Music has the power to move the soul and express the deepest emotions of the human heart, and the Bible celebrates the use of musical instruments in worship and praise. Let’s explore these verses together and learn from the psalmists and musicians of scripture, who used harps, lyres, trumpets, and other instruments to glorify God and lead others in joyful worship and adoration.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Sheep And Shepherds
Bible Verses About Musical Instruments
Psalm 150:1-6
Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
This psalm encourages us to praise the Lord with musical instruments. It highlights the diverse ways we can express our worship through music and calls us to use various instruments to praise God. The psalmist emphasizes the importance of praising God in His sanctuary and in the heavens. Musical instruments such as trumpets, lutes, harps, tambourines, pipes, and cymbals are mentioned as tools of praise. The psalm concludes by affirming that everything that has breath should praise the Lord. This verse demonstrates the power of music to draw us closer to God and to express our adoration and gratitude.
1 Chronicles 25:1
David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals.
This verse speaks of David appointing and setting apart the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun for service in the tabernacle. These individuals were chosen to prophesy with musical instruments such as lyres, harps, and cymbals. It portrays how music was incorporated into the worship and prophetic ministries of the Old Testament. The use of these instruments allowed for a deeper connection to God and facilitated the expression of divine inspiration through music.
2 Samuel 6:5
And David and all the house of Israel were making merry before the Lord, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.
In this passage, David and the people of Israel rejoiced and made merry before the Lord. They did so with the accompaniment of songs and various musical instruments, including lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. This verse exemplifies the role of music in celebrating and expressing joy in the presence of God. It reveals the power of music to uplift our spirits and bring us closer to Him in times of celebration.
1 Samuel 16:23
And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.
During times when Saul was tormented by a harmful spirit sent by God, David played the lyre to provide relief and refreshment. The music played by David brought comfort to Saul and caused the harmful spirit to depart. This verse showcases the therapeutic power of music and its ability to heal and bring peace. It demonstrates how music can have a profound effect on our emotional and spiritual well-being.
Exodus 15:20-21
Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”
After the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea, Miriam, the sister of Aaron, led the women in a celebration using tambourines and dancing. Miriam praised the Lord through song, declaring His glorious triumph over their enemies. This passage exemplifies the use of music and movement as a form of worship and gratitude. It shows how music can be a powerful catalyst for expressing joy and acknowledging God’s victories in our lives.
Psalm 33:2-3
Praise the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
This psalm instructs us to praise the Lord with specific musical instruments, such as the lyre and the harp. It encourages us to make melodies and play skillfully on these instruments. The invitation to sing a new song and offer loud shouts implies that music should be approached with enthusiasm and creativity. This verse highlights the importance of honing our musical skills to offer our best to the Lord in worship. It also emphasizes the power of music to capture the essence of a new season or a fresh revelation from God.
Psalm 98:4-6
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
In this psalm, the psalmist calls upon all the earth to make a joyful noise and sing praises to the Lord. The use of musical instruments such as the lyre, trumpets, and horns is encouraged. This verse emphasizes the universal nature of worship through music and the power of instrumental sounds to create an atmosphere of joyous praise. It reminds us that music can be a unifying force that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers in expressing our devotion to God.
Psalm 98:7-8
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together
This psalm continues to exhort all of creation to join in with music and praise the Lord. The imagery of the sea roaring, rivers clapping their hands, and hills singing for joy highlights how music can be found in even the natural elements around us. It portrays the idea that all of creation resonates with the worship of God and that music is not limited to human expression alone. This verse invites us to listen and find inspiration in the melodies and rhythms of nature as we worship the Creator.
Psalm 92:1-3
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.
According to this psalm, it is good to give thanks to the Lord and sing praises to His name. It emphasizes the importance of declaring God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, both in the morning and at night. The psalmist suggests that these declarations can be accompanied by the music of instruments such as the lute, harp, and lyre. This verse highlights the role of music in punctuating our prayers of gratitude and adoration. It reminds us of the significance of intertwining music with our daily confessions of God’s goodness and faithfulness.
Psalm 147:7
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre!
This verse encourages us to sing to the Lord with thanksgiving and to make melodies to Him using the lyre. It reinforces the idea that music is an integral part of offering our gratitude to God. By embracing the act of making melodies with our voices and instruments, we can actively express our thanksgiving and praise. This verse emphasizes the importance of intentionally incorporating music into our worship as a way to honor and glorify the Lord.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
This verse from the New Testament encourages believers to let the word of Christ dwell richly within them. It instructs believers to teach and admonish one another in wisdom, while also engaging in singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. The mention of thankfulness in our hearts to God emphasizes the importance of a grateful attitude as we participate in collective worship through music. This verse reminds us that music can be a means of transmitting divine truths and encouraging one another in the faith.
Ephesians 5:19
Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.
In this verse, believers are urged to address one another using psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. It emphasizes that music is not only meant for personal worship but also for mutual edification within the body of Christ. Singing and making melody to the Lord with our hearts indicates that true worship goes beyond the external expression but requires an authentic and sincere heart. This verse promotes the use of music as a form of encouragement and spiritual connection among believers.
Psalm 104:33
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
This verse reflects the psalmist’s resolve to sing to the Lord for as long as they live. It emphasizes the idea of continuous praise and celebrates the lifelong commitment to worshiping God through song. This verse inspires us to adopt a similar mindset, understanding that music is not limited to specific moments but should be an enduring expression of our devotion to God throughout our lives.
Psalm 9:1-2
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
In this psalm, the psalmist expresses their intention to give thanks to the Lord with their whole heart. They emphasize the act of recounting God’s wonderful deeds and being glad and exulting in Him. Singing praise to God’s name is highlighted as the means of expressing their gratitude and joy. This verse highlights the connection between wholehearted thanksgiving, recounting God’s faithfulness, and the use of music as a tool for adoration. It reminds us that music can be a vehicle for vividly recalling and celebrating God’s goodness in our lives.
Psalm 40:3
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
The psalmist declares that God has put a new song in their mouth, a song of praise to our God. This verse suggests that God imparts songs to His people that carry the power to impact others. The psalmist anticipates that as others hear this new song of praise, they will see and fear the Lord, ultimately putting their trust in Him. This verse underscores the transformative and evangelistic potential of music. It reminds us that our musical expressions of worship can be a testimony that draws others to the love and faithfulness of God.
2 Chronicles 5:13-14
And it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,” the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
This passage describes a powerful moment of worship in the temple of Solomon. The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and give thanks to the Lord. As they raised their voices and played various musical instruments, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, signifying the presence of God’s glory. This verse emphasizes the synergy of music and praise in creating an atmosphere where God manifestly dwells. It demonstrates the extraordinary impact of worship through music in inviting the tangible presence of God into our midst.
Psalm 100:1-2
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
This psalm encourages all the earth to make a joyful noise to the Lord. It calls us to serve the Lord with gladness and to come into His presence with singing. This verse highlights the connection between joy, worship, and music. The act of making a joyful noise reminds us that genuine worship is not dependent on a perfect performance but on an authentic expression of gratitude and praise from the heart. Music is presented as a pathway into the presence of God, where our worship and service can be offered with gladness.
Psalm 95:1-2
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
In this psalm, the psalmist exhorts us to sing to the Lord and make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. The passage emphasizes the invitation to enter into God’s presence with thanksgiving and songs of praise. It underscores the importance of approaching God with a joyful heart and expressing our adoration through music. This verse reminds us that music is a bridge that connects us to the Rock of our salvation and enables us to worship and glorify Him.
Psalm 103:1-2
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits
In this psalm, the psalmist calls upon their soul to bless the Lord and not forget His benefits. The mention of blessing the Lord with all that is within them implies a comprehensive expression of worship. This verse emphasizes the integration of our entire being into musical praise, recognizing that our soul, mind, and emotions are to be fully engaged in honoring God. It prompts us to offer our whole selves to the Lord in worship through music and to remember and celebrate His countless blessings.
Psalm 61:8
So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day.
According to this verse, the psalmist declares their commitment to sing praises to the name of the Lord continually. The act of singing praises is linked to faithfully performing their vows day after day. This verse reveals the connection between the expression of praise through music and the pursuit of a life marked by devotion and faithfulness to God. It serves as a reminder that our worship through music is not confined to specific moments but should permeate every aspect of our lives as an outpouring of our love and dedication to the Lord.
Psalm 47:6-7
Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!
In this psalm, the psalmist calls upon us to sing praises to God and acknowledges Him as the King of all the earth. The repetition of the phrase “sing praises” underscores the importance of using music to glorify and exalt God. It emphasizes that our worship should always include the element of song and that it should reflect our acknowledgment of God’s sovereign rule. This verse reminds us that music carries the ability to magnify and honor God as we join together in praising Him as our King.
Psalm 32:11
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
This verse admonishes the righteous to be glad in the Lord, to rejoice, and shout for joy. It conveys the idea that music is meant to be an expression of joy and gladness in the presence of God. The invitation to shout for joy indicates that music can be an exuberant and celebratory form of worship. It encourages all who are upright in heart to engage in musical praise as a natural response to experiencing the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord.
Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song, I give thanks to him.
In this psalm, the psalmist declares their trust in the Lord and acknowledges Him as their strength and shield. As a result, their heart exults, and they express their gratitude through a song of thanks. This verse highlights the connection between trust in God, personal experience of His help, and the outflow of worship through music. It affirms that music can be a way to express our heartfelt gratitude and praise to God for His faithfulness and support in our lives.
Psalm 27:6
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
In this psalm, the psalmist anticipates victory over their enemies and expresses their intention to offer sacrifices with shouts of joy in God’s tent. They resolve to sing and make melody to the Lord as an act of celebration and adoration. This verse showcases the power of music to mark significant moments of triumph and to commemorate God’s deliverance. It reminds us that music can be a response to the victories we experience in our spiritual battles, allowing us to exalt and celebrate the Lord.
Psalm 30:4
Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.
This verse prompts the saints to sing praises to the Lord and give thanks to His holy name. It recognizes that music is a fitting avenue to express gratitude and veneration towards God. By addressing the saints specifically, this verse underscores the communal and collective nature of worship through music. It encourages us to join together in lifting our voices and hearts in praise, uniting as a community of believers to honor and extol the name of the Lord.
Psalm 5:11
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.
According to this verse, those who take refuge in the Lord are invited to rejoice and sing for joy. The request for God’s protection implies that music can be a means of experiencing God’s presence and security. By exulting in the Lord through song, those who love His name find comfort and affirmation in their relationship with Him. This verse reminds us that music has the power to evoke joy and peace in times of hardship and to remind us of the refuge we find in our loving and faithful God.
What Does The Bible Say About Musical Instruments?
As we explore the topic of musical instruments in the Bible, we can first acknowledge that the Bible is not rigidly prescriptive on this matter. The Scriptures mention various musical instruments and their use in worship, indicating that music is indeed a significant aspect of our relationship with God.
Throughout the Bible, we find references to a wide array of instruments such as the harp, lyre, trumpet, tambourine, and cymbals, among others. These instruments were used in various contexts, including times of celebration, worship, and praise. In fact, we see numerous instances where musical instruments were employed to glorify God and express emotional reverence.
For example, the book of Psalms abounds with references to musical instruments and the importance of praising God through them. Psalm 150:3-6 encourages us to praise God with the sound of the trumpet, the harp, the lyre, the tambourine, strings, pipe, and cymbals. The book of Psalms beautifully portrays how music can uplift our spirits and lead us closer to God.
Furthermore, in the Old Testament, we read about King David playing the harp to soothe King Saul’s troubled heart (1 Samuel 16:23). This demonstrates that music has the power to bring comfort and peace in times of distress. Throughout David’s life, and in the lives of other worshipers, musical instruments were an integral part of expressing their love and adoration for God.
We also see musical instruments mentioned in the context of worship in the New Testament. For instance, in Revelation 5:8-9, heavenly beings are described as using harps to worship God. This indicates that even in the eternal presence of God, music and instruments have a role in glorifying Him.
It is worth noting that the Bible does not sanction or condemn any specific instrument. Rather, it emphasizes the heart behind the use of musical instruments. In Ephesians 5:19, we are encouraged to “sing and make music from our heart to the Lord.” This verse emphasizes the sincerity and joy in our worship, regardless of the specific instruments we use or do not use.
Ultimately, the Bible implies that musical instruments can be a beautiful and meaningful way to express our love and adoration for God. However, they should never overshadow the purpose of worship, which is to glorify God and connect with Him on a deep spiritual level. Our focus should always be on the attitude of our hearts as we worship, rather than solely on the use of musical instruments.
In conclusion, the Bible highlights the significance of music and the use of musical instruments throughout both the Old and New Testaments. It encourages us to utilize music in our worship as a means of expressing our love for God and connecting with Him in a sincere and heartfelt manner. Let us remember that the purpose of worship is to honor and glorify God, and that the use of musical instruments should always align with this primary goal.