5215. humnos

Lexical Summary

humnos: Hymn

Original Word: ὕμνος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: humnos
Pronunciation: HOOM-nos
Phonetic Spelling: (hoom'-nos)
KJV: hymn
NASB: hymns
Word Origin: [apparently from a simpler (obsolete) form of hudeo "to celebrate" (probably akin to G103 (ᾄδω - sang))]

1. a "hymn" or religious ode (one of the Psalms)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

hymn.

Apparently from a simpler (obsolete) form of hudeo (to celebrate; probably akin to aido; compare abowt); a "hymn" or religious ode (one of the Psalms) -- hymn.

see GREEK aido

see HEBREW abowt

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 5215 hýmnos (from hydeō, "to celebrate") – a song that gives honor, praise, or thanksgiving (transliterated into English as "hymn"). 5215 /hýmnos ("hymn") in antiquity was a song celebrating (praising) pagan gods, heroes, and conquerors.

In the NT, 5215 /hýmnos ("hymns") is used only of praising the triune God, manifested in the flesh in Jesus Christ, the God-man. It occurs twice in the NT (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16), pointing to well-known songs of praise to God that became established hymns for the early Christians. See 5214 (hymneō).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
a hymn
NASB Translation
hymns (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 5215: ὕμνος

ὕμνος, ὑμνου, ὁ, in Greek writings from Homer down, a song in praise of gods, heroes, conquerors (cf. Trench, as below, p. 297), but in the Scriptures of God; a sacred song, hymn: plural, Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16. (1 Macc. 4:33; 2 Macc. 1:30 2Macc. 10:7; (Judges 16:13), etc.; of the Psalms of David, Josephus, Antiquities 7, 12, 3; for תְּהִלָּה, Psalm 39:4 (); Psalm 64:2 (); for שִׁיר, Isaiah 42:10.) [SYNONYMS: ὕμνος, ψαλμός, ᾠδή: ᾠδή is the generic term; ψαλμός and ὕμνος are specific, the former designating a song which took its general character from the O. T. 'Psalms' (although not restricted to them, see 1 Corinthians 14:15, 26), the latter a song of praise. "While the leading idea of ψαλμός is a musical accompaniment, and that of ὕμνος praise to God, ᾠδή is the general word for a song, whether accompanied or unaccompanied, whether of praise or on any other subject. Thus it was quite possible for the same song to be at once ψαλμός, ὕμνος and ᾠδή (Lightfoot on Colossians 3:16). The words occur together in Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:19. See Trench, Synonyms, § lxxviii.]

Topical Lexicon

Definition and Scope

Strong’s Greek 5215 refers to “hymns,” songs of praise addressed to God. In Scripture the term is always connected to corporate worship and the indwelling word of Christ, highlighting an intentional, theologically rich form of praise distinct from spontaneous song or instrumental music.

Occurrences in Scripture

• Ephesians 5:19 – Believers are to speak “to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord.”
• Colossians 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

Old Testament Background

Although the word “hymn” is Greek, the concept parallels the Hebrew tradition of set praises such as the “Song of Moses” (Exodus 15) and the “Hallel” (Psalms 113–118) sung at major feasts. These passages supplied both content and structure for later Christian hymnody.

Distinctiveness from Psalms and Spiritual Songs

Psalms: Canonical compositions of the Old Testament.

Hymns: Formal, composed doxologies that focus on God’s attributes and mighty acts.

Spiritual Songs: Broader category that may include testimonies, meditations, or exhortations prompted by the Spirit.

Paul’s triad encourages a balanced worship diet—Scripture-rooted psalms, doctrinally sound hymns, and Spirit-led songs.

Hymns in Early Christian Worship

Early believers gathered “devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching… and to prayers” (Acts 2:42). Historical sources (e.g., Pliny’s letter to Trajan, circa A.D. 112) confirm that Christians met before dawn to “sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god.” Such hymns enabled doctrinal transmission when written Scriptures were scarce and literacy limited.

Doctrinal Emphases in the Two Pauline Admonitions

1. Christ-Centeredness: Both passages locate hymn singing “to the Lord” and “to God.” Worship is God-ward, not performance-oriented.
2. Word Saturation: In Colossians, hymns serve as a vehicle for “the word of Christ” to “dwell… richly,” safeguarding churches from error (Colossians 2:8).
3. Mutual Edification: Ephesians places hymns in the context of addressing “one another,” showing that congregational singing teaches and admonishes.
4. Heart Engagement: “Making melody in your hearts” highlights authenticity; external form must spring from inner gratitude.

Pastoral and Practical Applications

• Worship planning should prioritize lyrical depth, Trinitarian focus, and congregational participation.
• Hymn-singing is a means of discipleship; memorize truth by melody.
• Leaders should encourage a repertoire that spans psalms, classic hymns, and biblically faithful new compositions.
• Private devotion benefits from sung prayer; families and individuals can echo the early church by incorporating hymns into daily rhythms.

Historical Development in Church History

• Second–Fourth Centuries: Antiphonal hymns combat heresy (e.g., the “Phos Hilaron,” “Gloria in Excelsis”).
• Reformation: Martin Luther and others translate doctrine into congregational hymns (“A Mighty Fortress”), embodying Colossians 3:16.
• Evangelical Revivals: Charles Wesley writes thousands of hymns, emphasizing heartfelt “hymns and spiritual songs.”
• Modern Missions: Hymns translated worldwide carry theology across cultures while uniting believers in common confession.

Theological Significance

Hymns witness to the unity of truth and beauty. By wedding melody to doctrine, they engrave the gospel on the memory and stir affections rightly ordered toward God. Their presence in the New Testament, though limited in word count, signals a normative element of gathered worship until Christ returns.

Select Cross-References

Matthew 26:30; Acts 16:25; Hebrews 2:12; Revelation 5:9; Revelation 15:3.

Key Quotation

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God with gratitude in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:16)

Conclusion

Strong’s 5215 challenges every generation of believers to preserve and employ doctrinally robust hymns as a God-ordained means of filling the church with Scripture, fostering unity, and proclaiming the glory of the Lord in both heart and voice.

Forms and Transliterations

ύμνοι υμνοις ύμνοις ὕμνοις ύμνον ύμνος υμνωδούντες hymnois hýmnois umnois

Englishman's Concordance

Ephesians 5:19 N-DMP
GRK: ψαλμοῖς καὶ ὕμνοις καὶ ᾠδαῖς
NAS: in psalms and hymns and spiritual
KJV: in psalms and hymns and spiritual
INT: psalms and hymns and songs

Colossians 3:16 N-DMP
GRK: ἑαυτοὺς ψαλμοῖς ὕμνοις ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς
NAS: with psalms [and] hymns [and] spiritual
KJV: in psalms and hymns and spiritual
INT: each other in psalms hymns songs spiritual

Strong's Greek 5215
2 Occurrences

ὕμνοις — 2 Occ.