Muth-labben is a term found in the title of Psalm 9 in the Hebrew Bible. The full title reads, "For the choirmaster. To the tune of 'The Death of the Son.' A Psalm of David." The phrase "Muth-labben" is often translated as "The Death of the Son" in the Berean Standard Bible and is considered a musical or liturgical direction, possibly indicating the tune to which the psalm was to be sung.

Etymology and Interpretation

The Hebrew phrase "Muth-labben" (מוּת לַבֵּן) is somewhat enigmatic, and its precise meaning has been the subject of scholarly debate. The term "muth" (מוּת) translates to "death," while "labben" (לַבֵּן) is often understood as "the son." Some interpretations suggest that it refers to a specific melody or musical style known at the time of David. Others propose that it might be a reference to a particular event or person, possibly a lament for a deceased individual.

Context in the Psalms

Psalm 9 is a psalm of David, characterized by themes of praise and thanksgiving for God's justice and deliverance. The psalmist expresses confidence in God's righteous judgment and protection against enemies. The title, including the phrase "Muth-labben," may indicate that the psalm was intended to be sung to a specific tune associated with mourning or victory over death, reflecting the psalm's themes of triumph over adversaries and divine justice.

Theological Significance

From a theological perspective, the use of "Muth-labben" in the title of Psalm 9 underscores the psalm's focus on God's sovereignty and justice. The notion of "death" in the title may symbolize the ultimate defeat of evil and the vindication of the righteous. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative of God's triumph over sin and death, a theme that resonates throughout the Scriptures.

Historical and Liturgical Usage

In the historical context of ancient Israel, psalms were integral to worship and were often accompanied by music. The mention of specific tunes or musical directions, such as "Muth-labben," suggests a rich tradition of liturgical music. While the exact melody or style associated with "Muth-labben" is lost to history, its inclusion in the psalm's title indicates its importance in the worship practices of the time.

Conclusion

The term "Muth-labben" remains a fascinating and somewhat mysterious element within the Psalter. Its presence in the title of Psalm 9 invites readers to consider the depth of meaning in the psalm's themes of divine justice and deliverance. While the precise details of its musical or liturgical significance may be elusive, "Muth-labben" contributes to the rich tapestry of worship and theological reflection found in the Book of Psalms.Occurring only in the title of Psalm 9. Some interpret the words as meaning "on the death of Labben," some unknown person. Others render the word, "on the death of the son;" i.e., of Absalom (2 Samuel 18:33). Others again have taken the word as the name of a musical instrument, or as the name of an air to which the psalm was sung. MUTH-LABBEN

muth-lab'-en (muth labben, "death of Ben," or "of the son"; Psalm 9, title).

See PSALMS.

4192. Muth -- "to die for the son," probably a song title
... the son", probably the title of a popular song -- death, Muthlabben. see HEBREW
'Abiyram. see HEBREW muwth. see HEBREW ben. 4191, 4192. Muth or Muth Labben. ...
/hebrew/4192.htm - 6k

Psalm 9
... Psalm 9. To the chief Musician upon Muth-labben, A Psalm of David. 8,6,8,6. ^1Lord,
thee I'll praise with all my heart,. thy wonders all proclaim. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 9.htm

Letter Liii. To Paulinus.
... [1429] 1 Corinthians 2:6, 7. [1430] 1 Corinthians 1:24. [1431] "Upon Muthlabben"
AV See Perowne on the words. [1432] 1 Samuel 9:9. [1433] John 8:56. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter liii to paulinus.htm

The Poetical Books.
... "Upon Shemimith" means "set for bass voices;" "Upon Alamoth," "set for female voices."
"Upon Muthlabben," a curious transliteration, means "arranged for ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter vii the poetical books.htm

Muthlabben (2 Occurrences)
...MUTH-LABBEN. muth-lab'-en (muthlabben, "death of Ben," or "of the son"; Psalm 9,
title). See PSALMS. Multi-Version Concordance Muthlabben (2 Occurrences). ...
/m/muthlabben.htm - 7k

Muth-labben (1 Occurrence)
Muth-labben. Muthlabben, Muth-labben. Mutilate . Easton's Bible Dictionary ... A
Psalm of David. (9:2) (See RSV). Muthlabben, Muth-labben. Mutilate . ...
/m/muth-labben.htm - 7k

Mute (29 Occurrences)

/m/mute.htm - 16k

Labben (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Labben (1 Occurrence). Psalms 9:1 For the Leader; upon
Muthlabben. A Psalm of David. (9:2) (Root in JPS BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV). ...
/l/labben.htm - 6k

Recount (39 Occurrences)
... Psalms 9:1 {To the chief Musician. Upon Muthlabben. A Psalm of David.} I will praise
Jehovah with my whole heart; I will recount all thy marvellous works. ...
/r/recount.htm - 17k

Musician (112 Occurrences)
... (WEB DBY WBS). Psalms 8:9 O Jehovah, our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all
the earth! Psalm 9 For the Chief Musician; set to Muthlabben. A Psalm of David. ...
/m/musician.htm - 39k

Mutilate (3 Occurrences)

/m/mutilate.htm - 7k

Music-maker (55 Occurrences)
... is your name in all the earth! (BBE). Psalms 9:1 <To the chief music-maker
on Muthlabben. A Psalm. Of David.> I will give you praise ...
/m/music-maker.htm - 23k

Psalm (213 Occurrences)
... Psalms 8:9 O Jehovah, our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all the earth! Psalm
9 For the Chief Musician; set to Muthlabben. A Psalm of David. (ASV). ...
/p/psalm.htm - 37k

Song (207 Occurrences)
... rhythm. It has also been held to designate a musical instrument. (5) Muthlabben
(Psalm 9) has given rise to many conjectures. Literally ...
/s/song.htm - 78k

To what do the various musical terms in the book of Psalms refer? | GotQuestions.org

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