ψάλλω
psállō
G5567 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To pluck or play (specifically the strings of a musical instrument); by extension, to sing or make music, especially as part of religious or communal expression. In classical usage, primarily referred to the physical act of plucking the strings of a harp or lyre; in Hellenistic and later periods, the sense expanded to vocal singing, particularly of odes or psalms, often with instrumental accompaniment. In the context of the Septuagint and New Testament, commonly denotes singing or performing hymns, sometimes without explicit reference to instrumentation.
Semantic Range
to pluck a stringed instrument, to play music, to sing psalms or hymns, to make melody, to celebrate with music or song
Root / Etymology
From the root ψαλ- (psal-), related to the verb ψάω or ψώχω (to rub or wipe), originally indicating the action of plucking or striking. The specific sense of "plucking strings" led to broader associations with musical performance, particularly in settings of worship or festivity. Cognate with the noun ψαλμός (psalmos, 'song of praise'), which shares the same root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek (from Homer onward), ψάλλω referred chiefly to plucking the strings of a stringed instrument (such as a lyre), distinct from purely vocal performance. By the Hellenistic era, especially within the religious vocabulary of the Septuagint and New Testament, the term shifts towards singing or making music in a liturgical context, often, but not always, with the implication of accompanying instruments. In the Septuagint, ψάλλω is used for Hebrew זָמַר (zamar, 'to sing, make music'), reinforcing its association with psalmody and liturgical worship. In New Testament texts (e.g., Ephesians 5:19, James 5:13), the term can denote singing songs of praise—sometimes translated 'make melody' or 'sing psalms'—and the instrumental aspect is often contextually backgrounded. Standard English translations such as 'sing' or 'make melody' can obscure the original association with stringed instruments but reflect the word's broader Hellenistic usage. The semantic shift demonstrates the transition of the term from technical musical meaning to broader liturgical and communal connotations.
Translation Consistency
In LXX and NT contexts ψάλλω most commonly refers to the liturgical act of singing psalms or hymns; in Hellenistic usage it extended from plucking strings to vocal music, so ‘sing’ captures the typical, natural English rendering for both vocal and accompanying music. It is the most frequent and idiomatic choice in modern translations and fits the primary semantic range.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably strengthened from (to rub or touch the surface; compare ψώχω); to twitch or twang, i.e. to play on a stringed instrument (celebrate the divine worship with music and accompanying odes):--make melody, sing (psalms).
Root Family
ψάλλω (psallō) — to pluck, to play a stringed instrument, to sing, to make music
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5567-03 |
ψαλῶ | psalo | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
I will sing | I will make music | I will sing | 3 |
G5567-01 |
ψαλλέτω | psalleto | V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG |
let him sing psalms | let him make music | let him sing psalms | 1 |
G5567-02 |
ψάλλοντες | psallontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
making melody | plucking in song | making melody | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5567-03 |
Romans 15:9 | ψαλῶ | psalo | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
I will sing | I will make music | I will sing |
G5567-03 |
1 Corinthians 14:15 | ψαλῶ | psalo | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
I will sing | I will make music | I will sing |
G5567-03 |
1 Corinthians 14:15 | ψαλῶ | psalo-2 | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
I will sing | I will make music | I will sing |
G5567-02 |
Ephesians 5:19 | ψάλλοντες | psallontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
making melody | plucking in song | making melody |
G5567-01 |
James 5:13 | ψαλλέτω | psalleto | V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG |
let him sing psalms | let him make music | let him sing psalms |