Teks -- Ephesians 5:19 (NET)

5:19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord,

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Eph 5:19 - To the Lord

To the Lord ( tōi Kuriōi ).

The Lord Jesus. In Col 3:16 we have tōi theōi (to God) with all these varieties of praise, another proof of the deity of Christ. See note on Col 3:16 for discussion.

Vincent: Eph 5:19 - Speaking to yourselves

Speaking to yourselves ( λαλοῦντες ἑαυτοῖς )

Rev., one to another .

The A.V. is literally correct, but is open to the misinterpretation each one communing with himself . The meaning is as in Col 3:13, and Rev. is better.

Vincent: Eph 5:19 - Psalms

Psalms

See on 1Co 14:15.

Vincent: Eph 5:19 - Hymns - spiritual songs

Hymns - spiritual songs

See on Col 3:16.

Wesley: Eph 5:19 - Speaking to each other

By the Spirit.

Wesley: Eph 5:19 - In the Psalms

Of David.

Wesley: Eph 5:19 - And hymns

Of praise.

Wesley: Eph 5:19 - And spiritual songs

On any divine subject. By there being no inspired songs, peculiarly adapted to the Christian dispensation, as there were to the Jewish, it is evident that the promise of the Holy Ghost to believers, in the last days, was by his larger effusion to supply the lack of it.

Wesley: Eph 5:19 - Singing with your hearts

As well as your voice.

Wesley: Eph 5:19 - To the Lord

Jesus, who searcheth the heart.

JFB: Eph 5:19

(Col 3:16).

JFB: Eph 5:19 - to yourselves

"to one another." Hence soon arose the antiphonal or responsive chanting of which PLINY writes to Trajan: "They are wont on a fixed day to meet before daylight [to avoid persecution] and to recite a hymn among themselves by turns, to Christ, as if being God." The Spirit gives true eloquence; wine, a spurious eloquence.

JFB: Eph 5:19 - psalms

Generally accompanied by an instrument.

JFB: Eph 5:19 - hymns

In direct praise to God (compare Act 16:25; 1Co 14:26; Jam 5:13).

JFB: Eph 5:19 - songs

The general term for lyric pieces; "spiritual" is added to mark their being here restricted to sacred subjects, though not merely to direct praises of God, but also containing exhortations, prophecies, &c. Contrast the drunken "songs," Amo 8:10.

JFB: Eph 5:19 - making melody

Greek, "playing and singing with an instrument."

JFB: Eph 5:19 - in your heart

Not merely with the tongue; but the serious feeling of the heart accompanying the singing of the lips (compare 1Co 14:15; Psa 47:7). The contrast is between the heathen and the Christian practice, "Let your songs be not the drinking songs of heathen feasts, but psalms and hymns; and their accompaniment, not the music of the lyre, but the melody of the heart" [CONYBEARE and HOWSON].

JFB: Eph 5:19 - to the Lord

See PLINY'S letter quoted above: "To Christ as God."

Clarke: Eph 5:19 - Speaking to yourselves in psalms

Speaking to yourselves in psalms - We can scarcely say what is the exact difference between these three expressions. Psalms, ψαλμοι, may probably mean those of David

Clarke: Eph 5:19 - Hymns

Hymns - Ὑμνοις· Extemporaneous effusions in praise of God, uttered under the influence of the Divine Spirit, or a sense of his especial goodness. See Act 16:25

Clarke: Eph 5:19 - Songs

Songs - Ωιδαις· Odes; premeditated and regular poetic compositions; but, in whatever form they were composed, we learn that they were all πνευματικα, spiritual - tending to magnify God and edify men

Clarke: Eph 5:19 - Singing and making melody in your heart

Singing and making melody in your heart - The heart always going with the lips. It is a shocking profanation of Divine worship to draw nigh to God with the lips, while the heart is far from him. It is too often the case that, in public worship, men are carried off from the sense of the words by the sounds that are put to them. And how few choirs of singers are there in the universe whose hearts ever accompany them in what they call singing the praises of God!

Calvin: Eph 5:19 - To psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs

19.To psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs These are truly pleasant and delightful fruits. The Spirit means “joy in the Holy Ghost,” (Rom 14:17;) and the exhortation, be ye filled, (ver. 18,) alludes to deep drinking, with which it is indirectly contrasted. Speaking to themselves, is speaking among themselves. Nor does he enjoin them to sing inwardly or alone; for he immediately adds, singing in your hearts; as if he had said, “Let your praises be not merely on the tongue, as hypocrites do, but from the heart.” What may be the exact difference between psalms and hymns, or between hymns and songs, it is not easy to determine, though a few remarks on this subject shall be offered on a future occasion. ¹⁶³ The appellation spiritual, given to these songs, is strikingly appropriate; for the songs most frequently used are almost always on trifling subjects, and very far from being chaste.

Defender: Eph 5:19 - Speaking to yourselves

Eph 5:19-22 illustrate what the Spirit-filled life will be. This 19th verse applies not so much to congregational singing, as to "melody in your heart." Such a life will be fruitful (Eph 5:9), active (Eph 5:16), understanding (Eph 5:17), joyful (Eph 5:19), thankful (Eph 5:20), and submissive (Eph 5:21). It will also be bold in witnessing (Act 4:31).

Defender: Eph 5:19 - spiritual songs

The words "psalms" and "hymns" are transliterations from the Greek, and "songs" (Greek ode) is a generic term for songs in general, thus needing modification by "spiritual" in this context."

TSK: Eph 5:19 - to yourselves // psalms // making

to yourselves : Act 16:25; 1Co 14:26; Col 3:16; Jam 5:13

psalms : Psalms, ψαλμοι [Strong’ s G5568], from ψαλλω [Strong’ s G5567], to touch or play on a musical instrument, properly denotes such sacred songs or poems as are sung to stringed instruments, and may here refer to those of David; hymns, υμνοι [Strong’ s G5215], from υδω , to sing, celebrate, praise, signifies songs in honour of God; and songs ωδαι [Strong’ s G5603], from αειδω , to sing, denotes any regular poetic composition adapted to singing, and is here restricted to those which are spiritual. Psa 95:2, Psa 105:2; Mat 26:30

making : Psa 47:7, Psa 47:8, Psa 62:8, Psa 86:12, Psa 105:3, Psa 147:7; Isa 65:14; Mat 15:8; Joh 4:23, Joh 4:24

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Eph 5:19 - Speaking, &c // To yourselves // In psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs // Singing and making melody in your heart // To the Lord

Speaking, &c. in opposition to the vain chaff and lewd talkativeness of drunkards over their cups.

To yourselves Gr. in yourselves, i.e. among yourselves, both in church assemblies and families.

In psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs under these names he comprehends all manner of singing to mutual edification and God’ s glory. The particular distinction of them is uncertain, but most take psalms to be such as anciently were sung with musical instruments; hymns, such as contained only matter of praise;

spiritual songs such as were of various matter, doctrinal, prophetical, historical, &c.: see on Col 3:16 .

Singing and making melody in your heart not only with your voice, but with inward affection, contrary to the guise of hypocrites.

To the Lord to the glory of God, not for the pleasure of the sense, or for gain, &c.

PBC: Eph 5:19 - Speaking to yourselves // Making melody in your heart to the Lord

" Speaking to yourselves"

Paul further supported this thought in Col 3:16, " Teaching and admonishing one another." Both verses call for some form of audience participation in the selection of particular songs to be sung in a given worship service. How can you speak to each other or teach and admonish one another unless you play a personal part in the selection of songs to be sung? The experiences of each individual member of the congregation, and the general mood of the church, changes from one service to another. The song worship should reflect that mood with the selection of appropriate hymns for the occasion. In one service the mood may be " Praise him, praise him," and in another it may be, " Mixtures of joy and sorrow I daily do pass through." This thought further teaches us that the purpose of song worship, the horizontal purpose, is to teach and admonish one another, to speak to each other of our spiritual state and needs. Every part of the worship service represents at least two functions; vertical, relating to the individual worshipper and his Lord, and horizontal, relating to the individual worshipper and his fellow-worshippers. 41

" Making melody in your heart to the Lord"

In the companion verse from Col 3:16, Paul said, " Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Strong defines melody as rubbing or touching the surface, to twitch or twang, as a harp or lyre, to play on a stringed instrument. Based on Paul’s description of scripture’s integrity and thoroughness to instruct the man of God, the same verse that commands the use of psalms in the New Testament’s song worship also tells us which musical instrument we must use to transform our horizontal participation in song to vertical worship of our God. Paul did not require harps, viols, pianos, or organs as a part of the church’s public worship. He required a heart tuned to heavenly melody, in the key of grace, and carefully following the directions of the heavenly director, the Lord Jesus Christ! This he commanded, and this he required as a part of our public song worship!

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Gill: Eph 5:19 - Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs // singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord

Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs,.... By psalms are meant the Psalms of David, and others which compose the book that goes by that name, for other psalms there are none; and by "hymns" we are to understand, not such as are made by good men, without the inspiration of the Spirit of God; since they are placed between psalms and spiritual songs, made by men inspired by the Holy Ghost; and are put upon a level with them, and to be sung along with them, to the edification of churches; but these are only another name for the Book of Psalms, the running title of which may as well be the Book of Hymns, as it is rendered by Ainsworth; and the psalm which our Lord sung with his disciples after the supper, is called an hymn; and so are the psalms in general called hymns, by Philo the Jew ⁿ; and songs and hymns by Josephus ^o; and שירות ותושבחות, "songs and praises", or "hymns", in the Talmud ^p: and by "spiritual songs" are meant the same Psalms of David, Asaph, &c. and the titles of many of them are songs, and sometimes a psalm and song, and song and psalm, a song of degrees; together with all other Scriptural songs, written by inspired men; and which are called "spiritual", because they are indited by the Spirit of God, consist of spiritual matter, and are designed for spiritual edification; and are opposed to all profane, loose, and wanton songs: these three words answer to תהלים שירים מזמורים the several titles of David's Psalms; from whence it seems to be the intention of the apostle, that these should be sting in Gospel churches; for so he explains speaking to themselves in them, in the next clause:

singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord; singing, as it is a distinct thing from prayer, so from giving of thanks, which is mentioned in Eph 5:20 as another duty; it is not a mental praising of God, for it is called speaking, and teaching, and admonishing, but it is a praising of God with the modulation of the voice; and is rightly performed, when the heart and voice agree; when there is a melody in the heart, as well as in the tongue; for singing and making melody in the heart, is singing with, or from the heart, or heartily; of as elsewhere, "with grace", and which the Alexandrian copy reads here; that is, either with gratitude and thankfulness, or with grace in exercise; and the end in view should be the glory of God.