Does the Bible say anything about chanting? Should a Christian chant?

TL;DR:

The Bible doesn't prohibit chanting, but it warns against mindless repetition and urges sincere, Spirit-led worship that honors God. Chanting can glorify God when rooted in Scripture and directed toward Him—but it becomes spiritually dangerous when used to manipulate emotions, invoke spirits, or deviates from biblical truth.

what does the bible say?

Chanting is not specifically defined in the Bible. Scripture emphasizes that God values sincere, heartfelt worship. The Bible warns against mindless repetition, especially specifying empty phrases in prayer (Matthew 6:7). While chanting can be a meaningful act of worship when directed toward God with genuine intent, it can become spiritually dangerous when used to invoke spirits or enter altered states, as seen in some non-Christian practices, or when it is done with mindless repetition. In Christian traditions, chants rooted in Scripture and aimed at glorifying God can be edifying, but prayers directed to anyone other than God, such as Mary, are unbiblical. Ultimately, the value of chanting depends on its content, purpose, and the heart behind it—whether it brings honor to God or leads away from Him.

from the old testament

Psalm 95:1-2 tells us to make a joyful noise in honor of God. The exact type of noise is not specified. But we know that some songs displease God. For example, God said He would no longer listen to the Israelites' songs after they turned from Him (Amos 5:23; 6:5).
Amos also records that God punished Israel by taking away music (Amos 8:3, 10), as He also did in Ezekiel 26:13. This shows that music doesn’t honor God if those singing are disobedient to Him and the intent isn’t sincere.

from the new testament

God desires sincere, heartfelt communication rather than mindless, repetitive chanting. Jesus warned against empty words in prayer, teaching that our Father listens to those who speak to Him with genuine faith and intention (Matthew 6:7).
The Bible records many songs of worship, calls to worship, and prayers (for example, Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, and many Psalms), but it does not tell us how to sing or express these prayers.
Music itself is neither right nor wrong, honoring or dishonoring to God. It becomes one or the other based on the lyrical content, the motive of those performing, and the subject or object of their singing. We can apply the same principle to chanting. Chanting to honor God, honors God. Chanting to appear righteous, to enter into some sort of trance state, or to say a mantra repetitively, is not honoring to God (see Matthew 6:5-7, for example).

implications for today

Chanting a song or prayer can be a beautiful and meaningful way to express worship, gratitude, or a desire for God’s guidance—especially when it flows from a sincere heart. Many historic hymns, like Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee, began as reverent chants meant to honor Christ.

However, not all chanting is spiritually safe or biblically sound. In some Eastern religions and New Age practices, chants are used to connect with spiritual forces apart from God, or to open the mind to undefined influences—which can lead to deception and spiritual harm. Pagan or occult chants, especially those invoking spirits, are clearly unbiblical and dangerous.

In Christian liturgical traditions, such as Catholicism or Lutheranism, chanting is sometimes used in worship. When the lyrics are rooted in Scripture and directed toward God, like the Asperges, it can be edifying. But chants like the Ave Maria or Salve Regina are problematic because they direct prayer to Mary rather than to God, which contradicts biblical teaching.

Ultimately, the spiritual value or danger of a chant lies in its purpose, content, and focus. We must always ask: Is this honoring God according to His Word—or opening the door to something else?

understand

The Bible does not forbid chanting but warns against mindless repetition in worship.
Chanting can be God-honoring or not depending on its content, purpose, and focus—whether it honors God in truth or diverts attention away from Him.
Chanting becomes dangerous when used to invoke spirits or follows unbiblical practices.

reflect

How do you ensure that your worship, including any chanting or prayer, comes from a sincere and genuine heart toward God?
Have you ever found yourself using repetitive prayers or chants without truly reflecting on their meaning? What steps can you take to avoid mindless repetition?
How can you assess whether a practice you engage in is truly honoring to God or potentially leading you away from Him?

engage

What are some ways we can tell whether a chant or repeated prayer is spiritually helpful or harmful?
How can we encourage one another to pursue worship that is not just emotionally moving but biblically grounded?
How have different Christian traditions used chanting, and how can we discern what aligns with Scripture?