H7892a H7892a
Song, musical composition — a lyric piece for worship, celebration, or artistic expression.
Covering everything from triumphal war songs to intimate love poetry, this noun denotes a composed musical piece, often associated with praise and liturgical worship. It appears prominently in the Chronicler's descriptions of temple worship (1 Chr 6:31; 15:16; 25:7) and in psalm superscriptions. The superlative title 'Song of Songs' (Song 1:1) — rendered 'de los Cantares' in Spanish and 'des cantiques' in French — marks the pinnacle of the genre. Spanish distinguishes between 'canto' (a single song) and 'cántico' (a more formal hymn), reflecting the liturgical weight the word carries.
1. song, musical composition — A song or musical composition used in worship, celebration, or artistic expression — encompassing hymns of praise, thanksgiving songs, triumphal odes, and lyric poetry. Attested across 78 occurrences, from Deborah's victory song (Judg 5:12) to the organized temple music under David's Levitical singers (1 Chr 6:31; 25:7). Spanish 'canto/cántico' and French 'cantique' emphasize the liturgical register, while German 'ein Lied' keeps the broader 'song' sense. 78×
AR["أُنْشُودَةٌ","بِ-نَشيدٍ","ترْنِيمَةٌ","تَرنيمَة","تَرْنيمَةً","تَرْنيمَةٌ","تَرْنيمَةُ","تَرْنِيمَةً","تَرْنِيمَةٌ","نَشيدٌ"]·ben["একটি-গীত","গান","গান।","গীত","সঙ্গীত"]·DE["ein-Lied","ein-song"]·EN["a-song"]·FR["chanter","un-cantique"]·heb["שיר"]·HI["गीत"]·ID["Nyanyian","nyanyian"]·IT["cantare","un-canto"]·jav["Kidung","kidung"]·KO["노래","노래-를","노래를"]·PT["Cântico","cântico","cântico-de","um-cântico"]·RU["Песнь","песнь","песню"]·ES["Canto","Cántico","canto","canto-de","cántico"]·SW["Wimbo","wimbo","wimbo-wa"]·TR["ezgi","ilahi","Şarkı","şarkı","şarkısı"]·urd["گیت"]
Judg 5:12, 1 Chr 6:31, 1 Chr 15:16, 1 Chr 16:42, 1 Chr 25:7, 2 Chr 5:13, 2 Chr 7:6, 2 Chr 23:13, 2 Chr 34:12, Neh 12:36, Ps 33:3, Ps 40:3 (+38 more)
▼ 1 more sense below
Senses
2. sense 2 — The superlative 'Song of Songs' (Song 1:1) — a unique titular usage marking the supreme or most excellent song, functioning as a literary genre designation for Solomon's love poetry. Spanish 'de los Cantares' and French 'des cantiques' preserve the genitive superlative construction, indicating this is not merely another song but the quintessential one. This single occurrence stands apart as a title rather than a common noun. 1×
AR["هَ-شِّيرِيم"]·ben["-গানের-গানসমূহ"]·DE["der-Lieder"]·EN["the-songs"]·FR["des-cantiques"]·heb["ה-שירים"]·HI["गीतों-का"]·ID["-Kidung-Agung"]·IT["il-cantico"]·jav["kang-Kidung"]·KO["그-노래들-의"]·PT["dos-cânticos"]·RU["песней"]·ES["de-los-Cantares"]·SW["wa-nyimbo"]·TR["sarkilarin"]·urd["کے-گیتوں"]
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×)G4592 1. sign, miraculous sign (77×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† שִׁיר77 n.m. song (NH id.; so Ecclus 40:21 +);—שׁ׳ abs. Ju 5;12 +, cstr. 2 Ch 29:27 +; sf. שִׁירִי ψ 28:7, etc.; pl. שִׁירִים 1 Ch 13:8; Ct 1:1; שִׁרִים Gn 31:27; Pr 25:20; sf. שִׁרֶ֫יךָ Am 5:23, etc.;— 1. lyric song, + מָשָׁל 1 K 5:12, opp. קִינָה Am 8:10; joyous Gn 31:27 (J) Is 30:29; שׁ׳ עגבים Ez 33:32; triumphal Ju 5:12; love song Ct 1:1(×2) (title שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים), ψ 45:1 (שִׁיר…