Psalm 149:3
New International Version
Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.

New Living Translation
Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp.

English Standard Version
Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

Berean Standard Bible
Let them praise His name with dancing, and make music to Him with tambourine and harp.

King James Bible
Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

New King James Version
Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.

New American Standard Bible
They shall praise His name with dancing; They shall sing praises to Him with tambourine and lyre.

NASB 1995
Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.

NASB 1977
Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.

Legacy Standard Bible
Let them praise His name with dancing; With tambourine and lyre let them sing praises to Him.

Amplified Bible
Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and lyre.

Christian Standard Bible
Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and lyre.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let them praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with tambourine and lyre.

American Standard Version
Let them praise his name in the dance: Let them sing praises unto him with timbrel and harp.

Contemporary English Version
Praise his name by dancing and playing music on harps and tambourines.

English Revised Version
Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Let them praise his name with dancing. Let them make music to him with tambourines and lyres,

Good News Translation
Praise his name with dancing; play drums and harps in praise of him.

International Standard Version
May they praise his name with dancing, chanting songs to him with tambourines and lyres.

Majority Standard Bible
Let them praise His name with dancing, and make music to Him with tambourine and harp.

NET Bible
Let them praise his name with dancing! Let them sing praises to him to the accompaniment of the tambourine and harp!

New Heart English Bible
Let them praise his name in the dance. Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises to him with the timbrel and harp:

World English Bible
Let them praise his name in the dance! Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
They praise His Name in a dance, "" Sing praise to Him with timbrel and harp.

Young's Literal Translation
They praise His name in a dance, With timbrel and harp sing praise to Him.

Smith's Literal Translation
They shall praise his name in the dance, and they shall play to him upon the drum and harp.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Let them praise his name in choir: let them sing to him with the timbrel and the psaltery.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Let them praise his name in chorus. Let them sing psalms to him with the timbrel and the psaltery.

New American Bible
Let them praise his name in dance, make music with tambourine and lyre.

New Revised Standard Version
Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Let them praise his name with the timbrel and psaltery; let them sing praises to him with the harps.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they will praise his Name with tambourines and with timbrels and with harps; let them sing to him!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Let them praise His name in the dance; Let them sing praises unto Him with the timbrel and harp.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sings praises to him with timbrel and psaltery.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sing to the LORD a New Song
2Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King. 3Let them praise His name with dancing, and make music to Him with tambourine and harp. 4For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the afflicted with salvation.…

Cross References
Psalm 150:4
Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; praise Him with strings and flute.

2 Samuel 6:14
And David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD,

Exodus 15:20-21
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.”

Psalm 30:11
You turned my mourning into dancing; You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

Jeremiah 31:13
Then the maidens will rejoice with dancing, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy, and give them comfort and joy for their sorrow.

Psalm 33:2-3
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.

Psalm 95:1-2
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout to the Rock of our salvation! / Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him in song.

Psalm 100:1-2
A Psalm of thanksgiving. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. / Serve the LORD with gladness; come into His presence with joyful songs.

Psalm 81:1-2
For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob. / Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.

Psalm 98:4-6
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.

1 Chronicles 15:28-29
So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and with cymbals and the music of harps and lyres. / As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.

Isaiah 12:5-6
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.”

Ephesians 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,

Colossians 3:16
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.

James 5:13
Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.


Treasury of Scripture

Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises to him with the tambourine and harp.

in the dance.

Psalm 150:4
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

Exodus 15:20
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

Judges 11:34
And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

with the timbrel

Psalm 33:2
Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

Psalm 81:2
Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

Psalm 137:2-4
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof…

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Psalm 149
1. The prophet exhorts to praise God for his love to the church
5. And for that power which he has given to the church














Let them praise
The phrase "Let them praise" is an invitation and a command to the faithful to engage in worship. The Hebrew root for "praise" is "הלל" (halal), which means to boast or to celebrate. This word is the basis for "Hallelujah," meaning "Praise the Lord." In the context of ancient Israel, praise was not merely a private act but a communal expression of faith and gratitude. It was a way to acknowledge God's sovereignty and goodness. Historically, praise was often accompanied by music and dance, as seen in the worship practices of the temple in Jerusalem.

His name
The "name" of God in Hebrew thought is not just a label but a representation of His character and essence. The name of God, often represented as YHWH (Yahweh), is sacred and powerful. In biblical times, names held significant meaning and were believed to reflect the nature and destiny of a person. Praising God's name is an acknowledgment of His attributes, such as His holiness, mercy, and justice. It is a recognition of His identity and His deeds throughout history.

with dancing
Dancing in worship is a physical expression of joy and reverence. The Hebrew word for dancing, "מחול" (machol), suggests a whirling or circular motion, often associated with festive celebrations. In the Bible, dance is frequently mentioned as a form of worship, as seen in the account of David dancing before the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 6:14). Dance in worship signifies the believer's full engagement—body, mind, and spirit—in the act of praising God. It reflects the joy and freedom found in God's presence.

and make music
Making music is a universal form of worship that transcends cultures and generations. The Hebrew word "זמר" (zamar) means to sing, play an instrument, or make music. Music in worship serves to elevate the soul and unite the congregation in a shared experience of adoration. In ancient Israel, music was an integral part of temple worship, with choirs and musicians playing instruments like the harp, lyre, and cymbals. Music is a gift from God that allows believers to express emotions and truths that words alone cannot convey.

to Him
The direction of worship is crucial; it is "to Him," meaning to God alone. Worship is not for human entertainment or self-gratification but is directed towards the Creator. This phrase emphasizes the personal relationship between the worshiper and God. It is a reminder that all acts of praise and worship should be God-centered, acknowledging His supremacy and grace.

with tambourine
The tambourine, or "תף" (toph) in Hebrew, is a percussion instrument often used in biblical times during celebrations and worship. It is associated with joy and victory, as seen in the song of Miriam after the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20). The use of the tambourine in worship highlights the celebratory and triumphant nature of praising God. It serves as a reminder of God's deliverance and faithfulness throughout history.

and harp
The harp, or "כנור" (kinnor) in Hebrew, is one of the oldest stringed instruments mentioned in the Bible. It was used by King David, a skilled musician, to soothe King Saul (1 Samuel 16:23) and in the composition of many Psalms. The harp's inclusion in worship signifies the beauty and harmony that music brings to the act of praising God. It represents the blending of human creativity with divine inspiration, creating a symphony of worship that honors the Creator.

(3) In the dance.--Rather, as margin, with the pipe. The use of the word machol in what was evidently a list of all the orchestral instruments used in the Temple in the next psalm, would alone be almost decisive of the meaning. But one possible derivation is certainly in favour of this rendering, as also the translation in the Syriac version by the name of a flute still found in Syria. Its connection, too, with the timbrel or drum (comp. our pipe and tabor), just as a cognate, chalil, is connected in 1Samuel 10:5; Isaiah 5:12, points the same way. (See Bible Educator, i. p. 70, and Note to Song of Solomon 6:13.)

Timbrel.--See Exodus 15:20; Bible Educator, i. 314.

Harp.--See Psalm 33:2. . . .

Verse 3. - Let them praise his Name in the dance (comp. Psalm 150:4). (On the employment of dancing by the Hebrews as a religious exercise, and in their most solemn acts of worship, see Exodus 15:20; 2 Samuel 6:14-160. Let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. (On the toph, or "timbrel," see the comment upon Psalm 68:25). It was used to accompany a hymn of rejoicing by Miriam (Exodus 15:20), by Jephthah's daughter (Judges 11:34), and by David (2 Samuel 6:5).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Let them praise
יְהַֽלְל֣וּ (yə·hal·lū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1984: To shine

His name
שְׁמ֣וֹ (šə·mōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8034: A name

with dancing,
בְמָח֑וֹל (ḇə·mā·ḥō·wl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4234: A, dance

and make music
יְזַמְּרוּ־ (yə·zam·mə·rū-)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2167: Play, to make music, celebrate in song and music

to Him
לֽוֹ׃ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

with tambourine
בְּתֹ֥ף (bə·ṯōp̄)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8596: A timbrel, tambourine

and harp.
וְ֝כִנּ֗וֹר (wə·ḵin·nō·wr)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3658: A harp


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OT Poetry: Psalm 149:3 Let them praise his name (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 149:2
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