occurs only
Ephesians 5:19 and
Colossians 3:16 . The verb to "sing an hymn" occurs
Matthew 26:30 and
Mark 14:26 . The same Greek word is rendered to "sing praises"
Acts 16:25 (RSV, "sing hymns") and
Hebrews 2:12 . The "hymn" which our Lord sang with his disciples at the last Supper is generally supposed to have been the latter part of the Hallel, comprehending
Psalms 113118 -118. It was thus a name given to a number of psalms taken together and forming a devotional exercise.
The noun hymn is used only with reference to the services of the Greeks, and was distinguished from the psalm. The Greek tunes required Greek hymns. Our information regarding the hymnology of the early Christians is very limited.
These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.