Bible Dictionary
Music, Instrumental
Hebrew instrumental music included stringed instruments such as harps and lyres, wind instruments such as horns, trumpets, and flutes, and percussion instruments such as drums, cymbals, and bells. These accompanied worship, celebration, processions, and public announcements.
Definition
Hebrew instrumental music used three main classes of instruments: strings, winds, and percussion. Stringed instruments included the kinnor, nebel, sabbeka, and other instruments; wind instruments included horns, trumpets, and flutes; percussion included drums, bells, cymbals, and castanets.
Biblical Usage
Instrumental music accompanied worship, songs, processions, celebrations, prophecy, announcements, and public gatherings. The instruments were used with singers in temple and national service.
Historical Background
The exact forms of several instruments are uncertain. The supplied material identifies probable types, including lyres, pipes, horns, straight trumpets, flutes, drums, cymbals, bells, and possible bagpipes.
Scripture References
Psalms 8
Psalms 84
Psalms 150:4
Psalms 45:8
Psalms 53
Genesis 4:21
Job 21:12
Job 30:31
Joshua 6:5
1 Chronicles 25:5
Joshua 6:4
Joshua 6:6
Joshua 6:8
Exodus 19:13
Numbers 10:10
Judges 7:16
Judges 7:18
1 Samuel 13:3
Psalms 98:6
Numbers 10:1-10
1 Samuel 10:5
1 Kings 1:40
Isaiah 5:12
Jeremiah 48:36
Daniel 3:5
Exodus 15:20
Psalms 68:25
Genesis 31:27
Isaiah 24:8
Exodus 28:33
Exodus 39:25
2 Samuel 6:5
Psalms 150:5
1 Chronicles 13:8
Ezra 3:10
1 Samuel 18:6
Ecclesiastes 2:8
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Among instruments of music used by the Hebrews a principal place is given to stringed instruments. These were, (1.) The kinnor, the “harp.” (2.) The nebel, “a skin bottle,” rendered “psaltery.” (3.) The sabbeka, or “sackbut,” a lute or lyre. (4.) The gittith, occurring in the title of Ps. 8; 8; 84. (5.) Minnim (Ps. 150:4), rendered “stringed instruments;” in Ps. 45:8, in the form minni, probably the apocopated (i.e., shortened) plural, rendered, Authorized Version, “whereby,” and in the Revised Version “stringed instruments.” (6.) Machalath, in the titles of Ps. 53 and 88; supposed to be a kind of lute or guitar. Of wind instruments mention is made of, (1.) The ‘ugab (Gen. 4:21; Job 21:12; 30:31), probably the so-called Pan’s pipes or syrinx. (2.) The qeren or “horn” (Josh. 6:5; 1 Chr. 25:5). (3.) The shophar, rendered “trumpet” (Josh. 6:4, 6, 8). The word means “bright,” and may have been so called from the clear, shrill sound it emitted. It was often used (Ex. 19:13; Num. 10:10; Judg. 7:16, 18; 1 Sam. 13:3). (4.) The hatsotserah, or straight trumpet (Ps. 98:6; Num. 10:1-10). This name is supposed by some to be an onomatopoetic word, intended to imitate the pulse-like sound of the trumpet, like the Latin taratantara. Some have identified it with the modern trombone. (5.) The halil, i.e, “bored through,” a flute or pipe (1 Sam. 10:5; 1 Kings 1:40; Isa. 5:12; Jer. 48:36) which is still used in Palestine. (6.) The sumponyah, rendered “dulcimer” (Dan. 3:5), probably a sort of bagpipe. (7.) The maskrokith’a (Dan. 3:5), rendered “flute,” but its precise nature is unknown. Of instruments of percussion mention is made of, (1.) The toph, an instrument of the drum kind, rendered “timbrel” (Ex. 15:20; Job 21:12; Ps. 68:25); also “tabret” (Gen. 31:27; Isa. 24:8; 1 Sam. 10:5). (2.) The paamon, the “bells” on the robe of the high priest (Ex. 28:33; 39:25). (3.) The tseltselim, “cymbals” (2 Sam. 6:5; Ps. 150:5), which are struck together and produce a loud, clanging sound. Metsilloth, “bells” on horses and camels for ornament, and metsiltayim, “cymbals” (1 Chr. 13:8; Ezra 3:10, etc.). These words are all derived from the same root, tsalal, meaning “to tinkle.” (4.) The menaan’im, used only in 2 Sam. 6:5, rendered “cornets” (R.V., “castanets”); in the Vulgate, “sistra,” an instrument of agitation. (5.) The shalishim, mentioned only in 1 Sam. 18:6, rendered “instruments of music” (marg. of R.V., “triangles or three-stringed instruments”). The words in Eccl. 2:8, “musical instruments, and that of all sorts,” Authorized Version, are in the Revised Version “concubines very many.”