The Meaning of 1 Chronicles 15:16 Explained

1 Chronicles 15:16

KJV: And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.

YLT: And David saith to the heads of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers, with instruments of song, psalteries, and harps, and cymbals, sounding, to lift up with the voice for joy.

Darby: And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren, the singers, with instruments of music, lutes, and harps, and cymbals, that they should sound aloud, lifting up the voice with joy.

ASV: And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers, with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And David  spake  to the chief  of the Levites  to appoint  their brethren  [to be] the singers  with instruments  of musick,  psalteries  and harps  and cymbals,  sounding,  by lifting up  the voice  with joy. 

What does 1 Chronicles 15:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

David provided for a full orchestra and choir to sing God"s praises at his new worship center. He originated musical guilds and services. [1] God"s presence in Israel"s capital symbolized His leadership over the nation, and it brought great joy to all the godly. This incident ( 1 Chronicles 15:16) marked the beginning of the Levitical singers" ministry in Israel ( 1 Chronicles 16:7).
Michal possessed a different spirit, however ( 1 Chronicles 15:16). Her concept of kingship in Israel was her father"s, namely, that the human king was the ultimate authority in Israel as in other ancient Near Eastern countries. It was her attitude, rather than David"s actions, that was despicable.
According to the Mosaic Law, individual Israelites were to bring their sacrificial animals to the sanctuary and slay them themselves ( Leviticus 1:3-5; Leviticus 3:2; 1 Chronicles 16:1-2). Only the priests were to place the blood and other parts of the animals on the altar ( Leviticus 1:5; Leviticus 3:2; Leviticus 3:5). How could David, clothed in a priestly garment ( 1 Chronicles 15:27), offer sacrifices to God since he was not an Aaronic priest? Evidently he did so as a priest after the order of Melchizedek, fulfilling the provisions of the Abrahamic Covenant, rather than as an Aaronic priest serving under the Mosaic Covenant. [2] David realized he was the king promised to the patriarchs ( Genesis 17:6; Genesis 49:10; et al.) for whom Israel had been looking (cf. 1 Samuel 2:10). [3]
"David functioned as the type for the Messiah as a king who is also a priest." [4]
David personalized God"s blessing on Israel by giving each participant bread, meat, and fruit, which were emblems of fruitfulness ( 1 Chronicles 16:3).

Chapter Summary: 1 Chronicles 15

1  David having prepared a place for the ark,
15  the priests and Levites bring it from Obed-Edom
25  He performs the solemnity thereof with great joy
29  Michal despises him

What do the individual words in 1 Chronicles 15:16 mean?

and spoke David to the leaders of the Levites to appoint [to be] - their brothers the singers accompanied by instruments of music stringed instruments and harps and cymbals resounding by raising the voice with joy -
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִיד֮ לְשָׂרֵ֣י הַלְוִיִּם֒ לְהַֽעֲמִ֗יד אֶת־ אֲחֵיהֶם֙ הַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים בִּכְלֵי־ שִׁ֛יר נְבָלִ֥ים וְכִנֹּר֖וֹת וּמְצִלְתָּ֑יִם מַשְׁמִיעִ֥ים לְהָרִֽים־ בְּק֖וֹל לְשִׂמְחָֽה פ

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  and  spoke 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
דָּוִיד֮  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
לְשָׂרֵ֣י  to  the  leaders 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
הַלְוִיִּם֒  of  the  Levites 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
לְהַֽעֲמִ֗יד  to  appoint  [to  be] 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֲחֵיהֶם֙  their  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
הַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים  the  singers 
Parse: Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural
Root: שִׁיר  
Sense: to sing.
בִּכְלֵי־  accompanied  by  instruments 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: כְּלִי  
Sense: article, vessel, implement, utensil.
שִׁ֛יר  of  music 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שִׁיר 
Sense: song.
נְבָלִ֥ים  stringed  instruments 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root:  
Sense: a skin-bag, jar, pitcher.
וְכִנֹּר֖וֹת  and  harps 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כִּנּׄור  
Sense: lyre, harp.
וּמְצִלְתָּ֑יִם  and  cymbals 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, cd
Root: מְצִלְתַּיִם  
Sense: cymbals.
מַשְׁמִיעִ֥ים  resounding 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
לְהָרִֽים־  by  raising 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: יָרוּם 
Sense: to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted.
בְּק֖וֹל  the  voice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
לְשִׂמְחָֽה  with  joy 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שִׂמְחָה  
Sense: joy, mirth, gladness.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation