The cymbal is a musical instrument mentioned several times in the Bible, primarily in the context of worship and celebration. It is a percussion instrument made of metal, typically in the form of a concave disc, which produces a loud, clashing sound when struck. Cymbals were used in ancient Israelite worship, particularly in the temple, to enhance the musical accompaniment of psalms and other religious ceremonies.

Biblical References:

1. 1 Chronicles 15:16 · "David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals." This passage highlights the use of cymbals in the procession of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, emphasizing their role in joyful and celebratory worship.

2. 2 Samuel 6:5 · "David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of wood instruments, harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals." Here, cymbals are part of the ensemble of instruments used by King David and the Israelites in their exuberant worship before the Lord.

3. Psalm 150:5 · "Praise Him with clashing cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals." This verse is part of a psalm that calls for the use of various musical instruments in the praise of God, underscoring the cymbal's role in expressing the intensity and grandeur of worship.

4. 1 Chronicles 16:5 · "Asaph was the chief, and Zechariah was second; then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel played the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals." This passage indicates the organized use of cymbals in temple worship, with specific individuals designated to play them.

5. Ezra 3:10 · "When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their apparel stood with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel." The use of cymbals here marks a significant moment in the rebuilding of the temple, linking back to the traditions established by King David.

Cultural and Religious Significance:

In the context of ancient Israel, cymbals were not merely musical instruments but were integral to the liturgical and ceremonial life of the community. Their sound was associated with joy, celebration, and the presence of God. The use of cymbals in worship was a means of expressing the exuberance and reverence due to God, aligning with the biblical principle of worshiping the Lord with all one's might and resources.

The cymbal's role in biblical worship reflects the broader biblical theme of using music and instruments to glorify God. It serves as a reminder of the importance of music in spiritual expression and the communal life of faith. The biblical references to cymbals illustrate their enduring significance in the worship practices of the Israelites and their contribution to the rich tapestry of biblical worship.Cymbal

A musical instrument consisting of two broad plates of brass, of a convex form, which being struck together, produce a shrill, piercing sound. From Psalm 150:5, it would appear that both hand-cymbals and finger-cymbals, or castagnets, were used. They were used in the temple, and upon occasions of public rejoicings, 1Ch 13...8; 16.5, as they are by the Armenians at the present day. In 1 1 Corinthians 13:1, the apostle deduces a comparison from sounding brass and "tinkling" cymbals; perhaps the latter words had been better rendered clanging or clattering cymbals, since such is the nature of the instrument. See MUSIC.

1. (n.) A musical instrument used by the ancients. It is supposed to have been similar to the modern kettle drum, though perhaps smaller.

2. (n.) A musical instrument of brass, shaped like a circular dish or a flat plate, with a handle at the back; -- used in pairs to produce a sharp ringing sound by clashing them together.

3. (n.) A musical instrument used by gypsies and others, made of steel wire, in a triangular form, on which are movable rings.

CYMBAL

sim'-bal.

See MUSIC.

2950. kumbalon -- a cymbal
... a cymbal. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: kumbalon Phonetic Spelling:
(koom'-bal-on) Short Definition: a cymbal Definition: a cymbal. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2950.htm - 6k

214. alalazo -- to raise a war cry
... cry. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: alalazo Phonetic Spelling: (al-al-ad'-
zo) Short Definition: I cry aloud, a clanging or clashing cymbal Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/214.htm - 6k

6767. tslatsal -- whirring, buzzing
... tslatsal. 6767a . whirring, buzzing. Transliteration: tslatsal Phonetic Spelling:
(tsel-aw-tsal') Short Definition: cymbal. cymbal, locust, shadowing, spear ...
/hebrew/6767.htm - 5k

The Ministry.
... A tinkling cymbal, 1:Cor.13:1, 2, is an instrument of music with which a skilful
player can make such melodious and heart-inflaming music, that all who hear ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xxii the ministry.htm

How to Conduct Ourselves at Feasts.
... "Praise Him on the clashing cymbals." He calls the tongue the cymbal of
the mouth, which resounds with the pulsation of the lips. ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter iv how to conduct ourselves.htm

Heracleon's view of the Voice, and of John the Baptist.
... for the battle," and that which says that though a man have knowledge of mysteries,
or have prophecy but wants love, he is a sounding or a tinkling cymbal. ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/12 heracleons view of the.htm

Love, the Motive Power for Service.
... love" instead of "charity":""Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. ...
/.../moody/to the work to the work/chapter ii love the motive.htm

Sunday Before Lent
... 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become
sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.2 And if I have the gift of prophecy ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/sunday before lent.htm

The True Gentleman
... Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity,
I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xx the true gentleman.htm

Power in Operation.
... with the eloquence of a Demosthenes, or of the greatest living orator, if there
is no love back of his words, it is like sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/secret power/chapter iv power in operation.htm

The Absurdity and Impiety of the Heathen Mysteries and Fables ...
... "I have eaten out of the drum, I have drunk out of the cymbal, I have carried the
Cernos, [880] I have slipped into the bedroom." Are not these tokens a ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter ii the absurdity and impiety.htm

On Charity
... "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity,
I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 91 on charity.htm

The Greatest Thing in the World And Other Addresses
... THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD. THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
and have not love, I am become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. ...
/.../drummond/the greatest thing in the world and other addresses/title page.htm

Cymbal (1 Occurrence)
... movable rings. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CYMBAL. sim'-bal. See MUSIC.
Multi-Version Concordance Cymbal (1 Occurrence). 1 Corinthians ...
/c/cymbal.htm - 7k

Cycle (3 Occurrences)

/c/cycle.htm - 8k

Cymbals (15 Occurrences)

/c/cymbals.htm - 13k

Noisy (14 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't
have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. (See NAS RSV). ...
/n/noisy.htm - 10k

Loud-sounding (8 Occurrences)
... Corinthians 13:1 If I can speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but am destitute
of Love, I have but become a loud-sounding trumpet or a clanging cymbal...
/l/loud-sounding.htm - 8k

Gong (1 Occurrence)
... 1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but
don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. ...
/g/gong.htm - 7k

Tinkling (4 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have
not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. ...
/t/tinkling.htm - 8k

Trumpet (74 Occurrences)
... Corinthians 13:1 If I can speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but am destitute
of Love, I have but become a loud-sounding trumpet or a clanging cymbal...
/t/trumpet.htm - 32k

Resounding (3 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't
have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. (See NIV). ...
/r/resounding.htm - 7k

Destitute (25 Occurrences)
... Corinthians 13:1 If I can speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but am destitute
of Love, I have but become a loud-sounding trumpet or a clanging cymbal...
/d/destitute.htm - 13k

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