Bible Dictionary

Pipe

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A pipe was a simple wind instrument made from materials such as reed, bronze, or copper. It was used in celebrations, worship, processions, mourning, and other social occasions.

Definition

A pipe was a simple perforated wind instrument, comparable to a flute, fife, or set of Pan-pipes. It was made from materials such as reed, bronze, or copper and represented the class of wind instruments.

Biblical Usage

Pipes accompanied banquets, religious services, pilgrimages, mourning, funerals, and musical gatherings. They appear in accounts of prophets, celebrations, funeral players, Jesus’ illustrations, and the music of worship.

Historical Background

Because of its simplicity, the pipe was probably among the oldest musical instruments. It had a soft, wailing sound and remained in use in Palestine. Similar instruments also played a prominent role in Egyptian social and festive life.

Scripture References

Related Figures

Historical Bible Dictionaries

Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1 Sam. 10:5; 1 Kings 1:40; Isa. 5:12; 30:29). The Hebrew word halil, so rendered, means “bored through,” and is the name given to various kinds of wind instruments, as the fife, flute, Pan-pipes, etc. In Amos 6:5 this word is rendered “instrument of music.” This instrument is mentioned also in the New Testament (Matt. 11:17; 1 Cor. 14:7). It is still used in Palestine, and is, as in ancient times, made of different materials, as reed, copper, bronze, etc.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(Heb. chalil). The Hebrew word so rendered is derived from a root signifying “to bore, perforate” and is represented with sufficient correctness by the English “pipe” or “flute,” as in the margin of (1 Kings 1:40) The pipe was the type of perforated wind instruments, as the harp was of stringed instruments. It was made of reed, bronze or copper. It is one of the simplest, and therefore probably one of the oldest, of musical Instruments. It is associated with the tabret as an instrument of a peaceful and social character. The pipe and tabret were used at the banquets of the Hebrews, (Isaiah 5:12) and accompanied the simpler religious services when the young prophets, returning from the high place, caught their inspiration from the harmony, (1 Samuel 10:5) or the pilgrims, on their way to the great festivals of their ritual, beguiled the weariness of the march with psalms sung to the simple music of the pipe. (Isaiah 30:29) The sound of the pipe was apparently a soft wailing note, which made it appropriate to be used in mourning and at funerals (Matthew 9:23) and in the lament of the prophet over the destruction of Moab. (Jeremiah 48:36) It was even used in the temple choir, as appears from (Psalms 87:7) In later times the funeral and death-bed were never without the professional pipers or flute-players, (Matthew 9:23) a custom which still exists. In the social and festive life of the Egyptians the pipe played as prominent a part as among the Hebrews.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>pip.</p><p>See CANDLESTICK; LAMP; MUSIC.</p>
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