לַבֵּן H4192
musical or liturgical term, possibly 'about death' or a tune name
A puzzling musical or liturgical notation appearing in Psalm titles. The phrase 'al-muth labben' in Psalm 9:1 has uncertain meaning—possibly 'about death for the son,' or perhaps the name of a tune or musical mode. Psalm 48:14 uses a related form. Ancient interpreters struggled with this phrase, and modern scholars remain divided. The term reminds us that some technical musical vocabulary from ancient Israel's worship has been lost, though the psalms themselves remain powerfully meaningful.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Cross-linguistic evidence reveals uncertainty: translations range from transliterations 'Almut, Muth-labben' to interpretive renderings 'death, según-a-Muth-labben.' Psalm 9:1 contains the full phrase in its superscription, likely indicating performance instructions now obscure to us. Psalm 48:14 may contain a related term. These technical notations remind us of the rich musical heritage of Israelite worship, even when precise meanings elude us. The psalm content itself speaks clearly of God's justice and faithfulness. 3×
AR["المَوْت", "عَلَى-مُوتِ-لَبِنَ", "لِ-لاَبِنَ"]·ben["পুত্রের-জন্য", "মুত-লাব্বেনের-উপরে", "মৃত্যুর"]·DE["Tod", "ein-Psalm", "gemäss-zu-Muth-labben"]·EN["a-psalm", "according-to-Muth-labben", "death"]·FR["Mizmor", "mourir", "à-fils"]·heb["ל-בן", "מוות", "עלמות"]·HI["अलमूत", "मृत्यु", "ले-लाबेन"]·ID["Almut-Labben", "untuk-anak"]·IT["Mut-labben", "a-figlio"]·jav["Almut-labén", "kanggé-putra"]·KO["뭇라벤", "에-따라", "좽음"]·PT["[título]", "a-morte", "sobre-Almute-Laben"]·RU["для-сына", "на-альмут", "смертью"]·ES["Almut", "Laben", "muerte"]·SW["alamothi", "labeni", "mauti"]·TR["Almut", "Labben-üzerine", "ölüme"]·urd["-پر", "علموت-لبن", "موت"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
לַבֵּן in עַל־מוּת ל׳ ψ 9:1 dubious meaning, v. Thes Bae Psalmen, p. xvii.