Lexical Summary adó: To sing Original Word: ἄδω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sing. To sing -- sing. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom aeidó (to sing) Definition to sing NASB Translation sang (3), singing (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 103: ᾄδωᾄδω (ἀείδω); common in Greek of every period; in the Sept. for שׁוּר; to sing, chant; 1. intransitive: τίνι, to the praise of anyone (Judith 16:1 (2)), Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16 (in both passages of the lyrical emotion of a devout and grateful soul). 2. transitive: ᾠδήν, Revelation 5:9; Revelation 14:3; Revelation 15:3. The verb ᾄδω expresses the vocal proclamation of praise, thanksgiving, or testimony to God. While Scripture employs several terms for musical worship, this word highlights the articulate, melodious element of adoration—words set to tune, deliberately offered to the Lord. Pauline Instruction for Congregational Life Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 place ᾄδω at the heart of Spirit-filled, Word-saturated fellowship. In the first passage believers are urged to be “singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord,” the overflow of being “filled with the Spirit.” In the second, singing rises from “the word of Christ” dwelling richly within, so that admonition and thanksgiving are intertwined with melody. Together the texts reveal: Heavenly Worship in Revelation Three uses of ᾄδω in Revelation unveil the ultimate context of Christian song. Revelation 5:9 records the “new song” of the redeemed before the throne, celebrating the Lamb’s redemptive blood for “every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” Revelation 14:3 portrays the 144,000 singing a song “that no one could learn except the one hundred forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth,” stressing consecration and exclusivity of worship. Revelation 15:3 merges the “song of Moses” with the “song of the Lamb,” uniting Old and New Covenant deliverances in a single anthem. These scenes confirm that earthly congregational singing anticipates and rehearses eternal praise. Continuity with Old Testament Worship The Septuagint often employs ᾄδω for the Hebrew šîr (“to sing”), preserving a line of continuity from the tabernacle to the temple, and ultimately to the church. The Psalter provides the lyrical reservoir for Christian hymnody (note Paul’s inclusion of “psalms”) and shapes the theology of song: God’s mighty acts, covenant faithfulness, and righteous judgments are its prevailing themes. Historical Witness of Early Christianity Pliny the Younger’s letter (circa AD 112) reports that believers met “to sing a hymn to Christ as to a god,” corroborating the New Testament pattern. Hymnic fragments embedded within the epistles (for example, Philippians 2:6-11) demonstrate that doctrinal confession was carried in melody from the earliest decades of the church. Theological Emphases Reflected in the Five Texts • Christ-centeredness: Songs extol the Lamb’s person and work (Revelation 5:9). Practical Ministry Implications 1. Worship planning should prioritize lyrical fidelity to biblical revelation; melody serves message. Pastoral Counsel Guard the heart behind the voice; hypocrisy stifles song (Psalm 66:18). Cultivate private worship so that public praise flows authentically. Remember that every hymn is a rehearsal for the day when, gathered before the throne, believers “will sing” forever—the consummate fulfillment of ᾄδω. Englishman's Concordance Ephesians 5:19 V-PPA-NMPGRK: ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς ᾄδοντες καὶ ψάλλοντες NAS: songs, singing and making melody KJV: songs, singing and INT: songs spiritual singing and making melody Colossians 3:16 V-PPA-NMP Revelation 5:9 V-PIA-3P Revelation 14:3 V-PIA-3P Revelation 15:3 V-PIA-3P Strong's Greek 103 |
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