Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 33:3

Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

3. a new song ] Fresh mercies demand a fresh expression of gratitude. See Psa 40:3; and cp. Psa 96:1; Psa 98:1; Psa 149:1; Isa 42:10; Jdt 16:13 ; Rev 5:9. Psa 144:9 reproduces 2 b, and 3 a.

with a loud noise ] Referring either to the music itself, or to the accompanying shouts of joy. See note on Psa 27:6, where the same word is rendered joy in A.V.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Sing unto him a new song – A song specially composed for this occasion; expressive of the special feelings suggested by this occasion, or appropriate to this new manifestation of the divine goodness and mercy. Such occasions, exhibiting some new phase of the divine goodness, demanded new language appropriate to them. So now, new hymns of praise, and new tunes in music, are demanded to meet the ever-varying manifestations of the mercy of God; and as the church is extended in the world, its modes of praise must be adapted to the new state of things which will arise. Nothing could be more absurd than to attempt to restrict the church in its praises to the exact words which were used in the time of David, or to the music which was employed then. Compare the notes at Rev 5:9. The expression new song occurs several times in the Psalms, showing that new hymns of praise were composed as adapted to some new manifestation of the goodness of God: Psa 40:3; Psa 96:1; Psa 98:1; Psa 144:9; Psa 149:1. Compare also Isa 42:10.

Play skillfully with a loud noise – literally, Do well to play; or, do well in playing. That is, do the work well, or with all the skill of music. The word rendered loud noise, means properly a shout of joy or rejoicing: Job 8:21; 1Sa 4:5. It is especially applied to the sound or clangor of trumpets: Lev 25:9; Lev 23:24; Num 29:1. There is rather the idea of rejoicing than of noise in the word. The meaning is that the music should be such as would be expressive of the highest joy.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 3. Sing unto him a new song] Do not wear out the old forms: fresh mercies call for new songs of praise and gratitude.

Play skilfully with a loud noise.] Let sense and sound accompany each other; let the style of the music be suited to the words. This skill is possessed by few singers. They can make a loud noise, but they cannot adapt sound to sense.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

A new song; either,

1. Newly composed. As God gives you fresh occasions, so do not you content yourselves with the old songs or psalms, made by the holy men of God, but make new ones suited to the occasions. But neither had all the righteous, to whom he speaks, Psa 33:1, the gift of composing songs, nor was it of any necessity or importance that they should make new songs to praise God, at least for the works here mentioned, when there were so many made by David, and other holy prophets, for the use of Gods church and people, when they had any such occasion. Or,

2. Renewed, or repeated, or sung again; in which sense Job saith his glory was new, or fresh in him, Job 29:20, i.e. renewed or continued from day to day; and the command of love is called new, Joh 13:34, because it was renewed and reinforced by Christ. So this song is here called new, not so much from the matter, as from the singing of it; because it was sung afresh, or again.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

3. a new songfresh, adaptedto the occasion (Psa 40:3;Psa 96:1).

play skilfully(Compare1Sa 16:17).

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Sing unto him a new song,…. One newly composed on account of recent mercies received; and as the mercies of God are new every morning, there ought to be a daily song of praise to him; and so a new song is a continual song, as Christ is called the “new and living way”,

Heb 10:20; because he is the everliving way; or the constant and only one, which always was, is, and will be. Or it may denote some famous and excellent song, as a new name is an excellent name, an unknown and unspeakable one; see Re 2:17; compared with Re 14:2; or respect may be had to the New Testament dispensation, in which old things are passed away, and all things become new; a new covenant is exhibited, a new and living way opened, and new ordinances instituted, and at the end of it there will be new heavens and a new earth; and so here is a new song made mention of, as suited to it;

play skilfully with a loud voice: either with the quill upon the harp, and the instrument of ten strings; or with the fingers upon the psaltery, at the same time, vocally, and aloud, expressing the new song.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

3. Sing unto him a new song. As the Psalmist afterwards treats of the mighty works of God, and particularly concerning the preservation of the Church, it is not wonderful that he exhorts the righteous to sing a new, that is, a rare and choice song. The more closely and diligently that believers consider the works of God, the more will they exert themselves in his praises. It is no common song, therefore, which he exhorts them to sing, but a song corresponding to the magnificence of the subject. This is also the meaning of the second clause, in which he urges them to sing loudly. In this sense, I understand the Hebrew word היתיב, heytib, although others refer it rather to the proper setting of the notes.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

(3) A new song.This expression occurs in Psa. 96:1; Psa. 98:1; Psa. 149:1; Isa. 42:10; Jdt. 16:13, and was adopted in Rev. 5:9; Rev. 14:3. The term apparently marked the revival of national psalmody after the Captivity. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare . . . Sing unto the Lord a new song (Isa. 42:9-10).

Play skilfully with a loud noise.The latter words represent a Hebrew expression of common hymnic use, describing the full choral effect when instruments and voices were joined in the service of the sanctuary (Psa. 95:1; Psa. 100:1, &c). Some, however, limit it (after Lev. 25:9) to the trumpet accompaniment, and render

Strike the harp deftly for him,
Amid the blare of trumpets.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

Psa 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

Ver. 3. Sing unto him a new song ] sc. Upon every new emergent occasion. God reneweth his mercies not only every morning, but every moment: so should we our praises; every breath we draw should praise the Lord, Psa 150:6 . Doth God give comforts? praise him, and they shall be continued. Doth he send crosses? praise him, and they shall be removed, saith a Father; but “in everything give thanks”; and that not coldly and cursorily, but ardently, and with utmost affection; for which cause this duty is so reiterated here, and pressed with such forcible arguments in the following verses, as might work upon the very stones almost; much more men, for whose sakes all this fair fabric of the world was erected.

Play skilfully (or lustily) with a loud noise] Make good music, set all your skill and might at work to magnify the Lord. It is not an easy matter to praise God aright; it must be done Corde, ore, opere, with the very best of the best. Benefacite canendo, cum iubilatione.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)