Psalms 150:3

The sound of the trumpet - שופר sophar, from its noble, cheering, and majestic sound; for the original has this ideal meaning.

With the psaltery - נבל nebel; the nabla, a hollow stringed instrument; perhaps like the guitar, or the old symphony.

And harp - כנור kinnor, another stringed instrument, played on with the hands or fingers.

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet - Margin, cornet. In this verse and the verses following there is an allusion to the instruments of music which were commonly employed in Hebrew worship. The idea is, that all these - all that could properly express praise - should be used to celebrate the praises of God. Each one, with its own distinct note, and all combined in harmony, should be employed for this purpose. Most of these instruments, and many more, are now combined in the organ, where the instruments, instead of being played on by separate performers, are so united that they can be supplied with wind from one source - the bellows - and all played by one performer. Thus one mind directs the performance, securing, if skillfully done, perfect unity and harmony. This instrument was unknown to the Hebrews. Among them, each instrument had its own performer. The trumpet was principally used to call the people together, but it was also an important instrument among those used by the bands of musicians that performed in the temple, as its tones are now important ones in the organ.

Praise him with the psaltery and harp - Hebrew, the נבל nebel and כנור kinnôr. See these instruments described in the notes at Isaiah 5:12. The word here rendered psaltery is there rendered viol - "And the harp and the viol," etc.