And their number who were trained in singing to the Lord,
with their relatives, all who were skillful, was 288.
1 Chronicles 25:7
Did you know that some of the Psalms are for the choir director?
Maybe not, since we don’t typically sing the Psalms today, and it’s easy to overlook where it says it.
However, in ancient Jewish history, they did sing the Psalms. And just over a third of them were for the choir director.
So, let’s see what we can learn about these psalms.
Table of Contents
Why Are a Third of the Psalms for the Choir Director?
Out of 150 Psalms, 55 of them are for the choir director. Although we aren’t told why a third of them were designated for the choir director, we can know that after David was anointed king in 1025 BC, he brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). At that time, he appointed musicians and three worship leaders to continually minister in the Tabernacle (1 Chronicles 6:31-32). After King Solomon built the Temple for the Lord from 640-609 BC, the music ministry continued (2 Chronicles 5:12; 29:30; 35:15). And the Psalms were what they sang.
The Choir Directors
King David appointed three men to lead the music in the house of the Lord after the Ark of the Covenant was returned. All three are mentioned in the Titles of the Psalms assigned to them. These choir directors were:
- Heman the Ezrahite – Psalm 88; 1 Chronicles 6:33-38; 15:17-19; 16:41-42; 25:4-6
- Jeduthun – Psalms 39, 62, 77; 1 Chronicles 16:41-42; 25:6; 2 Chronicles 5:12; 35:15
- Asaph – Psalms 50; 73-83; 1 Chronicles 6:39-40; 15:17-19; 16:5; 25:6; 2 Chronicles 29:30; Ezra 2:40-41
It should be noted that many scholars think Jeduthun was also known as Ethan (1 Chronicles 6:44; 15:19).
RELATED > > > > > What is the Title of a Psalm?
Additional Instructions for the Choir Director
| Psalms for the Choir Director | Additional Music Instructions |
| 4 | On stringed instruments, a Psalm of David |
| 5 | For flute accompaniment, a Psalm of David |
| 6 | With stringed instruments, upon an 8-stringed lyre, a Psalm of David |
| 8 | On the Gittith – meaning uncertain, but it’s derived from “Gath” and may indicate a tune or instrument connected with that place – a Psalm of David |
| 9 | On Muth-labben – means “death for (or of) the son,” but the meaning here is unclear – a Psalm of David |
| 11 | A Psalm of David |
| 12 | Upon an 8-stringed lyre, a Psalm of David |
| 13 | A Psalm of David |
| 14 | A Psalm of David |
| 18 | A Psalm of David in the day the Lord delivered him from all his enemies and from the hand of Saul |
| 19 | A Psalm of David |
| 20 | A Psalm of David |
| 21 | A Psalm of David |
| 22 | Upon Aijeleth Hashshahar – literally, upon the hind of the dawn and was probably the name of a tune – a Psalm of David |
| 31 | A Psalm of David |
| 36 | A Psalm of David |
| 39 | For Jeduthun – one of the choir directors appointed by David to lead public worship (1 Chronicles 16:41; 25:1-3) – A Psalm of David |
| 40 | A Psalm of David |
| 41 | A Psalm of David |
| 42 | A Maskil of the sons of Korah – a Maskil is probably a contemplative or didactic poem, and the sons of Korah were singers in the Temple choir (2 Chronicles 20:19) |
| 44 | A Maskil of the sons of Korah |
| 45 | According to Shoshannim – means lilies and possibly indicates a wedding tune – a Maskil of the sons of Korah, a Song of Love |
| 46 | A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to Alamath – literally, maidens and most likely refers to soprano voices – a Song |
| 47 | A Psalm of the sons of Korah |
| 49 | A Psalm of the sons of Korah |
| 51 | A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone in to Bathsheba |
| 52 | A Maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.” |
| 53 | According to Mahalath – a term meaning “sickness” and possibly the first word of a well-known tune to which this psalm was sung – a Maskil of David |
| 54 | On stringed instruments, a Maskil of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “Is not David hiding himself among us?” |
| 55 | On stringed instruments, a Maskil of David |
| 56 | According to Jonath elem rehokim – probably means to the tune of “the silent dove in far-off lands.” – a Mikhtam of David – uncertain meaning; however, it’s derived from a verb meaning “to cover” and may indicate psalms pertaining to protection (covering) or psalms recited silently (with lips covering the mouth) |
| 57 | Set to Al-tashheth – literally, do not destroy and possibly indicates a tune – a Mikhtam of David when he fled from Saul in the cave |
| 58 | Set to Al-tashheth, a Mikhtam of David |
| 59 | Set to Al-tashheth, a Mikhtam of David when Saul sent men and they watched the house so they could kill him |
| 60 | According to Shushan Eduth – literally, the lily of the testimony and was apparently a tune – a Mikhtam of David to teach, when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and smote twelve thousand of edom in the Valley of Salt |
| 61 | On a stringed instrument, a Psalm of David |
| 62 | According to Jeduthun, a Psalm of David |
| 64 | A Psalm of David |
| 65 | A Psalm of David, a Song |
| 66 | A Song, a Psalm |
| 67 | With stringed instruments, a Psalm, a Song |
| 68 | A Psalm of David, a Song |
| 69 | According to Shoshannim, a Psalm of David |
| 70 | A Psalm of David, for a memorial |
| 75 | Set to Al-tashheth, a Psalm of Asaph – an outstanding musician in King David’s time, who was appointed as one of the choir directors in the Temple (1 Chronicles 15:19; 16:5) – a Song |
| 76 | On stringed instruments, a Psalm of Asaph, a Song |
| 77 | According to Jeduthun, a Psalm of Asaph |
| 80 | Set to El Shoshannim; Eduth – a testimony – a Psalm of Asaph |
| 81 | On the Gittith, a Psalm of Asaph |
| 84 | On the Gittith, a Psalm of the sons of Korah |
| 85 | A Psalm of the Sons of Korah |
| 88 | A Song, a Psalm of the sons of Korah; according to Mahaleth Leannoth – means “to humble or afflict” – A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite – a choir director and leader of the Korahite choral guild (1 Chronicles 6:33, 37) |
| 109 | A Psalm of David |
| 139 | A Psalm of David |
| 140 | A Psalm of David |
Why Are Only Some of the Psalms for the Choir Director?
We don’t know. Some psalms have no title, others have a single phrase, such as “A Psalm of David,” while the rest give varying amounts of information.
So, there isn’t any rhyme or reason why some psalms are for the choir director and others aren’t. But I’m sure it made sense back then.
Possibly, only some of the psalms were for temple worship; therefore, only some were for the choir director. Or perhaps, a collection of psalms existed for the choir director to use on special occasions.
Final thoughts
Interestingly, “for the choir director” written in the Title of 55 Psalms was most likely three men appointed by David to lead temple worship.
According to 1 Chronicles 6:33-47, they were Heman, Asaph, and Ethan (aka Jeduthun), all descendants of Levi.
But as to why only a third of the psalms were for the choir director, we can only speculate. However, he often received additional instructions when there was a Psalm for him.
Why do you think a third of the Psalms were for the choir director?
What would you think about singing the Psalms today?