Cymbals are percussion instruments mentioned in the Bible, primarily used in the context of worship and celebration. They consist of two concave brass plates that are clashed together to produce a loud, resonant sound. Cymbals are often associated with joy, festivity, and the expression of praise to God.

Biblical References:

1. Temple Worship: Cymbals were an integral part of the musical worship in the Temple. King David, known for his musical talents and organization of worship, appointed Levites to play cymbals as part of the temple service. In 1 Chronicles 15:16, it is recorded, "David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals."

2. Dedication of the Temple: During the dedication of Solomon's Temple, cymbals were used to enhance the grandeur of the occasion. 2 Chronicles 5:13 states, "The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: 'For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.'"

3. Return from Exile: After the Babylonian exile, when the Israelites returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the temple, cymbals were again used in worship. Ezra 3:10 describes the scene: "When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their positions to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of Israel."

4. Psalms of Praise: The Book of Psalms frequently mentions cymbals as instruments of praise. Psalm 150:5 exhorts, "Praise Him with clashing cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals." This highlights the role of cymbals in expressing exuberant worship and adoration of God.

Symbolism and Significance:

Cymbals in the Bible symbolize the loud and joyful expression of worship. Their sound is associated with the proclamation of God's glory and the celebration of His mighty works. The use of cymbals in worship underscores the importance of music in the spiritual life of Israel, serving as a means to unite the congregation in praise and to enhance the communal worship experience.

Cultural Context:

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, cymbals were commonly used in religious and secular festivities. Their presence in biblical worship reflects the broader cultural practice of using music to celebrate and honor deities. However, in the biblical context, cymbals are dedicated to the worship of the one true God, Yahweh, and are used to lead the people in collective expressions of faith and devotion.

Conclusion:

Cymbals, as described in the Bible, are more than mere musical instruments; they are tools for worship that help convey the joy and reverence of God's people. Their use in biblical times serves as a reminder of the importance of music in worship and the powerful role it plays in expressing the heart's devotion to God.(Hebrews tzeltzelim, from a root meaning to "tinkle"), musical instruments, consisting of two convex pieces of brass one held in each hand, which were clashed together to produce a loud clanging sound; castanets; "loud cymbals." "Highsounding cymbals" consisted of two larger plates, one held also in each hand (2 Samuel 6:5; Psalm 150:5; 1 Chronicles 13:8; 15:16, 19, 28; 1 Corinthians 13:1). 4700. metsiltayim -- cymbals
... 4699, 4700. metsiltayim. 4701 . cymbals. Transliteration: metsiltayim
Phonetic Spelling: (mets-ay'-leth) Short Definition: cymbals. ...
/hebrew/4700.htm - 6k

6767d. tseltselim -- (percussion musical instrument) perhaps ...
... 6767c, 6767d. tseltselim. 6768 . (percussion musical instrument) perhaps
cymbals. Transliteration: tseltselim Short Definition: cymbals. ...
/hebrew/6767d.htm - 5k

Stichera
... away,". Almighty, in our life give peace, we pray; Praise Him with cymbals in
the dance. III. ... now;". Praise Him with cymbals in the dance. V. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/brownlie/hymns of the holy eastern church/stichera.htm

Concerning the Surnames of Tellus and their Significations, Which ...
... The sound of the cymbals signifies the noise made by the throwing of iron utensils,
and by men's hands, and all other noises connected with agricultural ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 24 concerning the surnames of.htm

Psalm CL.
... 6. "Praise Him on the well-sounding cymbals, praise Him on cymbals of jubilation"
(ver.5). Cymbals touch one another in order to sound, and therefore are by ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cl.htm

How to Conduct Ourselves at Feasts.
... and choirs, and dances, and Egyptian clapping of hands, and such disorderly frivolities,
they become quite immodest and intractable, beat on cymbals and drums ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter iv how to conduct ourselves.htm

The United Song of Praise
... of the horn, Praise him with lyre and harp, Praise him with timbrel and dance, Praise
him with strings and pipe, Praise him with clanging cymbals, Praise him ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the united song of praise.htm

Psalm 150
... and organs, in the dance. ^5Praise him on cymbals loud; him praise. on cymbals
sounding high. ^6Let each thing breathing praise the Lord. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 150.htm

But Let There Be, as You Wish, Honour in Wine and in Incense...
... and slaughter of victims: are the gods moved by garlands also, wreaths and flowers,
by the jingling of brass also, and the shaking of cymbals, by timbrels also ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/32 but let there be.htm

Book ix. On Jerusalem and Her Enemies
... [Is.58:1]. Cymbals are the lips that trust in the Lord or the love of God and the
love of neighbor; in the psalm: praise Him with loud clanging cymbals. ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/book ix on jerusalem and.htm

Death and Life from the Ark
... played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps,
and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.6. And ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/death and life from the.htm

Matt. Ix. 18
... And they laughed Him to scorn." [1312]. Noble tokens, surely, these, of the rulers
of synagogues; in the moment of her death pipes and cymbals raising a dirge! ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xxxi matt ix 18.htm

Cymbals (15 Occurrences)
... two convex pieces of brass one held in each hand, which were clashed together to
produce a loud clanging sound; castanets; "loud cymbals." "Highsounding cymbals...
/c/cymbals.htm - 13k

Lutes (16 Occurrences)
... Israel played before Jehovah on all manner of instruments made of cypress wood,
with harps, and with lutes, and with tambours, and with sistra, and with cymbals...
/l/lutes.htm - 11k

Lyres (21 Occurrences)
... 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. ...
/l/lyres.htm - 13k

Psalteries (16 Occurrences)
... Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even
on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. ...
/p/psalteries.htm - 12k

Stringed (34 Occurrences)
... 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. ...
/s/stringed.htm - 18k

Loud-sounding (8 Occurrences)
... And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers,
with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud ...
/l/loud-sounding.htm - 8k

Asaph (47 Occurrences)
... He conducted with cymbals the music performed in the tent where the ark was housed
(1 Chronicles 16:4, 5, 7, 37), while his two coadjutors discharged the same ...
/a/asaph.htm - 24k

Jeduthun (15 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 16:42 and with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for
those that should sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God; and ...
/j/jeduthun.htm - 13k

Jedu'thun (11 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 16:42 and with them Heman and Jeduthun, to sound aloud with trumpets
and cymbals, and with instruments for the songs of God; and the sons of ...
/j/jedu'thun.htm - 10k

Singers (41 Occurrences)
... spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers the singers, with
instruments of music, stringed instruments and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud ...
/s/singers.htm - 23k

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Cymbals: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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