In the Bible, what is a…
harp
Hebrew: כִּנּוֹר —transliteration: kinnor
This word appears 42 times in Scripture. The harp was the national musical instrument of the Hebrews. It appears to be the type of harp we call a lyre, although a minority think the word kinnor refers to the whole class of biblical stringed instruments.
The harp was invented in the pre-Flood world, not long after Earth’s creation, by a man named Jubal.
…he was the father of all those who play the harp and flute (pipe). (Genesis 4:21b).
Apparently Noah’s family carried the harp to the post-Flood world, as it appears in very early times.
The harp was used as an accompaniment to songs of cheerfulness, as well as of praise to God (Genesis 31:27; 1 Samuel 16:23; 2 Chronicles 20:28; Psalm 33:2; 137:2).
In Solomon’s time, harps were made from almug-trees (1 Kings 10:11-12).
1 Chronicles 15:21 mentions “harps on the Sheminith;” Revised King James Version, “harps set to the Sheminith”—better perhaps “harps of 8 strings” or octave harps.
The soothing effect of the music of the harp is referred to 1 Samuel 16:16, 23; 18:10; 19:9.
Great voice in prophecy with a harp-like sound
The Apostle John reports that in his vision of the Church in Heaven celebrating the triumphs of the Redeemer, he heard a voice…
“I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps.” —Revelation 14:2 NASB
KJV: “…harping with their harps.”
More information
- MUSIC in the Bible
- SONGS in the Bible
- David—played a harp (lyre)
- MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS of the Bible