Psalms 66:0

לַ֭מְנַצֵּחַ שִׁ֣יר מִזְמ֑וֹר
To the chief Musician, A Song or Psalm.
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

לַ ֭מְנַצֵּחַ
לַ
Prefix — preposition to, for + "the" (the article is absorbed into the prefix)
֭מְנַצֵּחַ
Root word musician, overseers, set, singer, perpetual, …
Dictionary form: נָצַח · naw-TSA

לַ
Hidden "the" לַ = the preposition + the article הַ squeezed together: the "a" vowel under the prefix is the swallowed "the". Translate "to the ___".

Verb — Piel, Participle Active, masculine singular, absolute state intensive — "he really / thoroughly did" ongoing action — try "___ing" or "one who ___s"

In the KJV here: to the chief musician
to the chief musician ×55 to set forward ×2 and the overseers ×1 and were overseers ×1 by a perpetual ×1 overseers ×1 to excel ×1 to oversee ×1
More options
oversee — Best for supervisory or administrative contexts.
lead — Broad fit for musical or organizational leadership.
direct — Good for liturgical or musical directing roles.
excel — Captures the root sense of preeminence or distinction.
supervise — Formal register; suits temple-worker oversight passages.
endure perpetually — For rare uses emphasizing permanence or eternity.

BDB5331 H5329

BDB5330 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB5332

I. [נָצַח] verb be pre-eminent, enduring (Ecclus [Pi`el] make brilliant Eccl 43:5; Eccl 43:13 [?] (compare Oxford ed.xxxiii); Late Hebrew נָצַח conquer, etc.; Phoenician נצח, Aramaic נְצַח, shine, be illustrious, pre-eminent, victorious; Arabic be pure, reliable; Ethiopic be pure, innocent; both classes of meaning probably derived form shine, be bright, brilliant, see also Dr1Sam 15:29); —

Niph`al Participle active feminine נִצַּ֫חַת Jer 8:5 enduring (מְשֻׁבָה apostasy).

Piel = act as overseer, superintendent, director, only Chronicles and Psalm-titles; — Infinitive לְנַצֵּחַ 1Chr 15:21 + 4 t.; participle לַמְנַצֵּחַ Hab 3:19; Ps 4:1 + 54 t. Psalms; plural מְנַצְּחִים 2Chr 2:1; 2Chr 2:17; 2Chr 34:13 —

1. in building temple 2Chr 2:1; 2Chr 2:17; Ezra 3:8; Ezra 3:9, compare 2Chr 34:12; 2Chr 34:13.
2. in ministry of house of ׳י 1Chr 23:4.
3. in liturgical service of song, עלהֿשׁמינית, over the bass voices, leading them with כִּנֹּרוֺת 1Chr 15:21 לַמְנַצֵּחַ in titles Psalms has probably simile meaning, = musical director or choirmaster; Greek Vrss. of 2nd cent. A.D., Aq Theod Sym, and so Jerome, think of Aramaic victorious, but no clear explanation; ᵐ5 εἰς τὸ τέλος (probably לַמִּנְצָח) follows ordinary meaning of noun נֵצַח, which may be explained in eschatological sense as referring to end of age of world after Euseb Theod; or for full rendering after De; neither satisfactory. Chronicles, near in date, gives the clue which is intrinsically probably: לְ indicates, not assignment (nothing special in these Psalms to suggest it, and assignment of Psalms for such use a matter of course), but that these Psalms were taken by final editor from an older major Psalter known as the Director's Collection, compare the still earlier collections known as (ל)דוד, (ל)אסף, (ל)בני קרח. The 55 Psalms with למנצח were taken 39 from Davidic, 9 from Korahite, and 5 from Asaphic Psalters; only 2 anonymous. Hab 3 originally belonged to Director's Psalter. This and other Director's Psalms have musical directions in titles. The Director's Psalter was probably the prayer-book of synagogue of Greek period, presupposed by our Hab., the collection of the twelve Minor Prophets, the prophetic canon, and Daniel (see BrGen. Intr. 123).

BDB9717 H5329 H5330

BDB9716 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9718

[נְצַח] verb Hithpa. distinguish oneself (see Biblical Hebrew I. נצח); — Participle מִתְנַצַּח Dan 6:4, עַל person

musician, overseers, set, singer, perpetual, …
nāṣaḥ
properly, to glitter from afar, i.e., to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent
  • to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring
    • (Niphal) enduring (participle)
      • "(Piel) to act as overseer or superintendent or director or chief

שִׁ֣יר
שִׁ֣יר
Root word song, songs, musick, singing, musical, …
Dictionary form: שִׁיר · sheer

Noun — Common, both singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: a song
a song ×25 song ×20 of musick ×7 or song ×6 and with singing ×3 the song ×3 and song ×2 of thy songs ×2
More options
song — Most natural, versatile rendering for any context.
hymn — Prefer when the song has clear worship or sacred character.
chant — Suits repetitive, liturgical, or processional contexts.
anthem — Good for communal or celebratory songs of praise.
melody — Emphasizes the musical/tonal quality over lyrical content.
ballad — Use for narrative or lyrical poetry set to music.

BDB8643 H7892

BDB8642 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8644

שִׁיר77 noun masculine song (Late Hebrew id.; so Eccl 40:21 +); — ׳שׁ absolute Judg 5:12 +, construct 2Chr 29:27 +; suffix שִׁירִי Ps 28:7, etc.; plural שִׁירִים 1Chr 13:8; Song 1:1 שִׁרִים Gen 31:27; Prov 25:20 suffix שִׁרֶ֫יךָ Amos 5:23, etc.; —

1. lyric song, + מָשָׁל 1Kgs 5:12, opposed to קִינָה Amos 8:10 joyous Gen 31:27 (J) Isa 30:29 עגבים ׳שׁ Ezek 33:32 triumphal Judg 5:12 love song Song 1:1 (twice in verse) (title שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים), Ps 45:1 (שִׁיר יְדִידֹת); noisy Amos 5:23; Ezek 26:13, in drunken revels Isa 24:9, compare Isa 23:16 כסילים ׳שׁ Eccl 7:5 not for sorrow Prov 25:20; Ps 137:3 (twice in verse); בְּנוֺת הַשִּׁיר Eccl 12:4 songstresses (probably birds).
2. religious song, in worship, || תפלה Ps 42:9 usually praise, הלל בשׁיר Ps 69:31 מִשִּׁירִי אֲהוֺדֶנּוּ Ps 28:7 שִׁרִ תְּהִלָּה וְהוֺדוֺת Neh 12:46 ׳שׁיר י Ps 137:4; 2Chr 29:27 שׁיר חדשׁ Isa 42:10 (fresh outburst), + 6 t., see חָדָשׁ; in Psalm-titles, שׁיר Isa 46:1, compare Isa 26:1 שׁיר המעלות pilgrim songs Ps 120:1 + 14 t. (see II. מַעִַלָה p.752); with מִמְוֺר Ps 48:1 + 12 t. (see ׳מִז p. 274); מַשְׁכִּיל שִׁיר Ps 45:1 (׳שׁ originally alone in all except Ps 30:1; Ps 92:1; Ps 108:1, see BrJBL xviii (1899), 138).
3. specifically song of Levitical choirs, with musical accompare, 1Chr 6:16; 1Chr 6:17; 1Chr 13:8 (so read also || 2Sam 6:5 for בְּרוֺשִׁים, ᵐ5 Th and modern, compare ׳ב), 1Chr 25:6; 1Chr 25:7; 2Chr 23:18; 2Chr 29:28; Neh 12:27 כלי (ה)שׁיר instrument to accompany song 1Chr 15:16 + 6 t. (see כְּלִי 2 b); compare Amos 6:5.

BDB8644 H7892

BDB8643 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8645

שִׁירָה noun feminine song (plural ירות[שׁ] Eccl 39:15); — absolute ׳שׁ Exod 15:1 + 9 t.; construct שִׁירַת Isa 5:1; Isa 23:15 plural construct שִׁירוֺת Amos 8:3 (read שָׁרוֺת ᵐ5 HoffmZAW iii (1883) We and others); — song, ode, Exod 15:1 (E), 2Sam 22:1 = Ps 18:1; Deut 31:19 (twice in verse); Deut 31:21; Deut 31:22; Deut 31:30; Deut 32:44; Num 21:17 (E) Isa 5:1; Isa 23:15.

song, songs, musick, singing, musical, …
šîr
a song; abstractly, singing
  • (n m) song
    • lyric song
      • "religious song"song of Levitical choirs
    (n f) song
    • song, ode

מִזְמ֑וֹר
מִזְמ֑וֹר
Root word psalm
Dictionary form: מִזְמוֹר · midz-MORE

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: or psalm
a psalm ×52 or psalm ×4 and psalm ×1
More options
psalm — Standard modern term; universally recognized in religious contexts.
song — Broader, more accessible term for general audiences.
hymn — Emphasizes congregational or liturgical use.
sacred song — Clarifies religious nature when 'song' alone feels ambiguous.
lyric poem — Highlights literary form; useful in academic or poetic contexts.

BDB2390 H4210

BDB2389 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB2391

מִזְמוֺר noun [masculine] melody (technical designation of psalms; compare HupPsalm, Einl. § 7, 2 De4 on Ps 3, BaePsalmen, xiii; , , loan-words, all = Psalm(s); on ׳מ, in relation to תהלה compare LgOr ii. 22 f.), always in this form; in 57 Psalm-titles: — ׳מ alone Ps 98:1, שׁיר ליום הַשַּׁבָּת ׳מ Ps 92:1, לְתוֺדָה ׳מ Ps 100:1 usually with person name or title; לְדָוִד ׳מ Ps 3:1; Ps 15:1; Ps 23:1; Ps 29:1; Ps 63:1; Ps 141:1; Ps 143:1, ׳שׁיר מ לדוד Ps 108:1, לדוד לְהַזְכִּיר ׳מ Ps 38:1, שִׁירחֲֿנֻכַּת הבית ׳מ לדוד Ps 30:1, ׳לדוד מ Ps 24:1; Ps 101:1; Ps 110:1, לדוד ׳לַמְנַצֵּחַ מ Ps 13:1; Ps 19:1; Ps 20:1; Ps 21:1; Ps 31:1; Ps 41:1; Ps 51:1; Ps 64:1; Ps 140:1 לַמְֿנַצֵּחַ ֗֗֗ לדוד ׳מ Ps 4:1; Ps 5:1; Ps 6:1; Ps 8:1; Ps 9:1; Ps 12:1; Ps 22:1; Ps 39:1; Ps 62:1, ׳לַמְֿנַצֵּחַ מ לדוד שׁיר Ps 65:1, ׳למנצח לדוד מ Ps 40:1; Ps 109:1; Ps 139:1, שׁיר ׳למנצח לדוד מ Ps 68:1 also simply שׁיר ׳לַמְֿנַצֵּחַ מ Ps 67:1, ׳לַמְֿנַצֵּחַ שׁיר מ Ps 66:1 but also לבניֿ ׳קרח שׁיר מ Ps 48:1, שׁיר ׳לִבְנֵיקֹֿרַח מ Ps 87:1, לבני קרח ׳שׁיר מ לַמְֿנַצֵּחַמַ֗֗֗שְׂכִּיל לְהֵימָן הָאֶזְרָחִי Ps 88:1, לַמְֿנַצֵּחַ לבניֿ ׳קרח מ Ps 47:1; Ps 49:1; Ps 85:1, ׳למנצחל֗֗֗בניקֿרח מ Ps 84:1 further לְאָסָף ׳מ Ps 50:1; Ps 73:1; Ps 79:1; Ps 82:1, לאסף ׳שׁיר מ Ps 83:1, לאסף שׁיר ׳לַמְֿנַצֵּחַמ֗֗֗ Ps 75:1; Ps 76:1, לַמְֿנַצֵּחַ ֗֗֗ ׳לאסף מ Ps 77:1; Ps 80:1. [Summary: — ׳מ in 34 Psalms with לַמְֿנַצֵּחַ, of which 23 have לדוד also, 5 לבני קרח also, 4 לאסף, and 2 no proper name; in addition, in 13 Psalms with לדוד, 2 with לבני קרח, 5 with לאסף; in only 3 without either proper name or title; ׳מ is preceded by שׁיר 5 t., and following by שִׁיר 8 t.]

psalm
mizmôr
properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
  • melody, psalm

This book is chanted to the poetic accent system (used only in Job, Psalms, and Proverbs). Each group below ends at one of its pausing accents — translate a group as one unit.
לַ֭מְנַצֵּחַ Dechi — a lesser break שִׁ֣יר מִזְמ֑וֹר Atnach — the verse's main pause — take a breath here

לַמְנַצֵּחַ שִׁיר מִזְמוֹר
0
To the chief Musician, A Song or Psalm.
Read Psalms 66
Psalms 66:1