The Meaning of Ephesians 5:19 Explained

Ephesians 5:19

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

YLT: speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Darby: speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and chanting with your heart to the Lord;

ASV: speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Ephesians 5:19 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul referred to four of the many results of Spirit filling. He set them forth as participles, but they virtually amount to imperatives in their force. All four deal with praise, and all are public rather than private activities. "Psalm" refers to the Old Testament psalms that the Christians as well as the Jews used in their worship. "Hymns" were songs that eulogized some person or god in Greek culture and the true God in Christian worship ( Ephesians 5:14). "Spiritual songs" is a general term that probably covers all other kinds of vocal praise. When God controls us, we are joyful. [1]
In addition to communicating with one another using the means already described, Christians should also use these means to communicate with the Lord. Praise should spring from the heart, not just the lips. "Singing" refers to vocal praise, and "making melody with your heart" implies inaudible praise.

Context Summary

Ephesians 5:13-21 - "redeeming The Time"
The earlier verses remind us of Isaiah 60:1-22. Awake, thou Christian soul; arise from the, dust and put on thy beautiful garments! Stand on the mountain-peak of prayer and Christ shall shine on thee as when morning gilds the highest Alps! The child of God must arise from among those who are yet in their graves, dead in trespasses and sins. He can have no complicity or fellowship with such. Is there effort in this, and cost? Christ will more than compensate. He will satisfy.
The opportunities of life are fleeting past; let us buy them up. They are most valuable, because they form the seed plot of eternity. In the other life we shall reap the harvests which we have prepared for here. "Give every flying minute something to keep in store." Chrysostom, as a young man, kept silent for days together to break himself of a bad habit of detraction. But the Apostle's method is better. Make room for the Holy Spirit. Be filled with Him, and He will use heart and lip in the service of praise and thanksgiving. It is as much our duty to be filled with the Spirit as it is not to get drunk. Remember to give thanks always for all things. Whether you like the packing-case or not, you may be sure that the contents are the very best that God could send you. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ephesians 5

1  After general exhortations to love;
3  to flee sexual immorality;
4  and all uncleanness;
7  not to converse with the wicked;
15  to walk carefully;
18  and to be filled with the Spirit;
22  he descends to the particular duties, how wives ought to obey their husbands;
25  and husbands ought to love their wives,
32  even as Christ does his church

Greek Commentary for Ephesians 5:19

To the Lord [τωι Κυριωι]
The Lord Jesus. In Colossians 3:16 we have τωι τεωι — tōi theōi (to God) with all these varieties of praise, another proof of the deity of Christ. See note on Colossians 3:16 for discussion. [source]
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 Colossians 3:13, and Rev. is better. [source]
Psalms []
See on 1 Corinthians 14:15. [source]
Hymns - spiritual songs []
See on Colossians 3:16. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 5:19

Romans 1:21 Heart [καρδία]
The heart is, first, the physical organ, the center of the circulation of the blood. Hence, the seat and center of physical life. In the former sense it does not occur in the New Testament. As denoting the vigor and sense of physical life, see Acts 14:17; James 5:5; Luke 21:34. It is used fifty-two times by Paul. Never used like ψυχή , soul, to denote the individual subject of personal life, so that it can be exchanged with the personal pronoun (Acts 2:43; Acts 3:23; Romans 13:1); nor like πνεῦμα spiritto denote the divinely-given principle of life. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
It is the central seat and organ of the personal life ( ψυχή ) of man regarded in and by himself. Hence it is commonly accompanied with the possessive pronouns, my, his, thy, etc. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Like our heart it denotes the seat of feeling as contrasted with intelligence. 2 Corinthians 2:4; Romans 9:2; Romans 10:1; 2 Corinthians 6:11; Philemon 1:7. But it is not limited to this. It is also the seat of mental action, feeling, thinking, willing. It is used - -DIVIDER-
1. Of intelligence, Romans 1:21; 2 Corinthians 3:15; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 1:18. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
2. Of moral choice, 1 Corinthians 7:37; 2 Corinthians 9:7. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
3. As giving impulse and character to action, Romans 6:17; Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22; 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:22. The work of the law is written on the heart, Romans 2:15. The Corinthian Church is inscribed as Christ's epistle on hearts of flesh, 2 Corinthians 3:2-3. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
4. Specially, it is the seat of the divine Spirit, Galatians 4:6; Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:22. It is the sphere of His various operations, directing, comforting, establishing, etc., Philemon 4:7; Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:5. It is the seat of faith, and the organ of spiritual praise, Romans 10:9; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
It is equivalent to the inner man, Ephesians 3:16, Ephesians 3:17. Its characteristic is being hidden, Romans 2:28, Romans 2:29; Romans 8:27; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 14:25. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
It is contrasted with the face, 1 Thessalonians 2:17; 2 Corinthians 5:12; and with the mouth, Romans 10:8. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

1 Corinthians 14:15 I will sing [ψαλῶ]
See on James 5:13. The verb, ᾄδω is also used for sing, Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Revelation 5:9; Revelation 14:3; Revelation 15:3. In the last two passages it is combined with playing on harps. In Ephesians 5:19we have both verbs. The noun ψαλμός psalm(Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 14:26), which is etymologically akin to this verb, is used in the New Testament of a religious song in general, having the character of an Old Testament psalm; though in Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26, ὑμνέω , whence our hymn, is used of singing an Old Testament psalm. Here applied to such songs improvised under the spiritual ecstasy (1 Corinthians 14:26). Some think that the verb has here its original signification of singing with an instrument. This is its dominant sense in the Septuagint, and both Basil and Gregory of Nyssa define a psalm as implying instrumental accompaniment; and Clement of Alexandria, while forbidding the use of the flute in the agapae, permitted the harp. But neither Basil nor Ambrose nor Chrysostom, in their panegyrics upon music, mention instrumental music, and Basil expressly condemns it. Bingham dismisses the matter summarily, and sites Justin Martyr as saying expressly that instrumental music was not used in the Christian Church. The verb is used here in the general sense of singing praise. [source]
1 Corinthians 14:15 With the understanding also [και τωι νο]
Instrumental case of νους — nous Paul is distinctly in favour of the use of the intellect in prayer. Prayer is an intelligent exercise of the mind. And I will sing with the understanding also (πσαλω δε και τωι νο — psalō de kai tōi no). There was ecstatic singing like the rhapsody of some prayers without intelligent words. But Paul prefers singing that reaches the intellect as well as stirs the emotions. Solos that people do not understand lose more than half their value in church worship. Πσαλλω — Psallō originally meant to play on strings, then to sing with an accompaniment (Ephesians 5:19), and here apparently to sing without regard to an instrument. [source]
Colossians 3:16 Psalms []
See the parallel passage, Ephesians 5:19. A psalm was originally a song accompanied by a stringed instrument. See on 1 Corinthians 14:15. The idea of accompaniment passed away in usage, and the psalm, in New-Testament phraseology, is an Old-Testament psalm, or a composition having that character. A hymn is a song of praise, and a song ( ᾠδή ode) is the general term for a song of any kind. Hymns would probably be distinctively Christian. It is supposed by some that Paul embodies fragments of hymns in his epistles, as 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Ephesians 5:14; 1 Timothy 3:16; 2 Timothy 2:11-14. James 1:17, and Revelation 1:5, Revelation 1:6; Revelation 15:3, are also supposed to be of this character. In both instances of his use of ᾠδή songPaul adds the term spiritual. The term may, as Trench suggests, denote sacred poems which are neither psalms nor hymns, as Herbert's “Temple,” or Keble's “Christian Year.” This is the more likely, as the use of these different compositions is not restricted to singing nor to public worship. They are to be used in mutual christian teaching and admonition. [source]
Colossians 3:16 With psalms [πσαλμοις]
The same song can have all three words applied to it. Singing with grace (εν χαριτι αιδοντες — en chariti āidontes). In God‘s grace (2 Corinthians 1:12). The phrase can be taken with the preceding words. The verb αιδω — āidō is an old one (Ephesians 5:19) for lyrical emotion in a devout soul. In your hearts Without this there is no real worship “to God” How can a Jew or Unitarian in the choir lead in the worship of Christ as Saviour? Whether with instrument or with voice or with both it is all for naught if the adoration is not in the heart. [source]
Colossians 3:16 hymns [υμνοις]
The same song can have all three words applied to it. Singing with grace (εν χαριτι αιδοντες — en chariti āidontes). In God‘s grace (2 Corinthians 1:12). The phrase can be taken with the preceding words. The verb αιδω — āidō is an old one (Ephesians 5:19) for lyrical emotion in a devout soul. In your hearts Without this there is no real worship “to God” How can a Jew or Unitarian in the choir lead in the worship of Christ as Saviour? Whether with instrument or with voice or with both it is all for naught if the adoration is not in the heart. [source]
Colossians 3:16 spiritual songs [ωιδαις πνευματικαις]
The same song can have all three words applied to it. Singing with grace (εν χαριτι αιδοντες — en chariti āidontes). In God‘s grace (2 Corinthians 1:12). The phrase can be taken with the preceding words. The verb αιδω — āidō is an old one (Ephesians 5:19) for lyrical emotion in a devout soul. In your hearts Without this there is no real worship “to God” How can a Jew or Unitarian in the choir lead in the worship of Christ as Saviour? Whether with instrument or with voice or with both it is all for naught if the adoration is not in the heart. [source]
Colossians 3:16 Dwell [ενοικειτω]
Present active imperative of ενοικεω — enoikeō to make one‘s home, to be at home. In you (εν υμιν — en humin). Not “among you.” Richly Old adverb from πλουσιος — plousios (rich). See note on 1 Timothy 6:17. The following words explain πλουσιως — plousiōs In all wisdom (εν πασηι σοπιαι — en pasēi sophiāi). It is not clear whether this phrase goes with πλουσιως — plousiōs (richly) or with the participles following (διδασκοντες και νουτετουντες — didaskontes kai nouthetountes see note on Colossians 1:28). Either punctuation makes good sense. The older Greek MSS. had no punctuation. There is an anacoluthon here. The participles may be used as imperatives as in Romans 12:11., Romans 12:16. With psalms The same song can have all three words applied to it. Singing with grace (εν χαριτι αιδοντες — en chariti āidontes). In God‘s grace (2 Corinthians 1:12). The phrase can be taken with the preceding words. The verb αιδω — āidō is an old one (Ephesians 5:19) for lyrical emotion in a devout soul. In your hearts Without this there is no real worship “to God” How can a Jew or Unitarian in the choir lead in the worship of Christ as Saviour? Whether with instrument or with voice or with both it is all for naught if the adoration is not in the heart. [source]
Colossians 3:16 Richly [πλουσιως]
Old adverb from πλουσιος — plousios (rich). See note on 1 Timothy 6:17. The following words explain πλουσιως — plousiōs In all wisdom (εν πασηι σοπιαι — en pasēi sophiāi). It is not clear whether this phrase goes with πλουσιως — plousiōs (richly) or with the participles following (διδασκοντες και νουτετουντες — didaskontes kai nouthetountes see note on Colossians 1:28). Either punctuation makes good sense. The older Greek MSS. had no punctuation. There is an anacoluthon here. The participles may be used as imperatives as in Romans 12:11., Romans 12:16. With psalms The same song can have all three words applied to it. Singing with grace (εν χαριτι αιδοντες — en chariti āidontes). In God‘s grace (2 Corinthians 1:12). The phrase can be taken with the preceding words. The verb αιδω — āidō is an old one (Ephesians 5:19) for lyrical emotion in a devout soul. In your hearts Without this there is no real worship “to God” How can a Jew or Unitarian in the choir lead in the worship of Christ as Saviour? Whether with instrument or with voice or with both it is all for naught if the adoration is not in the heart. [source]
Colossians 3:16 Singing with grace [εν χαριτι αιδοντες]
In God‘s grace (2 Corinthians 1:12). The phrase can be taken with the preceding words. The verb αιδω — āidō is an old one (Ephesians 5:19) for lyrical emotion in a devout soul. [source]
James 5:13 Among you [εν υμιν]
As in James 3:13.Let him pray (προσευχεστω — proseuchesthō). Present middle imperative, “let him keep on praying” (instead of cursing as in James 5:12).Is any cheerful Present active indicative of ευτυμεω — euthumeō old verb from ευτυμος — euthumos (Acts 27:36), in N.T. only here and Acts 27:22, Acts 27:25.Let him sing praise (πσαλλετω — psalletō). Present active imperative of πσαλλω — psallō originally to twang a chord as on a harp, to sing praise to God whether with instrument or without, in N.T. only here, 1 Corinthians 14:15; Romans 15:9; Ephesians 5:19. “Let him keep on making melody.” [source]
James 5:13 Is any cheerful [ευτυμει]
Present active indicative of ευτυμεω — euthumeō old verb from ευτυμος — euthumos (Acts 27:36), in N.T. only here and Acts 27:22, Acts 27:25.Let him sing praise (πσαλλετω — psalletō). Present active imperative of πσαλλω — psallō originally to twang a chord as on a harp, to sing praise to God whether with instrument or without, in N.T. only here, 1 Corinthians 14:15; Romans 15:9; Ephesians 5:19. “Let him keep on making melody.” [source]
James 5:13 Let him sing praise [πσαλλετω]
Present active imperative of πσαλλω — psallō originally to twang a chord as on a harp, to sing praise to God whether with instrument or without, in N.T. only here, 1 Corinthians 14:15; Romans 15:9; Ephesians 5:19. “Let him keep on making melody.” [source]

What do the individual words in Ephesians 5:19 mean?

speaking to each other in psalms and hymns songs spiritual singing making melody in the heart of you to the Lord
λαλοῦντες ἑαυτοῖς [ἐν] ψαλμοῖς καὶ ὕμνοις ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς ᾄδοντες ψάλλοντες τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν τῷ Κυρίῳ

λαλοῦντες  speaking 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀπολαλέω 
Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound.
ἑαυτοῖς  to  each  other 
Parse: Reflexive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἑαυτοῦ  
Sense: himself, herself, itself, themselves.
ψαλμοῖς  psalms 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ψαλμός  
Sense: a striking, twanging.
ὕμνοις  hymns 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ὕμνος  
Sense: a song in tithe praise of gods, heroes, conquerors.
ᾠδαῖς  songs 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Plural
Root: ᾠδή  
Sense: a song, lay, ode.
πνευματικαῖς  spiritual 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Feminine Plural
Root: πνευματικός  
Sense: relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man which is akin to God and serves as his instrument or organ.
ᾄδοντες  singing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ᾄδω  
Sense: to the praise of anyone, to sing.
ψάλλοντες  making  melody 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ψάλλω  
Sense: to pluck off, pull out.
τῇ  in  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
καρδίᾳ  heart 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: καρδία  
Sense: the heart.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
τῷ  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Κυρίῳ  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.