5035. nebel

Lexical Summary

nebel: Harp, lute, pitcher, jar

Original Word: נֶבֶל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: nebel
Pronunciation: NEH-bel
Phonetic Spelling: (neh'-bel)
KJV: bottle, pitcher, psaltery, vessel, viol
Word Origin: [from H5034 (נָבֵל - To fade)]

1. a skin-bag for liquids (from collapsing when empty)
2. (hence) a vase (as similar in shape when full)
3. also a lyre (as having a body of like form)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

bottle, pitcher, psaltery, vessel, viol

Or nebel {nay'-bel}; from nabel; a skin-bag for liquids (from collapsing when empty); hence, a vase (as similar in shape when full); also a lyre (as having a body of like form) -- bottle, pitcher, psaltery, vessel, viol.

see HEBREW nabel

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. נֵ֫בֶל noun masculine^{Jeremiah 13:12}

1 skin-bottle, skin;

2 jar, pitcher; — נֵ֫בֶלabsolute 1 Samuel 10:5 +; construct 1 Samuel 10:3 + (on נֶכֶל see Baer^{1Samuel 1:24}); —

1 skin of wine, נֵ֫בֶל יַיִן 1 Samuel 1:24; 1 Samuel 10:3; 2 Samuel 16:1, compare also Jeremiah 13:12 (twice in verse); plural נִבְלֵי יַיִן 1 Samuel 25:18 : figurative נִבְלֵי שָׁמַיִם Job 38:37 i.e. clouds ("" שְׁחָקִים).

2 earthen jar, pitcher: figurative of connections of Eliakim כְּלֵי נְבָלִים Isaiah 22:24; נִבְלֵיהֶם יְנַמֵּ֑צוּ Jeremiah 48:12 ("" כֵּלִים יָרִיקוּ) in figure of Moab (compare Psalm 2:9); נִבְלֵיתֶֿרֶשׂ Lamentations 4:2 simile of men of Judah ("" מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי יוֺצֵר); simile of destruction of Judah, שֵׁבֶר נֵ֫כֶל יוֺצְרִים Isaiah 30:14.

II. נֵ֫בֶל, נֶ֫בֶל noun masculine^{Psalm 57:9} a musical instrument, either a portable harp, or a lute, guitar (with bulging resonance-body at lower end); (perhaps = 1. נֵבֶל, and then shape seems to favour lute; perhaps independent word, e.g. Egyptian loan-word, compare nfr, lute, We^{Hpt 222}); — absolute נֵ֫בֶל 1 Samuel 10:5 3t., נֶ֫בֶל Psalm 71:22 3t.; נָ֑בֶל Amos 6:5 2t.; plural נְבָלִים 2 Samuel 6:5 4t.; suffix נְבָלֶיךָ Amos 5:23; Isaiah 14:11; — harp (or lute), played at feasts and religious ceremonies, probably less simple, cheap and common than כִּנּוֺר (q. v.; often named with ׳נ): — as mark of luxury, revelry Amos 5:23; Amos 6:5; Amos 14:11, so Amos 5:12 (תֹּף חָלִיל ׳כִנּוֺר נ), also (not in bad sense) 1 Kings 10:12; played by wandering band of prophets 1 Samuel 10:5 (list as Isaiah 5:12); in worship 2 Samuel 6:5; elsewhere only Psalms, Chronicles, always in worship: Psalm 57:9; Psalm 81:3; Psalm 92:4; Psalm 108:3; Psalm 150:3; כְּלִי נֶבֶל Psalm 71:22; עָשׂוֺר ׳נ a harp with ten strings Psalm 33:2; Psalm 144:9; 1 Chronicles 13:8; 1 Chronicles 15:16,20,28; 1 Chronicles 16:5 (כְּלֵי נְבָלִים), 1 Chronicles 25:1,6; 2Chronicles 5:12; 9:11; 20:28; 29:25; Nehemiah 12:27. — compare further Benz^{Archaeology 273 ff.} Now^{Archaeology i..273 ff.} Dr^{Amos 234 ff.} We^{Hpt 222 ff}.

Topical Lexicon

Overview and Semantic Range

נֶבֶל (nebel) denotes two related objects whose common feature is their broad-bellied shape:

1. A stringed instrument—variously rendered “harp,” “lyre,” or “psaltery.”
2. A skin or clay container for liquids—rendered “skin,” “bottle,” “pitcher,” or “jar.”

The term appears about thirty-eight times and spans Israel’s domestic life, worship, royal ceremony, prophetic indictment, and eschatological hope.

The Nebel as a Stringed Instrument

• Construction: Probably a wooden soundbox (gourd-shaped or trapezoid) with ten strings (Psalm 33:2; Psalm 144:9), tuned either by pegs or tension loops. It was plucked by hand or with a plectrum.
• Musical timbre: Paired with the קִנּוֹר (kinnor) to provide a fuller range—kinnor supplying higher tones, nebel the deeper resonance.
• Early use: Mentioned in the prophetic band Saul met at Gibeah (1 Samuel 10:5).
• Davidic tradition: Central to the musical reforms of David (2 Samuel 6:5; 1 Chronicles 15:16–21; 25:1–6). His skill set the pattern for later generations (Amos 6:5).
• Temple worship: Employed by Levitical choirs at key moments—Ark installation (1 Chronicles 16:5), Temple dedication (2 Chronicles 5:12), military thanksgiving (2 Chronicles 20:28), Hezekiah’s restoration (2 Chronicles 29:25), Ezra’s second-temple celebration (Ezra 3:10), and Nehemiah’s wall dedication (Nehemiah 12:27).
• Psalmody: Frequently urged for corporate praise.

– “Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and melodious song” (Psalm 98:5).

– “Let them praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with tambourine and harp” (Psalm 149:3).
• Eschatological vision: The instrument accompanies future triumph (Isaiah 30:32) and heavenly worship (cf. Revelation 5:8 where the Greek κιθάρα fills a similar role).

Liturgical and Theological Significance

The nebel embodies ordered, skillful worship offered in joy and reverence. Its prescribed use by consecrated Levites (1 Chronicles 15:16) affirms that music in worship is not peripheral but covenantal service. Psalms link the nebel with thanksgiving, new songs, and proclamation of divine faithfulness (Psalm 71:22).

Royal and Prophetic Contexts

• Royal pomp: Solomon imported almug wood “to make harps and lyres for the singers” (2 Chronicles 9:11).
• Prophetic critique: Isaiah denounces banquets where “harp and lyre… and wine are at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD” (Isaiah 5:12). Amos rejects empty ritual accompanied by the nebel (Amos 5:23), showing that the instrument’s sanctity depends on the heart of the worshiper.

The Nebel as Vessel

• Everyday life: “A three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine” accompanied Hannah’s offering (1 Samuel 1:24). Skins also provisioned travelers (1 Samuel 10:3; 16:20) and Abigail’s peace-making gift to David (1 Samuel 25:18).
• Prophetic sign‐act: Jeremiah’s message, “Every wineskin will be filled with wine” (Jeremiah 13:12), used the nebel as a metaphor for impending judgment—ordinary vessels destined for shattering when misused (Jeremiah 13:13–14).
• Symbolism: As an expandable container, the nebel anticipates the principle later stated by Jesus, “New wine into new wineskins” (Matthew 9:17), underscoring readiness for divine outpouring.

Symbolic and Ministry Insights

1. Capacity for Filling: Whether as skin filled with wine or soundbox filled with resonance, the nebel pictures the believer yielded to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18–19).
2. Ordered Service: Its tuned strings illustrate disciplined gifts harmonized for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 14:40).
3. Joy Tempered by Holiness: The same instrument condemned in revelry (Isaiah 5:12) is mandated in worship, warning against form without faith (Psalm 33:1).

Occurrences by Book (representative)

1 Samuel 1:24; 10:3, 5; 16:20; 25:18

2 Samuel 6:5

1 Kings 10:12 (parallel 2 Chronicles 9:11); 1 Kings 14:3

1 Chronicles 13:8; 15:16, 20, 21; 16:5; 25:1, 6

2 Chronicles 5:12; 20:28; 29:25

Ezra 3:10; Nehemiah 12:27

Psalms 33:2; 57:8; 71:22; 81:2; 92:3; 98:5; 108:2; 144:9; 149:3; 150:3

Isaiah 5:12; 14:11; 22:24; 24:8; 30:32

Jeremiah 13:12; Lamentations 4:2

Amos 5:23; 6:5

Summary

The nebel integrates the ordinary and the sacred: a common wineskin pressed into prophetic symbolism, and a resonant instrument elevated into temple liturgy. Across Scripture it teaches that vessels and talents alike find their highest purpose when filled, tuned, and offered to the Lord.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּנֵ֣בֶל בְּנֵ֥בֶל בִּנְבָלִ֖ים בִּנְבָלִ֣ים בִּנְבָלִ֥ים בנבל בנבלים הַנְּבָלִֽים׃ הַנֵּ֥בֶל הַנָּ֑בֶל הנבל הנבלים׃ וְנִבְלֵ֥י וְנִבְלֵיהֶ֖ם וְנֵ֣בֶל וְנֵ֥בֶל וָנֶ֗בֶל וּבִנְבָלִ֣ים וּבִנְבָלִים֙ וּנְבָלִ֖ים ובנבלים ונבל ונבלי ונבליהם ונבלים לְנִבְלֵי־ לנבלי־ נְבָלִ֣ים נְבָלִ֥ים נְבָלִים֙ נְבָלֶ֑יךָ נְבָלֶ֖יךָ נִבְלֵי־ נֵ֖בֶל נֵ֤בֶל נֵ֧בֶל נֵֽבֶל־ נֶבֶל֮ נָ֑בֶל נָֽבֶל׃ נבל נבל־ נבל׃ נבלי־ נבליך נבלים bə·nê·ḇel bənêḇel beNevel bin·ḇā·lîm binḇālîm binvaLim han·nā·ḇel han·nə·ḇā·lîm han·nê·ḇel hannāḇel hanNavel hannəḇālîm hannêḇel hannevaLim hanNevel lə·niḇ·lê- ləniḇlê- lenivlei nā·ḇel nāḇel Navel nə·ḇā·le·ḵā nə·ḇā·lîm ne·ḇel nê·ḇel nê·ḇel- nəḇāleḵā nəḇālîm neḇel nêḇel nêḇel- nevaLeicha nevaLim nevel niḇ·lê- niḇlê- nivlei ū·ḇin·ḇā·lîm ū·nə·ḇā·lîm ūḇinḇālîm ūnəḇālîm unevaLim uvinvaLim vaNevel veNevel venivLei venivleiHem wā·ne·ḇel wāneḇel wə·nê·ḇel wə·niḇ·lê wə·niḇ·lê·hem wənêḇel wəniḇlê wəniḇlêhem

Englishman's Concordance

1 Samuel 1:24
HEB: אַחַ֥ת קֶ֙מַח֙ וְנֵ֣בֶל יַ֔יִן וַתְּבִאֵ֥הוּ
NAS: of flour and a jug of wine,
KJV: of flour, and a bottle of wine,
INT: and one of flour jug of wine and brought

1 Samuel 10:3
HEB: וְאֶחָ֥ד נֹשֵׂ֖א נֵֽבֶל־ יָֽיִן׃
NAS: and another carrying a jug of wine;
KJV: and another carrying a bottle of wine:
INT: and another carrying A jug of wine

1 Samuel 10:5
HEB: מֵֽהַבָּמָ֔ה וְלִפְנֵיהֶ֞ם נֵ֤בֶל וְתֹף֙ וְחָלִ֣יל
NAS: from the high place with harp, tambourine,
KJV: from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret,
INT: the high before harp tambourine flute

1 Samuel 25:18
HEB: לֶ֜חֶם וּשְׁנַ֣יִם נִבְלֵי־ יַ֗יִן וְחָמֵ֨שׁ
NAS: and two jugs of wine
KJV: and two bottles of wine,
INT: bread and two jugs of wine and five

2 Samuel 6:5
HEB: בְרוֹשִׁ֑ים וּבְכִנֹּר֤וֹת וּבִנְבָלִים֙ וּבְתֻפִּ֔ים וּבִמְנַֽעַנְעִ֖ים
NAS: and with lyres, harps, tambourines,
KJV: even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels,
INT: fir lyres harps tambourines castanets

2 Samuel 16:1
HEB: וּמֵ֥אָה קַ֖יִץ וְנֵ֥בֶל יָֽיִן׃
NAS: summer fruits, and a jug of wine.
KJV: of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
INT: A hundred summer jug of wine

1 Kings 10:12
HEB: הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְכִנֹּר֥וֹת וּנְבָלִ֖ים לַשָּׁרִ֑ים לֹ֣א
NAS: also lyres and harps for the singers;
KJV: harps also and psalteries for singers:
INT: the king's lyres and harps the singers in nor

1 Chronicles 13:8
HEB: וּבְשִׁירִ֤ים וּבְכִנֹּרוֹת֙ וּבִנְבָלִ֣ים וּבְתֻפִּ֔ים וּבִמְצִלְתַּ֖יִם
NAS: and with lyres, harps, tambourines,
KJV: and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels,
INT: songs lyres harps tambourines cymbals

1 Chronicles 15:16
HEB: בִּכְלֵי־ שִׁ֛יר נְבָלִ֥ים וְכִנֹּר֖וֹת וּמְצִלְתָּ֑יִם
NAS: of music, harps, lyres,
KJV: of musick, psalteries and harps
INT: instruments of music harps lyres cymbals

1 Chronicles 15:20
HEB: וּמַעֲשֵׂיָ֖הוּ וּבְנָיָ֑הוּ בִּנְבָלִ֖ים עַל־ עֲלָמֽוֹת׃
NAS: and Benaiah, with harps [tuned] to alamoth;
KJV: and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;
INT: Maaseiah and Benaiah harps to alamoth

1 Chronicles 15:28
HEB: וּבִמְצִלְתָּ֑יִם מַשְׁמִעִ֕ים בִּנְבָלִ֖ים וְכִנֹּרֽוֹת׃
NAS: cymbals, with harps and lyres.
KJV: making a noise with psalteries and harps.
INT: cymbals loud-sounding harps and lyres

1 Chronicles 16:5
HEB: וִֽיעִיאֵ֗ל בִּכְלֵ֤י נְבָלִים֙ וּבְכִנֹּר֔וֹת וְאָסָ֖ף
NAS: with musical instruments, harps, lyres;
INT: and Jeiel instruments harps lyres Asaph

1 Chronicles 25:1
HEB: ק) בְּכִנֹּר֥וֹת בִּנְבָלִ֖ים וּבִמְצִלְתָּ֑יִם וַֽיְהִי֙
NAS: with lyres, harps and cymbals;
KJV: with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals:
INT: prophecy lyres harps and cymbals become

1 Chronicles 25:6
HEB: יְהוָ֗ה בִּמְצִלְתַּ֙יִם֙ נְבָלִ֣ים וְכִנֹּר֔וֹת לַעֲבֹדַ֖ת
NAS: with cymbals, harps and lyres,
KJV: with cymbals, psalteries, and harps,
INT: of the LORD cymbals harps and lyres the service

2 Chronicles 5:12
HEB: בּ֗וּץ בִּמְצִלְתַּ֙יִם֙ וּבִנְבָלִ֣ים וְכִנֹּר֔וֹת עֹמְדִ֖ים
NAS: with cymbals, harps and lyres,
KJV: having cymbals and psalteries and harps,
INT: fine cymbals harps and lyres standing

2 Chronicles 9:11
HEB: הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְכִנֹּר֥וֹת וּנְבָלִ֖ים לַשָּׁרִ֑ים וְלֹא־
NAS: and lyres and harps for the singers;
KJV: and harps and psalteries for singers:
INT: the king's and lyres and harps the singers and none

2 Chronicles 20:28
HEB: וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם בִּנְבָלִ֥ים וּבְכִנֹּר֖וֹת וּבַחֲצֹצְר֑וֹת
NAS: to Jerusalem with harps, lyres
KJV: to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps
INT: came to Jerusalem harps lyres and trumpets

2 Chronicles 29:25
HEB: יְהוָ֗ה בִּמְצִלְתַּ֙יִם֙ בִּנְבָלִ֣ים וּבְכִנֹּר֔וֹת בְּמִצְוַ֥ת
NAS: with cymbals, with harps and with lyres,
KJV: with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps,
INT: of the LORD cymbals harps lyres to the command

Nehemiah 12:27
HEB: וּבְשִׁ֔יר מְצִלְתַּ֖יִם נְבָלִ֥ים וּבְכִנֹּרֽוֹת׃
NAS: [to the accompaniment] of cymbals, harps and lyres.
KJV: [with] cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.
INT: songs cymbals harps and lyres

Job 38:37
HEB: שְׁחָקִ֣ים בְּחָכְמָ֑ה וְנִבְלֵ֥י שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם מִ֣י
NAS: Or tip the water jars of the heavens,
KJV: or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
INT: the clouds wisdom the water of the heavens Who

Psalm 33:2
HEB: לַיהוָ֣ה בְּכִנּ֑וֹר בְּנֵ֥בֶל עָ֝שׂ֗וֹר זַמְּרוּ־
NAS: Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.
KJV: sing unto him with the psaltery [and] an instrument of ten strings.
INT: to the LORD the lyre A harp of ten Sing

Psalm 57:8
HEB: כְבוֹדִ֗י ע֭וּרָֽה הַנֵּ֥בֶל וְכִנּ֗וֹר אָעִ֥ירָה
NAS: Awake, harp and lyre!
KJV: awake, psaltery and harp:
INT: my glory Awake harp and lyre will awaken

Psalm 71:22
HEB: אוֹדְךָ֣ בִכְלִי־ נֶבֶל֮ אֲמִתְּךָ֪ אֱלֹ֫הָ֥י
NAS: praise You with a harp, [Even] Your truth,
INT: praise with A harp your truth my God

Psalm 81:2
HEB: נָעִ֣ים עִם־ נָֽבֶל׃
NAS: The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.
KJV: the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
INT: the sweet with the harp

Psalm 92:3
HEB: עָ֭שׂוֹר וַעֲלֵי־ נָ֑בֶל עֲלֵ֖י הִגָּי֣וֹן
NAS: With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, With resounding music
KJV: Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp
INT: the ten-stringed and with the harp with resounding

38 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5035
38 Occurrences

bə·nê·ḇel — 3 Occ.
bin·ḇā·lîm — 5 Occ.
han·nā·ḇel — 1 Occ.
han·nə·ḇā·lîm — 1 Occ.
han·nê·ḇel — 2 Occ.
lə·niḇ·lê- — 1 Occ.
nā·ḇel — 2 Occ.
nə·ḇā·le·ḵā — 2 Occ.
nə·ḇā·lîm — 4 Occ.
nê·ḇel- — 6 Occ.
niḇ·lê- — 1 Occ.
ū·nə·ḇā·lîm — 2 Occ.
ū·ḇin·ḇā·lîm — 3 Occ.
wā·ne·ḇel — 1 Occ.
wə·nê·ḇel — 2 Occ.
wə·niḇ·lê — 1 Occ.
wə·niḇ·lê·hem — 1 Occ.