αὐλέω G0832
play the flute, pipe; to make music with a wind instrument
This verb means to play the flute or pipe. Jesus uses it in his lament over that generation's response to both John and himself: 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance' (Matt 11:17; Luke 7:32). Paul asks rhetorically how lifeless instruments like flute or harp can be understood if they give no distinction in notes (1 Cor 14:7). The flute represents celebratory music in the first instance and the necessity of clear communication in the second. Musical metaphor illuminates spiritual responsiveness and clarity.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Used of flute playing in contexts of response and communication. Matthew 11:17 and Luke 7:32 record Jesus's complaint: 'We played the flute' (Ηὐλήσαμεν) but you wouldn't dance—metaphor for rejecting joyful gospel proclamation. First Corinthians 14:7 uses 'being fluted' (αὐλούμενον) to illustrate that even musical instruments must give clear notes to be understood, applying to spiritual gift of tongues. The French 'jouer-de-la-flûte,' Spanish 'tocamos-flauta,' and German 'floeten' maintain the musical instrument context while serving larger rhetorical points. 3×
AR["المَنفوخُ", "زَمَرنا"]·ben["বাঁশি-বাজালাম", "বাজানো"]·DE["floeten", "Ηὐλήσαμεν"]·EN["We-played-flute", "We-played-the-flute", "being-fluted"]·FR["jouer-de-la-flûte"]·heb["חִלַּלְנוּ", "מְנֻגָּן"]·HI["बजअय", "बजाया", "बजाया-हुआ"]·ID["Kami-meniup-seruling", "ditiupkan-seruling"]·IT["suonare-il-flauto"]·jav["Kita-nyuling", "Kula-sedaya-sampun-nyuling", "dipun-suling"]·KO["불어지는-것이", "우리가-피리를-불었는데", "피리-불었다"]·PT["Tocamos-flauta", "que-é-tocado-na-flauta"]·RU["Играли-мы-на-свирели", "Играли-на-свирели", "играемое-на-свирели"]·ES["Tocamos-flauta", "tocado-con-flauta", "tocamos-flauta"]·SW["Tuliwapigieni-filimbi", "linalopigwa-filimbi"]·TR["Kaval-çaldık", "flüt-çaldık", "o-"]·urd["اور", "بجائی", "بجایا-ہوا"]
Related Senses
H2719 1. sword, weapon of war (410×)H4196 1. altar (place of sacrifice) (403×)H7393 1. chariot, chariotry (117×)H7198 1. bow (weapon) (72×)H7979 1. table (71×)H7782 1. ram's horn trumpet (69×)H4294 2. staff, rod, scepter (63×)H4043 1. shield, defensive weapon (60×)H0646 1. ephod (priestly garment) (49×)H8504 1. blue (violet-blue yarn/fabric) (49×)H2595 1. spear, lance (48×)H2671 1. arrow, projectile weapon (46×)H4818 1. chariot, war-chariot (44×)H3658 1. lyre, harp (stringed instrument) (42×)H1537 1. Gilgal (place name) (41×)H0713 1. purple (fabric/dye) (38×)H0905 3. poles, staves (37×)H7392 1. Qal participle: rider, charioteer (37×)H4501 1. cultic lampstand (menorah) (36×)H0212 1. wheel (35×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
αὐλέω, Boeotian dialect participle αὐλίωνRefs: (αὐλός):—play on the flute, Φρύγιον αὔλησεν μέλοςRefs 7th c.BC+; αὐ. ἔξοδον play a finale, Refs 5th c.BC+; αὐ. εἰρεσίαν, of the boatswain, Refs 1st c.AD+:— passive, of tunes, to be played on the flute, ὁ Βακχεῖος ῥυθμὸς ηὐλεῖτοRefs 5th c.BC+is filled with music, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 of persons, play to, Refs 2nd c.AD+:—mostly in passive, to be played…