The Greek Word Psallo

For many years now, the denominational religions of the world have mounted a continuous assault against the teaching of the church of Christ against the use of instrumental music in our worship to God. They scoff at us for telling them that the Bible only authorizes singing and acapella music by the whole congregation in our worship and does not authorize the use of instruments nor does it authorize the use of choirs. They would like nothing better than to prove us wrong in our exegesis of the Scriptures, but wouldn’t you know it, they have been unable to do that in almost 2000 years of the existence of the church. But just like all religions with a rebellious cause, they never give up.

For many years the best they could do was to try to find authorization for the use of instruments by pointing out that the Bible authorized their use in worship in the Old Testament. Of course, that’s never been disputed. It has always been commonly known that musical instruments were used in Old Testament worship and they were authorized by God. But it has also been commonly known that the worship designed by God for New Testament worship is nothing at all like the worship presented to God in the Old Testament. We also know that old contract with God called, “The Law of Moses”, or the Old Testament was nailed to the cross with the death of Jesus and a brand new contract was started between God and the New Testament human race.

Of course everyone knew that Old Testament argument was not really very persuasive and so it was not given very much credibility as proof for the use of instruments in our worship today.

But now a new argument has been invented. Scholars everywhere are jumping on board for this “new Proof” that instruments are authorized by the Bible for use in our worship today. But just like all the others, this new argument is also “fake news”.       The new argument is really not new at all. It is a tactic that has been used for centuries to make the Bible appear to say something that it really does not say at all. That tactic is to take the original Greek words in which the Bible was written (which very few people really understand) and search for definitions of that word that allows the English translation to say something which changes the meaning of what the Bible really says.

This has been done with words such as the Greek word “eis” used in Acts 2:38. This verse tells us to be Baptized for the remission of our sin. The Greek word eis has been translated “for” and that is a proper rendering of eis. The proper meaning of the word eis is “for” or “unto”. That is very clear and there are many proofs that this is a proper translation of eis. This tells us that Baptism is required for the remission of our sins. But if you don’t want to teach that Baptism is for the remission of our sins and you want to trick someone and teach just the opposite about Baptism,

you can search for another meaning of the word “for” and say that another meaning is “because of” and you can seem to make the Bible say that Baptism is “because” your sins are forgiven. If you define the words according to this new definition you can have the Bible say,” I was Baptized because of the remission of my sins”.

We know that this type of “sleight of hand” Bible trickery is not proper Bible exegesis at all but is just a subtle way of twisting the Scriptures to make them say what you want them to say.

This has been done for years with the Greek word “oinos” which has been translated “wine”. There are multiple definitions of the Greek word oinos and it can mean grape juice, alcoholic wine, or anything associated with the grape vine products. But the definitions are confused in many people’s minds and they ignore the context where this word is found and just accept that the Bible authorizes social drinking based on the way “oinos” has been translated “wine”.

The same thing is being done once again by redefining the Greek word “psallo”. For many years the proper definition of this word has been understood to mean “sing”, “sing psalms”, and “making melody”. The word psallo is used in the New Testament 5 times and the Greek scholars who translated the text used the word “Sing” 3 times, “Sing psalms” 1 time, “make melody” 1 time. (—Strong’s Greek & Hebrew Dictionary)

However, it has also been known by everyone who studies Greek that through the years, like all words; (and that includes Greek and English words alike) this word has had multiple meanings depending on the time period in which it was used and also on the context in which it is used. How many definitions can you think of for the English word “scratch”? When you encounter the word, how do you know which definition to use? You know by the context, right? The same is true with psallo. We know which definition to use by the context of the Scriptures where the word is used.

Notice the context where the word psallo is used in;

Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

The word “psallo” has been translated into “Make melody” in this verse. And that is significant. This is not just making melody in any way we please. This specifically says to make melody in your heart. Perhaps if it did just say make melody, someone might make a case that it might mean for us to make melody on musical instruments. But it says specifically, “make melody in your heart”. How do you do that? Please don’t let someone tell you that this means “twang the strings of the heart”. The heart has no strings to twang. To try to interpret that meaning of psallo into this verse by using a figurative example is just to admit to the pro-instrumental group that we concede

that the proper meaning of psallo always means to twang on an instrument.  And it is clearly documented that it does not mean that every time you see it.

How do you make melody in your heart? Well, it’s done with your emotions. There is no “twanging” or “plucking” of strings, it is the emotional feeling you generate with your praises to God in song.

But what about the context here? Does the context reference musical instruments here at all? Let’s review it again.

            Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

This verse starts out with the word “speak”. In other words, whatever we are told to do here uses the voice to carry it out. And it tells us who we are to speak to, it is to ourselves. It tells us what our words are to consist of; they are to be “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs”. It also tells us that the method we are to speak these songs is by singing. This singing is to be carried out in a way that involves our emotions to the point that we are making melody in our hearts to the Lord.

The word “singing” here is not the word psallo.  This is another word used from the Greek and there has never been any question as to the direct meaning of “ado”. It means sing with the voice.

So what’s the context where the word psallo is used here? Is there any doubt? The context here is clearly, singing with the voice. But do you think that will in any way satisfy the people who want our worship to include instruments? I think not. The desire to use the instrument is so very strong that even if it was proved to them that this is what the Bible tells them to do; they would not obey the Scriptures. They would just reason to themselves that if they like it and want it that way then God will accept what they offer in worship no matter what the Bible says. Most denominational religions have no interest in trying to follow the exact commands in the Bible. Many even go so far as to call those who want to properly obey Scripture, legalists. The reason I mentioned this is because even if we try to compromise on meanings of words and try to find ways to incorporate their meanings into our definitions, (Such as a compromise that the word psallo always means twang or pluck) then we still will not persuade anyone to give up the instrument. In fact, to compromise in this way will only lead to a lack of credibility on our part.

The fact is, most genuine scholars of New Testament Greek do not disagree about the proper definition of the word psallo at all. Most all include an explanation and meaning that psallo had ancient meanings of twang or plunk but in “New Testament times” most always meant “sing with the voice”. But it really doesn’t matter anyway, because all words have multiple meanings and we always have to decide the proper meaning by the context of the information recorded.