Topical Bible: Melody

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, "melody" refers to a sequence of musical notes that are pleasing to the ear, often used in worship and praise to God. The concept of melody is deeply intertwined with the expression of joy, worship, and spiritual devotion throughout the Scriptures.

Old Testament References

The Hebrew word often associated with melody is "zimrah," which can mean a song or a musical piece. In the Old Testament, melody is frequently linked with the worship practices of the Israelites. For instance, in the Psalms, which are rich with musical language, melody plays a central role in the expression of worship. Psalm 98:5 states, "Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, in melodious song with the harp." Here, melody is an integral part of the musical worship offered to God, emphasizing the beauty and harmony of praise.

The use of melody in worship is also evident in the temple practices. King David, known for his musical talents, appointed Levites to lead in song and melody as part of the temple service (1 Chronicles 15:16). This highlights the importance of melody in creating an atmosphere of reverence and celebration before the Lord.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, melody continues to hold significance in the life of the early church. The Greek word "psallo," often translated as "making melody," appears in Ephesians 5:19 : "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord." This passage underscores the role of melody in fostering communal worship and personal devotion, encouraging believers to express their faith through song.

Melody in the New Testament is not limited to corporate worship but extends to personal edification and spiritual encouragement. Colossians 3:16 echoes this sentiment: "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." Here, melody serves as a vehicle for teaching, admonishing, and expressing gratitude, reflecting the transformative power of music in the believer's life.

Theological Significance

Theologically, melody in the Bible is more than just musical notes; it is a means of expressing the inexpressible, a way to communicate the depths of human emotion and divine truth. It is a gift from God that allows believers to connect with Him and with one another on a profound level. Melody in worship is seen as a reflection of the order and beauty of God's creation, an echo of the heavenly worship described in Revelation, where the redeemed sing a new song before the throne of God (Revelation 5:9).

In summary, melody in the Bible is a powerful expression of worship and devotion, deeply rooted in both the Old and New Testaments. It serves as a bridge between the human and the divine, enabling believers to offer their praise and adoration to God in a harmonious and heartfelt manner.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) A sweet or agreeable succession of sounds.

2. (n.) A rhythmical succession of single tones, ranging for the most part within a given key, and so related together as to form a musical whole, having the unity of what is technically called a musical thought, at once pleasing to the ear and characteristic in expression.

3. (n.) The air or tune of a musical piece.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

MELODY

mel'-o-di: zimrah, a musical piece or song to be accompanied by an instrument (Isaiah 51:3); an instrument of praise (Amos 5:23); naghan, "to play on a stringed instrument," "Make sweet melody, sing many songs" (Isaiah 23:16); psallo to celebrate the praises of God with music (Ephesians 5:19).

See MUSIC.

Greek

5567. psallo -- to pull, twitch, twang, play, sing
... Word Origin from psao (to rub) Definition to pull, twitch, twang, play, sing NASB
Word Usage making melody (1), sing (3), sing praises (1). sing, make melody. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5567.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

2172. zimrah -- melody, song (in praise of Yah)
... 2171, 2172. zimrah. 2173 . melody, song (in praise of Yah). Transliteration:
zimrah Phonetic Spelling: (zim-raw') Short Definition: song. ... melody, psalm. ...
/hebrew/2172.htm - 6k

3128. Yonath Elem Rechoqim -- "dove of distant silences," probably ...
Yonath Elem Rechoqim. 3127, 3128. Yonath Elem Rechoqim. 3129 . "dove of distant
silences," probably the name of a melody. Transliteration ...
/hebrew/3128.htm - 6k

4210. mizmor -- a melody.
... mizmor. 4211 . a melody. Transliteration: mizmor Phonetic Spelling: (miz-more')
Short Definition: psalm. Word Origin from zamar Definition a melody. psalm ...
/hebrew/4210.htm - 5k

5059. nagan -- to touch or play a stringed instrument
... pluck the strings (1). player on instruments, sing to the stringed instruments,
melody, ministrel, player,. A primitive root; properly ...
/hebrew/5059.htm - 6k

Library

Melody. CM
... 185 Melody. CM. Law and Grace. (399) Vain are the hopes, the sons of men
On their own works have built; Their hearts by nature all ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/185 melody c m.htm

The Fire of Love or Melody of Love, as Translated by Richard Misyn ...
... THE FIRE OF LOVE OR MELODY OF LOVE, AS TRANSLATED BY RICHARD MISYN IN 1435 AD FROM
THE INCENDIUM AMORIS' BY RICHARD ROLLE OF HAMPOLE: AND NOW DONE INTO MODERN ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/the fire of love or.htm

Twentieth Sunday after Trinity. Singing and Making Melody in Your ...
... Singing and making melody in your heart unto the Lord; giving thanks always for
all things unto God and the Father, in the name our Lord Jesus Christ. ...
/.../lyra germanica the christian year/twentieth sunday after trinity singing.htm

A Fair Melody: to be Sung by Good Christians.
... A FAIR MELODY: TO BE SUNG BY GOOD CHRISTIANS. 8,6,8,6,7,8,7 Wach' auf meines Herzens
Sch??ne. [67]Hans Sachs. trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1869. ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/a fair melody to be.htm

Another Crusading Song, which was Very Widely Used on Pilgrimages ...
... Another crusading song, which was very widely used on pilgrimages in these days,
was sung to a melody which has been preserved to the present time, by its ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/another crusading song which was.htm

Music (Christmas Day. )
... That is a mystery known only to God. Two things I may make you understand"
two things which help to make music"melody and harmony. ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xvii music christmas day.htm

"He Hath Put a New Song in My Mouth, Even Thanksgiving unto Our ...
... 3. Thanksgiving and the voice of melody,. This new year's morning, call me
from my sleep; ... ear,. Thanksgiving, and the voice of melody,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/waring/hymns and meditations/he hath put a new.htm

Our Glad Jubilee. PM
... Thanksgiving Anniversary. Wake, wake the song! our glad jubilee Once more we hail
with sweet melody, Bringing our hymns of praise unto thee, O most holy Lord! ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/545 our glad jubilee p m.htm

Preface to the Yattendon Hymnal
... sources whence all the tunes are taken are well known, and have been already largely
drawn upon by the compilers of Psalters and Hymnals, any melody which is ...
/.../preface to the yattendon hymnal.htm

Of the Felicity and Sweetness of God's Love: and of the ...
... that it is pleased to think rather to die than to live.' This flower certain can
not end for my friend is so burning in love, he sings the melody and joy of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter xii of the felicity.htm

Thesaurus

Melody (55 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) The air or tune of a musical piece. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MELODY. ...
See MUSIC. Multi-Version Concordance Melody (55 Occurrences). ...
/m/melody.htm - 24k

Makers (20 Occurrences)
... from the sandal-wood the king made pillars for the house of the Lord, and for the
king's house, and instruments of music for the makers of melody: never has ...
/m/makers.htm - 13k

Corded (37 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 6:5 And David and all the men of Israel made melody before the Lord with
all their power, with songs and with corded instruments and instruments of ...
/c/corded.htm - 18k

Lyre (32 Occurrences)
... harp. (WEB NAS RSV NIV). Psalms 92:3 with the ten-stringed lute, with the
harp, and with the melody of the lyre. (WEB NAS RSV NIV). ...
/l/lyre.htm - 15k

Melodious (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Containing, or producing, melody; musical; agreeable
to the ear by a sweet succession of sounds; as, a melodious voice. ...
/m/melodious.htm - 6k

Chant (2 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To sing or recite after the manner of a chant, or to a tune called a chant.
4. (vi) To make melody with the voice; to sing. ... 6. (vt) Song; melody. ...
/c/chant.htm - 8k

Sounding (99 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 15:19 So those who made melody, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were put
in position, with brass instruments, sounding loudly; (BBE). ...
/s/sounding.htm - 37k

Sounds (64 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 52:9 Give sounds of joy, make melody together, waste places of Jerusalem:
for the Lord has given comfort to his people, he has taken up the cause of ...
/s/sounds.htm - 26k

Instrument (45 Occurrences)
... Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob! (WEB). Psalms 81:2 Take up the melody,
playing on an instrument of music, even on corded instruments. (BBE). ...
/i/instrument.htm - 22k

Lovely (19 Occurrences)
... 4. (superl.) Very pleasing; -- applied loosely to almost anything which is not grand
or merely pretty; as, a lovely view; a lovely valley; a lovely melody. ...
/l/lovely.htm - 13k

Resources

When can music be considered 'Christian music'? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to make a joyful noise unto the Lord? | GotQuestions.org

What are the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs mentioned in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16? | GotQuestions.org

Melody: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Melody (55 Occurrences)

Ephesians 5:19
speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
(WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 31:27
Why did you make a secret of your flight, not giving me word of it, so that I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with melody and music?
(BBE)

Judges 5:3
Give attention, O kings; give ear, O rulers; I, even I, will make a song to the Lord; I will make melody to the Lord, the God of Israel.
(BBE DBY RSV)

1 Samuel 18:6
Now on their way, when David came back after the destruction of the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, with songs and dances, meeting David with melody and joy and instruments of music.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 6:5
And David and all the men of Israel made melody before the Lord with all their power, with songs and with corded instruments and instruments of brass.
(BBE)

1 Kings 10:12
And from the sandal-wood the king made pillars for the house of the Lord, and for the king's house, and instruments of music for the makers of melody: never has such sandal-wood been seen to this day.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 6:33
And these are those who did this work, and their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman, who made melody, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 13:8
Then David and all Israel made melody before God with all their strength, with songs and corded instruments of music, and with brass instruments and horns.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 15:19
So those who made melody, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were put in position, with brass instruments, sounding loudly;
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 15:27
And David was clothed with a robe of fair linen, as were all the Levites who took up the ark, and those who made melody, and Chenaniah the master of those who made melody; and David had on a linen ephod;
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 16:9
Let your voice be sounded in songs and melody; let all your thoughts be of the wonder of his works.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 23:30
They had to take their places every morning to give praise and make melody to the Lord, and in the same way at evening;
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 25:1
Further, David and the chiefs of the servants of the holy place made selection of certain of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun for the work of prophets, to make melody with corded instruments and brass; and the number of the men for the work they had to do was:
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 25:7
And the number of them, with their brothers who were trained and expert in making melody to the Lord, was two hundred and eighty-eight.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 5:13
And when the players on horns, and those who made melody in song, with one voice were sounding the praise and glory of the Lord; with loud voices and with wind instruments, and brass and corded instruments of music, praising the Lord and saying, He is good; his mercy is unchanging for ever: then the house was full of the cloud of the glory of the Lord,
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 9:11
And with the sandal-wood the king made steps for the house of the Lord and for the king's house, and instruments of music for the makers of melody; never before had such been seen in the land of Judah.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 20:21
And after discussion with the people, he put in their places those who were to make melody to the Lord, praising him in holy robes, while they went at the head of the army, and saying, May the Lord be praised, for his mercy is unchanging for ever.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 23:13
And looking, she saw the king in his place by the pillar at the doorway, and the captains and the horns by his side; and all the people of the land were giving signs of joy and sounding the horns; and the makers of melody were playing on instruments of music, taking the chief part in the song of praise. Then Athaliah, violently parting her robes, said, Broken faith, broken faith!
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 30:21
So the children of Israel who were present in Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread for seven days with great joy: and the Levites and the priests gave praise to the Lord day by day, making melody to the Lord with loud instruments.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 35:15
And the sons of Asaph, the makers of melody, were in their places, as ordered by David and Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, the king's seer; and the door-keepers were stationed at every door: there was no need for them to go away from their places, for their brothers the Levites made ready for them.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 35:25
And Jeremiah made a song of grief for Josiah; and to this day Josiah is named by all the makers of melody, men and women, in their songs of grief; they made it a rule in Israel; and the songs are recorded among the songs of grief.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 12:27
And when the time came for the wall of Jerusalem to be made holy, they sent for the Levites out of all their places to come to Jerusalem, to keep the feast with joy, and with praise and melody, with brass and corded instruments of music.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 12:42
And Maaseiah and Shemaiah and Eleazar and Uzzi and Jehohanan and Malchijah and Elam and Ezer. And the makers of melody made their voices loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.
(BBE)

Psalms 27:6
Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me. I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Psalms 33:2
Give praise to the Lord on the corded instrument; make melody to him with instruments of music.
(BBE RSV)

Psalms 57:7
My heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises.
(See RSV)

Psalms 71:23
Joy will be on my lips when I make melody to you; and in my soul, to which you have given salvation.
(BBE)

Psalms 81:2
Take up the melody, playing on an instrument of music, even on corded instruments.
(BBE JPS)

Psalms 92:1
<A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath.> It is a good thing to give praise to the Lord, and to make melody to your name, O Most High;
(BBE)

Psalms 92:3
with the ten-stringed lute, with the harp, and with the melody of the lyre.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Psalms 95:2
Let us come before his face with praises; and make melody with holy songs.
(BBE)

Psalms 96:1
O make a new song to the Lord; let all the earth make melody to the Lord.
(BBE)

Psalms 98:5
Sing praises to Yahweh with the harp, with the harp and the voice of melody.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS RSV)

Psalms 101:1
<A Psalm. Of David.> I will make a song of mercy and righteousness; to you, O Lord, will I make melody.
(BBE)

Psalms 104:33
I will make songs to the Lord all my life; I will make melody to my God while I have my being.
(BBE)

Psalms 105:2
Let your voice be sounding in songs and melody; let all your thoughts be of the wonder of his works.
(BBE)

Psalms 108:1
<A Song. A Psalm. Of David.> O God, my heart is fixed; I will make songs and melody, even with my glory.
(BBE RSV)

Psalms 108:3
I will give you praise, O Lord, among the peoples; I will make melody to you among the nations.
(BBE)

Psalms 135:3
Give praise to Jah, for he is good: make melody to his name, for it is pleasing.
(BBE)

Psalms 138:1
<Of David.> I will give you praise with all my heart: I will make melody to you before the gods.
(BBE)

Psalms 144:9
I will make a new song to you, O God; I will make melody to you on an instrument of ten cords.
(BBE)

Psalms 146:2
While I have breath I will give praise to the Lord: I will make melody to my God while I have my being.
(BBE)

Psalms 147:1
Give praise to the Lord; for it is good to make melody to our God; praise is pleasing and beautiful.
(BBE)

Psalms 147:7
Make songs of praise to the Lord; make melody to our God with instruments of music.
(BBE RSV)

Psalms 149:3
Let them give praise to his name in the dance: let them make melody to him with instruments of brass and corded instruments of music.
(BBE RSV)

Proverbs 25:20
Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.
(BBE)

Isaiah 23:16
Take a harp; go about the city, you prostitute that has been forgotten. Make sweet melody. Sing many songs, that you may be remembered.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV)

Isaiah 51:3
For Yahweh has comforted Zion; he has comforted all her waste places, and has made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Yahweh; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS NAS)

Isaiah 52:9
Give sounds of joy, make melody together, waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord has given comfort to his people, he has taken up the cause of Jerusalem.
(BBE)

Isaiah 54:1
Let your voice be loud in song, O woman without children; make melody and sounds of joy, you who did not give birth: for the children of her who had no husband are more than those of the married wife, says the Lord.
(BBE)

Isaiah 55:12
For you will go out with joy, and be guided in peace: the mountains and the hills will make melody before you, and all the trees of the fields will make sounds of joy.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 20:13
Make melody to the Lord, give praise to the Lord: for he has made the soul of the poor man free from the hands of the evil-doers.
(BBE)

Amos 5:23
Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
(KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV)

Amos 8:10
Your feasts will be turned into sorrow and all your melody into songs of grief; everyone will be clothed with haircloth, and the hair of every head will be cut; I will make the weeping like that for an only son, and the end of it like a bitter day.
(BBE)

Zephaniah 3:14
Make melody, O daughter of Zion; give a loud cry, O Israel; be glad and let your heart be full of joy, O daughter of Jerusalem.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Melody

Related Terms

Melons (2 Occurrences)

Gourd (4 Occurrences)

Lute (13 Occurrences)

Citron (2 Occurrences)

Melody (55 Occurrences)

Egypt (596 Occurrences)