Lexical Definition

‎זָמַר‎ zâmar (zaw-mar') to sing ^H:V
a primitive root (perhaps identical with ‎זָמַר‎ through the idea of striking with the fingers); properly, to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument, i.e.

give praise, sing forth praises, psalms.

• play upon it
• to make music, accompanied by the voice
• hence to celebrate in song and music

1) to sing, sing praise, make music
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to make music, sing
1a2) to play a musical instrument

See Greek: ὑμνέω · ψάλλω

Extended Information

• Aramaic equivalent: ze.mar (‎ז‎ְ‎מ‎ָ‎ר‎ "music" זְמָר)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Aramaic form: זְמָר
I. [‎זמר‎] verb only Pi`el make music in praise of God (‎׳‎‎י‎), only in poetry (Arabic pipe, play on a reed; Aramaic , ‎זַמֵּר‎ and derivatives; Ethiopic in derived conjugations; on an original meaning hum, murmur, compare Hup^{ZKM iii, (1840) 394 ff. iv, 139 ff.} Id^{Psalm. Einl. § 7, 2} De⁴ on Ps 3) —

Pi`el Imperfect 3 masculine singular suffix ‎יְזַמֶּרְךָ‎ Ps 30:13* 1 singular ‎אֲזַמֵּר‎ Judg 5:3; 2Sam 22:50 ‎(וַ)אֲזַמְּרָה‎ Ps 7:18* + 7 t., ‎אֲזַמֵּ֑רָה‎ Ps 18:50* + 3 t.; suffix ‎אֲזַמֶּרְךָ‎ Ps 57:10*; Ps 108:4*, ‎אֲזַמְּרֶ֑ךָּ‎ Ps 131:1 3 masculine plural ‎יְזַמְּרוּ‎ Ps 66:4; Ps 149:3 ‎וִיזַמְּרוּ‎ Ps 66:4 1 plural ‎נְזַמְּרָה‎ Ps 21:14* Imperative masculine plural ‎זַמְּרוּ‎ Ps 9:12* + 14 t., ‎זַמֵּ֑רוּ‎ Ps 47:7* (twice in verse); Infinitive ‎לְזַמֵּר‎ Ps 92:2*, ‎זַמְּרָה‎ Ps 147:1 — make music, melody (only Psalms, except Judg 5:3; Isa 12:5); —

1. of singing to (‎ל‎) God (Yahweh) Judg 5:3; Ps 27:6; Ps 101:1; Ps 104:33; Ps 105:2 = 1Chr 16:9 (all || ‎שׁיר‎ verb), Ps 9:12*; Ps 30:5* (both || ‎הוֺדוּ‎), Ps 47:7* (‎לְמַלְכֵּנוּ‎), Ps 66:4; Ps 71:23 (with ‎תְּרַנֵּנָּה שְׂפָתַי‎), Ps 75:10* (|| ‎הגיד‎), Ps 146:2 (|| ‎הלל‎); followed by ‎אֶלִֿ‎ Ps 59:18* to his name ‎לשׁם‎, Ps 18:50* = 2Sam 22:50 (|| ‎אודך‎), Ps 92:2* (|| ‎לְהֹדוֺת‎), Ps 135:3 (|| ‎הללויה‎); followed by suffix = sing thee, praise thee in song Ps 30:13*; Ps 57:10*; Ps 108:4*; Ps 138:1 (all || ‎אודך‎); followed by acc ‎׳‎‎י‎ Isa 12:5, ‎אלהים‎ Ps 47:7*, ‎אלהינו‎ Ps 147:1, ‎אדני‎ Ps 68:33* (|| ‎שׁירו‎), followed by ‎שְׁמוֺ‎ Ps 7:18* (|| ‎אודה‎), Ps 9:3*; Ps 61:9*; Ps 66:4; Ps 68:5* (|| ‎שׁידו‎); followed by ‎כְּבוֺד שְׁמוֺ‎ Ps 66:2, ‎גבורתך‎ Ps 21:14* (|| ‎נשׁירה‎); followed by accusative of the song, ‎מַשְׂכִּיל‎ Ps 47:8* (see ‎׳‎‎מ‎ below ‎שׂכל‎); absolute Ps 57:8* (|| ‎אשׁירה‎), Ps 98:4 (|| ‎הָרִיעוּ‎, ‎פִּצְחוּ‎, ‎רַנְַנוּ‎), Ps 108:2* (|| ‎אשׁירה‎; instrumental accompare vPs 108:3* compare also vPs 108:4* above), Ps 47:7* (twice in verse).

2. of playing musical instruments ‎בְּנֵבֶל עָשׂוֺר זַמְּרוּלֿוֺ‎ Ps 33:2 (|| ‎בְּכִנּוֺר‎ ‎׳‎‎הודו לי‎), compare Ps 144:9 (|| ‎אשׁירה‎); ‎אזמרה‎ ‎לך בכנור‎ Ps 71:22 (|| ‎אודך בִכְלִינֶֿבֶל‎); ‎בכנ֑֑ור בכנור‎ ‎׳‎‎לי‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ ‎וקול זמרה‎ Ps 98:5 ‎בכנור‎ ‎׳‎‎לא‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Ps 147:7 (|| ‎בתודה‎ ‎׳‎‎ענו לי‎); ‎בְּתֹף וכנור יזמרולֿו‎ Ps 149:3 (|| ‎יהללו שׁמו בְּמָחוֺל‎).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References