Topical Bible: Stringed

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Topical Encyclopedia

Stringed instruments hold a significant place in the biblical narrative, often associated with worship, celebration, and prophecy. These instruments, which produce sound through vibrating strings, are mentioned numerous times throughout the Scriptures, highlighting their importance in both religious and cultural contexts.

Biblical References

The use of stringed instruments is evident in various passages of the Bible. In the Old Testament, they are frequently mentioned in the context of worship and praise. For instance, in Psalm 33:2, the psalmist exhorts, "Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him on the ten-stringed lyre." This verse underscores the role of stringed instruments in expressing adoration and reverence towards God.

Another notable reference is found in Psalm 150:4, which encourages the use of various instruments in worship: "Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; praise Him with the strings and flute." Here, stringed instruments are part of a broader ensemble used to glorify God, illustrating their integral role in the liturgical practices of ancient Israel.

Types of Stringed Instruments

The Bible mentions several types of stringed instruments, each with its unique characteristics and uses:

1. Harp (Kinnor): The harp is one of the most frequently mentioned stringed instruments in the Bible. It is associated with King David, who was known for his skillful playing. In 1 Samuel 16:23, it is recorded that David played the harp to soothe King Saul: "Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him."

2. Lyre (Nevel): The lyre is another prominent stringed instrument, often mentioned alongside the harp. It was used in various religious ceremonies and celebrations. In 2 Samuel 6:5, during the transportation of the Ark of the Covenant, "David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of wood instruments, harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals."

3. Ten-Stringed Instrument: This specific type of stringed instrument is mentioned in Psalm 92:3: "With the ten-stringed harp and the melody of the lyre." The ten-stringed instrument was likely a variation of the lyre or harp, used to produce a fuller and more complex sound.

Cultural and Religious Significance

Stringed instruments were not only used in worship but also played a role in cultural and social events. They were instruments of joy and celebration, as seen in Isaiah 5:12, where they are associated with feasting and merriment: "They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes, and wine."

In addition to their use in worship and celebration, stringed instruments were also linked to prophecy. In 1 Chronicles 25:1, the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun are appointed to prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals, indicating the instruments' role in conveying divine messages.

Symbolism and Spiritual Application

Stringed instruments symbolize harmony, beauty, and the human response to God's majesty. Their use in worship reflects the biblical principle of offering one's best to the Lord, as music created with skill and devotion is a pleasing sacrifice. The harmonious sound of stringed instruments serves as a metaphor for the unity and diversity within the body of Christ, where each member contributes to the overall symphony of worship and service to God.

In summary, stringed instruments in the Bible are emblematic of worship, celebration, and prophecy. They serve as a reminder of the importance of music in expressing faith and devotion, and their presence in Scripture underscores the value of artistic expression in the life of believers.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (p. p.) of String.

2. (a.) Having strings; as, a stringed instrument.

3. (a.) Produced by strings.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

STRINGED, INSTRUMENTS

stringd.

See MUSIC.

Greek

5567. psallo -- to pull, twitch, twang, play, sing
... Transliteration: psallo Phonetic Spelling: (psal'-lo) Short Definition: I sing psalms
Definition: I sing, sing psalms; earlier: I play on a stringed instrument ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5567.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

5059. nagan -- to touch or play a stringed instrument
... nagan. 5060 . to touch or play a stringed instrument. Transliteration: nagan Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-gan') Short Definition: play. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5059.htm - 6k

6460. pesanterin -- (a triangular stringed instrument) perhaps ...
... (a triangular stringed instrument) perhaps trigon. Transliteration: pesanterin Phonetic
Spelling: (pes-an-tay-reen') Short Definition: psaltery. ...
/hebrew/6460.htm - 6k

5058. neginah -- music
... Word Origin from nagan Definition music NASB Word Usage music (1), song
(3), stringed instruments (2), taunt (1). stringed instrument ...
/hebrew/5058.htm - 6k

4482. men -- string (of a harp)
... 4481, 4482. men. 4482a . string (of a harp). Transliteration: men Phonetic
Spelling: (mane) Short Definition: instrument. stringed instrument ...
/hebrew/4482.htm - 5k

8067. sheminith -- Sheminith
... Word Origin fem. of shemini, qv. Sheminith Feminine of shmiyniy; probably an
eight-stringed lyre -- Sheminith. see HEBREW shmiyniy. 8066, 8067. ...
/hebrew/8067.htm - 5k

7991. shaliysh -- a third (part)
... 23:13) {shaw-loshe'}; from shalowsh; a triple, ie (as a musical instrument) a triangle
(or perhaps rather three-stringed lute); also (as an indefinite, great ...
/hebrew/7991.htm - 6k

4482a. men -- string (of a harp)
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition string (of a harp) NASB Word Usage
stringed instruments (2). 4482, 4482a. men. 4482b . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4482a.htm - 5k

6218. asor -- a ten, decade
... Word Origin from the same as eser Definition a ten, decade NASB Word Usage ten
(1), ten strings (2), ten-stringed (1), tenth (12). instrument of ten strings,. ...
/hebrew/6218.htm - 6k

Library

Book ix. On Jerusalem and Her Enemies
... The ten strings of a ten-stringed lute are the ten precepts or the five senses of
the exterior man combined with the five of the interior; in the psalm: on a ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/book ix on jerusalem and.htm

The Struggle for Life
... Because two bows twanged better than one, he twanged two bows; then he made himself
a two-stringed bow from the first, and ended with a "ten-stringed instrument ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter vi the struggle for.htm

On the Other Hand, the Sacred Doctrine Teaches that He who is the ...
... And as the many-stringed lyre is composed of different chords, both sharp and flat,
some slightly, others tensely strained, and others intermediate between the ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xii on the other.htm

Exhortations to those who are Called
... Fall upon your knees, break forth into a thankful triumph of praise: let your hearts
be ten stringed instruments, to sound forth the memorial of God's mercy. ...
/.../watson/a divine cordial/exhortations to those who are.htm

Luther's First Preface.
... not only the example of the prophets and kings of the Old Testament (who praised
God with singing and music, poesy and all kind of stringed instruments) but ...
/.../bacon/the hymns of martin luther/luthers first preface.htm

Book x. On Numbers
... [Matt.27:46]. X. [This number refers] to the decalogue; in the psalm: I will
sing to you with a ten-stringed lute. [Ps.143(144):9]. XII. ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/book x on numbers.htm

A New Venture
... workers, enthusiasm sometimes overstepped discretion, and the violation of Chinese
custom in such matters as the public playing of stringed instruments and open ...
/.../cable/the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter iii a new venture.htm

But Yet, Lest it Should Lie Hidden from Men -- Especially from ...
... I was sitting in the same chapel, and chanting psalms at night before supper, as
I could, I heard as it were the tinkling music of stringed instruments, or ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/lection ix but yet lest.htm

Psalm 92
... And to declare thy faithfulness. with pleasure ev'ry night. ^3On a ten-stringed
instrument,. upon the psaltery,. And on the harp with solemn sound,. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 92.htm

Was it for this He Sent Souls, that Some Should Infest the ...
... moved by the feet. [3707] Sambuca, not corresponding to the modern triangle,
but a stringed instrument of that shape. Its notes were ...
/.../arnobius/the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/42 was it for this.htm

Thesaurus

Stringed (34 Occurrences)
... 1. (pp) of String. 2. (a.) Having strings; as, a stringed instrument. 3. (a.) Produced
by strings. ... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. STRINGED, INSTRUMENTS. stringd. ...
/s/stringed.htm - 18k

Eight-stringed (3 Occurrences)
Eight-stringed. Eightieth, Eight-stringed. Eighty . Multi-Version
Concordance Eight-stringed (3 Occurrences). 1 Chronicles ...
/e/eight-stringed.htm - 7k

Ten-stringed (3 Occurrences)
Ten-stringed. Ten's, Ten-stringed. Tent . Multi-Version Concordance
Ten-stringed (3 Occurrences). Psalms 33:2 Give thanks ...
/t/ten-stringed.htm - 7k

Three-stringed (1 Occurrence)
Three-stringed. Three-score, Three-stringed. Three-tenth .
Multi-Version Concordance Three-stringed (1 Occurrence). ...
/t/three-stringed.htm - 6k

Lyres (21 Occurrences)
... 6:5 David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all manner of
instruments made of fir wood, and with harps, and with stringed instruments, and ...
/l/lyres.htm - 13k

Cymbals (15 Occurrences)
... 6:5 David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all manner of
instruments made of fir wood, and with harps, and with stringed instruments, and ...
/c/cymbals.htm - 13k

Lyre (32 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A stringed instrument of music; a kind of
harp much used by the ancients, as an accompaniment to poetry. ...
/l/lyre.htm - 15k

Neginoth (6 Occurrences)
... Ie, songs with instrumental accompaniment, found in the titles of Psalm 4; 6; 54;
55; 67; 76; rendered "stringed instruments," Habakkuk 3:19, AV It denotes all ...
/n/neginoth.htm - 9k

Lute (13 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A stringed instrument formerly much in use. ... Psalms 33:2 Give thanks unto
Jehovah with the harp; sing psalms unto him with the ten-stringed lute. (DBY). ...
/l/lute.htm - 11k

Choirmaster (55 Occurrences)
... Psalms 4:1 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. ... (See RSV). Psalms 6:1
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, upon the eight-stringed lyre. ...
/c/choirmaster.htm - 21k

Resources

What is a psalm? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Tubal-Cain in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Are we supposed to use musical instruments in church? | GotQuestions.org

Stringed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Stringed (34 Occurrences)

2 Samuel 6:5
David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all manner of instruments made of fir wood, and with harps, and with stringed instruments, and with tambourines, and with castanets, and with cymbals.
(WEB)

1 Kings 10:12
The king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of Yahweh, and for the king's house, harps also and stringed instruments for the singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen, to this day.
(WEB)

1 Chronicles 13:8
David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, and with harps, and with stringed instruments, and with tambourines, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
(WEB)

1 Chronicles 15:20
and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with stringed instruments set to Alamoth;
(WEB)

1 Chronicles 15:28
Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with stringed instruments and harps.
(WEB)

1 Chronicles 16:5
Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, with stringed instruments and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud;
(WEB)

1 Chronicles 25:1
Moreover, David and the captains of the army set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with stringed instruments, and with cymbals: and the number of those who did the work according to their service was:
(WEB)

1 Chronicles 25:6
All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of Yahweh, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the service of the house of God; Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king.
(WEB)

2 Chronicles 5:12
also the Levites who were the singers, all of them, even Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and their brothers, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them one hundred twenty priests sounding with trumpets;)
(WEB)

2 Chronicles 9:11
The king made of the algum trees terraces for the house of Yahweh, and for the king's house, and harps and stringed instruments for the singers: and there were none like these seen before in the land of Judah.
(WEB)

2 Chronicles 20:28
They came to Jerusalem with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets to the house of Yahweh.
(WEB)

2 Chronicles 29:25
He set the Levites in the house of Yahweh with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was of Yahweh by his prophets.
(WEB)

Nehemiah 12:27
At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with giving thanks, and with singing, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and with harps.
(WEB)

Psalms 3:8
Salvation belongeth unto Jehovah: Thy blessing be upon thy people. Selah Psalm 4 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
(ASV)

Psalms 4:1
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David. Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
(WEB DBY YLT RSV NIV)

Psalms 5:12
For thou wilt bless the righteous; O Jehovah, thou wilt compass him with favor as with a shield. Psalm 6 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, set to the Sheminith. A Psalm of David.
(ASV)

Psalms 6:1
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, upon the eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm by David. Yahweh, don't rebuke me in your anger, neither discipline me in your wrath.
(WEB DBY YLT RSV NIV)

Psalms 33:2
Give thanks unto Jehovah with the harp; sing psalms unto him with the ten-stringed lute.
(DBY NIV)

Psalms 45:8
All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia. Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 53:6
Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Then shall Jacob rejoice, 'and' Israel shall be glad. Psalm 54 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David; when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?
(ASV)

Psalms 54:1
For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, "Isn't David hiding himself among us?" Save me, God, by your name. Vindicate me in your might.
(WEB DBY YLT RSV NIV)

Psalms 54:7
For he hath delivered me out of all trouble; And mine eye hath seen 'my desire' upon mine enemies. Psalm 55 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David.
(ASV)

Psalms 55:1
For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David. Listen to my prayer, God. Don't hide yourself from my supplication.
(WEB DBY YLT RSV NIV)

Psalms 60:12
Through God we shall do valiantly; For he it is that will tread down our adversaries. Psalm 61 For the Chief Musician; on a stringed instrument. 'A Psalm' of David.
(ASV)

Psalms 61:1
For the Chief Musician. For a stringed instrument. By David. Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer.
(WEB DBY YLT RSV NIV)

Psalms 66:20
Blessed be God, Who hath not turned away my prayer, Nor his lovingkindness from me. Psalm 67 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm, a song.
(ASV)

Psalms 67:1
For the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah.
(WEB DBY YLT RSV NIV)

Psalms 68:25
The singers went before, the players on stringed instruments after, in the midst of maidens playing on tabrets.
(DBY)

Psalms 75:10
All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; But the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up. Psalm 76 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph, a song.
(ASV)

Psalms 76:1
For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm by Asaph. A song. In Judah, God is known. His name is great in Israel.
(WEB DBY YLT RSV NIV)

Psalms 150:4
Praise him with tambourine and dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and flute!
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Isaiah 14:11
Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, with the sound of your stringed instruments. Maggots are spread out under you, and worms cover you.
(WEB)

Isaiah 38:20
Yahweh will save me. Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Habakkuk 3:19
Yahweh, the Lord, is my strength. He makes my feet like deer's feet, and enables me to go in high places. For the music director, on my stringed instruments.
(WEB KJV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Stringed

Related Terms

Maskil (13 Occurrences)

Strings (11 Occurrences)

Stringed (34 Occurrences)