Bible Strands
Ephesians 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Ephesian congregation, placing this command between the call to be Spirit-filled (v. 18) and the call to give thanks (v. 20). It describes what Spirit-filled communal life sounds like.
The words — λαλοῦντες (lalountes), "speaking," is a present participle: not a one-time act but a continuous mode of address. The triad ψαλμοῖς, ὕμνοις, ᾠδαῖς (psalmois, humnois, ōdais) names three distinct forms of sung speech.
The thread — Colossians 3:16 mirrors the triad almost verbatim within a parallel exhortation. Psalms 95:2 and 1 Corinthians 14:26 both treat congregational singing as a shared, participatory act.
Why it lands — The object is "one another" (ἑαυτοῖς), making worship a mutual practice rather than a solo performance. It asks the reader to treat song as the ordinary texture of Christian speech, not a special occasion.
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 Greek words
King James Version
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Cross-references
- Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
- Psalms 95:2 Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him in song.
- 1 Corinthians 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.
- Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
- Psalms 147:7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music on the harp to our God,
- James 5:13 Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.
- Psalms 105:2 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders.
- John 4:23 But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him.
- Psalms 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah
- Psalms 86:12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever.