Psalmos appears 7 times in the NT. It derives from psallō (G5567), 'to pluck or twitch the strings of a musical instrument,' and by extension 'to sing a psalm.' In the Jewish context, it referred specifically to the psalms of the Hebrew Psalter (Tehillim). In NT worship contexts, Paul pairs it with hymnos (hymn) and pneumatikē ōdē (spiritual song) as the three modes of communal praise (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Luke's Gospel opens with three canticles (Mary's Magnificat, Zechariah's Benedictus, Simeon's Nunc Dimittis) — all deeply psalm-like in character.
The Book of Psalms was the hymnbook, prayer book, and devotional manual of both the OT community and the early church. Jesus quoted from the Psalms extensively (Matthew 22:44 from Psalm 110; Matthew 27:46 from Psalm 22; Luke 23:46 from Psalm 31). The early church used psalms in worship, mission, and theological argumentation. The Pauline instruction to teach and admonish 'one another with all wisdom through psalms [psalmois], hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts' (Colossians 3:16) treats the Psalter as a living resource for community formation. Praying and singing the Psalms trains the community in the full range of spiritual experience.