Ephesians 5:19

Amplified Bible

Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by] singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Encourage each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord.

Revised Standard Version
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
speakynge vnto youre selves in psalmes and ymnes and spretuall songes synginge and makinge melodie to ye Lorde in youre hertes

Hebrew Names Version
speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and singing praises in your heart to the Lord;

New American Standard Bible
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord;

New Century Version
Speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord.

Update Bible Version
speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

Webster's Bible Translation
Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

English Standard Version
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

World English Bible
speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and singing praises in your heart to the Lord;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
wherein is excess; but be ye filled with the Spirit, Speaking to each other in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts unto the Lord;

Weymouth's New Testament
but drink deeply of God's Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and offer praise in your hearts to the Lord.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and ymnes, and spiritual songis, syngynge and seiynge salm in youre hertis to the Lord;

English Revised Version
speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

Berean Standard Bible
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,

Contemporary English Version
When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart.

American Standard Version
speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

Bible in Basic English
Joining with one another in holy songs of praise and of the Spirit, using your voice in songs and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Complete Jewish Bible
sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to each other; sing to the Lord and make music in your heart to him;

Darby Translation
speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and chanting with your heart to the Lord;

International Standard Version
Then you will recite to one another psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. You will sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts.Acts 16:25; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And discourse with yourselves with psalms and with hymns and with songs of the Spirit, singing with your hearts unto the Lord.

Murdock Translation
And converse with yourselves in psalms and hymns; and with your hearts sing to the Lord, in spiritual songs.

King James Version (1611)
Speaking to your selues, in Psalmes, and Hymnes, and Spirituall songs, singing and making melodie in your heart to the Lord,

New Living Translation
singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.

New Life Bible
Tell of your joy to each other by singing the Songs of David and church songs. Sing in your heart to the Lord.

New Revised Standard
as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,

Geneva Bible (1587)
Speaking vnto your selues in psalmes, and hymnes, and spirituall songs, singing, and making melodie to the Lord in your hearts,

George Lamsa Translation
Speaking to your souls in psalms and hymns, and in spiritual songs, sing with your heart to the LORD;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Speaking to yourselves, with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs; singing, and striking the strings, with your heart unto the Lord;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Speaking vnto your selues in psalmes and hymnes, and spirituall songues, syngyng and makyng melodie to the Lorde in your heartes:

Good News Translation
Speak to one another with the words of psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing hymns and psalms to the Lord with praise in your hearts.

Christian Standard Bible®
speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord,

King James Version
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Lexham English Bible
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and singing praise in your heart to the Lord,

Literal Translation
speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and praising in your heart to the Lord,

Young's Literal Translation
speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and talke amoge youre selues of Psalmes, and ymnes, and spirituall songes, synginge and makynge melody vnto the LORDE in youre hertes

Mace New Testament (1729)
expressing yourselves in psalms, in hymns, and spiritual songs; and let your hearts beat the time, in concerts of praises to the Lord,

New English Translation
speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord,

New King James Version
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Simplified Cowboy Version
Write a campfire song that honors God. Sing 'em together to settle the herd and your hearts.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

Legacy Standard Bible
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

Contextual Overview

³But sexual immorality and all [moral] impurity [indecent, offensive behavior] or greed must not even be hinted at among you, as is proper among saints [for as believers our way of life, whether in public or in private, reflects the validity of our faith]. ⁴Let there be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse [obscene or vulgar] joking, because such things are not appropriate [for believers]; but instead speak of your thankfulness [to God]. ⁵For be sure of this: no immoral, impure, or greedy person—for that one is [in effect] an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God [for such a person places a higher value on something other than God]. ⁶Let no one deceive you with empty arguments [that encourage you to sin], for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience [those who habitually sin]. ⁷So do not participate or even associate with them [in the rebelliousness of sin]. ⁸For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light] ⁹(for the fruit [the effect, the result] of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), ¹⁰trying to learn [by experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [and letting your lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him—your behavior expressing gratitude to God for your salvation]. ¹¹Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character]; ¹²for it is disgraceful even to mention the things that such people practice in secret.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

to yourselves: Acts 16:25, 1 Corinthians 14:26, Colossians 3:16, James 5:13

psalms: Psalms, רבכלןי [Strong's G5568], from רבככש [Strong's G5567], to touch or play on a musical instrument, properly denotes such sacred songs or poems as are sung to stringed instruments, and may here refer to those of David; hymns, ץלםןי [Strong's G5215], from ץהש, to sing, celebrate, praise, signifies songs in honour of God; and songs שהבי [Strong's G5603], from בויהש, to sing, denotes any regular poetic composition adapted to singing, and is here restricted to those which are spiritual. Psalms 95:2, Psalms 105:2, Matthew 26:30

making: Psalms 47:7, Psalms 47:8, Psalms 62:8, Psalms 86:12, Psalms 105:3, Psalms 147:7, Isaiah 65:14, Matthew 15:8, John 4:23, John 4:24

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 23:1 - sweet psalmist 2 Kings 3:15 - bring me 1 Chronicles 6:32 - with singing 1 Chronicles 16:9 - psalms 1 Chronicles 25:6 - for song Nehemiah 12:43 - the wives also Esther 1:10 - the heart Psalms 27:6 - I will Psalms 33:3 - a new Psalms 69:31 - also shall Psalms 81:2 - General Psalms 92:1 - good Psalms 95:1 - sing Psalms 113:1 - O Psalms 138:1 - I will praise Ecclesiastes 10:19 - and wine Isaiah 24:9 - General Isaiah 26:1 - this song Ezekiel 40:44 - chambers Zechariah 9:17 - corn Zechariah 10:7 - and their Malachi 3:16 - spake Luke 6:45 - good man Luke 22:18 - the fruit Romans 15:13 - fill 1 Corinthians 2:13 - spiritual things Ephesians 5:4 - but Hebrews 13:15 - the sacrifice

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs,.... By psalms are meant the Psalms of David, and others which compose the book that goes by that name, for other psalms there are none; and by "hymns" we are to understand, not such as are made by good men, without the inspiration of the Spirit of God; since they are placed between psalms and spiritual songs, made by men inspired by the Holy Ghost; and are put upon a level with them, and to be sung along with them, to the edification of churches; but these are only another name for the Book of Psalms, the running title of which may as well be the Book of Hymns, as it is rendered by Ainsworth; and the psalm which our Lord sung with his disciples after the supper, is called an hymn; and so are the psalms in general called hymns, by Philo the Jew n; and songs and hymns by Josephus o; and שירות ותושבחות, "songs and praises", or "hymns", in the Talmud p: and by "spiritual songs" are meant the same Psalms of David, Asaph, c. and the titles of many of them are songs, and sometimes a psalm and song, and song and psalm, a song of degrees together with all other Scriptural songs, written by inspired men; and which are called "spiritual", because they are indited by the Spirit of God, consist of spiritual matter, and are designed for spiritual edification; and are opposed to all profane, loose, and wanton songs: these three words answer to תהלים שירים

מזמורים the several titles of David's Psalms; from whence it seems to be the intention of the apostle, that these should be sting in Gospel churches; for so he explains speaking to themselves in them, in the next clause:

singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord; singing, as it is a distinct thing from prayer, so from giving of thanks, which is mentioned in Ephesians 5:20 as another duty; it is not a mental praising of God, for it is called speaking, and teaching, and admonishing, but it is a praising of God with the modulation of the voice; and is rightly performed, when the heart and voice agree; when there is a melody in the heart, as well as in the tongue; for singing and making melody in the heart, is singing with, or from the heart, or heartily; of as elsewhere, "with grace", and which the Alexandrian copy reads here; that is, either with gratitude and thankfulness, or with grace in exercise; and the end in view should be the glory of God.

n De Mutat. Nomin. p. 1062. & alibi. o Antiqu. l. 7. c. 12. sect. 3. p T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 94. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Speaking to yourselves - Speaking among yourselves, that is, endeavoring to edify one another, and to promote purity of heart, by songs of praise. This has the force of a command, and it is a matter of obligation on Christians. From the beginning, praise was an important part of public worship, and is designed to be to the end of the world; see the notes on 1 Corinthians 14:15. Nothing is more clear than that it was practiced by the Saviour himself and the apostles (see Matthew 26:30), and by the primitive church, as well as by the great body of Christians in all ages.

In psalms - The Psalms of David were sung by the Jews at the temple, and by the early Christians (notes Matthew 26:30), and the singing of those psalms has constituted a delightful part of public worship in all ages. They speak the language of devotion at all times, and a large part of them are as well suited to the services of the sanctuary now as they were when first composed.

And hymns - It is not easy to determine precisely what is the difference in the meaning of the words used here, or to designate the kind of compositions which were used in the early churches. A “hymn” is properly a song or ode in honor of God. Among the pagan it was a song in honor of some deity. With us now it denotes a short poem, composed for religious service, and sung in praise to God. Such brief poems were common among the pagan, and it was natural that Christians should early introduce and adopt them. Whether any of them were composed by the apostles it is impossible now to determine, though the presumption is very strong that if they had been they would have been preserved with as much care as their epistles, or as the Psalms. One thing is proved clearly by this passage, that there were other compositions used in the praise of God than the Psalms of David; and if it was right then to make use of such compositions, it is now. They were not merely “Psalms” that were sung, but there were hymns and odes.

Spiritual songs - Spiritual “odes” - ᾠδᾶις ōdais. Odes or songs relating to spiritual things in contradistinction from these which were sung in places of festivity and revelry. An “ode” is properly a short poem or song adapted to be set to music, or to be sung; a lyric poem. In what way these were sung, it is now vain to conjecture. Whether with or without instrumental accompaniments; whether by a choir or by the assembly; whether by an individual only, or whether they were by responses, it is not possible to decide from anything in the New Testament. It is probable that it would be done in the most simple manner possible. Yet as music constituted so important a part of the worship of the temple, it is evident that the early Christians would be by no means indifferent to the nature of the music which they had in their churches. And as it was so important a part of the worship of the pagan gods, and contributed so much to maintain the influence of paganism, it is not unlikely that the early Christians would feel the importance of making their music attractive, and of making it tributary to the support of religion. If there is attractive music at the banquet, and in the theater, contributing to the maintenance of amusements where God is forgotten, assuredly the music of the sanctuary should not be such as to disgust those of pure and refined taste.

Singing - ᾄδοντες adontes. The prevailing character of music in the worship of God should be vocal. If instruments are employed, they should be so subordinate that the service may be characterized as singing.

And making melody - “Melody” is an agreeable succession of sounds; a succession so regulated and modulated as to please the ear. It differs from “harmony,” inasmuch as melody is an agreeable succession of sounds by a single voice; harmony consists in the accordance of different sounds. It is not certain, however, that the apostle here had reference to what is properly called “melody.” The word which he uses - ψάλλω psallō - means to touch, twitch, pluck - as the hair, the beard; and then to twitch a string - to “twang” it - as the string of a bow, and then the string of an instrument of music. It is most frequently used in the sense of touching or playing a lyre, or a harp; and then it denotes to make music in general, to sing - perhaps usually with the idea of being accompanied with a lyre or harp. It is used, in the New Testament, only in Rom 5:19; 1 Corinthians 14:15, where it is translated “sing;” in James 5:13, where it is rendered “sing psalms,” and in the place before us. The idea here is, that of singing in the heart, or praising God from the heart. The psalms, and hymns, and songs were to be sung so that the heart should be engaged, and not so as to be mere music, or a mere external performance. On the phrase “in the heart,” see the notes on 1 Corinthians 14:15.

To the Lord - In praise of the Lord, or addressed to him. Singing, as here meant, is a direct and solemn act of worship, and should be considered such as really as prayer. In singing we should regard ourselves as speaking directly to God, and the words, therefore, should be spoken with a solemnity and awe becoming such a direct address to the great Yahweh. So Pliny says of the early Christians, “Carmenquc Christo quasi Deo dicere secure invicem” - “and they sang among themselves hymns to Christ as God.” If this be the true nature and design of public psalmody, then it follows:

(1) That all should regard it as an act of solemn worship in which they should engage - in “heart” at least, if they cannot themselves sing.

(2) Public psalmody should not be entrusted wholly to the light and frivolous; to the trifling and careless part of a congregation.

(3) They who conduct this part of public worship ought to be pious. The leader “ought” to be a Christian; and they who join in it “ought” also to give their hearts to the Redeemer. Perhaps it would not be proper to say absolutely that no one who is not a professor of religion should take part in the exercises of a choir in a church; but thoro can be no error in saying that such persons “ought” to give themselves to Christ, and to sing from the heart. Their voices would be none the less sweet; their music no less pure and beautiful; nor could their own pleasure in the service be lessened. A choir of sweet singers in a church - united in the same praises here - “ought” to be prepared to join in the same praises around the throne of God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. Speaking to yourselves in psalms — We can scarcely say what is the exact difference between these three expressions. Psalms, ψαλμοι, may probably mean those of David.

Hymns — υμνοις. Extemporaneous effusions in praise of God, uttered under the influence of the Divine Spirit, or a sense of his especial goodness. See Acts 16:25.

Songs — ωιδαις. Odes; premeditated and regular poetic compositions; but, in whatever form they were composed, we learn that they were all πνευματικα, spiritual-tending to magnify God and edify men.

Singing and making melody in your heart — The heart always going with the lips. It is a shocking profanation of Divine worship to draw nigh to God with the lips, while the heart is far from him. It is too often the case that, in public worship, men are carried off from the sense of the words by the sounds that are put to them. And how few choirs of singers are there in the universe whose hearts ever accompany them in what they call singing the praises of God!