Book of Psalms in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
LITERATURE
I. Introductory Topics.
1. Title:
The Hebrew title for the Psalter is cepher tehillim, "book
of praises." When we consider the fact that more than 20 of
these poems have praise for their keynote, and that there
are outbursts of thanksgiving in many others, the fitness of
the Hebrew title dawns upon us. As Ker well says, "The book
begins with benediction, and ends with praise--first,
blessing to man, and then glory to God." Hymns of praise,
though found in all parts of the Psalter, become far more
numerous in Books IV and V, as if the volume of praise would
gather itself up into a Hallelujah Chorus at the end. In the
Greek version the book is entitled in some manuscripts
Psalmoi, in others Psalterion, whence come our English
titles "Psalms," and "Psalter." The Greek word psalmos, as
well as the Hebrew mizmor, both of which are used in the
superscriptions prefixed to many of the separate psalms,
indicates a poem sung to the accompaniment of stringed
instruments. The title mizmor is found before 57 psalms. The
Psalter was the hymnal of the Jewish nation. To individual
psalms other titles are sometimes prefixed, such as shir,
"song"; tehillah, "praise"; tephillah, "prayer," etc. The
Psalter was both prayerbook and hymnal to the Jewish people.
It was also a manual for the nurture of the spiritual life
in private as well as public worship.
2. Place in the Canon:
The Psalms were placed in the kethubhim or "Writings," the
third group of the Hebrew Scriptures. As the chief book of
the kethubhim, the Psalter appears first in the great
majority of German manuscripts, though the Spanish
manuscripts place Psalms after Chronicles, and the Talmud
puts Ruth before Psalms. There has never been any serious
question as to the right of the Psalter to a place in the
Canon of Scripture. The book is possibly more highly
esteemed among Christians than by the Jews. If Christians
were permitted to retain only one book in the Old Testament,
they would almost certainly choose Psalms. By 100 BC, and
probably at a much earlier date, the Book of Psalms was
completed and recognized as part of the Hagiographa, the 3rd
division of the Hebrew Bible...
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