κῐθάρ-α G2788
Lyre, harp; a stringed instrument used in worship and heavenly praise.
Denotes the kithara, the iconic stringed instrument of the ancient Mediterranean world—ancestor of our word 'guitar.' In the NT it appears both in Paul's analogy about producing distinct musical notes (1 Cor 14:7) and in the Apocalypse's visions of heavenly worship (Rev 5:8; 14:2; 15:2). Spanish cítara preserves the original Greek root most transparently, while German Harfe and French cithare reflect two different reception traditions of the same instrument.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A stringed instrument, specifically the Greek kithara or lyre, plucked to produce melody. Paul uses it as an illustration of intelligible speech (1 Cor 14:7), while Revelation depicts the redeemed playing kitharai before the throne (Rev 5:8; 14:2; 15:2). The Spanish cítara directly preserves the Greek etymology, confirming this is the classical lyre rather than a modern harp. Its heavenly associations in Revelation elevate it beyond a mere musical instrument to a symbol of glorified worship. 4×
AR["قيثاراتُ", "قيثاراتِهِم", "قيثارَةٌ"]·ben["বীণা", "বীণা,", "বীণায়"]·DE["Harfe"]·EN["a-harp", "harps"]·FR["Harfe", "cithare"]·heb["כִּנּוֹר", "כִּנּוֹרוֹת", "כִּנּוֹרוֹתֵיהֶם"]·HI["वीणा", "वीणाएं", "वीणाओं"]·ID["kecapi", "kecapi,", "kecapi-kecapi"]·IT["cetra", "kitharais", "kitharan", "kitharas"]·jav["clempung", "clempung-clempungipun"]·KO["거문고", "거문고-를", "거문고들", "거문고들을"]·PT["cítaras", "harpa", "harpa,", "harpas"]·RU["гусли", "гуслях", "кифара"]·ES["arpa", "cítara", "cítaras"]·SW["kinubi", "vinubi"]·TR["lir", "lirler", "lirlerin"]·urd["بربط", "بربطوں", "بربطیں"]
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
κῐθάρ-α, Ionic dialect κῐθάρ-η [θᾰ], ἡ, lyre, Refs 5th c.BC+, etc.; compare κίθαρις. __II ={κίθαρος}, thorax, Refs: in plural, ribs of the horse, Refs