Who Wrote the Book of Psalms?

There is a distinction between God as the author and originator of the ideas and intentions of the text (2Tm 3:16-17), and the individual human psalmists as the writers (2Pt 1:21). This is illustrated in the NT with respect to Psalms in Ac 1:16, where Peter cited Pss 69:25 and 109:8 as “Scripture . . . which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David” (see also Ac 4:24-25, cf. Pss 1–2; Heb 4:7, cf. Ps 95:8).

Certain psalms begin with a superscription/ heading, which is part of the text indicating the author. King David is explicitly named in the headings of 73 psalms, as well as having his authorship identified in the NT for three other psalms (Pss 1–2 in Ac 4:25; Ps 95 in Heb 4:7). Asaph is the author of 12 psalms, predominantly with postexilic content (50, 73–83). He was one of three heads of the three families of Levitical singers in the time of David (see 1Ch 25) and was also a seer/prophet (2Ch 29:30).

The sons of Korah, a branch of the Levitical singers who led temple worship (2Ch 20:19), are identified in Pss 42, 44–49, 84–85, and 87– 88. King Solomon wrote two psalms (72, 127). Ethan, a wise man, Levitical singer, and probably the same as Jeduthun (1Kg 4:31; 1Ch 2:6; 15:19; 2Ch 25:1) wrote one psalm (89). Heman who has co-attribution to the sons of Korah in one psalm (88), was a singer and wise man in Solomon’s court (1Kg 4:31; 1Ch 15:19). Moses wrote one psalm (90).

Of the 46 remaining psalms for which no headings are supplied perhaps three more (Pss 96, 105, and 106) were written by David on the testimony of 1Ch 16:7-36, which ascribes to David (“David first assigned”) a psalm of thanksgiving selectively derived from those three (i.e., Pss 96; 105:1-15; and 106:1, 47-48). The remaining 43 psalms are anonymous, without headings, although tradition has attributed several of them to David.