📖 Biblical Definition
An antiphon is a short verse or sentence sung responsively — one side of the choir or congregation answering the other — before and after a psalm or canticle. Antiphonal singing has biblical roots: and one cried unto another (Isa 6:3) is the seraphim's antiphonal Sanctus; one company of them that gave thanks went on the right hand... and the other company that gave thanks went over against them (Neh 12:31, 38) describes Levitical antiphonal worship.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
A short verse sung responsively, especially before and after a psalm or canticle in liturgical worship.
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ANTIPHON, n. The chant or alternate singing in choirs of cathedrals.
The pattern is biblical: heavenly antiphony among the seraphim (Isa 6:3), Old Testament Levitical choirs (Neh 12), the alternating Hallel psalms at Passover, and the Magnificat-Benedictus-Nunc Dimittis cycle in the early church.
📖 Key Scripture
Isaiah 6:3 — "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."
Nehemiah 12:31 — "Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks."
Ezra 3:11 — "And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD."
Revelation 5:9 — "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern congregational singing often loses the antiphonal pattern; recovery enriches worship without requiring choir-grade musicianship.
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Heaven's worship is antiphonal: the seraphim cry to each other in Isaiah 6, the elders and creatures alternate in Revelation 4-5. The pattern is woven into the worship of God.
Households and small congregations can recover the form without trained choirs: men's voices answering women's, leader answering congregation, alternating verses of a psalm. The acoustic experience of being answered in worship is itself a discipling thing.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek antiphōnon — sounding against, answering voice.
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Greek antiphōnon — antiphon; from anti (against, in return) plus phōnē (sound, voice).
Note: same root behind symphony (sounding together) and cacophony (bad sounding).
Usage
"Heaven's worship is antiphonal."
"Men answering women, leader answering congregation — the form is recoverable."
"Being answered in worship is itself a discipling thing."