What Is the Significance of the Unusual Words Found As Subtitles throughout the Psalms?
In addition to the superscription indicating the author of the psalm, there are often instructions which contain words transliterated from the Hebrew and left untranslated. Generally, they seem to have been specific instructions to the singer or the musicians, or to have served as a note about the nature of the particular song. “Of the terms left untranslated or obscure in our Bible, it may be well to offer some explanation in this place, taking them in alphabetical order for the sake of convenience. . . . “(1) Aijeleth Shahar, Hind of the Morning, i.e. the sun, or the dawn of day. This occurs only in [Psalm 22], where we may best take it to designate a song, perhaps commencing with these words, or bearing this name, to the melody of which the psalm was to be sung. . . . “(2) Alamoth [Psalm 46], probably signifies virgins, and hence denotes music for female voices, or the treble. . . . “(3) Al-taschith, Destroy Thou Not, is found over [Psalms 57–59, 75], and signifies, by general conse
