or three-cornered harp, such as may be seen sculptured in Egyptian bas-reliefs. The number of strings probably varied, as different accounts are given. (See Bible Educator, 1:19.)
With the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.Properly, as LXX. and Vulg., with the ten-stringed psaltery. (See 1Sa. 10:5.) Evidently a more elaborate instrument than the khinnr, and with greater capacities. (See Bible Educator, 1:70, and art. Psaltery in Smiths Biblical Dictionary.) From the Greek psalterion comes the title psalter for the Book of Psalms. By its derivation it meant an instrument played with the fingers. The word was in use in old English:
And before hem went minstrels many one,
As harpes, pipes, lutes, and sautry.
CHAUCER: The Flower and the Leaf, 237.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Harp The kinnor was an instrument ordinarily of ten strings, sometimes more, (see note on Psa 81:2,) shaped, probably, like a modern harp, or, as some suppose, like the letter delta ( ) of the Greek alphabet. It was an Asiatic instrument of the earliest invention, (Gen 4:21,) used by the Hebrews on all occasions, either of joy or sorrow. See on Psa 92:3. But, though once so universally popular, it has now “disappeared from the entire East.” Van Lennep.
Psaltery Hebrew, nebel, another stringed instrument resembling the harp, probably a kind of guitar having six strings; Josephus says twelve, but Chappell says some were doubled, making virtually but six. In what respects it differed from the harp is not known. It was of Phoenician origin, much used by the Hebrews in worship. It is translated “viol,” Isa 5:12; Isa 44:11; Amo 5:23; Amo 6:5; and “lute” in the Prayer Book.
Instrument of ten strings Hebrew, ‘asor. Whether this is a different instrument from the “ psaltery” is doubtful. The full designation of “psaltery” is nebel ‘asor, the psaltery of ten strings, and here, and in Psa 92:4, it might be translated, “upon the psaltery of ten strings,” and, in Psa 92:3, “upon the ten stringed instrument, even the psaltery.” The word always occurs in connexion with psaltery.
New song New displays of divine faithfulness call for a new song of praise.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 33:2. The psaltery, &c. The psaltery of ten strings.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
I have no doubt but that musical instruments were made use of in the temple service. But still I cannot but think, that somewhat of a higher and more spiritual nature is intended from the frequent account we meet with concerning their use. Surely the stringed instruments of the soul are the only things from whence true melody can be offered to the Lord. And I venture to believe that the only suitable concert under the New Testament dispensation, is the melody which is wholly spiritual, when true worshippers with one mind and one mouth glorify God. Rom 15:6 . The new song since David’s days hath been published; John heard it in vision; and the Church are enabled to sing it by faith; Rev 5:9-10 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 33:2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery [and] an instrument of ten strings.
Ver. 2. Praise the Lord with harp ] Or cittern, Jubal’s invention, Gen 4:21 , much used by David and others of old under the Jewish pedagogy, as a help to devotion, as were also other musical instruments, here and elsewhere mentioned. Now it is otherwise; the best melody is to sing psalms with grace in our hearts; and for other music, when Aristotle was asked what he thought of it, he answered, Iovem nec canere, neque citharam pulsare, that Jupiter regarded it not.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Praise: Psa 81:2, Psa 81:3, Psa 92:3, Psa 98:4, Psa 98:5, Psa 144:9, Psa 149:3, Psa 150:3-6, Exo 15:20, 2Sa 6:5, 1Ch 15:16, 1Ch 15:28, 1Ch 25:3, 1Ch 25:6, Rev 5:8, Rev 14:2
with the psaltery: Benaivel asor, rather, “with the ten-stringed nabla.” See note on 1Ch 13:8.
Reciprocal: 1Ch 15:21 – harps Psa 34:3 – let us Psa 108:2 – Awake Psa 113:1 – O Psa 135:1 – Praise ye the Lord Psa 137:2 – we hanged Psa 150:4 – stringed
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 33:2-3. Praise the Lord with the harp, &c. He mentions these instruments, because they were used in the public worship of God in the tabernacle. Sing unto him a new song Either, 1st, A song newly composed: as if he had said, As God gives you fresh occasions to praise him, so do not content yourselves with the old songs or psalms made by former holy men of God, but make new ones suited to these occasions. Or, 2d, Songs renewed, or repeated and continued from day to day.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
33:2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery [and] an {b} instrument of ten strings.
(b) To sing on instruments, was a part of the ceremonial service of the temple, which does not belong to us any more than the sacrifices, censors and light.