Topical Bible: Harps

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Topical Encyclopedia

The harp is one of the oldest and most significant musical instruments mentioned in the Bible, often associated with worship, prophecy, and celebration. Its presence in Scripture underscores its importance in the cultural and religious life of ancient Israel.

Biblical References and Usage

The harp is first mentioned in Genesis 4:21, where Jubal is described as "the father of all who play the harp and flute." This early reference indicates the harp's longstanding presence in human history and its role in the development of music.

In the context of worship, the harp is frequently associated with King David, who is renowned for his musical skills. In 1 Samuel 16:23, David plays the harp to soothe King Saul, demonstrating the instrument's capacity to bring peace and comfort. The Psalms, many of which are attributed to David, often mention the harp as an instrument of praise. Psalm 33:2 exhorts, "Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him with ten strings."

The harp also appears in prophetic contexts. In 1 Chronicles 25:1-3, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres, and cymbals. This passage highlights the harp's role in the prophetic ministry, where music and prophecy are intertwined.

In the New Testament, the harp is mentioned in the book of Revelation, symbolizing heavenly worship. Revelation 5:8 describes the twenty-four elders falling down before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Similarly, Revelation 14:2 states, "And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The sound I heard was like harpists strumming their harps."

Cultural and Religious Significance

The harp's significance extends beyond its musical function; it is a symbol of joy, worship, and divine inspiration. In ancient Israel, music played a crucial role in religious ceremonies and celebrations, and the harp was a central instrument in these events. Its melodious sound was believed to have the power to uplift the spirit and draw individuals closer to God.

The construction and design of biblical harps are not detailed extensively in Scripture, but they were likely similar to the lyres and other stringed instruments of the ancient Near East. Harps were typically made from wood and strung with gut or sinew strings, varying in size and number of strings.

Theological Implications

The use of the harp in biblical worship underscores the importance of music in expressing devotion and reverence to God. It serves as a reminder of the beauty and creativity inherent in worship, reflecting the harmonious order of creation. The harp's association with prophecy and heavenly worship also points to the eschatological hope of believers, where music will play a part in the eternal praise of God.

In summary, the harp is a profound symbol within the biblical narrative, representing the intersection of music, worship, and divine encounter. Its presence in Scripture invites believers to consider the role of music in their own spiritual lives and the ways it can enhance their relationship with God.

Greek

2788. kithara -- a lyre
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition a lyre NASB Word Usage harp (2), harps (2).
harp, lyre. Of uncertain affinity; a lyre -- harp. (kithara) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2788.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

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

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

Library

Golden Harps are Sounding
... VII. CAROLS Carols 560. Golden harps are sounding. 6.5., 12 lines [2165]Hermas: ... Refrain.
Frances R. Havergal, 1871. Golden harps are sounding,. Angel voices sing ...
/.../carols 560 golden harps are.htm

That Passage of David Explained; what the Harps Hung Upon the ...
... Chapter III."That Passage of David Explained; What the Harps Hung Upon the Willows
Signify; The Willow a Symbol of Chastity; The Willows Watered by Streams. ...
/.../chapter iii that passage of david.htm

The Sixth vision "In Heaven"
... those that had gotten the victory from the Beast, and from his image, and from
[310] the number of his name standing upon the glassy sea, having harps of God ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the sixth vision in heaven.htm

A Short Essay Toward the Improvement of Psalmody:
... And the Word Ode a Song, is used several times in the Book of Revelations, where
Harps are join'd with Voices in the Emblematical Prophesy. ...
/.../a short essay toward the improvement of psalmody/a short essay toward the.htm

Mysterious Prophecies Revealed.
... yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows,
in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /mysterious prophecies revealed.htm

The Death of Saint David.
... trained to arms. The aged bards of Wales struck their harps to encourage
the warriors to strive bravely in the fight. It was, however ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter sixteen the death of.htm

The Song of the Redeemed
... They strike their golden harps and sing, in strains, loud as from numbers without
number, sweet as from blest voices, Thou art worthy " for Thou wast slain ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xlviii the song of.htm

The Communion of Saints.
... You enjoy what we are seeking here,. The harps of heaven. ... your palms victorious,.
Golden harps, and thrones of triumph glorious,. All are waiting: ...
/.../borthwick/hymns from the land of luther/the communion of saints.htm

Harwell. D. Jesus Reigns.
... ten thousand harps and voices Sound the note of praise above; Jesus reigns, and
heaven rejoices; Jesus reigns, the God of love; See, he sits on yonder throne ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/151 harwell 8s & 7s.htm

Christmas Hymn.
... Christmas Hymn. 1 Hark! hark! with harps of gold, What anthem do they sing?" The
radiant clouds have backward rolled, And angels smite the string. ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/203 christmas hymn.htm

Thesaurus

Lutes (16 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 6:5 And David and all the house of Israel played before Jehovah on all
manner of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, and with lutes, and ...
/l/lutes.htm - 11k

Psalteries (16 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 6:5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all
manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and ...
/p/psalteries.htm - 12k

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

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 ...
/s/stringed.htm - 18k

Cymbals (15 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 ...
/c/cymbals.htm - 13k

Playing (37 Occurrences)
... a great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that of harpists playing
on their harps. (WEB WEY BBE NAS RSV NIV). Genesis 21:9 ...
/p/playing.htm - 18k

Singers (41 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/s/singers.htm - 23k

Asaph (47 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/a/asaph.htm - 24k

Played (50 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 14:7 Even inanimate things--flutes or harps, for instance--when yielding
a sound, if they make no distinction in the notes, how shall the tune ...
/p/played.htm - 23k

Jeduthun (15 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/j/jeduthun.htm - 13k

Resources

Who was Heman the Ezrahite in the Psalms? | GotQuestions.org

Who are the four living creatures in Revelation? | GotQuestions.org

Do angels sing? | GotQuestions.org

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Concordance

Harps (27 Occurrences)

1 Corinthians 14:7
Even inanimate things--flutes 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?
(WEY)

Revelation 5:8
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Revelation 14:2
I heard a sound from heaven, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of a great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that of harpists playing on their harps.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 15:2
I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 31:27
Wherefore didst thou flee secretly, and outwit me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth and with songs, with tabret and with harp;
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 10:5
After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines; and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a timbrel, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they will be prophesying.
(See NIV)

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 KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

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 KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

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 KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 15:16
David 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 and lifting up the voice with joy.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 15:20
and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries set to Alamoth;
(See NAS RSV)

1 Chronicles 15:21
and Mattithiah, and Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps tuned to the eight-stringed lyre, to lead.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

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 KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

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 KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

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 KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

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 KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

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 KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

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 KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 20:28
They came to Jerusalem with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets to the house of Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

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 KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

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 KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 137:2
On the willows in its midst, we hung up our harps.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Isaiah 14:11
Your pride has gone down into the underworld, and the noise of your instruments of music; the worms are under you, and your body is covered with them.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 30:32
Every stroke of the rod of punishment, which Yahweh will lay on him, will be with the sound of tambourines and harps. He will fight with them in battles, brandishing weapons.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

Ezekiel 26:13
I will cause the noise of your songs to cease; and the sound of your harps shall be no more heard.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Amos 5:23
Take away from me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Amos 6:5
who strum on the strings of a harp; who invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Harps

Related Terms

Artificer (13 Occurrences)

Harps (27 Occurrences)

Harried (1 Occurrence)