Saturday, July 12, 2014

Music to Accompany the Sabbath Mizmowr Shiyr part 2

Music to Accompany the Sabbath Mizmowr Shiyr part 2
            Also of importance is the specific mention of the instruments used to accompany the vocal music and what is said about them.  The instruments were: asor (6218) an instrument of ten [strings], nebel (5035) the large angular hollow-bodied harp, and kinnor (3658) he small hand-held lyre.  Translators have deduced that “with a solemn sound (higgayown 1902) refers to how the kinnor was to sound.  However, it is possible that this phrase refers to how all three instruments were to be played i.e. the sound that the Psalmist instructed the musicians to produce when playing this Psalm at Sabbath worship.  
           The Hebrew word higgayown has several shade of meaning in Scripture.  I believe that, in this instance, it means meditative sound rather than the often supposed “solemn sound”.  Lexicographers have to rely on context to discern shades of meaning of words like shiggayown.  The wording of Psalm 92:3-5, “For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.    O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep” illuminates the mood of this lyric poem.  It is by no means a solemn text, but rather a very happy (“glad”) occasion.

 

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