The Meaning of Psalms 150:4 Explained

Psalms 150:4

KJV: Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

YLT: Praise Him with timbrel and dance, Praise Him with stringed instruments and organ.

Darby: Praise him with the tambour and dance; praise him with stringed instruments and the pipe;

ASV: Praise him with timbrel and dance: Praise him with stringed instruments and pipe.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Praise  him with the timbrel  and dance:  praise  him with stringed instruments  and organs. 

What does Psalms 150:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 150:1-6 - 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!
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Chapter Summary: Psalms 150

1  An exhortation to praise God
3  With all kinds of instruments

What do the individual words in Psalms 150:4 mean?

Praise Him with the timbrel and dance Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes
הַֽ֭לְלוּהוּ בְתֹ֣ף וּמָח֑וֹל הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בְּמִנִּ֥ים וְעוּגָֽב

הַֽ֭לְלוּהוּ  Praise  Him 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
בְתֹ֣ף  with  the  timbrel 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּתֹף 
Sense: timbrel, tambourine.
וּמָח֑וֹל  and  dance 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָחֹול  
Sense: dance, dancing.
הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ  Praise  Him 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
בְּמִנִּ֥ים  with  stringed  instruments 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֵן 
Sense: string (of harp).
וְעוּגָֽב  and  flutes 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עוּגָב  
Sense: a musical instrument.