Music is an important part of worship and praise to God throughout the Bible. Here are some key Bible verses about music:
Exodus 15:1-21 – The Song of Moses
After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and escaped from the Egyptians, Moses and Miriam led the people in a song of praise to God for his deliverance. This is one of the earliest examples of music in the Bible.
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:1-2)
1 Chronicles 16:8-36 – Songs of Praise
When the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem, David appointed musicians including Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun to play cymbals, lyres and harps in praise to God. This passage includes lyrics to some of the songs they sang in worship.
“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.” (1 Chronicles 16:8-10)
Psalms – Songs of Worship and Lament
The book of Psalms contains over 150 songs written for worship, prayer and lament. These include praise songs, lament songs, penitential songs, royal psalms, wisdom psalms and more. The psalmists play various instruments and encourage skillful music-making in praise to God.
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing.” (Psalm 98:4-5)
Psalm 150 – Praise God with Music!
Psalm 150 is a grand finale praise song, calling us to worship God with music and all kinds of instruments including trumpet, harp, lyre, strings, pipe, and loud clash of cymbals.
“Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.” (Psalm 150:3-5)
2 Chronicles 5:11-14 – Dedication of the Temple
When Solomon dedicated the temple in Jerusalem, musicians and singers gathered to praise God in unison. God’s glory filled the temple in response to their praise.
“All the musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud.” (2 Chronicles 5:13)
2 Samuel 6:1-5 – Celebration with Music
When David brought the ark of God to Jerusalem, he led a musical procession with singing, harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.
“David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.” (2 Samuel 6:5)
Ephesians 5:18-20 – Singing and Making Music
Paul encourages the Ephesians to address one another with music such as psalms, hymns and songs, singing and making music in their hearts to the Lord.
“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:19-20)
Colossians 3:16 – Teaching Through Song
Paul tells the Colossians to teach and admonish one another through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude.
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:16)
James 5:13 – Singing in Times of Trouble
James encourages singing psalms as an expression of joy, or prayer and lament in times of trouble.
“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” (James 5:13)
Revelation 5:8-10 – Songs of the Elders
In his vision of heaven, John sees the twenty four elders holding harps and singing a new song of worship to the Lamb who was slain.
“And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song.” (Revelation 5:8-9)
Revelation 15:2-4 – Song of Moses and the Lamb
John hears those who are victorious over the beast singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb in praise to God.
“And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb.” (Revelation 15:2-3)
These are just some of the key passages about music throughout Scripture. The book of Psalms in particular is filled with songs of worship, praise, lament and thanksgiving that God’s people have sung for centuries. Music is integral to worship and was ordained by God for his glory.
The Bible makes clear that God values skilled music-making and songs that flow from a heart devoted to him. Music has incredible power to remind us of God’s truth, bring us into his presence, build up the church, and express our joys and sorrows. Whatever style of music we create and perform, the lyrics and heart behind it matter most to God.
As God’s people we are continually called to sing new songs to the Lord (Psalm 96:1). He deserves our highest praise and creativity in music. We see many glimpses of worship in song throughout the Bible, but the best is yet to come when we join in singing before the throne of God in eternity (Revelation 14:3).
The book of Psalms in particular is filled with songs of worship, praise, lament and thanksgiving that God’s people have sung for centuries. Music is integral to worship and was ordained by God for his glory.
The Bible makes clear that God values skilled music-making and songs that flow from a heart devoted to him. Music has incredible power to remind us of God’s truth, bring us into his presence, build up the church, and express our joys and sorrows. Whatever style of music we create and perform, the lyrics and heart behind it matter most to God.
As God’s people we are continually called to sing new songs to the Lord (Psalm 96:1). He deserves our highest praise and creativity in music. We see many glimpses of worship in song throughout the Bible, but the best is yet to come when we join in singing before the throne of God in eternity (Revelation 14:3).
Here are some additional key Bible passages about music and worship:
2 Chronicles 29:25-28
Hezekiah restored musical worship in the temple with cymbals, harps, lyres and trumpets.
Nehemiah 12:27-29
The Levites and musicians were brought in for the dedication of Jerusalem’s rebuilt wall with singing, cymbals, harps and lyres.
Psalm 33:1-3
Sing joyfully to the Lord, praise him with the lyre and ten-stringed harp.
Psalm 95:1-2
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Psalm 100:1-2
Shout for joy to the Lord, worship him with gladness, come before him with joyful songs.
Psalm 144:9
I will sing a new song to you, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you.
Psalm 147:7
Sing to the Lord with grateful praise, make music to our God on the harp.
Psalm 149:1
Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.
Isaiah 30:29
You will have songs as in the night when you keep the festival, and gladness of heart as when one marches to the sound of the flute.
1 Corinthians 14:26
When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.
Ephesians 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Hebrews 2:12
In the midst of the assembly I will sing your praise.
Hebrews 13:15
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
James 5:13
Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
Music has been integral to worshipping God since the dawn of time. We are meant to lift our voices and instruments to him with joy, creativity, thankfulness and reverence. All of life is an opportunity to glorify God in word and song.
The book of Psalms in particular is filled with songs of worship, praise, lament and thanksgiving that God’s people have sung for centuries. Music is integral to worship and was ordained by God for his glory.
The Bible makes clear that God values skilled music-making and songs that flow from a heart devoted to him. Music has incredible power to remind us of God’s truth, bring us into his presence, build up the church, and express our joys and sorrows. Whatever style of music we create and perform, the lyrics and heart behind it matter most to God.
As God’s people we are continually called to sing new songs to the Lord (Psalm 96:1). He deserves our highest praise and creativity in music. We see many glimpses of worship in song throughout the Bible, but the best is yet to come when we join in singing before the throne of God in eternity (Revelation 14:3).
Here are some additional key Bible passages about music and worship:
1 Samuel 16:14-23
David was brought in to play the lyre for King Saul whenever he was tormented by an evil spirit.
1 Kings 10:11-12
Solomon’s great wisdom was evident to the Queen of Sheba through the songs and music at his court.
1 Chronicles 13:8
David and all the Israelites played music on harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets with rejoicing.
1 Chronicles 15:16, 19-24
David appointed Levites as musicians and singers leading worship with a variety of instruments when the ark was brought to Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 16:42
Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of other instruments for sacred song.
1 Chronicles 25:1-8
David stationed various Levites as musicians to prophesy with lyres, harps and cymbals at the temple.
2 Chronicles 7:6
At the temple dedication, the Levitical musicians played instruments prescribed by David to praise the Lord – For his love endures forever.
2 Chronicles 34:12-13
Men worked faithfully on temple repairs with oversight from the Levites who were skilled in playing musical instruments.
The book of Psalms in particular is filled with songs of worship, praise, lament and thanksgiving that God’s people have sung for centuries. Music is integral to worship and was ordained by God for his glory.
The Bible makes clear that God values skilled music-making and songs that flow from a heart devoted to him. Music has incredible power to remind us of God’s truth, bring us into his presence, build up the church, and express our joys and sorrows. Whatever style of music we create and perform, the lyrics and heart behind it matter most to God.
As God’s people we are continually called to sing new songs to the Lord (Psalm 96:1). He deserves our highest praise and creativity in music. We see many glimpses of worship in song throughout the Bible, but the best is yet to come when we join in singing before the throne of God in eternity (Revelation 14:3).
Here are some additional key Bible passages about music and worship:
Ezra 2:41
The Levites included 128 musicians among those returning from exile for the rebuilding of the temple.
Nehemiah 11:17, 22
Mattaniah led thanksgiving for prayer and Bakbukiah was chief officer among the Levite musicians.
Nehemiah 12:28-29
Musicians gathered from the region around Jerusalem for the dedication of the rebuilt wall with singing, cymbals, harps and lyres in thanksgiving.
Job 21:12
The wicked go about with songs accompanied by timbrel and harp.
Job 30:9, 31
Now Job is mocked with songs and has become a source of music to the drunkards.
Psalm 45:8
Myrrh, aloes and cassia perfume your robes and music from the strings delights you.
Psalm 57:7-9
David’s heart is steadfast, he will wake the dawn with song. He will praise God among the peoples and sing among the nations.
Psalm 108:1-4
David’s heart is steadfast, he will sing and make music for God’s glory. He will wake the dawn with his song.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with music. As God’s beloved children, we are called to worship through song, glorifying Christ with our hearts, minds and voices. Our music on earth anticipates the glorious anthems of praise we will one day sing in heaven.