Bible Dictionaries

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Michtam

Michtam. (golden psalm). This word occurs in the titles of six psalms, Psalms 16:1; Psalms 56:1; Psalms 57:1; Psalms 58:1; Psalms 59:1; Psalms 60:1, all of which are ascribed to David.

The marginal reading of our Authorized Version is "a golden psalm," while, in the Geneva version, it is described as "a certain tune." From the position which it occupies in the title, we may infer that michtam is a term applied to these psalms, to denote their musical character, but beyond this everything is obscure.