1 Chronicles 15:16
New International Version
David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.

New Living Translation
David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals.

English Standard Version
David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy.

Berean Standard Bible
David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.

King James Bible
And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.

New King James Version
Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy.

New American Standard Bible
Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives as the singers, with musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals, playing to raise sounds of joy.

NASB 1995
Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise sounds of joy.

NASB 1977
Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise sounds of joy.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then David said to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise a sound of gladness.

Amplified Bible
Then David told the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives as the singers, with instruments of music—harps, lyres, and cymbals—to play loudly and to raise sounds of joy [with their voices].

Christian Standard Bible
Then David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers and to have them raise their voices with joy accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers and to have them raise their voices with joy accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.

American Standard Version
And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers, with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And David told the Elders of Levi to appoint their brothers, those who minister and sing with instruments of songs, with tambourines, and with harps, and with cymbals, that they would be heard lifting up their voices with joy.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And David said to the chiefs of the Levites, Set your brethren the singers with musical instruments, lutes, harps, and cymbals, to sound aloud with a voice of joy.

Contemporary English Version
David then told the leaders to choose some Levites to sing and play music on small harps, other stringed instruments, and cymbals.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites, to appoint some of their brethren to be singers with musical instruments, to wit, on psalteries, and harps, and cymbals, that the joyful noise might resound on high.

English Revised Version
And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers, with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
David told the Levite leaders to appoint some of their relatives to serve as musicians. They were expected to play music on harps, lyres, and cymbals to produce joyful music for singing.

Good News Translation
David commanded the leaders of the Levites to assign various Levites to sing and to play joyful music on harps and cymbals.

International Standard Version
David also told the leaders of the descendants of Levi to appoint their relatives as singers, to play musical instruments such as harps, lyres, and cymbals, and to keep sounding aloud with joyful voices.

JPS Tanakh 1917
And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers, with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy.

Literal Standard Version
And David says to the heads of the Levites to appoint their brothers the singers, with instruments of song, psalteries, and harps, and cymbals, sounding, to lift up with the voice for joy.

Majority Standard Bible
David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.

New American Bible
David commanded the commanders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers and to play on musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals, to make a loud sound of rejoicing.

NET Bible
David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully.

New Revised Standard Version
David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kindred as the singers to play on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise loud sounds of joy.

New Heart English Bible
David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers the singers, with instruments of music, stringed instruments and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy.

Webster's Bible Translation
And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries, and harps, and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.

World English Bible
David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers with instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up their voices with joy.

Young's Literal Translation
And David saith to the heads of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers, with instruments of song, psalteries, and harps, and cymbals, sounding, to lift up with the voice for joy.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Priests and Levites Carry the Ark
15And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD. 16David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments— harps, lyres, and cymbals. 17So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah;…

Cross References
Exodus 15:20
Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing.

1 Chronicles 6:31
These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark rested there.

1 Chronicles 13:8
David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

1 Chronicles 23:5
4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I have made for giving praise."

1 Chronicles 25:1
Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service:

1 Chronicles 25:6
All these were under the direction of their fathers for the music of the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the direction of the king.

2 Chronicles 5:12
all the Levitical singers--Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives--stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets.


Treasury of Scripture

And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.

And David

2 Chronicles 30:12
Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.

Ezra 7:24-28
Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them…

Isaiah 49:23
And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

chief

1 Chronicles 15:12
And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.

Acts 14:23
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

1 Timothy 3:1-15
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work…

the singers

1 Chronicles 15:27,28
And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen…

1 Chronicles 6:31-38
And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest…

1 Chronicles 13:8
And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.

lifting up

2 Chronicles 5:13
It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

Ezra 3:10,11
And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel…

Nehemiah 12:43
Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.

Jump to Previous
Aloud Appoint Brass Chief Chiefs Commanded Corded Cymbals David Glad Harps Heads Instruments Joy Joyful Levites Loud-Sounding Making Music Music-Makers Orders Play Position Psalteries Raise Relatives Sing Singers Song Sound Sounding Sounds Stringed Voice Voices
Jump to Next
Aloud Appoint Brass Chief Chiefs Commanded Corded Cymbals David Glad Harps Heads Instruments Joy Joyful Levites Loud-Sounding Making Music Music-Makers Orders Play Position Psalteries Raise Relatives Sing Singers Song Sound Sounding Sounds Stringed Voice Voices
1 Chronicles 15
1. David having prepared a place for the ark,
15. the priests and Levites bring it from Obed-Edom
25. He performs the solemnity thereof with great joy
29. Michal despises him














(16) David spake to the chief.--Ordered the chiefs (s?rim).

To appoint their brethren to be the singers.--To station or assign places to their clansmen, the minstrels.

Psalteries and harps.--Harps and lutes, or guitars (n?b?lim and kinnoroth).

Sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.--So far as grammar goes, the participle sounding (Heb., causing to hear--i.e., making a loud noise) might refer to the musicians, or to all the instruments mentioned, or to the last kind (the cymbals) only. The third reference is the best, because of the special sense of the verb. (Comp. 1Chronicles 15:19 and Psalm 150:5 : "loud cymbals," i.e., cymbals of sound or hearing.) Translate: "harps and lutes and clashing cymbals, in order to swell the sound for gladness:" that is, to express and enhance the rejoicing. (Comp. 2Chronicles 5:13.)

Verses 16, 17. - To appoint their brethren to be the singers. This was the first step towards what we have already read in 1 Chronicles 6:31-39, 44; 1 Chronicles 9:33, 34 (where see notes).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
David also
דָּוִיד֮ (dā·wîḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

told
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the leaders
לְשָׂרֵ֣י (lə·śā·rê)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

of the Levites
הַלְוִיִּם֒ (hal·wî·yim)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

to appoint
לְהַֽעֲמִ֗יד (lə·ha·‘ă·mîḏ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

their relatives
אֲחֵיהֶם֙ (’ă·ḥê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 251: A brother, )

as singers
הַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים (ham·šō·rə·rîm)
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7891: To sing

to raise
לְהָרִֽים־ (lə·hā·rîm-)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7311: To be high actively, to rise, raise

their voices
בְּק֖וֹל (bə·qō·wl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

with joy,
לְשִׂמְחָֽה׃ (lə·śim·ḥāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8057: Blithesomeness, glee

accompanied by musical
שִׁ֛יר (šîr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7892: A song, singing

instruments—
בִּכְלֵי־ (biḵ·lê-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus

harps,
נְבָלִ֥ים (nə·ḇā·lîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5035: A skin-bag for, liquids, a vase, a lyre

lyres,
וְכִנֹּר֖וֹת (wə·ḵin·nō·rō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3658: A harp

and cymbals.
וּמְצִלְתָּ֑יִם (ū·mə·ṣil·tā·yim)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - cd
Strong's 4700: Double tinklers, cymbals


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 15:16 David spoke to the chief (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 15:15
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