Psalms 144:9
in Psalms 144I will sing to You a new song, O God; on a harp of ten strings I will make music to You—
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: Upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
KJV
I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
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This verse in Psalms 144
Commentary
11 notes on this verseO God, I will sing to you a new song. A new man, a new song. O God, I will sing to you a new song. 'Sing to the Lord a new song.' How beautifully he did not say, I sing, but, I will sing. In the future he made his promise; for in the present he knows there is a battle, not a song. An army never sings, except when it has conquered. Therefore since in the present I fight, I have no leisure to sing. When I shall have conquered, then I will sing.
This site's exposition
I will sing to You a new song
The vow is a new song, sung to God with music. The instrument named is the nebel, a lyre, with asor for its ten strings. Both verbs look forward, a song still to come.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
As it is written, "O God, I will sing you a new song, on a harp of ten strings I will play to you," we take the harp of ten strings to be the Ten Commandments of the law. Now to sing and play is usually the occupation of lovers. The old person, you see, is in fear; the young is in love. In this way also we distinguish the two testaments or covenants, the old and the new, that the apostle says are allegorically represented by the sons of Abraham, one born of the slave woman, the other of the free; "which," he says, "are two covenants." Slavery, surely, goes with fear, freedom with love, seeing that the apostle says, "You have not received the spirit of slavery again in fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship by adoption, in which we cry out, Abba, Father." And John says, "There is no fear in charity, but perfect charity throws out fear." So it is charity that sings the new song.True, that slavish fear embodied in the old person can indeed have the harp of ten strings, because that law of the Ten Commandments was also given to the Jews according to the flesh, but it cannot sing to its accompaniment the new song. It is under the law and cannot fulfill the law. It carries the instrument but does not manage to play it; it is burdened, not embellished, with the harp. But any under grace, not under law, they are the ones who fulfill the law, because for them it is not a weight to shoulder but an honor to wear; it is not a rack for their fears but a frame for their love. Fired by the spirit of love, they are already singing the new song on the harp of ten strings.
"I will sing a new song unto You, O God" [Psalm 144:9]. "A new song" is of grace; "a new song" is of the new man; "a new song" is of the New Testament. But lest you should think that grace departs from the law, whereas rather by grace the law is fulfilled, "upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing unto You." Upon the law of ten commandments: therein may I sing to You; therein may I rejoice to You; therein may "I sing to You a new song;" for, "Love is the fulfilling of the law." [Romans 13:10] But they who have not love may carry the psaltery, sing they cannot. Contradiction cannot make my psaltery to be silent.
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 14 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
In the mystery of prophetical revelation, Christ is symbolized through harmonious singing "with a ten-stringed lyre," as in the psalm where David learns how to prophesy.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
In the midst of his complaints concerning the power and treachery of his enemies, here is a holy exultation in his God: I will sing a new song to thee, O God! a song of praise for new mercies, for those compassions that are new every morning.
I will sing a new song unto thee, O God,....
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
I will sing a new song unto thee, O God. Weary of the false, I will adore the true. Fired with fresh enthusiasm, my gratitude shall make a new channel for itself. I will sing as others have done; but it shall be a new song, such as no others have sung. That song shall be all and altogether for my God: I will extol none but the Lord, from whom my deliverance has come. Upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
I will sing a new song unto thee, O God. Weary of the false, I will adore the true. Fired with fresh enthusiasm, my gratitude shall make a new channel for itself. I will sing as others have done; but it shall be a new song, such as no others have sung. That song shall be all and altogether for my God: I will extol none but the Lord, from whom my deliverance has come. Upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. His hand should aid his tongue, not as in the case of the wicked, cooperating in deceit; but his hand should unite with his mouth in truthful praise. David intended to tune his best instruments as well as to use his best vocal music: the best is all too poor for so great a God, and therefore we must not fall short of our utmost. He meant to use many instruments of music, that by all means he might express his great joy in God. The Old Testament dispensation abounded in types, and figures, and outward ritual, and therefore music dropped naturally into its place in the "worldly sanctuary"; but, after all, it can do no more than represent praise, and assist our expression of it; the real praise is in the heart, the true music is that of the soul. When music drowns the voice, and artistic skill takes a higher place than hearty singing, it is time that instruments were banished from public worship; but when they are subordinate to the song, as here, it is not for us to prohibit them, or condemn those who use them, though we ourselves greatly prefer to do without them, since it seems to us that the utmost simplicity of praise is far more congruous with the spirit of the gospel than pomp of organs.
I will sing a new song - A song of peculiar excellence. I will pour forth all my gratitude, and all my skill, on its composition. See on Psa 33:2 (note), and Psa 33:3 (note).
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
I will sing a new song unto thee, O God - There will be occasion in such a deliverance, or manifestation of mercy, for a new expression of praise. On the phrase, “a new song,” see the notes at Psa 33:3. Upon a psaltery, and an instrument of ten strings - The word “and” should not have been inserted here. The idea is, “Upon a lyre or harp (Nebel) of ten strings, will I sing praise.” See the notes at Isa 5:12; and notes at Psa 33:2.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Who gives salvation to kings This speaks about the Rock of the Divisions, when David was close to being seized by Saul (I Sam.:27): “A messenger came to Saul, saying, ‘Make haste and go, etc.’” He saved Saul from shedding innocent blood, and David from being killed.
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
9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים | ʾelohim | O God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| שִׁ֣יר | shir | a song | H7892 → | 59 times |
| חָ֭דָשׁ | chadosh | new | H2319 → | 53 times |
| אָשִׁ֣ירָה | ʾashirah | I will sing | H7891 → | 86 times |
| לָּ֑ךְ | lakh | to you | ||
| בְּנֵ֥בֶל | benevel | with a lyre of | H5035 → | 38 times |
| עָ֝שׂ֗וֹר | asor | ten | H6218 → | 16 times |
| אֲזַמְּרָה־ | ʾazamerah- | I will make music | H2167 → | 45 times |
| לָּֽךְ׃ | lakh | to you |
אֱֽלֹהִ֗יםO God
ʾelohimH430 →2601 times
שִׁ֣ירa song
shirH7892 →59 times
חָ֭דָשׁnew
chadoshH2319 →53 times
אָשִׁ֣ירָהI will sing
ʾashirahH7891 →86 times
לָּ֑ךְto you
lakh
בְּנֵ֥בֶלwith a lyre of
benevelH5035 →38 times
עָ֝שׂ֗וֹרten
asorH6218 →16 times
אֲזַמְּרָה־I will make music
ʾazamerah-H2167 →45 times
לָּֽךְ׃to you
lakh
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
Psalms 40:3He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
it leads to
- Psalms 33:3
Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 103:1–5
Bless the LORD, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name.
- Psalms 34:1–6
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.
- Psalms 52:6
The righteous will see and fear; they will mock the evildoer, saying,
- Psalms 33:3
Through
Psalms 149:1Hallelujah! Sing to the LORD a new song— His praise in the assembly of the godly.
it leads to
- Revelation 5:9
And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and…
- Psalms 148:1
Hallelujah! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise Him in the highest places.
- Hebrews 2:12
He says: “I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; I will sing Your praises in the assembly.”
- Isaiah 42:10
Sing to the LORD a new song—His praise from the ends of the earth—you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who dwell in them.
- Revelation 5:9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Psalms
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, SERMON 33:1; Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 144; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 14; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 7; Jerome, Homily 54, on Psalm 143; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.