mizmor · psalm

What it means

mizmor (מִזְמוֹר) is a Hebrew word of the Bible that means “psalm”.

A song sung with instruments. It is the title of many of the poems in the book of Psalms.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. A song sung with instruments.

From Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906)

Word study

Psalm: a song accompanied by stringed instruments. It comes from זָמַר (‘sing, play’, H2167). It appears only in the titles of the book of Psalms.

• “A psalm of David” Psalms 3:1Psalms 23:1
• “A psalm of Asaph” Psalms 73:1
• A psalm for the Sabbath Psalms 92:1
• “A psalm for thanksgiving” Psalms 100:1
• “A psalm” alone, at the beginning Psalms 98:1

How we translate it

Always “psalm” (57 times), at the head of the title. מִזְמוֹר is one of the technical terms of the titles, which are translated or transliterated with a note (like “Selah” or “For the director”). It is one of several names of compositions in those titles, together with שִׁיר, which is rendered “song” (“A psalm. A song for the day of the Sabbath”, Psalm 92:1).

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Psalms 3:1

  A psalm of David, when he fled from before Absalom his son. YHWH, how many are my adversaries; many are rising against me.

• Psalms 4:1

  For the director. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David. When I call, answer me, Elohim of my righteousness. In distress you gave me room; show me favor and hear my prayer.

• Psalms 5:1

  For the director. For the flutes. A psalm of David. Give ear to my sayings, YHWH; consider my murmuring.

• Psalms 6:1

  For the director. With stringed instruments, on the eighth. A psalm of David. YHWH, do not rebuke me in your anger, nor correct me in your fury.

• Psalms 8:1

  For the director. On the Gitit. A psalm of David. YHWH, our Lord, how magnificent is your name in all the earth, you who have set your splendor above the heavens.

• Psalms 9:1

  For the director. Almut labben. A psalm of David. I will give thanks to YHWH with all my heart; I will recount all your wonders.

• Psalms 12:1

  For the director. On the eighth. A psalm of David. Save, YHWH, for the faithful one is gone; for the trustworthy have vanished from among human beings.

• Psalms 13:1

  For the director. A psalm of David. How long, YHWH? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

• Psalms 15:1

  A psalm of David. YHWH, who will reside in your tent? Who will dwell on your holy mountain?

• Psalms 19:1

  For the director. A psalm of David. The heavens recount the glory of El, and the vault proclaims the work of his hands.

• Psalms 20:1

  For the director. A psalm of David. May YHWH answer you in the day of distress; may the name of the Elohim of Jacob set you on high.

• Psalms 21:1

  For the director. A psalm of David. YHWH, in your strength the king is glad, and in your salvation how greatly he is jubilant.

• Psalms 22:1

  For the director. On The Doe of the Dawn. A psalm of David. My El, my El, why have you abandoned me? Far from my salvation are the words of my roaring.

• Psalms 23:1

  A psalm of David. YHWH is my shepherd; I will lack nothing.

• Psalms 24:1

  Of David. A psalm. The earth belongs to YHWH, and all that fills it, the world and those who dwell in it.

• Psalms 29:1

  A psalm of David. Give to YHWH, sons of El, give to YHWH glory and strength.

• Psalms 30:1

  A psalm. A song of the dedication of the house. Of David. I will exalt you, YHWH, for you have drawn me up and have not made my enemies glad over me.

• Psalms 31:1

  For the director. A psalm of David. In you, YHWH, I have taken refuge; let me not be ashamed ever; in your righteousness bring me to safety.

• Psalms 38:1

  A psalm of David. For bringing to remembrance. YHWH, do not rebuke me in your wrath, nor correct me in your fury.

• Psalms 39:1

  For the director. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I said, “I will keep my ways from sinning with my tongue; I will keep my mouth with a muzzle while the wicked is before me.”

• Psalms 40:1

  For the director. Of David. A psalm. I waited and waited for YHWH, and he inclined to me and heard my cry for help.

• Psalms 41:1

  For the director. A psalm of David. Happy is the one who considers the poor; in the day of evil YHWH will let him escape.

• Psalms 47:1

  For the director. Of the sons of Korah. A psalm. All you peoples, clap your hands; shout to Elohim with the voice of shouts of joy.

• Psalms 48:1

  A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Great is YHWH and greatly to be praised in the city of our Elohim, his holy mountain.

• Psalms 49:1

  For the director. Of the sons of Korah. A psalm. Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

• Psalms 50:1

  A psalm of Asaph. El, Elohim, YHWH, has spoken and called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

• Psalms 51:1

  For the director. A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Show me favor, Elohim, according to your loyal love; according to the abundance of your mercies blot out my transgressions.

• Psalms 62:1

  For the director. On Jeduthun. A psalm of David. Only toward Elohim my soul is in silence; from him comes my salvation.

• Psalms 63:1

  A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. Elohim, my El are you; I seek you earnestly; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh longs for you, in a land dry and weary, without water.

• Psalms 64:1

  For the director. A psalm of David. Hear, Elohim, my voice in my complaint; from the dread of the enemy guard my life.

• Psalms 65:1

  For the director. A psalm of David. A song. For you silence is praise, Elohim, in Zion, and to you the vow will be fulfilled.

• Psalms 66:1

  For the director. A song. A psalm. Shout aloud to Elohim, all the earth;

• Psalms 67:1

  For the director. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song. May Elohim show us favor and bless us; may he make his face shine with us. Selah.

• Psalms 68:1

  For the director. Of David. A psalm. A song. Let Elohim rise up, let his enemies be scattered, and let those who hate him flee from before him.

• Psalms 73:1

  A psalm of Asaph. Surely good to Israel is Elohim, to the pure in heart.

• Psalms 75:1

  For the director. Do Not Destroy. A psalm of Asaph. A song. We give you thanks, Elohim, we give thanks, and near is your name; they recount your wonders.

• Psalms 76:1

  For the director. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song. Known in Judah is Elohim; in Israel great is his name.

• Psalms 77:1

  For the director. On Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm. My voice goes to Elohim, and I cry out; my voice to Elohim, and he gives ear to me.

• Psalms 79:1

  A psalm of Asaph. Elohim, nations have come into your inheritance; they have made unclean your holy temple; they have made Jerusalem into heaps of ruins.

• Psalms 80:1

  For the director. On The Lilies of the Testimony. Of Asaph. A psalm. Shepherd of Israel, give ear, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who sit upon the cherubim, shine forth.

And 17 more times.