ado denotes singing, whether believers address one another or heavenly figures voice a song before God.

The attested uses describe singing: participial forms occur with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in mutual instruction, while plural present indicatives introduce songs voiced before the throne or in praise of God.

1. Singing in communal instruction and praise · common

   In Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:19, the present active nominative plural masculine participle occurs in clauses about addressing, teaching, and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. The APB renders these clauses with “singing,” directed “to God” in Colossians 3:16 and “to the Lord” in Ephesians 5:19.

   Colossians 3:16Ephesians 5:19
2. Voicing a specified song before God · dominant

   In Revelation 14:3, Revelation 15:3, and Revelation 5:9, the present active plural indicative form introduces a song: a new song before the throne, the song of Moses and of the lamb, and a new song declaring worthiness to take the scroll. The APB renders the action as “sing,” “sing,” and “sang” respectively.

   Revelation 14:3Revelation 15:3Revelation 5:9

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the action as “singing” in the participial clauses and as “sing” or “sang” in the Revelation clauses. These renderings confirm the verse-level action rather than establish separate lexical meanings.