In the fourth century, St Augustine described a hymn as follows:
Do you know what a hymn is? It is singing to the praise of God. If you praise God, and do not sing, you utter no hymn. If you sing and praise not God, you utter no hymn. If you praise anything which does not pertain to the praise of God, though in singing you praise, you utter no hymn.
Psalm 147:1 “a song … a song of praise …”
a song of praise addressed to God
