Psalm
ψαλμός (Psalmos) / מִזְמוֹר (Mizmor)
A sacred song or hymn, especially those collected in the Book of Psalms
A psalm (psalmos) originally meant 'a plucking of strings' — a song sung with instrumental accompaniment. The 150 Psalms form the Bible's hymnbook, expressing the full range of human experience before God.
"Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." — Psalm 150:6 (KJV)
Key Verses
Colossians 3:16
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”Read in context
Psalm 19:14
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”Read in context
The Word Psalmos
The Greek 'psalmos' originally referred to the twanging of a bowstring or the plucking of a harp string. It came to mean a song sung to stringed accompaniment. The Hebrew 'mizmor' carries a similar musical connotation. The title of the Book of Psalms in Hebrew is 'Tehillim' — 'praises.' Together, these words reveal the Psalms as musical expressions of praise, prayer, and profound emotion directed toward God.
The Types of Psalms
Scholars have identified several categories of psalms: praise psalms (celebrating God's greatness), lament psalms (crying out in pain), thanksgiving psalms (expressing gratitude for specific blessings), wisdom psalms (reflecting on life's meaning), royal psalms (focused on the king), and Messianic psalms (pointing to Christ). This variety means the Psalms speak to every human emotion and situation — there is a psalm for every season of the soul.
The Psalms and Jesus
Jesus quoted the Psalms more than any other Old Testament book. He sang psalms at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:30). On the cross, He cried out Psalm 22:1 ('My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?') and Psalm 31:5 ('Into thy hands I commend my spirit'). After His resurrection, He told the disciples that 'all things must be fulfilled, which were written in...the psalms, concerning me' (Luke 24:44). The Psalms are not merely ancient songs — they are prophetic testimony about Christ.
Praying the Psalms
Throughout church history, the Psalms have been the primary prayer book of believers. They give us words when we have none — words of praise when we are joyful, words of anguish when we are broken, words of trust when we are afraid. Praying the Psalms teaches us to be honest with God (even the angry, confused psalms are included), to remember His faithfulness, and to center our lives on worship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the Psalms?
The Psalms have multiple authors. David is credited with 73 psalms. Other authors include Asaph (12), the Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), and Ethan (1). About 50 psalms are anonymous. The collection was compiled over centuries, from Moses (c. 1400 BC) to the post-exilic period (c. 400 BC).
How are the Psalms organized?
The 150 Psalms are divided into five books: Book I (1-41), Book II (42-72), Book III (73-89), Book IV (90-106), and Book V (107-150). This fivefold division may mirror the five books of Moses (the Torah). Each book ends with a doxology (a statement of praise), and Psalm 150 serves as the grand doxology for the entire collection.
Are the Psalms meant to be sung?
Yes. The Psalms were originally composed as songs for worship in the Jerusalem temple. Many include musical instructions in their headers — references to instruments, melodies, and choir leaders. While they are also powerful as spoken prayers and meditations, their original purpose was musical worship.
What is the Greek word for "Psalm" in the Bible?
ψαλμός (Psalmos) / מִזְמוֹר (Mizmor), pronounced "SAHL-mos / miz-MOR." It means a sacred song or hymn, especially those collected in the book of psalms. It is the word behind "Psalm" in the Old Testament, for example in Psalm 150:6.
Related Words
Related Reading
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
Psalm (ψαλμός (Psalmos) / מִזְמוֹר (Mizmor))
A sacred song or hymn, especially those collected in the Book of Psalms
What Is the Book of Psalms About?
History & Origins
Psalms Quiz
Hymns, prayers, and praises from Israel's songbook.
Bible Verses About Comfort in Psalms
10 curated KJV verses
Psalm 8:3 Commentary
In-depth study • Major Psalms
Psalm 8:4 Commentary
In-depth study • Major Psalms
Where to go next
Studied the meaning of Psalm? Continue with these word-study and Scripture pages.
- Bible word meanings A–ZHebrew and Greek words explained in plain English.Continue
- Go deeper with word studiesStrong's numbers, usage and every KJV occurrence.Continue
- Bible questions answered from ScriptureStraight KJV answers to common questions.Continue
- Read the KJV Bible online freeFull text, chapter by chapter.Continue