The harp is one of the oldest and most significant musical instruments mentioned in the Bible, often associated with worship, prophecy, and celebration. It is a stringed instrument, typically played by plucking, and is known for its soothing and melodious sound.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 4:21 · The harp is first mentioned in the Bible in the context of Jubal, who is described as "the father of all who play the harp and flute." This early reference indicates the harp's ancient origins and its role in human culture and music.

2. 1 Samuel 16:23 · The harp is notably associated with King David, who played it to soothe King Saul when he was troubled by an evil spirit: "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." This passage highlights the harp's therapeutic and spiritual significance.

3. 2 Samuel 6:5 · The harp was used in religious ceremonies and celebrations, as seen when David and the Israelites brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem: "David and all the house of Israel celebrated before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, including harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals."

4. 1 Chronicles 25:1-3 · The harp was integral to the worship practices in the temple, as David appointed musicians to prophesy with harps, lyres, and cymbals. This indicates the instrument's role in both worship and prophecy.

5. Psalm 33:2 · The Psalms frequently mention the harp in the context of worship and praise: "Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him with ten strings." The harp is often associated with joy and thanksgiving in the Psalms.

6. Revelation 5:8 · In the New Testament, the harp appears in the apocalyptic visions of John, symbolizing heavenly worship: "And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."

Symbolism and Significance:

The harp is emblematic of worship and divine connection throughout the Scriptures. Its use in both personal and communal settings underscores its importance in expressing devotion and reverence to God. The instrument's presence in both the earthly and heavenly realms, as depicted in Revelation, signifies its eternal role in the worship of God.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Israel, the harp was a common instrument, often crafted from wood and strung with gut or sinew. It was portable, making it suitable for both personal meditation and public worship. The harp's design and construction likely varied over time, but its essential function as a tool for musical expression remained constant.

Theological Implications:

The harp's frequent association with King David, a man after God's own heart, and its use in temple worship, highlights its role in fostering a spirit of worship and prophecy. The instrument serves as a reminder of the power of music to transcend the ordinary and connect believers with the divine.

In summary, the harp is a profound symbol of worship, joy, and spiritual connection in the biblical narrative, reflecting the deep relationship between music and faith in the life of God's people.Harp

The harp was the national instrument of the Hebrews, and was well known throughout Asia. Moses assigns its invention to Jubal during the antediluvian period. (Genesis 4:21) Josephus records that the harp had ten strings, and that it was played on with the plectrum. Sometimes it was smaller having only eight strings, and was usually played with the fingers.

Harp

Hebrew KINNOR, the most ancient and common stringed instrument of the Jews, more properly translated lyre. It was light and portable, and was used on joyful occasions, whether sacred or not. It was invented by Jubal, Genesis 4:21 31:27 1 Chronicles 16:5 25:1-5 Psalm 81:2. David was a proficient in its use, 1 Samuel 16:16,23 18:10. The instrument most nearly resembling our harp was the Hebrew NEBEL, translated, psaltery in the Old Testament, Psalm 57:8 81:2:92:3:108:2. It had a general triangular shape, and seven to twelve strings, Psalm 33:2 144:9. It was played with the hand or with a short iron rod or plectrum according to its size. The Jews had other stringed instruments, like the guitar and lute, but little can be accurately determined respecting their form, etc. See MUSIC.

(Hebrews kinnor), the national instrument of the Hebrews. It was invented by Jubal (Genesis 4:21). Some think the word kinnor denotes the whole class of stringed instruments. It was used as an accompaniment to songs of cheerfulness as well as of praise to God (Genesis 31:27; 1 Samuel 16:23; 2 Chronicles 20:28; Psalm 33:2; 137:2).

In Solomon's time harps were made of almug-trees (1 Kings 10:11, 12). In 1 Chronicles 15:21 mention is made of "harps on the Sheminith;" Revised Version, "harps set to the Sheminith;" better perhaps "harps of eight strings." The soothing effect of the music of the harp is referred to 1 Samuel 16:16, 23; 18:10; 19:9. The church in heaven is represented as celebrating the triumphs of the Redeemer "harping with their harps" (Revelation 14:2).

1. (n.) A musical instrument consisting of a triangular frame furnished with strings and sometimes with pedals, held upright, and played with the fingers.

2. (n.) A constellation; Lyra, or the Lyre.

3. (n.) A grain sieve.

4. (n.) To play on the harp.

5. (n.) To dwell on or recur to a subject tediously or monotonously in speaking or in writing; to refer to something repeatedly or continually; -- usually with on or upon.

6. (v. t.) To play on, as a harp; to play (a tune) on the harp; to develop or give expression to by skill and art; to sound forth as from a harp; to hit upon.

HARP

harp.

See MUSIC.

2789. kitharizo -- to play on the lyre
... to play on the lyre. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kitharizo Phonetic Spelling:
(kith-ar-id'-zo) Short Definition: I play on the harp Definition: intrans ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2789.htm - 6k

2788. kithara -- a lyre
... a lyre. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: kithara Phonetic Spelling:
(kith-ar'-ah) Short Definition: a harp Definition: a harp, lyre. ... harp, lyre. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2788.htm - 6k

5568. psalmos -- a striking (of musical strings), a psalm
... 5568 -- a ("Scripture set to music"). Originally, (5568 ) was sung and accompanied
by a plucked musical instrument (typically a harp), especially the OT . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5568.htm - 7k

3552. noseo -- to be sick
... dote. From nosos; to be sick, ie (by implication, of a diseased appetite) to hanker
after (figuratively, to harp upon) -- dote. see GREEK nosos. 3551, 3552. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3552.htm - 6k

2790. kitharodos -- one who plays and sings to the lyre
... Transliteration: kitharodos Phonetic Spelling: (kith-ar-o'-dos) Short Definition:
a harpist Definition: a harpist, one who sings with harp as accompaniment. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2790.htm - 6k

5567. psallo -- to pull, twitch, twang, play, sing
... stringed instrument. 5567 -- properly, pluck a musical instrument (like a
harp); used of " with instruments"; "to ," or simply . Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5567.htm - 7k

726. harpazo -- to seize, catch up, snatch away
... root harp- Definition to seize, catch up, snatch away NASB Word Usage carry off
(1), caught (4), snatch (2), snatched...away (1), snatches (1), snatches away (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/726.htm - 7k

5035b. nebel -- perhaps a harp or a lute, a guitar
nebel or nebel. 5035a, 5035b. nebel or nebel. 5036 . perhaps a harp or a lute,
a guitar. Transliteration: nebel or nebel Short Definition: harps. ...
/hebrew/5035b.htm - 5k

4482a. men -- string (of a harp)
... 4482, 4482a. men. 4482b . string (of a harp). Transliteration: men Short
Definition: instruments. Word Origin of uncertain derivation ...
/hebrew/4482a.htm - 5k

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

3658. kinnor -- a lyre
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition a lyre NASB Word Usage harp
(9), harps (2), lyre (16), lyres (15). a harp: From a ...
/hebrew/3658.htm - 5k

7030. qitharos -- a lyre, zither
... Word Origin (Aramaic) of foreign origin Definition a lyre, zither NASB Word Usage
lyre (4). harp. (Aramaic) of Greek origin; a lyre -- harp. 7029, 7030. ...
/hebrew/7030.htm - 5k

1665. Gittith -- a musical term of unc. meaning.
... of Gitti Definition a musical term of unc. meaning. Gittith Feminine of Gittiy;
a Gittite harp -- Gittith. see HEBREW Gittiy. 1664, 1665. Gittith. 1666 . ...
/hebrew/1665.htm - 6k

3672. Kinaroth -- a city in Galilee, also a lake near the city
... Or Kinnereth {kin-neh'-reth}; respectively plural and singular feminine from the
same as kinnowr; perhaps harp-shaped; Kinneroth or Kinnereth, a place in ...
/hebrew/3672.htm - 6k

A Harp of Ten Strings
... A Harp of Ten Strings. A Sermon (No.2219). Intended for Reading on
Lord's-Day, August 30th, 1891,. Delivered by. CH SPURGEON,. At the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/a harp of ten strings.htm

Playing on the Harp Before Saul.
... PLAYING ON THE HARP BEFORE SAUL. ... His servants advised him to get a man that could
play skilfully upon the harp, so that music might drive away his misery. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/playing on the harp before.htm

My Harp Upon the Willows, Grave,
... ASPIRATIONS My harp upon the willows, grave,. tr., John Brownlie 8,8,8,8. I. My
harp upon the willows, grave,. In weeping days is sadly hung,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns from the morningland/my harp upon the willows.htm

Psalm XCII.
... 5. "Upon a psaltery of ten strings, with a song, and upon the harp" (ver.3). Ye
have not heard of the psaltery of ten strings for the first time: it signifies ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xcii.htm

On Saturday, or at Compline.
... it seemed to him in his sleep, as if he were in a chamber; and as if, while he was
sitting there, a very fair youth entered with a ravishing harp, and with him ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/on saturday or at compline.htm

The Test by Fire
... Then the herald cried aloud, "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations: 'The moment
you hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, lute, harp, bagpipe, and all ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the test by fire.htm

Sanctification is a Mystery.
... It is like a harp with broken strings. The harp was made to produce music by
the harmonious vibration of the strings. But the production ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/ii sanctification is a mystery.htm

Psalm CL.
... "Praise Him in the psaltery and harp." The psaltery praiseth God from things above,
the harp praiseth God from things below; I mean, from things in heaven, and ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cl.htm

Psalm XLIII.
... "Yea, upon the harp will I praise Thee, O God my God." What is the meaning
of "praising on the harp," and praising on the psaltery? ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xliii.htm

How, Upon Saul's Transgression of the Prophet's Commands, Samuel ...
... for which the physicians could find no other remedy but this, That if any person
could charm those passions by singing, and playing upon the harp, they advised ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 how upon sauls.htm

Psaltery (17 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A musical instrument, supposed to have been
a kind of lyre, or a harp with twelve strings. The Hebrew ...
/p/psaltery.htm - 12k

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

Lute (13 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Lute (13 Occurrences). Psalms 33:2 Give thanks unto Jehovah
with the harp; sing psalms unto him with the ten-stringed lute. (DBY). ...
/l/lute.htm - 11k

Flute (16 Occurrences)
... or harps, for instance--when yielding a sound, if they make no distinction in the
notes, how shall the tune which is played on the flute or the harp be known? ...
/f/flute.htm - 13k

Pipe (13 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 14:7 Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp,
if they didn't give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what ...
/p/pipe.htm - 13k

Tambourine (8 Occurrences)
... did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn't tell me, that I might have sent
you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp; (WEB RSV ...
/t/tambourine.htm - 9k

Tambour (7 Occurrences)
... did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn't tell me, that I might have sent
you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp; (Root in ...
/t/tambour.htm - 9k

Sackbut (4 Occurrences)
... (Chald. sabkha; Gr. sambuke), a Syrian stringed instrument resembling a harp (Dan.
3:5, 7, 10, 15); not the modern sackbut, which is a wind instrument. ...
/s/sackbut.htm - 8k

Trigon (3 Occurrences)
... signs. 3. (n.) Trine, an aspect of two planets distant 120 degrees from
each other. 4. (n.) A kind of triangular lyre or harp. 5 ...
/t/trigon.htm - 7k

Timbrel (7 Occurrences)
... did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn't tell me, that I might have sent
you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp; (See NAS). ...
/t/timbrel.htm - 9k

What is a psalm? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of the Sea of Galilee in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Should a Christian listen to secular music? | GotQuestions.org

Harp: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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