זִמְרָת
instrumental music; by implication, praise
Definition
The Hebrew noun זִמְרָת (zimrâth) primarily means 'instrumental music' or 'melody,' but it extends to signify 'praise' or 'song' offered to God. In Exodus 15:2, it appears in the Song of the Sea as 'my strength and my song,' where it denotes a celebratory hymn of deliverance. In Psalms 118:14 and Isaiah 12:2, the phrase 'The LORD is my strength and my song' uses the word to express God Himself as the source and object of joyful, musical praise. Thus, the word bridges the concrete act of making music and the abstract expression of worship.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only three times in the Old Testament, always in poetic contexts of victory and salvation. It appears in Exodus 15:2 (a song after crossing the Red Sea), Psalms 118:14 (a psalm of thanksgiving for deliverance), and Isaiah 12:2 (a prophetic song of salvation). In each case, it is part of the identical poetic line, 'The LORD is my strength and my song (zimrâth),' linking God's saving power directly with the human response of musical praise.
Etymology
Derived from the root זָמַר (zāmar, H2167), which means 'to make music,' specifically by plucking or pruning (like strings). זִמְרָת is a feminine noun form indicating the product or result of that action—hence, 'music' or 'song.' Related words include זִמְרָה (zimrâ, H2158), also meaning 'song' or 'music.'
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it encapsulates the idea that God is not only the object of our praise but is Himself the very substance and source of the 'song' believers sing. It connects divine salvation with human worship, showing that deliverance naturally overflows into musical celebration. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting how biblical praise is often concrete, embodied, and directly tied to God's acts of power.
In ancient Israelite culture, music was integral to communal worship and celebration of military victories. The use of זִמְרָת in these victory songs reflects a culture where praising God with instruments and voice was a standard, public response to His intervention. The modern concept of a 'song' as a personal, internal feeling differs from this ancient, communal, and often instrumental expression.
זִמְרָה (zimrâ, H2158) — A very close synonym also meaning 'song' or 'music,' used more frequently in the Psalms. שִׁיר (shîr, H7892) — A more general term for 'song' or 'poem,' not necessarily specifying instrumental accompaniment. תְּהִלָּה (tehillâ, H8416) — 'Praise' or 'hymn,' focusing more on the content of acclaim than the musical form.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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