זָמַר
𐤆𐤌𐤓
zâmar
H2167 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To make music, especially by playing a stringed instrument, often accompanied by singing or vocal praise. The word chiefly denotes celebration, especially through musical performance, whether instrumental or vocal, and frequently is linked to the practice of praising or extolling a deity. In extended contexts, it can denote the act of composing or performing liturgical songs.
Semantic Range
to play a stringed instrument, to sing accompanied by instruments, to celebrate with music, to praise with song and instruments, to compose or perform psalms
Root / Etymology
Root: זמר. The root conveys the notion of 'playing (a stringed instrument)' or 'making music'. Although in Aramaic and post-biblical Hebrew זמר can mean 'to prune', Biblical Hebrew usage of this root in the pi‘el (intensive) stem is consistently musical.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, זָמַר appears almost exclusively in poetic and liturgical contexts, notably in Psalms, where the verb refers both to instrumental music and singing with praise. It is not the general verb for singing; rather, its usage is often tied to ceremonial worship. By the Second Temple period, the semantic range narrows further to denote liturgical singing specifically associated with Temple service. English translations (such as 'sing praises', 'make music') often do not capture the word’s strong connotation of musical instrumentation in addition to vocal expression. The root is distinct from שִׁיר (shir), which generally means 'to sing' without the explicit connotation of instruments.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root (perhaps identical with זָמַר through the idea of striking with the fingers); properly, to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument, i.e.; play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music; give praise, sing forth praises, psalms.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
זמר (z-m-r) — to play a stringed instrument, to make music, to sing praise
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2156 | זְמוֹרָה | the pruned vine-shoot |
| H2158 | זָמִיר | with musical songs |
| H2159 | זָמִיר | the pruned shoot |
| H2160 | זְמִירָה | Zemirah |
| H2168 | זָמַר | you will prune |
Word Forms
13 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2167-13 |
זַמְּר֣וּ | zameru | HVpv2mp |
sing | Make music! | 17 |
H2167-02 |
אֲזַמְּרָ֖ה | azamerah | HVph1cs |
I will sing praises | Let me make music | 11 |
H2167-06 |
וַ֝/אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה | vaazamerah | HC/Vph1cs |
and I will sing praises | and let me make music | 4 |
H2167-03 |
אֲ֝זַמֶּרְ/ךָ֗ | azamerekha | HVpi1cs/Sp2ms |
I will sing praises to you | I will make music to you | 2 |
H2167-11 |
יְזַמְּר֖וּ | yezameru | HVpi3mp |
let them sing praises | they will make music | 2 |
H2167-01 |
אֲזַמֵּ֕ר | azamer | HVpi1cs |
I will make melody | I will make music in praise | 2 |
H2167-09 |
וִֽ/יזַמְּרוּ | vizameru | HC/Vpi3mp |
and will sing praises | and they will make music | 1 |
H2167-12 |
זַמְּרָ֣ה | zamerah | HVpc |
to-sing-praises | to make music in praise | 1 |
H2167-05 |
וּֽ֝/נְזַמְּרָה | unezamerah | HC/Vph1cp |
and we will praise | and let us make music | 1 |
H2167-07 |
וַ֝/אֲזַמֶּרְ/ךָ֗ | vaazamerekha | HC/Vpi1cs/Sp2ms |
and I will sing praises to You | I will make music to you | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
45 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2167-01 |
Judges 5:3 | אֲזַמֵּ֕ר | azamer | HVpi1cs |
I will make melody | I will make music in praise |
H2167-01 |
2 Samuel 22:50 | אֲזַמֵּֽר | azamer | HVpi1cs |
I will sing praises | I will make music in praise |
H2167-13 |
Isaiah 12:5 | זַמְּר֣וּ | zameru | HVpv2mp |
Sing praises | Make music! |
H2167-06 |
Psalms 7:18 | וַ֝/אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה | vaazamerah | HC/Vph1cs |
and I will sing praise | and let me make music |
H2167-02 |
Psalms 9:3 | אֲזַמְּרָ֖ה | azamerah | HVph1cs |
I will sing praise | Let me make music |
H2167-13 |
Psalms 9:12 | זַמְּר֗וּ | zameru | HVpv2mp |
Sing praises | Make music! |
H2167-02 |
Psalms 18:50 | אֲזַמֵּֽרָה | azamerah | HVph1cs |
I will sing praises | Let me make music |
H2167-05 |
Psalms 21:14 | וּֽ֝/נְזַמְּרָה | unezamerah | HC/Vph1cp |
and we will praise | and let us make music |
H2167-06 |
Psalms 27:6 | וַ֝/אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה | vaazamerah | HC/Vph1cs |
and I will sing praises | and let me make music |
H2167-13 |
Psalms 30:5 | זַמְּר֣וּ | zameru | HVpv2mp |
Sing praise | Make music! |