Revision #10835
Maschil
Localized for English-speaking readers
Status: approved
Changes from the previous English revision
= ## Occurrences
=
- Maschil appears in the superscriptions (the headings placed before the text) of several Psalms. The following thirteen psalms bear the term in their headings:
+ Maschil appears in the superscriptions, or headings placed before the text, of several Psalms. Thirteen psalms bear the term in their headings:
=
= - **Maschil of David**: Psalms 32, 52, 53, 54, 55, and 142
= - **Maschil of the sons of Korah**: Psalms 42, 44, and 45
= - **Maschil of Asaph**: Psalms 74 and 78
- - **Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite**: Psalm 88 (also presented as a psalm of the sons of Korah)
+ - **Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite**: Psalm 88 (also identified as a psalm of the sons of Korah)
= - **Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite**: Psalm 89
=
- Outside the superscriptions, the same word occurs once, in Psalm 47:7. The New Korean Revised Version renders this verse "Sing praises with a psalm of wisdom."
+ Outside the superscriptions, the same word occurs once, in Psalm 47:7, which the KJV renders "sing ye praises with understanding." The Korean New Korean Revised Version translates the phrase as "sing praises with a psalm of wisdom."
=
= ## Meaning and Background of the Word
=
- Maschil derives from a Hebrew root meaning "to understand, to be wise, to make wise." In Psalm 32:8, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go," the verb rendered "instruct" comes from the same root. The Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament) is reported to have rendered this heading with a word meaning "understanding." The New Korean Revised Version does not translate the term by its meaning but simply transliterates it as "Maschil."
+ Maschil derives from a Hebrew root meaning "to understand, to be wise, to make wise." In Psalm 32:8, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go," the verb rendered "instruct" comes from the same root. The Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, is reported to have rendered the heading with a word meaning "understanding." The New Korean Revised Version does not translate the term by its meaning but transliterates it.
=
- In some headings, Maschil appears alongside expressions such as "To the chief Musician" and the names of tunes. For this reason, Maschil is likewise thought to be a term related to the manner in which psalms were sung in temple worship or to the genre of the poem.
+ In some headings, Maschil appears alongside expressions such as "To the chief Musician" and the names of tunes. For this reason, Maschil is also thought to relate to the manner in which psalms were sung in temple worship or to the genre of the poem.
=
= ## Interpretations and Debates
=
- There are broadly three views on its precise meaning:
+ There are broadly three views on the term's precise meaning:
=
- - **Didactic psalm**: A poem that enlightens and instructs its hearers. Psalms with clearly instructive content, such as Psalms 32 and 78, are cited in support of this view.
- - **Contemplative psalm**: A poem that prompts deep reflection.
- - **Skillfully composed psalm**: A term referring to an artful song or a musical form.
+ - **Didactic psalm**: a poem that enlightens and instructs its hearers. Psalms with clearly instructive content, such as Psalms 32 and 78, are cited in support of this view.
+ - **Contemplative psalm**: a poem that prompts deep reflection.
+ - **Skillfully composed psalm**: an artful song or a particular musical form.
=
- The Maschil psalms include laments (Psalms 88 and 142), a psalm reflecting on history (Psalm 78), and a psalm celebrating a royal wedding (Psalm 45). Consequently, no single interpretation readily accounts for all of them, and many scholars consider the meaning impossible to determine with certainty.
+ The Maschil psalms include laments (Psalms 88 and 142), a psalm reflecting on history (Psalm 78), and a psalm celebrating a royal wedding (Psalm 45). No single interpretation readily accounts for all of them, and many scholars consider the meaning impossible to determine with certainty.
=
- Views on the psalm superscriptions themselves also differ among traditions. Some regard the superscriptions as reliable information transmitted together with the text, while others see them as additions made during later editing. Because the Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as verse 1, the verse numbering of some psalms differs by one from that of Korean Bibles. For example, Psalm 47:7 in Korean Bibles is verse 8 in the Hebrew Bible.
+ Traditions also differ in how they regard the psalm superscriptions themselves. Some treat the superscriptions as reliable information transmitted together with the text, while others see them as additions made during later editing. Because the Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as verse 1, the verse numbering of some psalms differs by one from that of translations such as the Korean Bible. For example, Psalm 47:7 in the Korean Bible is verse 8 in the Hebrew Bible.
=
= ## Significance in the Whole of Scripture
=
- The New Testament does not use the word Maschil, but it quotes several of the Maschil psalms. Romans 4:7–8 quotes Psalm 32:1–2, and Romans 8:36 quotes Psalm 44:22. Matthew 13:35 quotes Psalm 78:2, and Hebrews 1:8–9 quotes Psalm 45:6–7. The New Testament also speaks of praise and teaching together (Colossians 3:16), and those who read Maschil as a didactic psalm sometimes link this verse to Maschil in their explanations.
+ The New Testament does not use the word Maschil, but it quotes several of the Maschil psalms. Romans 4:7–8 quotes Psalm 32:1–2, and Romans 8:36 quotes Psalm 44:22. Matthew 13:35 quotes Psalm 78:2, and Hebrews 1:8–9 quotes Psalm 45:6–7. The New Testament also speaks of praise and teaching together (Colossians 3:16), and those who read Maschil as a didactic psalm sometimes connect this verse with the term.
=
- ## In the Korean Church
+ ## In Korean Churches
=
- The heading Maschil itself is rarely the subject of a sermon, but the psalms that bear it are widely read. The image of the deer in Psalm 42:1 is also well known from the lyrics of gospel songs.
+ In Korean churches, the heading Maschil itself is rarely the subject of a sermon, but the psalms that bear it are widely read. The image of the hart in Psalm 42:1, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks," is also well known from the lyrics of gospel songs.
Maschil is a Hebrew word that appears in the superscriptions (headings) of thirteen psalms. It derives from a root meaning "to understand" or "to be wise." It appears to designate a type of poem or a manner of singing, but its precise meaning is uncertain.
Maschil is a Hebrew term found in the superscriptions (headings) of thirteen psalms. It derives from a root meaning "to understand" or "to be wise." The term appears to designate a type of poem or a manner of singing, but its precise meaning remains uncertain.
Full revision
Maschil is a Hebrew term found in the superscriptions (headings) of thirteen psalms. It derives from a root meaning "to understand" or "to be wise." The term appears to designate a type of poem or a manner of singing, but its precise meaning remains uncertain.
Occurrences
Maschil appears in the superscriptions, or headings placed before the text, of several Psalms. Thirteen psalms bear the term in their headings:
- Maschil of David: Psalms 32, 52, 53, 54, 55, and 142
- Maschil of the sons of Korah: Psalms 42, 44, and 45
- Maschil of Asaph: Psalms 74 and 78
- Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite: Psalm 88 (also identified as a psalm of the sons of Korah)
- Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite: Psalm 89
Outside the superscriptions, the same word occurs once, in Psalm 47:7, which the KJV renders "sing ye praises with understanding." The Korean New Korean Revised Version translates the phrase as "sing praises with a psalm of wisdom."
Meaning and Background of the Word
Maschil derives from a Hebrew root meaning "to understand, to be wise, to make wise." In Psalm 32:8, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go," the verb rendered "instruct" comes from the same root. The Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, is reported to have rendered the heading with a word meaning "understanding." The New Korean Revised Version does not translate the term by its meaning but transliterates it.
In some headings, Maschil appears alongside expressions such as "To the chief Musician" and the names of tunes. For this reason, Maschil is also thought to relate to the manner in which psalms were sung in temple worship or to the genre of the poem.
Interpretations and Debates
There are broadly three views on the term's precise meaning:
- Didactic psalm: a poem that enlightens and instructs its hearers. Psalms with clearly instructive content, such as Psalms 32 and 78, are cited in support of this view.
- Contemplative psalm: a poem that prompts deep reflection.
- Skillfully composed psalm: an artful song or a particular musical form.
The Maschil psalms include laments (Psalms 88 and 142), a psalm reflecting on history (Psalm 78), and a psalm celebrating a royal wedding (Psalm 45). No single interpretation readily accounts for all of them, and many scholars consider the meaning impossible to determine with certainty.
Traditions also differ in how they regard the psalm superscriptions themselves. Some treat the superscriptions as reliable information transmitted together with the text, while others see them as additions made during later editing. Because the Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as verse 1, the verse numbering of some psalms differs by one from that of translations such as the Korean Bible. For example, Psalm 47:7 in the Korean Bible is verse 8 in the Hebrew Bible.
Significance in the Whole of Scripture
The New Testament does not use the word Maschil, but it quotes several of the Maschil psalms. Romans 4:7–8 quotes Psalm 32:1–2, and Romans 8:36 quotes Psalm 44:22. Matthew 13:35 quotes Psalm 78:2, and Hebrews 1:8–9 quotes Psalm 45:6–7. The New Testament also speaks of praise and teaching together (Colossians 3:16), and those who read Maschil as a didactic psalm sometimes connect this verse with the term.
In Korean Churches
In Korean churches, the heading Maschil itself is rarely the subject of a sermon, but the psalms that bear it are widely read. The image of the hart in Psalm 42:1, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks," is also well known from the lyrics of gospel songs.