Topical Bible: Lyres

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Topical Encyclopedia

The lyre is a stringed musical instrument that holds a significant place in the cultural and religious life of ancient Israel, as depicted in the Bible. It is often associated with worship, celebration, and prophecy, serving as a symbol of joy and divine inspiration.

Description and Construction

The lyre is a small, hand-held instrument, typically consisting of a soundbox with two arms extending upward, connected by a crossbar. Strings, usually made from gut, are stretched from the soundbox to the crossbar. The number of strings could vary, and they were plucked with the fingers or a plectrum. The lyre's design allowed for portability, making it a popular choice for both personal and communal music-making.

Biblical References

The lyre is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, often in conjunction with other musical instruments. It is particularly associated with King David, who is renowned for his musical skills. In 1 Samuel 16:23, David plays the lyre 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."

The lyre is also mentioned in the context of temple worship and religious ceremonies. In 1 Chronicles 15:16, David instructs the Levites to appoint musicians to play lyres, harps, and cymbals to raise sounds of joy as the Ark of the Covenant is brought to Jerusalem: "David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals."

Symbolism and Use in Worship

The lyre is emblematic of worship and praise in the Psalms. Psalm 33:2 exhorts the faithful: "Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make music to Him with ten strings." The instrument is used to express gratitude and reverence, highlighting its role in the spiritual life of Israel.

In addition to its use in worship, the lyre is associated with prophecy. In 1 Samuel 10:5, the prophet Samuel tells Saul that he will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, tambourines, flutes, and harps, prophesying as they go. This connection underscores the lyre's role in divine communication and inspiration.

Cultural and Historical Context

The lyre was not unique to Israel; it was a common instrument throughout the ancient Near East. Its presence in biblical texts reflects the broader cultural milieu in which the Israelites lived. The instrument's portability and versatility made it suitable for a variety of settings, from royal courts to religious gatherings.

Conclusion

The lyre's frequent mention in the Bible underscores its importance in the religious and cultural practices of ancient Israel. As an instrument of worship, celebration, and prophecy, the lyre serves as a powerful symbol of the connection between music and the divine.

Strong's Hebrew

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

My Song of To-Day
... Then shall be mine the joy that knoweth no decay; And then my lips shall sing, to
Heaven's angelic lyres,. The eternal, glad To-day! June, 1894. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/therese/story of a soul/my song of to-day.htm

The Gate of Nicanor, or the East Gate of the Court of Israel.
... The Levites, with harps, lyres, cymbals, trumpets, and infinite other musical
instruments, stood upon the fifteen steps going down out of the Court of Israel ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 30 the gate of.htm

For I was an Hungered, and Ye Gave Me no Meat...
... me. I made your ears that ye might hear the Scriptures; and ye prepared
them for the songs of demons, and lyres, and jesting. I ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/piece xlvi for i was.htm

Jerusalem Made the Capital City
... David and all the people of Israel danced before Jehovah with all their might to
the music of harps and lyres and drums and castanets and cymbals. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/jerusalem made the capital city.htm

For the Opening of a Place of Public Worship.
... There, young nor old, nor rich nor poor,. There, bond nor free, are known. At
once they strike their lyres,. At once break off,"and all,. ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn ccxcix for the opening.htm

Hudson. SM The Lord is Risen.
... 4 Then take your golden lyres, And strike each cheerful chord; Join all the bright
celestial choirs, To sing our risen Lord. Thomas Kelly, 1804. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/145 hudson s m the lord.htm

Zerah. CM The Chorus of Angels.
... 2 Celestial choirs, from courts above, Shed sacred glories there, And angels,
with their sparkling lyres, Make music on the air. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/97 zerah c m the chorus.htm

CMEH Sears. The Birth-Song of Christ.
... plains! 2 Celestial choirs from courts above Shed sacred glories there; And
angels, with their sparkling lyres, Make music on the air. ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/106 c m e h.htm

Calm on the Listening Ear of Night
... Celestial choirs from courts above. Shed sacred glories there; And angels, with
their sparkling lyres,. Make music on the air. The answering hills of Palestine. ...
/.../christmas 84 calm on the.htm

Cicero's Opinion of the Roman Republic.
... Now Scipio, at the end of the second book, says: "As among the different sounds
which proceed from lyres, flutes, and the human voice, there must be maintained ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 21 ciceros opinion of the.htm

Thesaurus

Lyres (21 Occurrences)
...Lyres (21 Occurrences). ... (See NIV). Isaiah 14:11 thy pomp is brought down to Sheol,
the noise of thy lyres: the maggot is spread under thee, And worms cover thee. ...
/l/lyres.htm - 13k

Lyre (32 Occurrences)

/l/lyre.htm - 15k

Lysanias (1 Occurrence)

/l/lysanias.htm - 7k

Resources

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

Who was Gedaliah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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

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Concordance

Lyres (21 Occurrences)

1 Samuel 10:5
"After that you shall come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall happen, when you have come there to the city, that you shall meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tambourine, 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.
(See 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.
(See 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.
(See 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.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

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;
(See NIV)

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.
(See NAS RSV)

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.
(See 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;
(See 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:
(See 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.
(See 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;)
(See 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.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

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

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.
(See 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.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 137:2
Hanging our instruments of music on the trees by the waterside.
(See RSV)

Isaiah 5:12
And corded instruments and wind-instruments and wine are in their feasts: but they give no thought to the work of the Lord, and they are not interested in what his hands are doing.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 14:11
thy pomp is brought down to Sheol, the noise of thy lyres: the maggot is spread under thee, And worms cover thee.
(DBY)

Isaiah 30:32
And every blow of the rod of his punishment, which the Lord will send on him, will be with the sound of music: and with the waving of his sword the Lord will make war against him.
(See NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 26:13
I will cause the noise of your songs to cease; and the sound of your harps shall be no more heard.
(See RSV)

Subtopics

Lyres

Related Terms

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Tetrarch (5 Occurrences)

Agrippa (12 Occurrences)

Artemas (1 Occurrence)

Lyres (21 Occurrences)

Herod (45 Occurrences)