Psalms 150:5

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

Praise him on the loud cymbals: praise him on the high sounding cymbals.

American King James Version (AKJV)

Praise him on the loud cymbals: praise him on the high sounding cymbals.

American Standard Version (ASV)

Praise him with loud cymbals: Praise him with high sounding cymbals.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

Give him praise with the loud brass: give him praise with the high-sounding brass.

Webster's Revision

Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

World English Bible

Praise him with loud cymbals! Praise him with resounding cymbals!

English Revised Version (ERV)

Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

Clarke's Psalms 150:5 Bible Commentary

Loud cymbals - צלצלים tseltselim. Two hollow plates of brass, which, being struck together, produced a sharp clanging sound. This instrument is still in use. What the high-sounding cymbals meant I know not; unless those of a larger make, struck above the head, and consequently emitting a louder sound.

Barnes's Psalms 150:5 Bible Commentary

Praise him upon the loud cymbals - literally, "the cymbals of sound" or hearing. That is, Let there be audibly expressed joy. The allusion here is to an instrument of music that was most distinctly heard in union with other instruments. The sound of the cymbal would be most clearly audible in its accompaniment of the other instruments referred to, as the sound of cymbals, or as the "triangle" would be now. The Hebrew word rendered cymbal means a tinkling, clanging, ringing, as of metal, or of arms; then, a whirring, as of wings (compare the notes at Isaiah 18:1); then, any tinkling or clanging instrument, as a fish-spear or harpoon; then, cymbals, instruments of music. The cymbal, as now used, is an instrument of brass, in a circular form, like a dish, producing, when two are struck gether, a sharp, ringing sound - Webster. An instrument of this kind is evidently referred to here. The word occurs in the Bible in the following places only: Deuteronomy 28:42, rendered locust; 2 Samuel 6:5, rendered, as here, cymbal; Job 41:7, rendered fish-spears; and Isaiah 18:1, rendered shadowing with.

Praise him upon the high-sounding cymbals - The cymbals of joyful voice. On the word teruah, rendered high, see the notes at Psalm 89:16. A loud, lofty sound or shout, as on the reception of a conqueror, is the idea here; and the sense is, that the praise of God was to be celebrated with that which would in the highest sense express joy and triumph.