The earliest references to hymn singing in
the Judeo-Christian tradition is found in the pre-Christian, Greek
version of the Old Testament called the Septuagint
where “humnos” (humnos) refers to Psalms and songs, for
example, Psalm 148: 14:
His praise is above the earth and heaven, and He shall exalt the
horn of His people.
This is the hymn for all His saints, for the sons of Israel,
and for the people that draw nigh unto Him.
-- Psalm 148: 14 (from the Orthodox
Psalter. The Psalter According to the Seventy © 1974, Holy
Transfiguration Monastery)
-- Psalm 148:14 in Greek from the
Septuagint
ainesatwsan to onoma kuriou hoti hupswthe to onoma
autou monou he exomologesis autou epi ges kai ouranou kai hupswsei
keras laou autou humnos pasi tois hosiois autou tois
huiois israel law eggizonti autw [Psalm 148 in “transliterated”
Greek,
geocities.com]
St. Augustine wrote about the importance
of hymn singing while commenting on this version of Psalm 148 from
the Septuagint.
The Latin Vulgate had not been written yet so this was the only
version of the Old Testament that was generally available at the time.
See Septuagint
(in the original Greek).
See The
Orthodox Psalter (in English)
See Hisotrical
Importance of the Septuagint (The Catholic
Encyclopedia).
See The Orthodox Study Bible
(in progress)
See The Septuagint
(Theological and Academic Resources for the Study of the Septuagint)
