PSALLO

The Greek word psallo is found five times in the N.T. It is rendered by the English terms "sing" (Rom. 15:9; 1 Cor. 14:15; Jas. 5:13), and "make melody" (Eph. 5:19). In the era of classical Greek (cir. 900 to 330 B.C.), the word was used in the sense of "to touch" or "to twang," as with a carpenter's line or bow string. During the time of the Septuagint (Greek O.T. third century B.C.), the word was employed of singing (Psa. 135:3), playing an instrument (1 Sam. 16:16), or singing to the accompaniment of an instrument (Psa. 33:2) -- the instrument being supplied by the context. In the N.T., however, the word is used only in the sense of singing. If the term inheres an instrument in Ephesians 5:19, then: (a) one cannot not psallo without using the instrument; (b) since each person is to psallo personally, each would have to play an instrument; (c) it would have to be an instrument capable of being "plucked." Perhaps this is why very few scholars in modern times are using the "psallo" argument in defense of instrumental music in Christian praise. The N.T. does not authorize the use of mechanical instruments for Christian worship.