συμφων-ία G4858
Music, symphony, harmonious sound of instruments playing together
Musical harmony, the concord of multiple instruments or voices sounding together. In Jesus's parable in Luke 15:25, the older brother returns from the field and hears 'music and dancing' as the celebration for the prodigal's return is underway. The word can mean symphony or simply festive music. Classical usage emphasized harmonic intervals and the philosophy of musical concordance. Luke uses it for the joyful sound of celebration—multiple musicians creating a festive atmosphere. The music becomes the signal that provokes the older brother's jealousy and sense of injustice.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The festive music announcing the celebration of the prodigal son's return. The sound of symphony alerts the older brother that something unusual is happening. Spanish 'música', French 'harmonie', German transcribes the Greek. The music functions narratively as the first sign of the father's extravagant joy—before the older son learns the reason, the sound of celebration already stirs his resentment. Music marks the boundary between those inside celebrating and the one outside nursing grievances. 1×
AR["مُوسِيقَى"]·ben["সঙ্গীতের"]·DE["συμφωνίας"]·EN["music"]·FR["harmonie"]·heb["נְגִינָה"]·HI["बाजों-का"]·ID["musik"]·IT["sumphonias"]·jav["gamelan"]·KO["음악과"]·PT["música"]·RU["музыку"]·ES["música"]·SW["muziki"]·TR["müzik"]·urd["باجے"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
συμφων-ία, ἡ, concord or unison of sound, τὴν ἐν τῇ ᾠδῇ ἁρμονίαν, ἢ δὴ σ. καλεῖται Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 of two sounds only, musical concord, accord, such as the fourth, fifth, and octave, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἡ διὰ πασῶν σ. Refs 5th c.BC+; distinguished from mere ὁμοφωνία, Refs 4th c.BC+ __3 harmonious union of many voices or sounds, concert, οἱ τῶν σ. λόγοι, the Refs 4th c.BC+ doctrine of the music of…