29 verses · KJV · every verse read aloud
Early Christian writings do not give one simple rule about musical instruments. Clement of Alexandria and some others use instruments as pictures for the human body, voice, or the harmony of worship, while Apostolic Constitutions and some Bible passages keep real instruments in temple and praise settings. Justin Martyr, Apostolic Constitutions, and Hippolytus also cite passages that reject God being pleased by noise or sacrifice without obedience, so instruments are often treated as symbols rather than the heart of worship. The evidence is broad for symbolic and scriptural use, but thin for a single universal early Christian ban or command.
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
New Testament singing text focused on heart and teaching
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Ephesians 5:19
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Colossians 3:16
That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Daniel 3:5
Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Daniel 3:7
And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
clear biblical praise scene with many instruments
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about 2 Samuel 6:5
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
praise with timbrel and stringed instruments
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 150:4
Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Daniel 3:15
And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
David praises God with singing and instruments
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about 1 Chronicles 13:8
Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Daniel 3:10
Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 33:3
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 150:3
Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
Praise with harp and ten-stringed psaltery.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 33:2
Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 147:7
Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 98:5
Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 149:1
Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 92:3
Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 119:54
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 95:2
O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 95:1
And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 40:3
And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.
sacred song includes trumpets and cymbals
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about 1 Chronicles 16:42
And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about 2 Chronicles 20:28
Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 81:2
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.
Levites appointed with instruments of music
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about 1 Chronicles 15:16
And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about 1 Corinthians 14:7
And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Revelation 18:22
And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Isaiah 5:12
They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Job 21:12
The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Isaiah 24:8
Easy to memorize, to write in a card, or to send to a friend.
“Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.”
Psalms 150:4 KJV · 14 words
Listen“Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.”
Psalms 33:3 KJV · 12 words
Listen“Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.”
Psalms 150:3 KJV · 15 words
Listen“Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:”
Psalms 147:7 KJV · 14 words
Listen“Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.”
Psalms 119:54 KJV · 12 words
Listen“Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.”
Psalms 81:2 KJV · 14 words
Listen“They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.”
Job 21:12 KJV · 14 words
ListenExact words from our library of the early church writers. Each one opens at the place it was written.
“Since there are psalms, and songs, and psalms of song, and songs of psalmody, we still need to explain the difference between them. We think, then, that psalms are pieces played simply on an instrument, without the voice, and composed for the musical melody of the instrument. Songs are those performed by the voice tog…”
“As for the psalms that have no title, we must also ask to whom we should assign them. For why is it that even the simplest title is missing from them, such as one that says, "A psalm of David," or simply, "Of David," with nothing added? My view is that wherever this title appears by itself, what is written is neither…”
“2 Samuel 6:4-5 for the instruments thus fitted with might and with songs, had in themselves the musical symphony which is so powerful that when two only, bring along with the symphony which has relation to the music that is divine and spiritual, a request to the Father in heaven about anything whatsoever, the Father g…”
“For at the musical contests the adjudicators do not pass by the lute-players and crown the lutes.”
“Let the temperate meal resound with psalms; and as your memory is tenacious and your voice musical, undertake this office, as is your wont.”
“Then the prefect Rusticus said to Chariton, “Tell me more, Chariton, are you also a Christian?” Chariton replied, “I am a Christian by the command of God.” Rusticus the prefect asked the woman Charito, “What do you say, Charito?” Charito answered, “I am a Christian by the grace of God.” Rusticus asked Euelpistus, “And…”
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