ὕμνος G5215
hymns, songs of praise to God
Hymns are songs composed specifically for worship and praise, particularly addressed to God. Classical usage distinguished hymns (to gods or heroes) from other song types. Paul's instructions in Ephesians and Colossians both mention hymns as part of corporate Spirit-filled worship alongside psalms and spiritual songs. These likely included both inherited Jewish worship forms and new Christian compositions celebrating Christ.
Senses
1. sense 1 — From classical designation of songs in praise of gods/heroes, ὕμνοι in Eph 5:19 and Col 3:16 appear in Paul's triad: 'psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.' The three terms (likely overlapping) capture the rich variety of Christian worship music. Hymns specifically may have celebrated Christ's person and work, as suggested by quotations of early christological hymns embedded elsewhere in Paul's letters (e.g., Phil 2:6-11). 2×
AR["تَسابيحَ"]·ben["স্তুতিতে", "স্তুতিসমূহে"]·DE["Lobgesang"]·EN["hymns"]·FR["ὕμνοις"]·heb["תְּהִלִּים", "תְּהִלּוֹת"]·HI["स्तुतियियोन", "स्तुतियोन"]·ID["pujian", "pujian-pujian,"]·IT["umnois"]·jav["kidung,", "kidung-pangalembana"]·KO["찬송들", "찬송들-과"]·PT["hinos", "hinos,"]·RU["гимнами", "гимнах,"]·ES["con-himnos", "himnos"]·SW["nyimbo"]·TR["ilahilerle", "ve-"]·urd["حمدوں"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ὕμνος, ὁ, hymn, ode, in praise of gods or heroes (καί τι ἦν εἶδος ῳδῆς εὐχαὶ πρὸς θεούς, ὄνομα δὲ ὕμνοι ἐπεκαλοῦντο Refs 8th c.BC+; ὕμνῳ νικήσαντα φέρειν τρίποδ᾽ Refs 8th c.BC+; ὕμνοι θεῶν to or in honour of the gods, Refs 5th c.BC+; ὕμνοι Δαυείδ psalms of NT+6th c.AD+: in Trag. also of mournful songs, addressed to gods or heroes, τὸν δυσκέλαδον ὕ. Ἐρινύος Refs 5th c.BC+; ὕ. Ἅιδου, of one whose…