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Selected Verse: Psalms 149:3 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Ps 149:3 |
King James |
Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
in the dance-- (Psa 30:11). The dance is connected with other terms, expressive of the great joy of the occasion. The word may be rendered "lute," to which the other instruments are joined.
sing praises--or, sing and play. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Let them praise his name in the dance - Margin, with the pipe. The Hebrew word here - מחול mâchôl - is rendered dancing in Psa 30:11; dance, as here, Psa 150:4 (where also the margin has pipe); Jer 31:13; Lam 5:15; dances, Jer 31:4. It does not elsewhere occur. On the verb חול chûl, see Psa 10:5, note; Psa 51:5, note. Here it cannot be improper to regard it as referring to that measured tread, or solemn movement which sometimes constituted a part of worship: Sa2 6:14. Such a movement cannot be proved to be wrong in worship; whether it is wise or expedient is a different matter. Customs in worship change as the customs of a people change; and that might be very proper in one stage of society, or in one period of the world, which, though not in itself wrong, might be very unadvisable in another. There was much in the Hebrew mode of worship which cannot be transferred to the forms of Christian worship without an obvious incongruity and disadvantage; and because a thing has been done, and is not in itself wrong, we should not infer that it should always be done, or that it would be always best. If people like the Shakers dance in worship, they have an undoubted right to do so, and it may be the most edifying mode of worship for them with their low notions of religion; let not others ridicule them; nor let others go to see them as they would any other "outr'e" performance from idle curiosity. Such absurdities might soon die away if they were not kept alive by the notice which they attract, and by the foolish curiosity of wiser people. There are some things which are more certain to come to an end by neglect than they could by sober argument; some things which live merely because they are ridiculed, and because they who practice them are exalted into conspicuity by their own folly, and by the idea that they are martyrs.
Let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp - On these instruments, see the notes at Isa 5:12; notes at Job 21:12; notes at Psa 68:25; notes at Psa 81:2. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Let them praise his name in the dance - במחול bemachol, with the pipe, or some kind of wind music, classed here with תף toph, the tabor or drum, and כנור kinnor, the harp." מחול machol," says Parkhurst, "some fistular wind-instrument of music, with holes, as a flute, pipe, or fife, from חל chal, to make a hole or opening." I know no place in the Bible where מחול machol and מחלת machalath mean dance of any kind; they constantly signify some kind of pipe. |
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
25 The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.
14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
15 The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.
13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;