1 Chronicles 15:19
in 1 Chronicles 15The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed, with cymbals of brass to sound aloud;
KJV
So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;
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This verse in 1 Chronicles 15
Commentary
3 notes on this verseSo the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan,.... The three principal of them: these were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass; for as there were three sorts of musical instruments, 1Ch 15:16 these three chief singers had one of those instruments appropriated to them, one of which were the cymbals of brass, to which the apostle alludes, 1Co 13:1.
This site's exposition
to be the singers with
on 1 Chronicles 15:16-19
David orders a choir for the first time in this book, and three of the names appointed here carry forward into the Psalter's own titles: Heman, Asaph and Ethan head the psalms later ascribed to their houses, Asaph's across Psalms 50 and 73 to 83, Heman's at Psalm 88, Ethan's at Psalm 89. Fourteen more Levites of the second degree fill out the choir under them, several of whom also serve as porters when they are not singing. The three principals sound cymbals of brass, the instrument that keeps time for everything else, and John Gill notes it as the detail Paul draws on for the noisy cymbal of 1 Corinthians 13:1.
The record, by era
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint . . . the singers with instruments--These eminent Levites were instructed to train the musicians and singers who were under them, for the solemn procession. The performers were ranged in three choirs or bands, and the names of the principal leaders are given (1Ch 15:17, 18, 21), with the instruments respectively used by each.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
And the singers: Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, etc. To make a resounding voice, they were appointed over those musical instruments.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
And with them, their brethren the second in rank second in rank to them as gate sentries.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְהַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים | vehamshorerim | and the singers | H7891 → | 86 times |
| הֵימָ֥ן | heiman | Heman | H1968 → | 16 times |
| אָסָ֖ף | ʾasaf | Asaph | H623 → | 34 times |
| וְאֵיתָ֑ן | veeitan | and Ethan | H387 → | 7 times |
| בִּמְצִלְתַּ֥יִם | bimtziltayim | with cymbals | H4700 → | 13 times |
| נְחֹ֖שֶׁת | nechoshet | bronze | H5178 → | 140 times |
| לְהַשְׁמִֽיעַ׃ | lehashmia' | [were] to sound aloud | H8085 → | 1159 times |
וְהַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔יםand the singers
vehamshorerimH7891 →86 times
הֵימָ֥ןHeman
heimanH1968 →16 times
אָסָ֖ףAsaph
ʾasafH623 →34 times
וְאֵיתָ֑ןand Ethan
veeitanH387 →7 times
בִּמְצִלְתַּ֥יִםwith cymbals
bimtziltayimH4700 →13 times
נְחֹ֖שֶׁתbronze
nechoshetH5178 →140 times
לְהַשְׁמִֽיעַ׃[were] to sound aloud
lehashmia'H8085 →1159 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Chronicles 25:1Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list…
it leads to
- 1 Chronicles 6:39
Heman’s kinsman was Asaph, who served at his right hand:
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Samuel 10:5
After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Chronicles 6:33
These are the men who served, together with their sons. From the Kohathites:
- 2 Kings 3:15
But now, bring me a harpist.” And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha
- Nehemiah 12:27
At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from all their homes and brought to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps,…
- 1 Chronicles 6:39
Through
1 Chronicles 13:8David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
it leads to
- 1 Chronicles 25:1–6
Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 150:3–5
Praise Him with the sound of the horn; praise Him with the harp and lyre.
- 1 Chronicles 25:1–6
Through
1 Chronicles 25:6All these were under the direction of their fathers for the music of the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and…
it leads to
- 1 Chronicles 25:1–3
Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list…
- 1 Chronicles 25:1–3
About 1 Chronicles
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Jamieson Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament.