What Does “Canticle” Mean in the Bible?
A song of praise to God. There are many in the Bible, like Mary’s, the Magnificat.
Where it appears in the Bible
Exodus 15:1; Luke 1:46-55
What the Bible says
Exodus 15:1
Then Moses and the children of Israel sung this canticle to the Lord: and said: Let us sing to the Lord: for he is gloriously magnified, the horse and the rider he hath thrown into the sea.
Luke 1:46-55
46And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. 47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name. 50And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him. 51He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. 52He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. 53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy: 55As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: RAE, “cántico”