Psalm

A discussion of word histories and origins.
portokalos
Junior Lexiterian
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Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 6:13 am

Psalm

Postby portokalos » Thu Mar 29, 2007 5:31 am

Can you give me the origin of the word Psalm?
Thank you.
"What is hell?" I maintain that it is the suffering of being unable to love.
Fyodor Dostoevsky-The Brothers Karamazov

Perry
Great Grand Panjandrum
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Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:50 am
Location: Asheville, NC

Postby Perry » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:19 am

psalm
O.E. salm, from L. psalmus, from Gk. psalmos "song sung to a harp," originally "performance on stringed instrument," from psallein "play on a stringed instrument, pull, twitch." Used in Septuagint for Heb. mizmor "song," especially the sort sung by David to the harp.
Actually, in Hebrew the book of Psalms is called tehilim (תהילים). This comes from tehila (תהילה ), which today means fame, but I would guess that back in David's day this meant something halfway between acclaim and praise.

There is your explanation. Let's not harp on it. :roll:
"Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening all at once. Lately it hasn't been working."
Anonymous

portokalos
Junior Lexiterian
Posts: 85
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 6:13 am

Postby portokalos » Fri Mar 30, 2007 3:11 am

I would like to chek if this word is related with thw word pselos( ψελλός= τραυλός ).
"What is hell?" I maintain that it is the suffering of being unable to love.
Fyodor Dostoevsky-The Brothers Karamazov

Perry
Great Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 2306
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:50 am
Location: Asheville, NC

Postby Perry » Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:29 am

That would be way out of my league.
"Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening all at once. Lately it hasn't been working."
Anonymous


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