John Gill Commentary Psalms 150:5

"Praise him with loud cymbals: Praise him with high sounding cymbals." — Psalms 150:5 (ASV)

Praise him upon the loud cymbals
Or "cymbals of hearing"^{x}; that were heard with pleasure and delight, and afar off. The Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions render it, "well sounding cymbals", which give a grateful sound to the ear. These were made of brass (1 Chronicles 15:19), to which the apostle alludes (1 Corinthians 13:1).

praise him upon the high sounding cymbals
or "cymbals of shouting"^{y}, ovation or triumph, which were used on joyful occasions, as victories, deliverances, and the like, and were used also in the temple service (see 1 Chronicles 16:5, 1 Chronicles 16:42). According to the Targum and Septuagint version, these were three stringed instruments, for so they render the word 'them' in 1 Samuel 18:6.

Now these several instruments of music are named, not as to be used in Gospel times, but because they are expressive of the highest praise and joy shown in former times. They are mentioned to set forth the highest strains and notes of praise in New Testament saints, as well as to denote their heartiness, agreement, and unanimity in this service (Romans 15:6).

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FOOTNOTES:

• F24: (emv ylulub) "in cymbalis auditus", Montanus, Vatablus.
• F25: (hewrx ylulub) "in cymbalis jubilationis", V. L. Musculus, Cocceius; "in cymbalis ovationis", Montanus.