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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 81:2 Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/81-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/19_Psa_081_002.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 81:2 - Sing for Joy to God, Our Strength" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/psalms/81-2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/psalms/81-2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/psalms/">Psalms</a> > <a href="/psalms/81.htm">Chapter 81</a> > Verse 2</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad2.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/81-1.htm" title="Psalm 81:1">◄</a> Psalm 81:2 <a href="/psalms/81-3.htm" title="Psalm 81:3">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/81.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/81.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Begin the music, strike the timbrel, play the melodious harp and lyre.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/81.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/81.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/81.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/81.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/81.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Raise a song and strike the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the lute.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/81.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Raise a song, strike the tambourine, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/81.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Raise a song, strike the timbrel, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/81.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Raise a song, strike the timbrel, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/81.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Lift up a song of praise, strike the tambourine, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/81.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Raise a song, sound the timbrel, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/81.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Lift up a song—play the tambourine, the melodious lyre, and the harp.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/81.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Lift up a song—play the tambourine, the melodious lyre, and the harp. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/81.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Raise a song, and bring hither the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the psaltery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/81.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Sing as you play tambourines and the lovely sounding stringed instruments. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/81.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Take up the psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/81.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Begin a psalm, and strike a tambourine. Play lyres and harps with their pleasant music.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/81.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Start the music and beat the tambourines; play pleasant music on the harps and the lyres. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/81.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Sing a song and play the tambourine, the pleasant-sounding lyre along with the harp.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/81.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/81.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Sing a song and play the tambourine, the pleasant sounding harp, and the ten-stringed instrument! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/81.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/81.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/81.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/81.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Lift up a song, and give out a timbrel, "" A pleasant harp with stringed instrument.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/81.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Lift up a song, and give out a timbrel, A pleasant harp with psaltery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/81.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Lift up music, and ye shall give the drum, the pleasant harp, with the lyre.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/81.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel: the pleasant psaltery with the harp. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/81.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 80:3>Take up a psalm, and bring forth the timbrel: a pleasing Psalter with stringed instruments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/81.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Take up a melody, sound the timbrel, the pleasant lyre with a harp. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/81.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Raise a song, sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/81.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Take a psalm and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/81.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Take tambourines and lyres and those pleasant on harps.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/81.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Take up the melody, and sound the timbrel, The sweet harp with the psaltery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/81.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Take a psalm, and produce the timbrel, the pleasant psaltery with the harp.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/81-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=10220" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/81.htm">Sing for Joy to God, Our Strength</a></span><br><span class="reftext">1</span>For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob. <span class="reftext">2</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5375.htm" title="5375: śə·’ū- (V-Qal-Imp-mp) -- Or nacah ('abad); a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absol. And rel.">Lift up</a> <a href="/hebrew/2172.htm" title="2172: zim·rāh (N-fs) -- Melody, song (in praise of Yah). From zamar; a musical piece or song to be accompanied by an instrument.">a song,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: ū·ṯə·nū- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-Imp-mp) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">strike</a> <a href="/hebrew/8596.htm" title="8596: ṯōp̄ (N-ms) -- A timbrel, tambourine. From taphaph contracted; a tambourine.">the tambourine,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5273.htm" title="5273: nā·‘îm (Adj-ms) -- Pleasant, delightful. From na'em; delightful.">play the sweet-sounding</a> <a href="/hebrew/5035.htm" title="5035: nā·ḇel (N-ms) -- A skin-bag for, liquids, a vase, a lyre. Or nebel; from nabel; a skin-bag for liquids; hence, a vase; also a lyre.">harp</a> <a href="/hebrew/5973.htm" title="5973: ‘im- (Prep) -- From amam; adverb or preposition, with, in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix.">and</a> <a href="/hebrew/3658.htm" title="3658: kin·nō·wr (N-msc) -- A lyre. From a unused root meaning to twang; a harp.">lyre.</a> </span><span class="reftext">3</span>Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and at the full moon on the day of our Feast.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/15-20.htm">Exodus 15:20-21</a></span><br />Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing. / And Miriam sang back to them: “Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; the horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/6-5.htm">2 Samuel 6:5</a></span><br />David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of wood instruments, harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/15-16.htm">1 Chronicles 15:16</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/16-42.htm">1 Chronicles 16:42</a></span><br />Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for the songs of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/5-12.htm">2 Chronicles 5:12-13</a></span><br />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. / The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/12-27.htm">Nehemiah 12:27</a></span><br />At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from all their homes and brought to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/33-2.htm">Psalm 33:2-3</a></span><br />Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him with ten strings. / Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/47-5.htm">Psalm 47:5-7</a></span><br />God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD with the sound of the horn. / Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises! / For God is King of all the earth; sing to Him a psalm of praise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/92-1.htm">Psalm 92:1-3</a></span><br />A Psalm. A song for the Sabbath day. It is good to praise the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High, / to proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning and Your faithfulness at night / with the ten-stringed harp and the melody of the lyre.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/98-4.htm">Psalm 98:4-6</a></span><br />Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth—let your cry ring out, and sing praises! / Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, in melodious song with the harp. / With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn shout for joy before the LORD, the King.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/150-3.htm">Psalm 150:3-5</a></span><br />Praise Him with the sound of the horn; praise Him with the harp and lyre. / Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; praise Him with strings and flute. / Praise Him with clashing cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/12-5.htm">Isaiah 12:5-6</a></span><br />Sing to the LORD, for He has done glorious things. Let this be known in all the earth. / Cry out and sing, O citizen of Zion, for great among you is the Holy One of Israel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/24-14.htm">Isaiah 24:14-16</a></span><br />They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they proclaim the majesty of the LORD. / Therefore glorify the LORD in the east. Extol the name of the LORD, the God of Israel in the islands of the sea. / From the ends of the earth we hear singing: “Glory to the Righteous One.” But I said, “I am wasting away! I am wasting away! Woe is me.” The treacherous betray; the treacherous deal in treachery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/30-29.htm">Isaiah 30:29</a></span><br />You will sing as on the night of a holy festival, and your heart will rejoice like one who walks to the music of a flute, going up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/31-7.htm">Jeremiah 31:7</a></span><br />For this is what the LORD says: “Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations! Make your praises heard, and say, ‘O LORD, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!’</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Take a psalm, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/92-3.htm">Psalm 92:3</a></b></br> Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/95-1.htm">Psalm 95:1,2</a></b></br> O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/149-1.htm">Psalm 149:1-3</a></b></br> Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, <i>and</i> his praise in the congregation of saints… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/nehemiah/11-17.htm">Begin</a> <a href="/psalms/67-1.htm">Corded</a> <a href="/psalms/71-22.htm">Harp</a> <a href="/psalms/73-10.htm">Hither</a> <a href="/psalms/81-1.htm">Instrument</a> <a href="/psalms/76-1.htm">Instruments</a> <a href="/psalms/71-22.htm">Lyre</a> <a href="/psalms/71-23.htm">Melody</a> <a href="/psalms/81-1.htm">Music</a> <a href="/psalms/73-27.htm">Play</a> <a href="/psalms/68-25.htm">Playing</a> <a href="/psalms/16-11.htm">Pleasant</a> <a href="/psalms/81-1.htm">Psalm</a> <a href="/psalms/71-22.htm">Psaltery</a> <a href="/psalms/75-5.htm">Raise</a> <a href="/psalms/81-1.htm">Song</a> <a href="/psalms/77-18.htm">Sound</a> <a href="/psalms/47-5.htm">Sounding</a> <a href="/psalms/74-6.htm">Strike</a> <a href="/psalms/66-15.htm">Sweet</a> <a href="/job/21-12.htm">Tambour</a> <a href="/job/21-12.htm">Tambourine</a> <a href="/job/21-12.htm">Timbrel</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/jeremiah/25-29.htm">Begin</a> <a href="/psalms/98-5.htm">Corded</a> <a href="/psalms/92-3.htm">Harp</a> <a href="/proverbs/9-4.htm">Hither</a> <a href="/psalms/84-1.htm">Instrument</a> <a href="/psalms/87-7.htm">Instruments</a> <a href="/psalms/98-5.htm">Lyre</a> <a href="/psalms/92-1.htm">Melody</a> <a href="/psalms/84-1.htm">Music</a> <a href="/psalms/87-7.htm">Play</a> <a href="/proverbs/8-30.htm">Playing</a> <a href="/psalms/104-34.htm">Pleasant</a> <a href="/psalms/81-16.htm">Psalm</a> <a href="/psalms/92-3.htm">Psaltery</a> <a href="/psalms/123-1.htm">Raise</a> <a href="/psalms/82-8.htm">Song</a> <a href="/psalms/81-3.htm">Sound</a> <a href="/psalms/81-5.htm">Sounding</a> <a href="/psalms/89-23.htm">Strike</a> <a href="/psalms/104-34.htm">Sweet</a> <a href="/psalms/149-3.htm">Tambour</a> <a href="/psalms/149-3.htm">Tambourine</a> <a href="/psalms/149-3.htm">Timbrel</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 81</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/81-1.htm">An exhortation to a solemn praising of God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/81-4.htm">God challenges that duty by reason of his benefits</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/81-8.htm">God, exhorting to obedience, complains of their disobedience, which proves their own hurt.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/81.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/81.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Lift up a song</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the importance of vocal worship in the life of the believer. Singing has been a central part of worship throughout biblical history, as seen in the songs of Moses (Exodus 15) and David (Psalms). It reflects the joy and gratitude of God's people and serves as a means to proclaim His mighty works. In the New Testament, Paul encourages believers to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (<a href="/ephesians/5-19.htm">Ephesians 5:19</a>), indicating the continuity of this practice in Christian worship.<p><b>Strike the tambourine</b><br>The tambourine, or timbrel, was a common percussion instrument in ancient Israel, often used in celebrations and religious ceremonies. It is associated with joy and victory, as seen when Miriam led the women of Israel in song and dance with tambourines after crossing the Red Sea (<a href="/exodus/15-20.htm">Exodus 15:20</a>). The use of the tambourine in worship highlights the physical expression of praise and the communal aspect of worship, as it often accompanied group celebrations.<p><b>Play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre</b><br>The harp and lyre were stringed instruments used in temple worship and personal devotion. David, known for his skill with the harp, used it to soothe Saul (<a href="/1_samuel/16-23.htm">1 Samuel 16:23</a>) and composed many psalms with it. These instruments symbolize the beauty and harmony of worship, reflecting the order and creativity of God. The mention of these instruments underscores the importance of musical excellence and artistry in worship, pointing to the heavenly worship described in Revelation, where harps are also mentioned (<a href="/revelation/5-8.htm">Revelation 5:8</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/a/asaph.htm">Asaph</a></b><br>The author of <a href="/bsb/psalms/81.htm">Psalm 81</a>, Asaph was a prominent Levite musician appointed by King David to lead worship in the tabernacle. His role was crucial in the musical worship of Israel.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The nation to whom the Psalm is addressed, representing God's chosen people who are called to worship and remember His deeds.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/f/feast_of_tabernacles.htm">Feast of Tabernacles</a></b><br>While not explicitly mentioned in this verse, <a href="/bsb/psalms/81.htm">Psalm 81</a> is traditionally associated with this feast, a time of joyous celebration and remembrance of God's provision during the Israelites' wilderness journey.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_music_in_worship.htm">The Role of Music in Worship</a></b><br>Music is a powerful tool for worship and is deeply rooted in biblical tradition. It serves as a means to express joy, gratitude, and reverence towards God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/instruments_as_expressions_of_praise.htm">Instruments as Expressions of Praise</a></b><br>The use of instruments like the tambourine, harp, and lyre in worship is a biblical practice that enhances the expression of praise and can be incorporated into modern worship settings.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/j/joyful_celebration_in_worship.htm">Joyful Celebration in Worship</a></b><br>Worship should be a joyful celebration of God's goodness and faithfulness. Believers are encouraged to engage in worship with enthusiasm and sincerity.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/remembrance_through_worship.htm">Remembrance through Worship</a></b><br>Worship serves as a reminder of God's past faithfulness and His promises. It is an opportunity to reflect on His deeds and renew our trust in Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_in_worship.htm">Community in Worship</a></b><br>Worship is a communal activity that unites believers in a shared expression of faith and devotion. It strengthens the body of Christ and fosters a sense of belonging.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_81.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 81</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_love_a_manifestation_of_god.htm">What musical instruments are mentioned in the Old Testament?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible's_view_on_music.htm">What is the Bible's perspective on music?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_of_psalm_150_instruments'_use.htm">Is there any historical or archeological evidence supporting the widespread use of the instruments listed in Psalm 150:3-5 at the time it was written?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_contemporary_christian_music.htm">What defines Contemporary Christian Music?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/81.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) <span class= "bld">Take a psalm.</span>--Rather, <span class= "ital">Strike up a tune </span>(<span class= "ital">with voice and harp</span>)<span class= "ital">.</span><p><span class= "bld">Bring hither the timbrel.</span>--Literally, <span class= "ital">Give a timbrel </span>(or, <span class= "ital">drum</span>)<span class= "ital">, </span>which evidently means "sound the timbrel," and may, perhaps, be explained by a phrase sometimes found in Hebrew--"Give a voice," <span class= "ital">i.e., </span>speak. Such phrases as "Let them have the drum," "Give them the drum," may illustrate the expression. (For the instrument, <span class= "ital">toph, </span>see <a href="/exodus/15-20.htm" title="And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dances.">Exodus 15:20</a>, and consult <span class= "ital">Bible Educator, </span>2:214 <span class= "ital">seq.</span>)<p><span class= "bld">Harp . . . psaltery.</span>--See Note, <a href="/psalms/33-2.htm" title="Praise the LORD with harp: sing to him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.">Psalm 33:2</a>.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/81.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Take a psalm;</span> or, <span class="accented">lift up a song. <span class="cmt_word"></span>And bring hither the timbrel;</span> rather, <span class="accented">strike the timbrel.<span class="cmt_word"></span> The pleasant harp with the psaltery</span>. The instruments ordinarily used in the service of the sanctuary were harps, psalteries, and cymbals (<a href="/1_chronicles/15-16.htm">1 Chronicles 15:16</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/16-5.htm">1 Chronicles 16:5</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/25-6.htm">1 Chronicles 25:6</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/5-12.htm">2 Chronicles 5:12</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/24-25.htm">2 Chronicles 24:25</a>; <a href="/nehemiah/12-27.htm">Nehemiah 12:27</a>). Here the timbrel (<span class="hebrew">תֹפ</span>) seems to take the place of the cymbal. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/81-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Lift up</span><br /><span class="heb">שְֽׂאוּ־</span> <span class="translit">(śə·’ū-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5375.htm">Strong's 5375: </a> </span><span class="str2">To lift, carry, take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a song,</span><br /><span class="heb">זִ֭מְרָה</span> <span class="translit">(zim·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2172.htm">Strong's 2172: </a> </span><span class="str2">Melody, song (in praise of Yah)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">strike</span><br /><span class="heb">וּתְנוּ־</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ṯə·nū-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the tambourine,</span><br /><span class="heb">תֹ֑ף</span> <span class="translit">(ṯōp̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8596.htm">Strong's 8596: </a> </span><span class="str2">A timbrel, tambourine</span><br /><br /><span class="word">play the sweet-sounding</span><br /><span class="heb">נָעִ֣ים</span> <span class="translit">(nā·‘îm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5273.htm">Strong's 5273: </a> </span><span class="str2">Pleasant, delightful</span><br /><br /><span class="word">harp</span><br /><span class="heb">נָֽבֶל׃</span> <span class="translit">(nā·ḇel)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5035.htm">Strong's 5035: </a> </span><span class="str2">A skin-bag for, liquids, a vase, a lyre</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="heb">עִם־</span> <span class="translit">(‘im-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5973.htm">Strong's 5973: </a> </span><span class="str2">With, equally with</span><br /><br /><span class="word">lyre.</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּנּ֖וֹר</span> <span class="translit">(kin·nō·wr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3658.htm">Strong's 3658: </a> </span><span class="str2">A harp</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/81-2.htm">Psalm 81:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/81-2.htm">Psalm 81:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/81-2.htm">Psalm 81:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/81-2.htm">Psalm 81:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/81-2.htm">Psalm 81:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/81-2.htm">Psalm 81:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/81-2.htm">Psalm 81:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/81-2.htm">Psalm 81:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/81-2.htm">Psalm 81:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/81-2.htm">Psalm 81:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/81-2.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 81:2 Raise a song and bring here (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/81-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 81:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 81:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/81-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 81:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 81:3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>