The psaltery is a stringed musical instrument mentioned several times in the Bible, often in the context of worship and praise. It is similar to a harp or lyre and was used in ancient Israelite music. The psaltery is associated with joy, celebration, and the worship of God, reflecting the rich musical tradition of the Hebrew people.

Biblical References:

1. 1 Samuel 10:5 : "After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where there are Philistine garrisons. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres before them, and they will be prophesying." Although the term "psaltery" is not directly mentioned in this verse, the lyre is often considered synonymous or closely related to the psaltery in biblical texts.

2. 2 Samuel 6:5 : "David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of wood instruments, harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals." This passage highlights the use of various musical instruments, including stringed instruments like the psaltery, in the worship and celebration before the Lord.

3. 1 Chronicles 13:8 : "David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets." The psaltery, as a stringed instrument, would have been part of this ensemble, contributing to the vibrant worship atmosphere.

4. Psalm 33:2 : "Give thanks to the LORD with the harp; make music to Him with ten strings." The psaltery, often having ten strings, is implied in this call to worship, emphasizing its role in giving thanks and making music to God.

5. Psalm 144:9 : "I will sing a new song to You, O God; on a harp of ten strings I will make music to You." This verse again suggests the use of a psaltery or similar instrument in the personal and communal worship of God.

Historical and Cultural Context:

The psaltery was a popular instrument in ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Israel. It was typically made of wood and had a varying number of strings, often played with the fingers or a plectrum. The psaltery's design allowed for a range of musical expression, making it suitable for both joyful celebrations and solemn worship.

In the context of Israelite worship, the psaltery was used in temple services, religious festivals, and personal devotion. It was an integral part of the musical accompaniment for the singing of psalms and hymns, which were central to the worship practices of the time.

Theological Significance:

The use of the psaltery in biblical worship underscores the importance of music in expressing devotion to God. Music, including the sound of the psaltery, was seen as a means to glorify God, to express the emotions of the heart, and to unite the community in worship. The psaltery's presence in the biblical narrative highlights the value placed on artistic expression in the life of faith.

The psaltery, as part of the broader category of stringed instruments, symbolizes the harmony and beauty of creation, reflecting the order and creativity of God. Its use in worship serves as a reminder of the call to worship God with all available resources, talents, and creativity.(n.) Plural of Psaltery.

In Short, what Patriarch, what Prophet, what Levite, or Priest...
... of public rejoicing or to gratify innate luxury: so they returned from the Babylonish
captivity with timbrels, and flutes, and psalteries, more suitably than ...
/.../tertullian/the chaplet or de corona/chapter ix in short what.htm

Cain's Name and Nature.
... Moreover, those who came forth by succession from him were the first adulterers.
And there were psalteries, and harps, and forgers of instruments of war. ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xxv cains name and nature.htm

On the Public Shows.
... danced before the ark. We read of psalteries, horns, [4821] trumpets, drums,
pipes, harps, and choral dances. Moreover, the apostle ...
/.../on the public shows.htm

How to Conduct Ourselves at Feasts.
... For if people occupy their time with pipes, and psalteries, and choirs, and dances,
and Egyptian clapping of hands, and such disorderly frivolities, they ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter iv how to conduct ourselves.htm

More than Heaven
... Know I not that earth is darkened; Nor that Heaven is fair". Songs and psalteries
of Heaven. Hushed the while I hear. Thy beloved Voice that speaketh,. ...
/.../bevan/hymns of ter steegen and others second series/more than heaven.htm

The Wayside Feast
... There the desert blossometh,. There the waters spring; There the psalteries make
music,. There the blessed sing. By the heavenly banquet strengthened,. ...
/.../bevan/hymns of ter steegen suso and others/the wayside feast.htm

Sacrifice Renewed
... And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and
with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/sacrifice renewed.htm

Death and Life from the Ark
... the ark.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 on ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/death and life from the.htm

A Royal Seeker after Wisdom
... And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the Lord, and for
the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a royal seeker after wisdom.htm

Proofs from the Plain Testimony of Moses, and of the Other ...
... 5. Of such persons, too, the Spirit has spoken by Esaias: "They drink wine with
[the accompaniment of] harps, and tablets, and psalteries, and flutes; but they ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter ii proofs from the plain.htm

Psalteries (16 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural of Psaltery. Multi-Version Concordance
Psalteries (16 Occurrences). 2 Samuel 6:5 And David ...
/p/psalteries.htm - 12k

Jedu'thun (11 Occurrences)
... of the host separated for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman,
and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with ...
/j/jedu'thun.htm - 10k

Loud-sounding (8 Occurrences)
... (BBE). 1 Chronicles 15:16 And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint
their brethren the singers, with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and ...
/l/loud-sounding.htm - 8k

Zechari'ah (51 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/z/zechari'ah.htm - 20k

Jehi'el (12 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/j/jehi'el.htm - 9k

Timbrels (9 Occurrences)
... 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 on ...
/t/timbrels.htm - 9k

Eli'ab (19 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/e/eli'ab.htm - 11k

Shemi'ramoth (4 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/s/shemi'ramoth.htm - 7k

Sandal-wood (5 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 10:12 And the king made of the almug-trees pillars for the house of Jehovah,
and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for the singers: there ...
/s/sandal-wood.htm - 8k

Playing (37 Occurrences)
... 5 and David and all the house of Israel are playing before Jehovah, with all kinds
of 'instruments' of fir-wood, even with harps, and with psalteries, and with ...
/p/playing.htm - 18k

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