Maskil

A Hebrew term found in the headings of thirteen psalms, probably serving as a literary of musical denotation. The psalms include Psm 32; 42; 44; 45; 52; 53; 54;55;74; 78; 88; 89; and 142.

The term is usually left untranslated in most English versions though NKJ attempts at "A Contemplation." The term is derived from a Hebrew noun, sekel, which means "understanding." From some scholars have suggested that the term denotes any 'didactic' (i.e., 'teaching' or 'wisdom') poem. On closer examination, however, most of the psalms so designated do not appear very 'didactic.' Another possible meaning comes from the use of the same root as a participle in 2 Chron 30:22 to describe the Levites in their service to the Lord, where it is translated in the various English versions as "good understanding," "good skill," "good insight." From this Hans-Joachim Kraus suggests that "presenting songs and poems in a skilled, intelligent, and artistic way has something to do with the explanation of maskil."