H2485 H2485
A flute or reed pipe — a wind instrument used in both celebration and mourning.
A masculine noun for a wind instrument, likely a reed flute or pipe. It appears in festive contexts — the people playing flutes at Solomon's coronation so loudly the earth shook (1 Kgs 1:40) — and in lists of instruments at feasts (Isa 5:12). Isaiah 30:29 pairs it with joyful night processions to God's mountain. Yet Jeremiah 48:36 uses its sound as a simile for mourning over Moab, showing the flute served both celebration and lament in ancient Israel.
Senses
1. flute, pipe — A flute or reed pipe — a wind instrument for both joyful and sorrowful occasions. Spanish 'flauta(s)' and English 'flutes' confirm the consistent identification as a wind instrument. Used in Samuel's description of prophetic bands (1 Sam 10:5), Solomon's coronation festivities (1 Kgs 1:40), Isaiah's critique of banquets (Isa 5:12), and a joyful pilgrimage procession (Isa 30:29). Jeremiah 48:36 turns it to lament, where the flute's wail sounds for Moab's destruction — demonstrating the instrument's dual emotional register. 6×
AR["بِ-الْمَزَامِيرِ", "بِـ-النَّايِ", "كَالنَّايَاتِ", "وَ-مِزْمَارٌ", "وَ-نَايٌ"]·ben["আর-বাঁশি", "ও-বাঁশি", "বাঁশিগুলির-মত", "বাঁশিতে", "বাঁশিতে-"]·DE["[בחליל]", "[וחליל]", "[כחלילים]", "[כחללים]", "auf-flutes", "und-flute"]·EN["and-flute", "like-flutes", "on-flutes", "with-the-flute"]·FR["[בחליל]", "[וחליל]", "[כחלילים]", "[כחללים]", "et-flute", "sur-flutes"]·heb["ב-ה-חלילים", "ב-חליל", "ו-חליל", "וְ-חָלִיל", "כ-חלילים"]·HI["और-बाँसुरी", "और-बांसुरी", "बांसुरियां", "बांसुरी-की-तरह", "में-बांसुरी"]·ID["dan-seruling", "dengan-seruling", "seperti-seruling", "seruling"]·IT["[בחליל]", "[וחליל]", "[כחלילים]", "[כחללים]", "e-flute", "su-flutes"]·jav["kados-suling", "kalayan-suling", "lan-suling", "suling"]·KO["그리고-피리와", "에-피리에", "피리들처럼-", "피리로", "피리와"]·PT["com-a-flauta", "com-flautas", "como-flautas", "e-flauta"]·RU["и-свирель", "как-свирели", "на-свирелях", "с-свирелью"]·ES["como-flautas", "con-flauta", "con-flautas", "y-flauta"]·SW["kama-filimbi", "na-filimbi", "na-wakifurahi"]·TR["-gibi-kavallar", "flütlerle", "kavalda", "ve-kaval"]·urd["اور-بانسری", "بانسری-سے", "بانسری-کی-طرح", "بانسریوں-پر"]
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
† חָלִיל n.m. flute, pipe, ח׳ 1 S 10:5 Is 5:12; 30:29; pl. חֲלִלִים 1 K 1:40 Je 48:36(×2).