The lute is a stringed musical instrument that is often associated with ancient and biblical times. While the specific term "lute" does not appear in the Bible, the instrument is generally understood to be similar to other stringed instruments mentioned in the Scriptures, such as the harp and lyre. These instruments played a significant role in the worship and cultural life of the Israelites.

Biblical Context and Usage

In the Bible, stringed instruments are frequently mentioned in the context of worship and celebration. They were used in various religious ceremonies, including temple worship, and were often played by the Levites, who were appointed to lead music in the temple. The use of stringed instruments is seen as a way to praise and glorify God, as evidenced in several Psalms.

For example, Psalm 33:2 states, "Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him with ten strings." This verse highlights the importance of using musical instruments to express worship and adoration towards God. Similarly, Psalm 150:3-4 encourages the use of various instruments in worship: "Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre. Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; praise Him with the strings and flute."

Cultural Significance

The lute, like the harp and lyre, was an integral part of the cultural and religious life in ancient Israel. Music was a vital component of both personal and communal expressions of faith. The playing of stringed instruments was not only a form of artistic expression but also a means of spiritual connection and communication with God.

In 1 Samuel 16:23 , we see the therapeutic use of stringed instruments when David played the harp to soothe King Saul: "And whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play, and relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would depart from him." This passage illustrates the power of music, particularly stringed instruments, to bring peace and comfort.

Symbolism and Spiritual Reflection

The use of stringed instruments in the Bible often symbolizes joy, celebration, and divine worship. They are seen as tools to express the inexpressible, to convey the deep emotions of the human heart in response to God's majesty and grace. The harmonious sound of the lute and similar instruments can be viewed as a reflection of the harmony and order that God brings into the lives of His people.

In Revelation 5:8 , the heavenly scene includes the use of harps: "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." This imagery underscores the eternal significance of music in worship and the ongoing praise of God in the heavenly realms.

Conclusion

While the specific term "lute" is not found in the biblical text, the concept and use of similar stringed instruments are deeply embedded in the scriptural narrative. They serve as a powerful means of worship, celebration, and spiritual expression, reflecting the rich musical heritage of the biblical world.1. (n.) A cement of clay or other tenacious infusible substance for sealing joints in apparatus, or the mouths of vessels or tubes, or for coating the bodies of retorts, etc., when exposed to heat; -- called also luting.

2. (n.) A packing ring, as of rubber, for fruit jars, etc.

3. (n.) A straight-edged piece of wood for striking off superfluous clay from mold.

4. (v. t.) To close or seal with lute; as, to lute on the cover of a crucible; to lute a joint.

5. (n.) A stringed instrument formerly much in use. It consists of four parts, namely, the table or front, the body, having nine or ten ribs or sides, arranged like the divisions of a melon, the neck, which has nine or ten frets or divisions, and the head, or cross, in which the screws for tuning are inserted. The strings are struck with the right hand, and with the left the stops are pressed.

6. (v. i.) To sound, as a lute. Piers Plowman. Keats.

7. (v. t.) To play on a lute, or as on a lute.

LUTE

lut (nebhel; thus the Revised Version (British and American); the King James Version viol (Isaiah 5:12)): Nebhel is rendered elsewhere by psaltery" or "viol." The lute was originally an Arabic instrument. It resembled a guitar, though with a longer and more slender neck. The name is derived from Arabic al'ood, with a of article elided; hence, Italian liuto; French luth.

See MUSIC.

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

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

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

How the Purity of Indifference is to be Practised in the Actions ...
... One of the most excellent musicians in the world, who played perfectly upon the
lute, became in time so extremely deaf that he entirely lost the use of his ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ix how the purity.htm

Book ix. On Jerusalem and Her Enemies
... [Ps.118(119):25 Vulgate]. The lute is good works; in the psalm: a glad lute
with a zither. [Ps.80(81):3(2) Vulgate]. The zither is ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/book ix on jerusalem and.htm

The Christ Crowned, the Fact
... "When God sought a King for His people of old, He went to the fields to find him;
A shepherd was he, with his crook and his lute And a following flock behind ...
/.../i the christ crowned the fact.htm

The Beatific vision.
... Awake up, my glory; awake, lute and harp: I myself will awake right early. ... He
intends, he says, to awake early, and sing it to lute and harp. ...
/.../kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xxvii the beatific vision.htm

The Philosopher's Devotion: the Song of Bathynous
... Lo! from far I you salute,. Sweetly warbling on my lute,. Indie, Egypt, Araby,. ...
Or an hand to wear and tire. On the thankful lute or lyre. ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/cxlviii the philosophers devotion the.htm

MC Wesley. Brotherly Love.
... 505. 7s. MC Wesley. Brotherly Love. 1 Lord! subdue our selfish will; Each to each
our tempers suit, By Thy modulating skill, Heart to heart, as lute to lute. ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/505 7s m c wesley.htm

The Harmony of Love.
... M. C. Wesley. The Harmony of Love. 1 Lord! subdue our selfish will; Each to each
our tempers suit, By thy modulating skill, Heart to heart, as lute to lute. ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/392 the harmony of.htm

Galatians.
... which, like a strumpet in the streets, does not aim at instructing the public, but
at winning their favour; like a psaltery or a sweet-sounding lute, it must ...
//christianbookshelf.org/jerome/the principal works of st jerome/galatians.htm

On the Psalms. I.
... And the sound does not come from the lower parts, as is the case with the
lute and certain other instruments, but from the upper. ...
/.../hippolytus/the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on the psalms i.htm

Lute (13 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To close or seal with lute; as, to lute on the cover of a crucible; to
lute a joint. ... 6. (vi) To sound, as a lute. Piers Plowman. Keats. ...
/l/lute.htm - 11k

Sambuca (4 Occurrences)
... Daniel 3:5 that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, pipe, lute, sambuca,
psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the ...
/s/sambuca.htm - 7k

Viol (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Hebrews nebel (Isaiah 5:12, RV, "lute;14:11), a musical
instrument, usually rendered "psaltery" (qv). Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/v/viol.htm - 8k

Ten-stringed (3 Occurrences)
... Ten-stringed (3 Occurrences). Psalms 33:2 Give thanks unto Jehovah with the
harp; sing psalms unto him with the ten-stringed lute. (DBY). ...
/t/ten-stringed.htm - 7k

Mahalath (6 Occurrences)
... A lute; lyre. ... Mahalath Maschil. In the title of Psalm 53, denoting that this was
a didactic psalm, to be sung to the accompaniment of the lute or guitar. ...
/m/mahalath.htm - 11k

Psaltery (17 Occurrences)
... with twelve strings. The Hebrew word nebhel, so rendered, is translated
"viol" in Isaiah 5:12 (RV, "lute"); 14:11. In Dan. 3:5, 7 ...
/p/psaltery.htm - 12k

Music (143 Occurrences)
... (3.) The sabbeka, or "sackbut," a lute or lyre. ... (6.) Machalath, in the titles
of Psalm 53 and 88; supposed to be a kind of lute or guitar. ...
/m/music.htm - 78k

Lutes (16 Occurrences)

/l/lutes.htm - 11k

Zither (3 Occurrences)
... it. [Not to be confounded with the old lute-shaped cittern, or cithern.].
Multi-Version Concordance Zither (3 Occurrences). Daniel ...
/z/zither.htm - 7k

Outpost (7 Occurrences)
... shall come to pass, when thou comest thither, into the city, that thou shalt meet
a company of prophets coming down from the high place with lute and tambour ...
/o/outpost.htm - 9k

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