The Meaning of Psalms 149:3 Explained

Psalms 149:3

KJV: Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

YLT: They praise His name in a dance, With timbrel and harp sing praise to Him.

Darby: Let them praise his name in the dance; let them sing psalms unto him with the tambour and harp.

ASV: Let them praise his name in the dance: Let them sing praises unto him with timbrel and harp.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let them praise  his name  in the dance:  let them sing praises  unto him with the timbrel  and harp. 

What does Psalms 149:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 149:1-9 - The Praise-Songs Of God's People
Israel was formed into a nation and delivered from Babylon, that her singers should lead the praises of mankind, and her teachers provide the metaphors and phrases for the world's religious nurture. "This people have I made for myself," said the Most High, "that they might show forth my praise." Is it not also our Christian duty to be joyful in our King? Our religious life has not enough ecstasy and gladness in it to attract the world, which is sad enough beneath its outward gaiety.
Psalms 150:1-6
A worthy close to the Psalter. Ten times the summons to praise rings out, and ten is the number of perfection. Think of the tears and groans, the questionings and perplexities, the feeble faith and disappointed aspiration, that have preceded! Now it all finishes thus! So life will finish! Our Misereres will be forgotten in the outbursting Jubilates . The first three books of the Psalter end with Amen and Amen, the firm expression of faith. The fourth book with Amen, Hallelujah, as though faith were beginning to be lost in glad realization. But here, at the end of all, there is one abounding and unhesitating Hallelujah!
For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comments. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 149

1  The prophet exhorts to praise God for his love to the church
5  And for that power which he has given to the church

What do the individual words in Psalms 149:3 mean?

Let them praise His name with the dance with the timbrel and harp let them sing praises to Him
יְהַֽלְל֣וּ שְׁמ֣וֹ בְמָח֑וֹל בְּתֹ֥ף וְ֝כִנּ֗וֹר יְזַמְּרוּ־ לֽוֹ

יְהַֽלְל֣וּ  Let  them  praise 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
שְׁמ֣וֹ  His  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
בְמָח֑וֹל  with  the  dance 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָחֹול  
Sense: dance, dancing.
בְּתֹ֥ף  with  the  timbrel 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּתֹף 
Sense: timbrel, tambourine.
וְ֝כִנּ֗וֹר  and  harp 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כִּנּׄור  
Sense: lyre, harp.
יְזַמְּרוּ־  let  them  sing  praises 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: זָמַר  
Sense: to sing, sing praise, make music.
לֽוֹ  to  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular