
Text -- Ephesians 5:19 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Robertson -> Eph 5:19
Robertson: Eph 5:19 - -- To the Lord ( tōi Kuriōi ).
The Lord Jesus. In Col 3:16 we have tōi theōi (to God) with all these varieties of praise, another proof of the...
Vincent: Eph 5:19 - -- Speaking to yourselves ( λαλοῦντες ἑαυτοῖς )
Rev., one to another .
The A.V. is literally correct, but is open to the...
Speaking to yourselves (
Rev., one to another .
The A.V. is literally correct, but is open to the misinterpretation each one communing with himself . The meaning is as in Col 3:13, and Rev. is better.
By the Spirit.

Wesley: Eph 5:19 - -- On any divine subject. By there being no inspired songs, peculiarly adapted to the Christian dispensation, as there were to the Jewish, it is evident ...
On any divine subject. By there being no inspired songs, peculiarly adapted to the Christian dispensation, as there were to the Jewish, it is evident that the promise of the Holy Ghost to believers, in the last days, was by his larger effusion to supply the lack of it.

JFB: Eph 5:19 - -- "to one another." Hence soon arose the antiphonal or responsive chanting of which PLINY writes to Trajan: "They are wont on a fixed day to meet before...
"to one another." Hence soon arose the antiphonal or responsive chanting of which PLINY writes to Trajan: "They are wont on a fixed day to meet before daylight [to avoid persecution] and to recite a hymn among themselves by turns, to Christ, as if being God." The Spirit gives true eloquence; wine, a spurious eloquence.


JFB: Eph 5:19 - -- The general term for lyric pieces; "spiritual" is added to mark their being here restricted to sacred subjects, though not merely to direct praises of...
The general term for lyric pieces; "spiritual" is added to mark their being here restricted to sacred subjects, though not merely to direct praises of God, but also containing exhortations, prophecies, &c. Contrast the drunken "songs," Amo 8:10.

Greek, "playing and singing with an instrument."

JFB: Eph 5:19 - -- Not merely with the tongue; but the serious feeling of the heart accompanying the singing of the lips (compare 1Co 14:15; Psa 47:7). The contrast is b...
Not merely with the tongue; but the serious feeling of the heart accompanying the singing of the lips (compare 1Co 14:15; Psa 47:7). The contrast is between the heathen and the Christian practice, "Let your songs be not the drinking songs of heathen feasts, but psalms and hymns; and their accompaniment, not the music of the lyre, but the melody of the heart" [CONYBEARE and HOWSON].

See PLINY'S letter quoted above: "To Christ as God."
Clarke: Eph 5:19 - -- Speaking to yourselves in psalms - We can scarcely say what is the exact difference between these three expressions. Psalms, ψαλμοι, may prob...
Speaking to yourselves in psalms - We can scarcely say what is the exact difference between these three expressions. Psalms,

Clarke: Eph 5:19 - -- Hymns - Ὑμνοις· Extemporaneous effusions in praise of God, uttered under the influence of the Divine Spirit, or a sense of his especial g...
Hymns -

Clarke: Eph 5:19 - -- Songs - Ωιδαις· Odes; premeditated and regular poetic compositions; but, in whatever form they were composed, we learn that they were all ...
Songs -

Clarke: Eph 5:19 - -- Singing and making melody in your heart - The heart always going with the lips. It is a shocking profanation of Divine worship to draw nigh to God w...
Singing and making melody in your heart - The heart always going with the lips. It is a shocking profanation of Divine worship to draw nigh to God with the lips, while the heart is far from him. It is too often the case that, in public worship, men are carried off from the sense of the words by the sounds that are put to them. And how few choirs of singers are there in the universe whose hearts ever accompany them in what they call singing the praises of God!
Calvin -> Eph 5:19
Calvin: Eph 5:19 - -- 19.To psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs These are truly pleasant and delightful fruits. The Spirit means “joy in the Holy Ghost,” (Rom 14:...
19.To psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs These are truly pleasant and delightful fruits. The Spirit means “joy in the Holy Ghost,” (Rom 14:17;) and the exhortation, be ye filled, (ver. 18,) alludes to deep drinking, with which it is indirectly contrasted. Speaking to themselves, is speaking among themselves. Nor does he enjoin them to sing inwardly or alone; for he immediately adds, singing in your hearts; as if he had said, “Let your praises be not merely on the tongue, as hypocrites do, but from the heart.” What may be the exact difference between psalms and hymns, or between hymns and songs, it is not easy to determine, though a few remarks on this subject shall be offered on a future occasion. 163 The appellation spiritual, given to these songs, is strikingly appropriate; for the songs most frequently used are almost always on trifling subjects, and very far from being chaste.
Defender: Eph 5:19 - -- Eph 5:19-22 illustrate what the Spirit-filled life will be. This 19th verse applies not so much to congregational singing, as to "melody in your heart...
Eph 5:19-22 illustrate what the Spirit-filled life will be. This 19th verse applies not so much to congregational singing, as to "melody in your heart." Such a life will be fruitful (Eph 5:9), active (Eph 5:16), understanding (Eph 5:17), joyful (Eph 5:19), thankful (Eph 5:20), and submissive (Eph 5:21). It will also be bold in witnessing (Act 4:31).

Defender: Eph 5:19 - -- The words "psalms" and "hymns" are transliterations from the Greek, and "songs" (Greek ode) is a generic term for songs in general, thus needing modif...
The words "psalms" and "hymns" are transliterations from the Greek, and "songs" (Greek
TSK -> Eph 5:19
TSK: Eph 5:19 - -- to yourselves : Act 16:25; 1Co 14:26; Col 3:16; Jam 5:13
psalms : Psalms, ψαλμοι [Strong’ s G5568], from ψαλλω [Strong’ s G...
to yourselves : Act 16:25; 1Co 14:26; Col 3:16; Jam 5:13
psalms : Psalms,
making : Psa 47:7, Psa 47:8, Psa 62:8, Psa 86:12, Psa 105:3, Psa 147:7; Isa 65:14; Mat 15:8; Joh 4:23, Joh 4:24

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Eph 5:19
Barnes: Eph 5:19 - -- Speaking to yourselves - Speaking among yourselves, that is, endeavoring to edify one another, and to promote purity of heart, by songs of prai...
Speaking to yourselves - Speaking among yourselves, that is, endeavoring to edify one another, and to promote purity of heart, by songs of praise. This has the force of a command, and it is a matter of obligation on Christians. From the beginning, praise was an important part of public worship, and is designed to be to the end of the world; see the notes on 1Co 14:15. Nothing is more clear than that it was practiced by the Saviour himself and the apostles (see Mat 26:30), and by the primitive church, as well as by the great body of Christians in all ages.
In psalms - The Psalms of David were sung by the Jews at the temple, and by the early Christians (notes Mat 26:30), and the singing of those psalms has constituted a delightful part of public worship in all ages. They speak the language of devotion at all times, and a large part of them are as well suited to the services of the sanctuary now as they were when first composed.
And hymns - It is not easy to determine precisely what is the difference in the meaning of the words used here, or to designate the kind of compositions which were used in the early churches. A "hymn"is properly a song or ode in honor of God. Among the pagan it was a song in honor of some deity. With us now it denotes a short poem, composed for religious service, and sung in praise to God. Such brief poems were common among the pagan, and it was natural that Christians should early introduce and adopt them. Whether any of them were composed by the apostles it is impossible now to determine, though the presumption is very strong that if they had been they would have been preserved with as much care as their epistles, or as the Psalms. One thing is proved clearly by this passage, that there were other compositions used in the praise of God than the Psalms of David; and if it was right then to make use of such compositions, it is now. They were not merely "Psalms"that were sung, but there were hymns and odes.
Spiritual songs - Spiritual "odes"-
Singing -
And making melody - "Melody"is an agreeable succession of sounds; a succession so regulated and modulated as to please the ear. It differs from "harmony,"inasmuch as melody is an agreeable succession of sounds by a single voice; harmony consists in the accordance of different sounds. It is not certain, however, that the apostle here had reference to what is properly called "melody."The word which he uses -
To the Lord - In praise of the Lord, or addressed to him. Singing, as here meant, is a direct and solemn act of worship, and should be considered such as really as prayer. In singing we should regard ourselves as speaking directly to God, and the words, therefore, should be spoken with a solemnity and awe becoming such a direct address to the great Yahweh. So Pliny says of the early Christians, "Carmenquc Christo quasi Deo dicere secure invicem"- "and they sang among themselves hymns to Christ as God."If this be the true nature and design of public psalmody, then it follows:
\caps1 (1) t\caps0 hat all should regard it as an act of solemn worship in which they should engage - in "heart"at least, if they cannot themselves sing.
\caps1 (2) p\caps0 ublic psalmody should not be entrusted wholly to the light and frivolous; to the trifling and careless part of a congregation.
\caps1 (3) t\caps0 hey who conduct this part of public worship ought to be pious. The leader "ought"to be a Christian; and they who join in it "ought"also to give their hearts to the Redeemer. Perhaps it would not be proper to say absolutely that no one who is not a professor of religion should take part in the exercises of a choir in a church; but thoro can be no error in saying that such persons "ought"to give themselves to Christ, and to sing from the heart. Their voices would be none the less sweet; their music no less pure and beautiful; nor could their own pleasure in the service be lessened. A choir of sweet singers in a church - united in the same praises here - "ought"to be prepared to join in the same praises around the throne of God.
Poole -> Eph 5:19
Poole: Eph 5:19 - -- Speaking, &c. in opposition to the vain chaff and lewd talkativeness of drunkards over their cups.
To yourselves Gr. in yourselves, i.e. among your...
Speaking, &c. in opposition to the vain chaff and lewd talkativeness of drunkards over their cups.
To yourselves Gr. in yourselves, i.e. among yourselves, both in church assemblies and families.
In psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs under these names he comprehends all manner of singing to mutual edification and God’ s glory. The particular distinction of them is uncertain, but most take psalms to be such as anciently were sung with musical instruments; hymns, such as contained only matter of praise;
spiritual songs such as were of various matter, doctrinal, prophetical, historical, &c.: see on Col 3:16 .
Singing and making melody in your heart not only with your voice, but with inward affection, contrary to the guise of hypocrites.
To the Lord to the glory of God, not for the pleasure of the sense, or for gain, &c.
PBC -> Eph 5:19
PBC: Eph 5:19 - -- " Speaking to yourselves"
Paul further supported this thought in Col 3:16, " Teaching and admonishing one another." Both verses call for some form o...
" Speaking to yourselves"
Paul further supported this thought in Col 3:16, " Teaching and admonishing one another." Both verses call for some form of audience participation in the selection of particular songs to be sung in a given worship service. How can you speak to each other or teach and admonish one another unless you play a personal part in the selection of songs to be sung? The experiences of each individual member of the congregation, and the general mood of the church, changes from one service to another. The song worship should reflect that mood with the selection of appropriate hymns for the occasion. In one service the mood may be " Praise him, praise him," and in another it may be, " Mixtures of joy and sorrow I daily do pass through." This thought further teaches us that the purpose of song worship, the horizontal purpose, is to teach and admonish one another, to speak to each other of our spiritual state and needs. Every part of the worship service represents at least two functions; vertical, relating to the individual worshipper and his Lord, and horizontal, relating to the individual worshipper and his fellow-worshippers. 41
" Making melody in your heart to the Lord"
In the companion verse from Col 3:16, Paul said, " Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Strong defines melody as rubbing or touching the surface, to twitch or twang, as a harp or lyre, to play on a stringed instrument. Based on Paul’s description of scripture’s integrity and thoroughness to instruct the man of God, the same verse that commands the use of psalms in the New Testament’s song worship also tells us which musical instrument we must use to transform our horizontal participation in song to vertical worship of our God. Paul did not require harps, viols, pianos, or organs as a part of the church’s public worship. He required a heart tuned to heavenly melody, in the key of grace, and carefully following the directions of the heavenly director, the Lord Jesus Christ! This he commanded, and this he required as a part of our public song worship!
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Gill -> Eph 5:19
Gill: Eph 5:19 - -- Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs,.... By psalms are meant the Psalms of David, and others which compose the book that ...
Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs,.... By psalms are meant the Psalms of David, and others which compose the book that goes by that name, for other psalms there are none; and by "hymns" we are to understand, not such as are made by good men, without the inspiration of the Spirit of God; since they are placed between psalms and spiritual songs, made by men inspired by the Holy Ghost; and are put upon a level with them, and to be sung along with them, to the edification of churches; but these are only another name for the Book of Psalms, the running title of which may as well be the Book of Hymns, as it is rendered by Ainsworth; and the psalm which our Lord sung with his disciples after the supper, is called an hymn; and so are the psalms in general called hymns, by Philo the Jew n; and songs and hymns by Josephus o; and
singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord; singing, as it is a distinct thing from prayer, so from giving of thanks, which is mentioned in Eph 5:20 as another duty; it is not a mental praising of God, for it is called speaking, and teaching, and admonishing, but it is a praising of God with the modulation of the voice; and is rightly performed, when the heart and voice agree; when there is a melody in the heart, as well as in the tongue; for singing and making melody in the heart, is singing with, or from the heart, or heartily; of as elsewhere, "with grace", and which the Alexandrian copy reads here; that is, either with gratitude and thankfulness, or with grace in exercise; and the end in view should be the glory of God.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Eph 5:1-33
TSK Synopsis: Eph 5:1-33 - --1 After general exhortations to love;3 to flee fornication;4 and all uncleanness;7 not to converse with the wicked;15 to walk warily;18 and to be fill...
Combined Bible -> Eph 5:19
Combined Bible: Eph 5:19 - --Let your outward expression, "speak to one another", be consistent with your inner life--"make music in your heart to the Lord." And, there should al...
MHCC -> Eph 5:15-21
MHCC: Eph 5:15-21 - --Another remedy against sin, is care, or caution, it being impossible else to maintain purity of heart and life. Time is a talent given us by God, and ...
Matthew Henry -> Eph 5:3-20
Matthew Henry: Eph 5:3-20 - -- These verses contain a caution against all manner of uncleanness, with proper remedies and arguments proposed: some further cautions are added, and ...
Barclay -> Eph 5:15-21
Barclay: Eph 5:15-21 - --Paul's general appeal finishes with an exhortation to his converts to live like wise men. The times in which they are living are evil; they must res...
Constable: Eph 4:1--6:21 - --III. THE CHRISTIAN'S CONDUCT 4:1--6:20
Practical application (chs. 4-6) now follows doctrinal instruction (chs. ...

Constable: Eph 4:1--6:10 - --A. Spiritual walk 4:1-6:9
Paul had explained the unity of Jewish and Gentile believers in the church and...

Constable: Eph 5:15--6:10 - --5. Walking in wisdom 5:15-6:9
Paul introduced a new thought with the repetition of "Therefore" a...
