What does Psalm 150:5 mean?

To praise God (Psalm 150:1–2), His people should use all manner of instruments as well as dancing (Psalm 150:3–4). This verse continues to list these, now including cymbals. The overall purpose of the passage is that man-kind can use all sorts of instruments and musical styles—what matters is that they are being used to properly wor-ship the Lord. This list includes every type of musical source, including the human voice.

The "cymbals" noted here would have been shells or small metal, wood, or clay disks tapped together or struck with a stick; these typically make a pinging or ringing noise. Smaller examples are seen attached to tambourines or held between the fingers; these are called "castanets." It's possible that the "loud clashing cymbals" or "resounding cym-bals" (NIV) implies the larger kind such as those seen on modern drum sets or in the percussion section of an orches-tra. These larger disks make more of a crashing, harsh noise.

Cymbals are often described in moments of intense celebration or excitement (2 Samuel 6:5; 1 Chronicles 15:16, 19, 28; Nehemiah 12:27). In the New Testament, Paul uses the cymbal as an example of something which merely makes noise, rather than conveying love and truth (1 Corinthians 13:1).