זָמַר zâmar — properly, to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument, i.e. play upon it
Translated in the KJV as give praise, sing forth praises, psalms.
a primitive root (perhaps identical with H2168 through the idea of striking with the fingers); properly, to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument, i.e. play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music.
zâmar in each stem
Pi'el
Imperative 18Cohortative 13Imperfect (yiqtol) 12Infinitive construct 2
Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.
Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.
What the stems mean
A Hebrew verb is its root letters set into a pattern. The pattern — the binyan — is the grammar's way of saying three things at once: whether the action is simple, intensive or causative, and whether its subject is active, passive or reflexive. That is why one Hebrew word can need six English ones. All seven binyanim, explained ›