H8596 H8596
tambourine, timbrel — a small hand drum beaten in celebration, worship, and triumphal procession
The toph was a frame drum or hand drum struck with the fingers, overwhelmingly associated in Scripture with women leading joyful processions. Miriam took up the toph after the Red Sea crossing (Exod 15:20); Jephthah's daughter came out dancing with timbrels (Judg 11:34); the women greeted Saul and David with tophim after defeating the Philistines (1 Sam 18:6). Beyond victory celebrations, the instrument marks worship (Ps 81:3; 149:3; 150:4), prophetic ecstasy (1 Sam 10:5), and festive merriment (Gen 31:27; Job 21:12). When Isaiah mourns that 'the joy of the timbrel ceases' (Isa 24:8), the silence signals cosmic reversal. Spanish 'pandero,' French 'tambourin,' and German equivalents all capture this percussive, celebratory instrument.
Senses
1. tambourine, timbrel — A small, handheld frame drum beaten by the palm or fingers, prominently played by women in triumphal processions (Exod 15:20; Judg 11:34; 1 Sam 18:6), communal celebration (Gen 31:27; Job 21:12), prophetic ecstasy (1 Sam 10:5), and liturgical praise (Ps 81:3; 149:3; 150:4). Its cessation becomes a prophetic sign of judgment (Isa 24:8). Always grouped with other instruments — lyre, harp, flute — confirming its role within ensemble music rather than solo performance. 17×
AR["الدُّفَّ", "الدُّفُوفِ", "بِ-الدُّفِّ", "بِ-دُفوفٍ", "بِ-دُفٍّ", "بِ-دُفُوفٍ", "بِدُفُوفِكِ", "بِـ-الدُّفُوفِ", "بِـ-دُفٍّ", "بِـ-دُفُوفٍ", "دُفًّا", "دُفٌّ", "دُفُوفِكَ", "كَ-الدُّفِّ", "وَ-بِ-دُفُوفٍ", "وَ-دُفٌّ", "وَبِ-دُفُوفٍ"]·ben["আর-খঞ্জনী", "আর-তম্বুরাতে", "এবং-খঞ্জরিতে", "খঞ্জনি", "খঞ্জনি-দিয়ে", "খঞ্জনি-সহ", "খঞ্জনিগুলি-তোমার", "খঞ্জনিতে", "ডুগডুগিতে", "ঢোল", "তবলা", "তবলা-এর", "তবলায়-", "তম্বুরা", "তম্বুরী-নিয়ে", "তোমার-খঞ্জনির"]·DE["[בתפים]", "[ובתפים]", "[כתף]", "[תף]", "[תפיך]", "[תפים]", "der-Pauke", "der-tambourine", "mit-Pauke", "mit-Tamburin", "mit-tambourines", "und-mit-tambourines", "und-tambourine"]·EN["and-tambourine", "and-with-tambourines", "as-tambourine", "of-tambourines", "tambourine", "the-tambourine", "with-tambourine", "with-tambourines", "your-tambourines"]·FR["[בתפים]", "[ובתפים]", "[תף]", "[תפיך]", "[תפים]", "avec-tambourine", "avec-tambourines", "comme-כתף", "dans-tambourin", "et-avec-tambourines", "et-tambourine", "le-tambourine", "tambourin"]·heb["ב-תוף", "ב-תופים", "ב-תף", "ה-תוף", "ו-ב-תופים", "ו-ב-תפים", "וְ-תֹף", "כ-תוף", "תוף", "תופייך", "תופיך", "תופים"]·HI["अपनी-डफ", "और-डफ", "और-डफों", "और-डफों-से", "डफ-के-साथ", "डफ-से", "डफलियों-से", "डफलियोंसे", "डफली", "डफों-की", "डफों-तेरे-की", "ढोल", "ढोल-से", "दफ़फ़-से", "से-डफ"]·ID["dan-dengan-rebana", "dan-dengan-rebana-rebana", "dan-rebana", "dengan-rebana", "rebana", "rebana-rebanamu"]·IT["[ובתפים]", "[תפיך]", "come-as-tambourine", "con-tambourine", "con-tambourines", "e-con-tambourines", "e-tambourine", "il-tambourine", "tamburello"]·jav["Kanthi-genderang", "genderang", "kalayan-rebana", "kalayan-trebang", "kaliyan-rebana", "kanthi-genderang", "lan-genderang", "lan-klawan-rebana", "lan-rebana", "mawi-rebana", "rebab", "rebana", "rebana-panjenengan", "trebang-panjenengan"]·KO["그-소고를", "그-와-에-소고들", "그리고-소고로", "그리고-소고와", "네-소고들을", "소고-같이", "소고들-과-함께", "소고들의-너의", "소고로-", "소고를", "소고와", "소고의", "에-소고와", "에-손북들", "에서-소고과"]·PT["com-tambores", "com-tamboril", "com-tamborins", "e-com-tamborins", "e-tamboril", "em-tambor", "o-tamborim", "tambores", "tamboril", "tamborim", "tamborins-teus", "teus-tamborins"]·RU["бубен", "бубнов-твоих", "в-тимпан", "и-бубен", "и-на-бубнах", "и-на-туппимах", "с-тимпанами", "с-тимпаном", "тимпан", "тимпанами-твоими", "тимпанов"]·ES["con-pandero", "con-panderos", "el-pandero", "pandero", "panderos", "tus-panderos", "tus-tamboriles", "y-con-panderos", "y-pandero"]·SW["kwa-matari", "kwa-ngoma", "matari", "matari-yako", "na-kwa-matari", "na-ngoma", "ngoma", "tari", "ya-matari"]·TR["tef", "tefi", "tefle", "tefle-", "teflerin", "teflerinin", "teflerinle-senin", "teflerle", "ve-tef", "ve-teflerle"]·urd["اور-دف", "اور-دفوں-سے", "بِ-ڈفلی", "دف", "دف-اپنے", "دف-سے", "دف-کی-طرح", "دفوں-تیرے", "دفوں-سے", "دفوں-کی", "دفوں-کے-ساتھ", "ڈف"]
Gen 31:27, Exod 15:20, Exod 15:20, Judg 11:34, 1 Sam 10:5, 1 Sam 18:6, 2 Sam 6:5, 1 Chr 13:8, Job 21:12, Ps 81:2, Ps 149:3, Ps 150:4 (+5 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
† תֹּף n.m. timbrel, tambourine;—abs. ת׳ Gn 31:27 +; pl. תֻּפִּים Ju 11:34 +; sf. תֻּפֶּ֫יךָ Ez 28:13, תֻּפַּ֫יִךְ Je 31:4;—timbrel, held and struck with hand, especially by dancing women, often with other musical instr.:—sign of merriment, gladness Gn 31:27 (E) Jb 21:12, revelry Is 5:12; מְשׂוֹשׂ ת׳ 24:8, cf. Je 31:4; Ez 28:19 (Co setting); triumph Ex 15:20(×2) (E) Ju 11:34; 1 S 18:6; Is 30:32;…