Music has been an integral part of worship and praise since biblical times. Various musical instruments are referenced throughout the books of the Old Testament, giving us insight into the types of instruments used by God’s people in ancient days. While not an exhaustive list, below is an overview of the major categories of musical instruments found in the Old Testament.
String Instruments
String instruments were very common in biblical times. The lyre, harp, and lute are the primary string instruments mentioned in the Old Testament.
Lyre
The lyre was a small U-shaped string instrument, usually with two curved arms projecting from a hollow body. Lyres had strings of gut or sinew stretched across the arms, plucked with the fingers or strummed with a plectrum. Skilled musicians could play melodies and harmonies on the lyre. Lyres are often associated with prophets and prophetic ministries in the Old Testament. For example, Samuel said, “I am the seer…I have raised up a young man from among the people. He presides over the offerings at my shrine. I have given him the right to wear the linen ephod as my personal representative. Whenever he wishes, he may inquire of me to learn the future for the people of Israel. I myself have appointed him to serve in this capacity” (1 Samuel 9:9, 11, 27 ESV).
King David was skilled at playing the lyre, which he used to soothe King Saul when he was tormented by an evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:14-23). The book of Psalms, written largely by David, contains many references to the lyre and other stringed instruments.
Other prophets and servants of God associated with lyre playing include Elisha (2 Kings 3:15), Isaiah (Isaiah 16:11), and Ezekiel (Ezekiel 26:13).
Harp
The harp was a larger stringed instrument, usually with a triangular wooden frame. Harps had multiple strings made of sheep gut or sinew, played by plucking with the fingers. Like the lyre, the pleasant tones of the harp made it ideal for prophets and psalmists to compose music. King David played the harp skillfully in addition to the lyre (1 Samuel 16:23). The book of Psalms encourages praise with stringed instruments like the harp:
“Praise the Lord with harp; sing to him with the lute of ten strings!” (Psalm 33:2 ESV)
“Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!” (Psalm 108:2 ESV)
Harp playing was associated with prophecy and the ministry of God’s servants. The prophet Samuel said, “I will go on before you, playing the harp, so that the splendid Spirit of the Lord will possess you. This will bring you joy and deliverance from depression” (1 Samuel 16:23 ESV). Elisha called for a harpist to play so that the hand of the Lord would come upon him (2 Kings 3:15).
Lute
The lute was a pear-shaped stringed instrument with a long neck and rounded back. It ranged from four to eight strings made of gut or sinew, plucked with the fingers or strummed. Music composed for lutes is referenced many times in the Psalms:
“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly! Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King! Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands…!” (Psalm 149:1-6 ESV)
The lute’s pleasant sound made it ideal for worship music in both private and corporate settings.
Percussion Instruments
Various types of drums and percussion instruments are also found in the Old Testament. These include timbrels, tambourines, cymbals, and bells.
Timbrel
The timbrel or tabret was a small hand-held percussion instrument, usually circular in shape with jingling bits of metal around the edges. It was played mainly by women, who would beat it rhythmically with their hands or tap the jingling edges. Miriam led the women in celebratory music with timbrels after the Israelites miraculously crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20). Timbrels were also used in times of victory and celebration:
“When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter came out to meet him, playing on a tambourine and dancing for joy. She was his one and only child; he had no other son or daughter.” (Judges 11:34 ESV)
“Then all the women of Israel came out and danced with tambourines and rejoiced with singing and dancing in celebration of Saul’s victory over the Philistines.” (1 Samuel 18:6 ESV)
Tambourine
Similar to the timbrel, the tambourine was a small drum with jingling metal disks in the frame, played by tapping, shaking, or hitting the surface. It provided rhythmic accompaniment during celebrations, processions, and times of victory in battle:
“After that you will go to Gibeath-elohim, where there is a Philistine garrison. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, tambourines, flutes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying.” (1 Samuel 10:5 ESV)
Cymbals
Cymbals were concave bronze plates that were clashed together to produce a loud, clanging sound. They provided percussive background rhythm and marked key transitions in music. Cymbals are mentioned along with other instruments in praise music:
“Praise the Lord with the playing of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with tambourine and dancing, praise Him with the strings and flute, praise Him with loud cymbals, praise Him with clashing cymbals.” (Psalm 150:3-5 ESV)
Bells
Small metal bells were sometimes sewn onto the hem of the high priest’s robe:
“Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth…Fashion pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe.” (Exodus 28:31- 34 ESV)
The pleasant tinkling sound of the bells announced the high priest’s entrance into the Holy Place.
Wind Instruments
A few wind instruments are also referenced in the Old Testament, like flutes, pipes, and horns.
Flutes
These pipe-like woodwind instruments produced sound from the player’s breath redirected across an opening. Flutes provided music for celebrations:
“After that you will go to Gibeath-elohim, where there is a Philistine garrison. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, tambourines, flutes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying.” (1 Samuel 10:5 ESV)
Pipes
Like flutes, pipes were woodwind instruments sounded by the player’s breath. Pipes are mentioned along with timbrels and dancing in celebrations:
“Again I ask, ‘What was the need for me to fast and humble myself if this day is not to be a day of rejoicing and gladness, a day for our people to be festive? For isn’t fasting just to make me suffer and show my humility?” (Zechariah 8:19 ESV)
Horns
Horns, typically made from rams’ horns, produced sound from the player buzzing his lips while blowing. Horns had an important ceremonial function in the Old Testament, used to announce major events,assemblies, and to sound the alarm in times of war:
“Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the congregation and for having the camps set out.” (Numbers 10:2 ESV)
“When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall go up to the mountain.” (Exodus 19:13 ESV)
Horns were even used in the battle of Jericho as part of God’s strategy for Israel’s victory (Joshua 6:4).
Other Instruments
A few other instruments are mentioned briefly in the Old Testament:
Sistrum
The sistrum was a metallic rattling percussion instrument associated with worship of foreign gods. Isaiah warns Judah against adopting pagan customs and instruments like the sistrum from Egypt (Isaiah 3:18-20).
Trigon
The trigon was a small triangular harp used to accompany secular songs (Daniel 3:5).
Bagpipes
Though not as common in ancient Israel, bagpipes are referenced once in Scripture. Daniel mentions bagpipes along with other instruments played before King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue (Daniel 3:5).
The Purpose of Music in the Old Testament
This overview shows the diversity of musical instruments used by God’s people for worship and praise in the Old Testament. Harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals, and other instruments filled various functions:
- Instruments accompanied singing and worship to God (Psalm 33:2, Psalm 150:3-5).
- Playing instruments ushered in the power and presence of God (1 Samuel 10:5, 2 Kings 3:15).
- Instruments were played in times of celebration and victory (Exodus 15:20, Judges 11:34).
- Musicians comforted and encouraged people in difficult times (1 Samuel 16:14-23).
While styles and specific instruments may change over the ages, music remains a vibrant way for God’s people to express praise and receive strength from Him. The musical instruments of the Old Testament give us a glimpse into the rich culture of ancient Israel, as music was woven into the very fabric of their worship.