1 Chronicles 15:16

KJV1611 – Modern English

And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding by lifting up the voice with joy.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִיד֮ לְשָׂרֵ֣י הַלְוִיִּם֒ לְהַֽעֲמִ֗יד אֶת־אֲחֵיהֶם֙ הַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים בִּכְלֵי־שִׁ֛יר נְבָלִ֥ים וְכִנֹּר֖וֹת וּמְצִלְתָּ֑יִם מַשְׁמִיעִ֥ים לְהָרִֽים־בְּק֖וֹל לְשִׂמְחָֽה׃

Transliteration

wə-yōʾmer dāwîd lĕśārê ha-ləwiyyim lĕhaʿămîd ʾet-ʾăḥêhem ha-mĕšōrĕrîm bi-kĕlê-šîr nĕvālîm wĕ-kinnōrôt û-mĕṣiltāyim mašmîʿîm lĕhārîm-bĕqôl lĕśimḥāh

Grammar Details

• *wə-yōʾmer*: conjunction + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he said
• *dāwîd*: proper name - David
• *lĕśārê*: preposition + masculine plural construct - to the chiefs of
• *ha-ləwiyyim*: definite article + proper noun plural - the Levites
• *lĕhaʿămîd*: preposition + hiphil infinitive construct - to appoint
• *ʾet*: direct object marker
• *ʾăḥêhem*: masculine plural noun with 3rd masculine plural suffix - their brothers
• *ha-mĕšōrĕrîm*: definite article + poel participle masculine plural - the singers
• *bi-kĕlê*: preposition + masculine plural construct - with instruments of
• *šîr*: masculine singular noun - song
• *nĕvālîm*: masculine plural noun - harps
• *wĕ-kinnōrôt*: conjunction + masculine plural noun - and lyres
• *û-mĕṣiltāyim*: conjunction + feminine dual noun - and cymbals
• *mašmîʿîm*: hiphil participle masculine plural - sounding/making heard
• *lĕhārîm*: preposition + hiphil infinitive construct - to raise
• *bĕqôl*: preposition + masculine singular noun - with voice
• *lĕśimḥāh*: preposition + feminine singular noun - with joy

Word Meanings

• *yōʾmer*: said/spoke/declared
• *śārê*: chiefs/officials/leaders
• *ha-ləwiyyim*: the Levites (tribal name)
• *lĕhaʿămîd*: to appoint/to station/to establish
• *ʾăḥêhem*: their brothers/their relatives/their colleagues
• *ha-mĕšōrĕrîm*: the singers/the musicians
• *kĕlê*: instruments/implements/tools
• *šîr*: song/music
• *nĕvālîm*: harps/string instruments
• *kinnōrôt*: lyres/string instruments
• *mĕṣiltāyim*: cymbals/percussion instruments
• *mašmîʿîm*: sounding/making heard/resounding
• *lĕhārîm*: to raise/to lift up/to elevate
• *qôl*: voice/sound
• *śimḥāh*: joy/gladness/mirth

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  David instructed the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as singers, to sing joyful songs accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers, with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And Dauid spake vnto ye rulers of ye Leuites, that they shulde ordeyne some of their brethren to be syngers with psalteries, harpes and loude instrumentes, and Cimbales, to synge loude with ioye.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And Dauid spake to the chiefe of the Leuites, that they should appoint certaine of their brethren to sing with instruments of musike, with violes and harpes, and cymbales, that they might make a sounde, and lift vp their voyce with ioye.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And Dauid spake to the chiefe heades of the Leuites, that they should appoynt certaine of their brethren to sing with instrumentes of musicke, psalteries, harpes, and cymbales, that they might make a sounde, and to sing on hie with ioyfulnesse.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren [to be] the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers the singers, with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And David saith to the heads of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers, with instruments of song, psalteries, and harps, and cymbals, sounding, to lift up with the voice for joy.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers, with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers, with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And David gave orders to the chief of the Levites to put their brothers the music-makers in position, with instruments of music, corded instruments and brass, with glad voices making sounds of joy.

• World English Bible (2000)

  David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers the singers, with instruments of music, stringed instruments and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully.

Referenced Verses

• 1 Chr 13:8 : 8 And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, with singing, with harps, with psalteries, with timbrels, with cymbals, and with trumpets.
• 1 Chr 16:42 : 42 And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were gatekeepers.
• 1 Chr 23:5 : 5 Moreover, four thousand were gatekeepers; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise with them.
• 2 Chr 5:13 : 13 It happened, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endures forever: that the house was filled with a cloud, the house of the LORD;
• Neh 12:36 : 36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe went before them.
• Neh 12:43 : 43 On that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced; so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
• Neh 12:46 : 46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were leaders of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
• Ps 81:1 : 1 Sing aloud to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.
• Ps 87:7 : 7 As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in you.
• Ps 92:1-3 : 1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to your name, O Most High: 2 To proclaim your lovingkindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night, 3 On an instrument of ten strings, on the psaltery, and on the harp with a solemn sound.
• Ps 95:1 : 1 O come, let us sing to the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
• Ps 100:1 : 1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all you lands.
• Ps 149:3 : 3 Let them praise his name with the dance: let them sing praises to him with the tambourine and harp.
• Ps 150:3-4 : 3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet; praise him with the lute and harp. 4 Praise him with the tambourine and dance; praise him with stringed instruments and flutes.
• Isa 49:23 : 23 And kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers: they shall bow down to you with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet; and you shall know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed who wait for me.
• Jer 33:11 : 11 The voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for His mercy endures forever: and of those who shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause the captivity of the land to return, as at the first, says the LORD.
• Acts 14:23 : 23 And when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed.
• 1 Tim 3:1-9 : 1 This is a true saying: If a man desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, not a striker, not greedy for dishonest gain; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all respectfulness; 5 For if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must have a good reputation with those outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise, the deacons must be dignified, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 In the same way, their wives must be dignified, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly; 15 But if I delay, that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
• 2 Tim 2:2 : 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
• Titus 1:5 : 5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you—
• 2 Chr 29:28-30 : 28 And all the congregation worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29 And when they had finished the offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. 30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise to the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped.
• 2 Chr 30:12 : 12 Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.
• Ezra 3:10-11 : 10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks to the LORD; because He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
• Ezra 7:24-28 : 24 Also we certify you, that concerning any of the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them. 25 And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, set magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach those who do not know them. 26 And whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. 27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem: 28 And has extended mercy to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered chief men from Israel to go up with me.
• 1 Chr 25:1-6 : 1 Moreover, David and the captains of the army set apart for service the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, psalteries, and cymbals: and the number of the workers according to their service was: 2 Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied according to the king's order. 3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD. 4 Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth: 5 All these were the sons of Heman, the king's seer in the words of God, to exalt the horn. And God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 All these were under the direction of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.
• 1 Chr 15:12 : 12 And said to them, You are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it.
• 1 Chr 15:27-28 : 27 And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites who bore the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also wore an ephod of linen. 28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of cornets, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.
• 1 Chr 6:31-38 : 31 And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after the ark had rest. 32 And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem; and then they waited on their office according to their order. 33 And these are they that waited with their children. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel, 34 The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, 35 The son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, 36 The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, 37 The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, 38 The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.