Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 15:16
David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David commands the Levitical leaders to designate their relatives as singers. This instruction occurs during the organized preparation to transport the ark of God to Jerusalem.
The words — The verb וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) literally means "and he said," recording David's direct order. The phrase אֲחֵי־הֶם (achei-hem) translates to "their relatives," specifying the familial lineage required for the singing corps.
The thread — The text mandates specific instruments and joyful vocal performance, a pattern repeated in 1 Chronicles 13:8, 1 Chronicles 16:42, and 1 Chronicles 23:5. These passages collectively establish a consistent liturgical structure for Levitical praise.
Why it lands — The passage requires readers to acknowledge that corporate worship in this narrative follows prescribed leadership and instrumental order. It demands adherence to established liturgical roles rather than unstructured or individualized expression.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 13:8 David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
- 1 Chronicles 16:42 Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for the songs of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.
- 1 Chronicles 23:5 4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I have made for giving praise.”
- 2 Chronicles 5:13 The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud
- Nehemiah 12:36 and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani—with the musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the scribe led the procession.
- 1 Chronicles 6:31 These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark rested there.
- 1 Chronicles 15:12 And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.
- 1 Chronicles 15:27 Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod.
- 1 Chronicles 25:1 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 of the men who performed this service:
- 2 Chronicles 29:28 The whole assembly was worshiping, the singers were singing, and the trumpeters were playing. All this continued until the burnt offering was completed.