Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
English Standard Version (ESV)
While it mentions "dancing," many scholars suggest the original Hebrew word might actually refer to a wind instrument, like a pipe or flute. This shifts the focus from a lively, physical dance to a richer, orchestral sound used to praise God. The verse isn't just about joyful movement, but a full symphony of praise with diverse instruments.
Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm calls God's people to a joyful celebration, urging them to offer a "new song" in worship. It emphasizes communal praise and the rejoicing of Israel in their Creator and King, highlighting God's pleasure in them and His promise to vindicate the oppressed. The verses immediately following describe the church's triumph over her enemies through God's power, a victory to be proclaimed with praise.
When we think of praising God, what comes to mind? Words? Thoughts? This psalm calls for something much more.
Psalms 149:3 is a vibrant call to worship, urging us to use a variety of instruments – not just the voice – to express our joy in God.
Instruments of Exultation
The verse mentions the tambourine (a hand drum) and the lyre (a stringed instrument). While there's some scholarly debate about the exact translation of the word for 'dance' (some suggest 'pipe'), the core idea is clear: a comprehensive, joyful expression of praise.
Imagine a whole orchestra playing, not just a solo. This psalm advocates for a full range of sound and movement to magnify God. It’s about offering our whole selves – our voices, our hands, our feet – in worship.
Is dancing really for worship? And how does it connect with music?
This verse paints a picture of worship that involves both sound and physical expression. The invitation to praise God 'with dancing' and 'making melody with tambourine and lyre' suggests that our praise can be both auditory and kinetic.
Joy in Motion
Historically, dancing in ancient Israel was often a public, communal expression of intense joy and thanksgiving, particularly in religious festivals. It wasn't just entertainment; it was a way to embody and release overwhelming happiness and devotion.
Harmonizing Our Hearts
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The 'making melody' part reminds us that music is central. Whether through instruments or voice, music has a unique power to stir our emotions and direct our focus. When combined with dance, it creates a powerful, multi-sensory experience of worship, aligning our inner feelings with outward actions.
Understand the original words
shem · Hebrew Noun
The essential character, authority, and reputation of a person. In reference to God, it encompasses all that He has revealed of Himself.
This psalm celebrates the restoration and renewed joy of God's people after the exile. The use of instruments like the tambourine and lyre, along with joyful dancing, reflects a vibrant, communal expression of praise, reminiscent of earlier periods of deliverance like the Exodus, but now with a focus on the rebuilt community and Temple.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
After a miraculous liberation from slavery, the Israelites, led by Moses and Miriam, celebrated with joyous songs, dancing, and the use of timbrels, as famously recounted in Exodus 15.
c. 1070 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
King David establishes Jerusalem as the capital and brings the Ark of the Covenant, initiating a period of increased religious and musical expression in worship.
c. 960 BC
Solomon's Temple Dedicated
The magnificent Temple in Jerusalem is dedicated, becoming the central place of worship and greatly expanding the use of music and instruments in religious ceremonies.
c. 538 BC— this verse
Return from Babylonian Exile
Following the end of the Babylonian exile, many Jewish exiles are permitted to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and their community, prompting a need for renewed praise and hope.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple Completed
The completion and dedication of the Second Temple mark a significant milestone in the post-exilic community, allowing for the restoration of Temple worship and musical traditions.
This passage shows Miriam and the women using timbrels and dancing immediately after God's miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea, mirroring the joyful, expressive praise described in Psalm 149.
2 Samuel 6:14David's enthusiastic dancing before the Lord as he brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem highlights how ecstatic, physical expressions of worship are deeply rooted in Israel's history.
Psalm 150:4This psalm calls for praise with various instruments, including the tambourine (timbrel) and lyre (harp), reinforcing the theme of using music and joyful actions to glorify God.
Jeremiah 31:13This prophetic passage promises future joy and restoration, where 'the young women shall dance with gladness,' echoing the celebratory and expressive praise commanded in Psalm 149.
jfbPsalms 149:3: "Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp."
- in the dance—(Ps 30:11). The dance is connected with other terms, expressive of the great joy of the occasion. The word may be rendered "lute," to which the other instruments are joined.sing praises—or, sing and play.
poolePsalms 149:3: "Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp."
According to the usage of that time and dispensation.
While it mentions "dancing," many scholars suggest the original Hebrew word might actually refer to a wind instrument, like a pipe or flute. This shifts the focus from a lively, physical dance to a richer, orchestral sound used to praise God. The verse isn't just about joyful movement, but a full symphony of praise with diverse instruments.
This psalm calls God's people to a joyful celebration, urging them to offer a "new song" in worship. It emphasizes communal praise and the rejoicing of Israel in their Creator and King, highlighting God's pleasure in them and His promise to vindicate the oppressed. The verses immediately following describe the church's triumph over her enemies through God's power, a victory to be proclaimed with praise.
This psalm calls God's people to a joyful celebration, urging them to offer a "new song" in worship. It emphasizes communal praise and the rejoicing of Israel in their Creator and King, highlighting God's pleasure in them and His promise to vindicate the oppressed. The verses immediately following describe the church's triumph over her enemies through God's power, a victory to be proclaimed with praise.
"Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!" — While it mentions "dancing," many scholars suggest the original Hebrew word might actually refer to a wind instrument, like a pipe or flute. This shifts the focus from a lively, physical dance to a r…
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Last reviewed October 2026