Book of Psalms – A Deep Look Inside Each Tehillim

Tehillim , a book slim in size but towering in importance, has a special place in the Jewish library. Its Hebrew name, Tehillim (תהילים), means “praises,” and it contains many praises and supplications to G‑d . In English it is known as “ Psalms ,” from the Greek ψαλμοί, which means “instrumental music.”

Much of the book was composed by King David , referred to as the “sweet singer of Israel .” 1 Indeed, nearly half of its chapters are preceded with “Mizmor Ledavid” (“A Song to David”) 2 or another opening line ascribing it to David. Some are unattributed, while some have the names of others such as Asaph , 3 the Sons of Korach , 4 Solomon , 5 and Moses . 6 The Talmud tells us that David composed it using the output of 10 Elders, only some of whom are named in the Book of Psalms.

The Book of Psalms is divided into five smaller sections (“books”). Our sages compare it to the Torah , which also contains five books (hence the name, Five Books of Moses). The Torah was transmitted by Moses, “the greatest of the prophets,” and we received the Psalms via David, “the greatest of the kings.”

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