Eph 5:19. There is so much misunderstanding in the religious world over the proper kind of "music" to be used in the services of the Lord, that I believe it will be well to go into much detail at this verse. I shall first give the meaning of the different words in the passage.

Speaking is from LALEO, which means words uttered by mouth, regardless of whether it is done merely as expressions of speech, or performed by singing. In the present verse it is used only in the form of singing.

Psalms is from PSALMOS, which Thayer defines, "a pious song, a psalm."

Hymns is from HUMNOS, and the same lexicon defines it, "a sacred song, hymn."

Songs is from ODE and Thayer defines it, "a song, lay, ode," and explains it to mean, "in the Scriptures a song in praise of God or Christ."

Making melody is from PSALLO. This word originally referred to a musical instrument and is defined in Thayer's lexicon, "to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang; to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings; to play on a stringed instrument, to play the harp; to sing to the music of a harp." Many words in the old classical language came later to have a more restricted meaning, and that is the case with PSALLO. Hence, Thayer defines it further as follows: "In the New Testament, to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song." Since the word literally has reference to a musical instrument, but Paul uses it figuratively, he tells us what instrument Christians are to play, namely, the heart. Spiritual songs means those exhibiting the effects and character of the -Holy Spirit as taught in the New Testament. Any composition that combines the qualities of PSALMOS, IIUMNOS and ODE would be a scriptural song, and such a composition is possible according to a footnote in Thayer's lexicon.