Types of Psalms

Rev. Lee and Leslie Attema
Rev. Lee and Leslie Attema Member Posts: 1 ✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

On Logos' Psalms Explorer Tool, you have 7 different types of Psalms listed. 

What is the difference between the Hymn and Praise type? 

I have several commentaries and generally, they do not differentiate between hymns and praise psalms, they group them together. 

As I read different hymns as listed in your graph, from the bible, it appears that these were used in processions or liturgical services. And In reading the praise psalms, the author (s) is praising God for a crisis that has ended and is recounting what God has done for him. 

Any information as to why your graph breaks these into two separate types, would be helpful as I am about to teach on the Psalms. What do you see as the distinguishing features of the hymns vs. the praise psalms?

Thank you,
Leslie McKinney Attema 

Comments

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 55,167

    Welcome to the forums. From the About button one can see the documentation of the data:

    which includes a bibliography of where the data is drawn from

    Sorry but not having Gunkel I can't provide a complete answer.

    http://biblical-studies.ca/pdfs/Gunkel_Classification_of_the_Psalms.pdf provide some of the Gunkel material

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Lee
    Lee Member Posts: 2,714 ✭✭✭

    I will just add that:

    • Although there is broad agreement, different scholars have different classification and lists.
    • Sometimes form criticism helps us isolate the main thrust of certain psalms. In many cases it doesn't add much light.

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