How Many Songs are in the Bible?

Bible Facts

Dec 22

Quick Summary

The Bible contains over 185 songs, including hymns, laments, prophetic oracles, and songs of victory and celebration. From Moses to Mary, David to Deborah, Scripture is filled with musical expressions of faith. These songs are found in nearly every genre and section of the Bible and help shape worship, memory, theology, and identity for God's people.

Introduction

Long before there were church hymnals or praise bands, God’s people sang. They sang at the sea’s edge, after deliverance. They sang in the wilderness, awaiting provision. They sang in battle and blessing, at births and burials, in private prayers and public celebrations. Song was a natural language of faith—a way to remember, resist, and rejoice.

The Bible itself is a kind of songbook, interwoven with poetry and music. And when we ask, “How many songs are in the Bible?”, we are asking more than a trivia question. We’re asking how Scripture itself sings. This article explores where these songs appear, how many there are, and why they matter.

Are There Really That Many Songs in the Bible?

While exact counts vary depending on how one defines a "song," most biblical scholars estimate that there are at least 185 individual songs recorded in Scripture. Some count even more when poetic prayers and prophetic oracles are included. These songs are not simply “background music.” They are core to the structure and message of the Bible itself.

According to Old Testament scholar Gordon Wenham, the Pentateuch alone contains at least 12 distinct poetic songs, often embedded in narrative (see Story as Torah, p. 27). In the New Testament, we encounter well-known songs like the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55), the Benedictus (Luke 1:68–79), and the heavenly songs of Revelation.

Songs in the Torah (Genesis–Deuteronomy)

The Song of Moses (Exodus 15) – A song of triumph after the Red Sea crossing.
The Song of Miriam (Exodus 15:20–21) – A celebratory chorus echoed from Moses’ song.
The Song of the Well (Numbers 21:17–18) – A short communal praise for provision.
The Song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32) – A long, prophetic reflection before Moses’ death.
The Blessing of Moses (Deuteronomy 33) – Often read as a poetic song of farewell.

These songs lay the groundwork for Israel’s liturgical memory. They commemorate divine deliverance and teach theological truths through rhythm and repetition.

Songs in the Historical Books

The historical books (Joshua–Esther) preserve both brief and extended songs:

The Song of Deborah (Judges 5) – A warrior song recounting Israel’s unexpected victory.
The Song of Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1–10) – A prayer of reversal, echoed later by Mary.
David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:19–27) – A deeply moving national elegy.
David’s Song of Deliverance (2 Samuel 22 = Psalm 18) – A full psalm embedded in the narrative.
David’s Last Words (2 Samuel 23:1–7) – A poetic reflection on leadership and covenant.
Jehu’s taunt-song (2 Kings 9:34–37) – A prophetic mocking song against Jezebel.

The historical narratives often pause to sing—to interpret what’s just happened, to mourn, or to mark a theological turning point.

Songs in the Psalms

This is the largest and most obvious biblical song collection. The Book of Psalms contains 150 poetic compositions, most of which were intended to be sung. These include:

Songs of praise (e.g., Psalms 8, 19, 145)
Songs of lament (e.g., Psalms 13, 22, 88)
Royal psalms (e.g., Psalms 2, 72)
Imprecatory psalms (e.g., Psalm 137)
Thanksgiving psalms (e.g., Psalm 30)

Psalm titles often include musical instructions, such as “To the choirmaster” or mention specific instruments or melodies (e.g., “According to The Doe of the Dawn”).

Songs in the Wisdom Books

The Song of Songs (also called Song of Solomon) – A love poem attributed to Solomon, often read allegorically.
Job’s speeches – While not labeled as songs, large portions of Job’s dialogue are poetic and likely reflect ancient song traditions.

These texts show that biblical song is not only praise—it includes love, longing, suffering, and theological pondering.

Songs in the Prophets

The prophetic books often blend poetry and song:

Isaiah’s Songs – Includes the “Song of the Vineyard” (Isaiah 5:1–7) and the four Servant Songs (Isaiah 42, 49, 50, 52–53).
Lamentations – Five structured laments mourning the destruction of Jerusalem.
Habakkuk’s Prayer-Song (Habakkuk 3) – A liturgical psalm of trust.

These prophetic songs were meant to stir the heart and summon repentance, hope, and justice.

Songs in the Gospels

The opening chapters of Luke’s Gospel are especially musical. These include:

The Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55) – Mary’s song of praise.
The Benedictus (Luke 1:68–79) – Zechariah’s song of prophecy.
The Gloria in Excelsis (Luke 2:14) – Angelic proclamation to shepherds.
The Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2:29–32) – Simeon’s song upon seeing the Christ child.

These are sometimes referred to as the “Canticles of Luke” and are regularly sung in Christian liturgy.

Songs in the Epistles

Paul’s letters occasionally quote what appear to be early Christian hymns:

Philippians 2:6–11 – Christ’s humility and exaltation.
Colossians 1:15–20 – A poetic hymn to Christ’s supremacy.
1 Timothy 3:16 – A confession in verse form.

These passages suggest that early churches were already singing theology into memory and practice.

Songs in Revelation

The Book of Revelation includes more songs than any other New Testament book:

The Song of the Lamb (Revelation 15:3–4)
The Hallelujah Chorus (Revelation 19:1–8)
Worthy is the Lamb (Revelation 5:9–10, 12)
Holy, Holy, Holy (Revelation 4:8)

These songs are cosmic, liturgical, and prophetic. They invite the worshiper into the heavenly throne room.

Why Are Songs Important in the Bible?

Theological formation – Songs teach. They shape belief. The words we sing often lodge deeper in memory than sermons.
Communal identity – Songs form a people. They are passed down, remembered, and repeated in the gathered life of faith.
Prophetic proclamation – In Scripture, songs often function like sermons. They are poetic arguments, calls to justice, and praises that defy empires.
Personal devotion – Many biblical songs arise from personal experience: despair, joy, fear, deliverance. They give language to our own moments.

As Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann notes, “The Psalms are not simply words about God. They are the songs of people who address God with honesty and boldness” (The Message of the Psalms, p. 15).

How Songs Connect the Bible’s Story

From the first song of Moses to the last songs of Revelation, biblical music tells the story of salvation. Songs follow the arc of creation, covenant, exile, incarnation, and new creation. They trace the character of God and the vocation of God’s people.

Songs in the Bible:

Begin at the sea (Exodus 15)
Rise in the city (Psalms)
Cry in exile (Lamentations)
Hope in the manger (Luke 1–2)
Echo in heaven (Revelation)

Are There Any Lost Songs in the Bible?

Yes. The Bible itself mentions songs we no longer have:

The Book of the Wars of the Lord (Numbers 21:14)
The Book of Jashar (Joshua 10:13; 2 Samuel 1:18)

These references suggest there was once a wider tradition of biblical music that extended beyond our current canon.

Conclusion

The Bible sings. It sings in every season—through birth and death, joy and lament, victory and exile. These songs are not just ancient artifacts; they are living witnesses. They call us to sing too.

Whether in the psalms we memorize, the hymns we inherit, or the songs we improvise in a dark night of the soul, biblical music continues to shape our worship, our theology, and our hope.

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