H5443 H5443
trigon, triangular lyre; a stringed or possibly wind instrument mentioned in Daniel
This is a musical instrument mentioned exclusively in Daniel 3 as part of Nebuchadnezzar's royal orchestra. The name is likely a foreign loanword, cognate with Greek σαμβύκη, a triangular stringed instrument with four strings. Some scholars propose a harp or lyre, while others suggest a type of bagpipe or wind instrument. The term reflects the cosmopolitan culture of the Babylonian court and the influence of Hellenistic musical terminology.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A musical instrument in Nebuchadnezzar's orchestra, mentioned four times in Daniel 3:5, 7, 10, 15. The precise identification is uncertain, but the Greek cognate σαμβύκη suggests a triangular lyre or harp. Translations vary: "trigon" (English, technical term), "lira" (Spanish), "lyre" (French). German brackets [סבכא] and [שבכא], reflecting variant spellings or textual uncertainty. The instrument appears in a list with other foreign musical terms (qeren, mashroqita, etc.), indicating the multicultural character of the Babylonian imperial court. 4×
AR["السَّنْطِيرِ"]·ben["সাম্বুকার"]·DE["[סבכא]", "[שבכא]"]·EN["trigon"]·FR["lyre"]·heb["סבכא"]·HI["सब्बका"]·ID["rebab"]·IT["sambuca"]·jav["rebab"]·KO["삼베카의"]·PT["harpa"]·RU["самбуки"]·ES["la-líra"]·SW["santuri"]·TR["arpın"]·urd["بربط"]
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
† שַׂבְּכָא (> van d. H. ס׳, v. Baer) n. [f.] trigon, mus. instr. (whence prob. Gk. σαμβύκη, triang. instr. with four strings, v. Thes LewyFremdw. 161 f. PrinceEB 3238 Dr Dn 3:5; also BH שְׂבָכָה lattice-work, √ שׂבך, cf. Syriac ܣܒܰܟ );—Dn 3:5, 7, 10, 15.