H5035b H5035b
harp, lyre — a stringed instrument used in worship, celebration, and courtly music throughout Israel's history
Nevel designates a stringed instrument — variously rendered harp, lyre, or psaltery — whose 27 occurrences span the full arc of Israelite musical life. It first appears in the band of prophets Saul encounters, playing nevel alongside timbrel, flute, and lyre (1 Sam 10:5). David and all Israel played nevalim before the Ark (2 Sam 6:5; 1 Chr 13:8), and Levitical musicians were organized with designated nevel-players for temple worship (1 Chr 15:16, 20, 28; 25:1, 6; 2 Chr 5:12; 29:25). Solomon imported almug wood from Ophir to craft nevalim (1 Kgs 10:12). The prophets condemned its use in self-indulgent revelry: Amos denounced those who 'improvise on the nevel like David' while ignoring ruin (Amos 5:23; 6:5), and Isaiah warned of feasts where 'harp and lyre and wine' reign (Isa 5:12). The instrument likely had a bulging resonance body, distinguishing it from the simpler kinnor. Spanish 'arpa,' French and German 'Harfe' converge on the harp identification.
Senses
1. harp, lyre, psaltery — A stringed musical instrument (likely a harp with a bulging resonance body) used in temple worship, royal ceremony, and prophetic activity. Distinguished from the simpler kinnor and typically named alongside it. Central to Levitical temple worship (1 Chr 15:16, 20, 28; 25:1, 6; 2 Chr 5:12; 29:25), introduced in the prophetic band Saul encountered (1 Sam 10:5), and played before the Ark by David and all Israel (2 Sam 6:5). Prophets condemned its misuse in hedonistic revelry (Amos 5:23; 6:5; Isa 5:12). The Psalms celebrate it as an instrument of praise (Ps 33:2; 57:8; 71:22; 150:3). 27×
AR["أيُّها-الرَّباب", "بِ-الرَّبَابَاتِ", "بِ-العُودِ", "بِ-رَبَابَاتٍ", "بِ-عِيدَانٍ", "بِـ-رَبَابٍ", "بِـ-رَبَابَاتٍ", "رَباباتِكَ", "رَبابٍ", "رَبَابَاتٍ", "عُودٍ", "عِيدَانِكَ", "وَ-بِ-رَبَابَاتٍ", "وَبِ-عِيدَانٍ", "يا-رَبابُ"]·ben["-দ্বারা", "-বীণাগুলো-সহ", "-বীণায়", "আর-নেবলে", "এবং-বীণায়", "ও-বীণায়", "তূরী", "তোমাদের-বীণার", "তোমার-বীণার", "দশ-তারের-বীণায়", "বীণা", "বীণায়", "যন্ত্রগুলি"]·DE["Harfe", "Harfen", "O-Harfe", "[נבליך]", "[נבלים]", "auf-ein-harp-of", "der-Harfe", "in-Harfen", "mit-Harfe", "und-in-Harfen", "und-mit-lyres"]·EN["O-harp", "and-with-harps", "and-with-lyres", "harp", "harps", "on-a-harp-of", "the-harp", "with-harp", "with-harps", "your-harps"]·FR["[בנבלים]", "[ובנבלים]", "[נבליך]", "[נבלים]", "dans-harpe", "et-avec-lyres", "harpe", "le-harpe", "outre"]·heb["ב-נבל", "ב-נבלים", "ה-נבל", "ו-ב-נבלים", "נבל", "נבליך", "נבלים"]·HI["और-में-वीणा", "और-सितारों", "और-सितारों-से", "तेरी-वीणाओं-की", "नेबेल", "वीणा", "वीणा-पर", "सारंगियों", "सारंगियों-तुम्हारी-का", "सारंगियों-से", "सितार", "सितार-से", "सितारों", "सितारों-से", "सितारोंसे"]·ID["dan-dengan-gambus", "dan-dengan-gambus-gambus", "dengan-gambus", "dengan-gambus-gambus", "gambus", "gambus-gambus", "gambus-gambusmu", "kecapi-kecapimu"]·IT["[בנבלים]", "[ובנבלים]", "[נבליך]", "[נבלים]", "arpa", "con-l'arpa", "e-con-lyres", "il-arpa"]·jav["Gusti Allah", "Kanthi-kecapi", "clempung-panjenengan", "gambus", "gambus-panjenengan", "kaliyan-gambus", "kanthi-gambus", "kanthi-kecapi", "klawan-gambus", "lan-gambus", "lan-klawan-gambus", "lan-mawi-gambus", "mawi-gambus"]·KO["그-비파", "그-와-에-비파들", "그리고-비파로", "그리고-에-비파들", "너희의-비파들의", "네-비파의", "로-수금들과", "비파-를", "비파들", "비파들-에", "비파들과", "비파여", "수금을", "에-비파들", "에-비파로", "에-수금과"]·PT["alade", "alaúde", "alaúdes", "com-alaúdes", "com-harpa", "com-harpas", "e-com-harpas", "e-com-liras", "harpa", "harpas", "tuas-harpas"]·RU["арф-твоих", "арфа", "арфах", "арфе", "арфы", "гуслями", "и-на-арфах", "и-на-невелях", "и-с-невлами", "на-арфе", "на-арфе-", "на-невелях", "невелями", "невелях", "псалтирь", "с-арфами"]·ES["arpa", "arpas", "con-arpa", "con-arpas", "con-liras", "con-salterios", "lira", "liras", "salterios", "tus-arpas", "y-con-arpas", "y-con-liras", "y-con-salterios"]·SW["kinubi", "kwa-kinubi", "kwa-kinubi-chenye", "kwa-vinubi", "kwa-zeze", "na-kwa-vinanda", "na-kwa-zeze", "na-vinubi", "vinubi", "vinubi-vyako", "vya-vinubi", "ya-vinanda-vyako", "zeze"]·TR["arp", "arplarinin", "harplar", "harplarla", "lavtalar", "lavtalarının", "lirle-", "lirlerle", "on-telli-", "ve-arplarla", "ve-harplarla", "ve-çenklerle", "çenk", "çenkler", "çenkler-", "çenklerle", "çenklerle-"]·urd["اور-بربطوں-کے-ساتھ", "اور-ربابوں-سے", "اور-ستاروں-سے", "اے-بربط", "بربط", "بربط-سے", "بربطوں-سے", "بربطوں-کے-ساتھ", "بِ-بربط", "تیری-بربطوں-کا", "تیرے-بربطوں-کی", "ستار", "ستاروں", "ستاروں-سے", "ہَ-بربَط"]
1 Sam 10:5, 2 Sam 6:5, 1 Kgs 10:12, 1 Chr 13:8, 1 Chr 15:16, 1 Chr 15:20, 1 Chr 15:28, 1 Chr 16:5, 1 Chr 25:1, 1 Chr 25:6, 2 Chr 5:12, 2 Chr 9:11 (+15 more)
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
† II. נֵ֫בֶל, נֶ֫בֶל n.m. ψ 57:9 a musical instrument, either a portable harp, or a lute, guitar (with bulging resonance-body at lower end); (perhaps = i. נֵבֶל, and then shape seems to favour lute; perhaps independent word, e.g. Egyptian loan-word, cf. nfr, lute, WeHpt 222);—abs. נֵ֫בֶל 1 S 10:5 + 3 times, נֶ֫בֶל ψ 71:22 + 3 times; נָ֑בֶל Am 6:5 + 2 times; pl. נְבָלִים 2 S 6:5 + 4 times; sf.…