Alamoth

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Translated by the LXX, ἐπὶ ἀλαιμώθ, and in nablis arcana cantabant, Vulg . in  1 Chronicles 15:20; ὑπὲρ τῶν κρυφίώ, pro arcanis,  Psalm 46 : title. The meaning of the word is unknown, and this ignorance is confirmed by the efforts to translate the word in the versions. The word is supposed to be derived from 'a virgin,' and may therefore signify soprano voices.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Al'amoth. (Virgins).  Psalms 46:1 Title;  1 Chronicles 15:20. Some interpret it to mean a musical instrument, and others a melody.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

(Psalm 46) Title,  1 Chronicles 15:20; i.e., after the virgin manner; a soprano key in music, like the voice of virgins. Others interpret it an instrument played on by virgins, like our old English virginal.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Alamoth ,   Psalms 46:1-11 (title),   1 Chronicles 15:20 . See Psalms.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A musical term, indicating probably music for female voices,  Psalm 46:1;  1 Chronicles 15:20 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Chronicles 15:20 Psalm 46:1

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 1 Chronicles 15:20 Psalm 46

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Hebrew Alamoth', עֲלָמוֹת , Virgins, as often; Sept. Ἀλημώθ v. r.

Ἀλαιμὠθ and Ἀλιμώθ , Vulg. Arcana), a musical term used in  1 Chronicles 15:20, apparently to denote that the choristers should sing in the female voice, i.e. our treble, or soprano. So Lafage (Hist. Gen. de la Musique) renders it "chant superieur ou a 'loctave" (comp. Mendelssohn, Introd. to Psalms). The word occurs in the same form and signification in the inscription of Psalms 46 (where the Sept. and Vulg. translate Κρύφια , Arcana, i.e. Secrets, as if indicative of the contents of the Psalm), and twice again in nearly the same form ( עִלְמוּת ), namely, in the inscription of Psalms 9 (where it has the same sense, but is differently rendered by our translators "upon Muth-," Sept. again Ὑπὲρ Τῶν Κρυφίων , Vulg. Occultis), and in Psalm 48:15 (where the context requires the meaning Forever, but our version has " Unto Death," Sept. correctly Εἰς Τοὺς Αἰώνας , Vulg. in soecula). (See Muth-Labben). Forkel (Gesch. der Musik, 1, 142) understands virgin measures (Germ. Jungfernweise), i e. in maidenly style, but against the propriety of the usage. (See Psalms).