What is a Michtam?
From the position which it occupies in the title we may infer that michtam is a term applied to these psalms to denote their musical character, but beyond this everything is obscure. Smith, William, Dr. "Entry for 'Michtam'". "Smith's Bible Dictionary". . 1901. mik'-tam. See PSALMS. These files are public domain.
What does Miktam mean in the Bible?
Miktam corresponds to the Babylonian nakamu, lid, metal cover for a vessel, but efforts to derive a meaning for the term in the Psalms have not been convincing. What does Selah mean in Hebrew?
What are some baby names that sound like Michtam?
Baby names that sound like Michtam include Michtaam, Michtame, Mistin, Mostean, Mosteane, Mostine, Mostyn, Mostynn, Mostynne, Madinee, Madiney, Madini, Madinie, Madiny, Madynee, Madyney, Madyni, Madynie, Madyny, and Mastana.
Is the Bible a Miktam or a flute?
But a Miktam is not a flute, and the Bible is not a circular mirror with a hole in the center. A text looks like a collection of tiny worms to someone who doesn't speak the language of the text, but to someone who does, the text is a door to the mind of a whole other person.
What does Michtam mean in Hebrew?
Miktam corresponds to the Babylonian nakamu, lid, a metal cover for a vessel, but efforts to derive a meaning for the term in the Psalms have not been convincing. In modern Hebrew, the word has come to mean "epigram", and numerous collections of Hebrew epigrams have used that word in their titles.
What do the word Selah mean in the Bible?
Selah is defined as a Hebrew word that has been found at the ending of verses in Psalms and has been interpreted as an instruction calling for a break in the singing of the Psalm or it may mean "forever." An example of Selah is seeing the term used seventy-one times in the Psalms in the Hebrew Bible. interjection.
What does name Selah mean?
praise, pauseThe name Selah is girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning "praise, pause". The name is derived from the term commonly used in the Book of Psalms, which has a many Hebrew scholars in confusion over its meaning.
What does Psalm 16 say?
I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Do Jews say amen?
Judaism. Although amen, in Judaism, is commonly used as a response to a blessing, it also is often used by Hebrew speakers as an affirmation of other forms of declaration (including outside of religious context). Jewish rabbinical law requires an individual to say amen in a variety of contexts.
What is a Selah moment?
'Selah' is a Hebrew word referring to a voluntary and intentional pause for reflection. Often in times of pausing, God gives us a revelation that transforms our perspective, bringing us closer to Him. Selah positions us to hear His voice and be in His presence.
Does Selah mean amen?
All around the world, two Hebrew words have become international terms; "Amen" and "Hallelujah". "Selah" as little as this word is used or understood, is used three times as much in the Old Testament as "Amen" and "Hallelujah"!
What religions say amen?
amen, expression of agreement, confirmation, or desire used in worship by Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
Is Selah a female name?
The name Selah is primarily a female name of Hebrew origin that means Rock.
Is Psalm 16 prophetic?
The Example of Psalm 16 book of the O'T, Many believers over the years have asserted, therefore, that the Psalms are prophetic and contain numerous predictions.
Who wrote Psalms 16 11?
David understands that it is God who has “made known to [him] the path of life.” What is this? There are two paths.
Is Psalm 16 a Messianic psalm?
Psalm 16 did not become messianic in early Christian tradition - it entered early Christian tradition as a Davidic messianic oracle.
What does "Michtam" mean?
Some scholars see the word michtam as meaning “golden,” a definition that would similarly assign great value to a song so labeled. A michtam could be “a psalm as precious as stamped gold”; if so, today’s top-selling songs that are “certified gold” could be considered “ michtams ” of a sort.
What is the Hebrew word for "writing"?
The Hebrew word for “writing” here is miktab, which many scholars believe is related to michtam. A possibly related word to michtam is the Hebrew katham, which means “an engraving.”.
What are the other psalms called?
The other psalms that are called “ michtams ” are Psalms 56–60. All six of these are psalms of David. In Isaiah 38:9, King Hezekiah’s song is introduced with these words: “A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery.”. The Hebrew word for “writing” here is miktab, which many scholars believe is related to michtam.
What is the link between a golden worth and a michtam?
The link between a michtam and golden worth is speculative, however. Other scholars think the word michtam is simply a technical term to guide the singer or to denote the tune to be played. In the end, we don’t know. Like the words maskil, selah, and shigionoth, michtam remains somewhat of a mystery in the Hebrew song book.
Is "Michtam" a Hebrew word?
Answer. No one is precisely sure what a michtam ( or miktam) was, and that’s why the Hebrew word remains as a transliteration in our English Bibles. Translators didn’t know how to translate michtam, so they spelled it phonetically and called it good enough. Psalm 16 is titled “A miktam of David.”.
What does Miktam mean in the Bible?
Miktam (Hebrew: מִכְתָּם) is a word of unknown meaning found in the headings of Psalms 16 and 56 – 60 in the Hebrew Bible. These six Psalms, and many others, are associated with King David, but this tradition is more likely to be sentimental than historical.
What is the Miktam in the Psalter?
Miktam corresponds to the Babylonian nakamu, lid, a metal cover for a vessel, but efforts to derive a meaning for the term in the Psalms have not been convincing.
How many times is Miktam mentioned in the Bible?
The term Miktam occurs six times in the Bible, namely in the titles of Psalm 16:1, 56:1, 57:1, 58:1, 59:1 and 60:1, and always in combination with לדוד ( le dawid ), or "onto David ". This term Miktam is therefore in no way an obscure term, yet anywhere one looks it is asserted that the meaning of it was lost. This obviously says more about the breathtaking innocence of early Christian scholars who were unable to comprehend this word, than the Jewish scholars who at some point appear to have given up trying to explain it.
What does the Titulus Crucis say?
This of course tapped neatly into the Titulus Crucis, the tri-lingual sign declaring " Jesus de Nazarene, King of the Jews," which Pilate put up over the head of the crucified Christ and which he refused to remove with the words, "What I have written I have written" ( John 19:22 ).
What did Jerome say about the Psalms?
In his commentary on the Psalms, Jerome confirmed that, indeed, Psalms 56 and 57 spoke of Jesus and Pilate and particularly the Titulus Crucis, and of course that the Jews had been spreading falsehoods.
What does the word "katam" mean in the Bible?
The verb כתם ( katam) may mean to stain but it also may mean to cover (it's used only once in the Bible and similar verbs exist in cognate languages with both these meanings). Probably not technically related but probably nevertheless associated with the previous in the poetic mind, the noun כתם ( ketem) means gold.
What was the Jewish world divided into?
By the time of Jesus, the Jewish world was divided between traditional Jews who aimed to stick to their traditions and Hellenized Jews who wanted to blend with Greek wisdom. Jesus' contribution to this debate was to point out that Elijah was sent to Zarephath of Sidon and Elisha healed Naaman the Syrian ( Luke 4:25-27 ).
What does Jesus mean by "whitewashed tombs"?
Jesus refers to the same procedure when he rebukes the scribes and Pharisees, "For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside appear beautiful but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness" ( Matthew 23:37 ).
Why is the gold lid of the Ark of the Covenant called the "Gold"?
Gold, of course, was praised in the old world because nothing reacted with it chemically.

Michtam in The Bible
The Root
- The root seems to be Caf-Tav-Mem. This root appears nine times in Tanach with the meaning “gold.” It also appears in Jeremiah 2:22. Also, there is an Akkadian root “katamu” that means “to cover.” Based on this, some say that a “michtam” was a psalm of atonement.
Dictionary Definitions
- The Mirriam Webster states that Michtam is used in the Biblein the headings of Psalm 16 and Psalms 56 to 60 (AV) possibly to suggest atonement. TheEaston’s Bible Dictionary says of Michtam i.e., “a poem or song found in the titles of Psalms 16. Some translate the word “golden”, i.e., precious. It is renderedin the LXX. by a word meaning “tablet ins...
Meaning
- The introductory verses to the psalms often use liturgical and musical terms that are difficult for modern people to comprehend. Michtam is such a difficult word, that different etymological works such asBrown-Driver-Briggs and E. Klein, (A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the Hebrew Language) are not ready to explain it. In addition, the King James Bible(1611) did not tra…
Relation
- In Isaiah 38:9, King Hezekiah’s song is introduced with these words: “A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery.” The Hebrew word for “writing” in this verse is miktab, which many Bible scholars believe is related to michtam.
Usage
- This word is part of the Hebrew liturgy, as Psalm 16 can be repeated aloud at funerals. Also, in the Sephardic ritual, it is repeated before Maarivon MotzeiShabbat. In His service, BibleAskTeam This post is also available in:हिन्दी(Hindi)