Music: Instruments of Pipe
Jump to: Torrey'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Instruments of pipe hold a significant place in the musical traditions of the Bible, often associated with joy, celebration, and worship. These instruments, typically made from wood or reed, produce sound by directing air through a tube, creating melodies that accompany various aspects of life and worship in ancient Israel.

Biblical References and Usage

The earliest mention of pipe instruments in the Bible is found in Genesis 4:21, where Jubal is described as "the father of all who play the harp and flute." This passage highlights the antiquity and cultural importance of pipe instruments in human history.

In the context of worship, pipe instruments are frequently mentioned alongside other musical instruments. In 1 Samuel 10:5, the prophet Samuel tells Saul that he will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with "harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres" as they prophesy. This indicates the use of pipe instruments in prophetic and religious ceremonies.

The Book of Isaiah also references pipe instruments in a context of joy and celebration. Isaiah 30:29 states, "You will sing as on the night of a holy festival, and your hearts will rejoice like people playing pipes as they go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel." Here, the sound of pipes is associated with festive worship and the joy of approaching God's presence.

In the New Testament, Jesus refers to the playing of pipes in a parable to illustrate the contrasting reactions of people to His ministry and that of John the Baptist. In Matthew 11:17, He says, "We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn." This metaphor underscores the cultural familiarity with pipe music as a symbol of celebration and response.

Cultural and Religious Significance

Instruments of pipe were integral to the cultural and religious life of ancient Israel. They were used in various settings, from personal enjoyment to communal worship. The sound of the pipe was often associated with joy and festivity, as seen in the context of weddings and celebrations. Jeremiah 48:36 laments the destruction of Moab with the imagery of pipes, "Therefore My heart laments for Moab like a flute; it laments like a flute for the men of Kir Hareseth."

The use of pipe instruments in worship reflects the broader biblical theme of music as a means of expressing devotion and praise to God. The Psalms, though not specifically mentioning pipes, frequently call for the use of various instruments in worship, as in Psalm 150:4, "Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; praise Him with strings and flute."

Construction and Varieties

The construction of pipe instruments in biblical times likely varied, with materials such as wood, bone, or reed being used to create different tones and pitches. The simplicity of their design made them accessible to many, contributing to their widespread use in both sacred and secular contexts.

In summary, instruments of pipe in the Bible are emblematic of joy, celebration, and worship. Their presence in both Old and New Testament narratives underscores their importance in the cultural and religious life of the biblical world, serving as a reminder of the enduring power of music to express the human spirit's response to the divine.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
1 Kings 1:40
And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 5:12
And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 48:36
Therefore my heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and my heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches that he has gotten are perished.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

How to Conduct Ourselves at Feasts.
... For, in truth, such instruments are to be banished from the temperate ... we have heard
of stags being charmed by the pipe, and seduced by music into the ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter iv how to conduct ourselves.htm

Exhortation to Abandon the Impious Mysteries of Idolatry for the ...
... of things, not according to the Thracian music, which is ... and harp, which are but
lifeless instruments, and having ... For thou art my harp, and pipe, and temple ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter i exhortation to abandon the.htm

John I.
... for the delivery of his message no instruments of music ... and more profitable than
that of any harper or any music. ... man cannot learn well a melody on pipe or harp ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily i john i.htm

Psalm CL.
... general name for all instruments of music, although usage ... have said, to all musical
instruments, this instrument ... instrument; by breath, as by pipe, or anything ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cl.htm

Measures to Promote Revivals.
... leave the house whenever he heard the chorister blow his pipe. ... (5.) Instrumental
Music. By and by, in some congregations, various instruments were introduced ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture xiv measures to promote.htm

The Carcass and the Eagles
... their feasts had the adornment of music, which the ... who knew only the pastoral pipe
that gathered ... Worse than that, they 'devise musical instruments like David ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the carcass and the eagles.htm

A Prophet's Woes
... harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine ... Isaiah feels the incongruity that
music should be so ... it by adding to his list of musical instruments 'and wine ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/a prophets woes.htm

But Let There Be, as You Wish, Honour in Wine and in Incense...
... which you sing in the morning, joining your voices to the music of the pipe? ... Evidently
musical instruments; but while Isidore speaks of them as a kind of ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/32 but let there be.htm

The Joy of the Lord, the Strength of his People
... the gospel's balm and hear the gospel's music, and, therefore ... to the sound of stringed
instruments, ye do ... for acquiescence is another silver pipe through which ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the joy of the lord.htm

Of Christian Liberty.
... from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness ... and the viol, the
tablet and pipe, and wine ... possessions, or to be delighted with music, or to ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 19 of christian liberty.htm

Resources
Contemporary Christian music - is it honoring to God? Should it be used in church services? | GotQuestions.org

Is Christian rap music appropriate? | GotQuestions.org

Can a Christian worship God using music from a church with unbiblical teachings? | GotQuestions.org

Music: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Ipods

Music

Music in Church

Music in Heaven

Music of Heavenly Felicity

Music of Joy and Gladness

Music used in Idol Worship

Music: (Ceasing of) of Calamities

Music: Alamoth: A Musical Term Which Appears In

Music: Alamoth: And in the Title of

Music: Al-Taschith: It Appears in the Titles of

Music: Appointed to be Used in the Temple

Music: Chambers for Musicians in the Temple, in Ezekiel's Vision

Music: Chief Musician

Music: Considered Efficacious in Mental Disorders

Music: Custom of Sending Away Friends With

Music: Designed to Promote Joy

Music: Discoursed During the offering of Sacrifices

Music: Divided Into: Instrumental

Music: Divided Into: Vocal

Music: Early Invention of

Music: Effects Produced on the Prophets of Old By

Music: Generally Put Aside in Times of Affliction

Music: Higgaion

Music: Higgaion:

Music: Instruments of Cornet

Music: Instruments of Cymbals

Music: Instruments of Dulcimer

Music: Instruments of Dulcimer, a Double Pipe

Music: Instruments of Early Invention of

Music: Instruments of Flute

Music: Instruments of Gittith, a Stringed Instrument

Music: Instruments of Great Diversity of

Music: Instruments of Harp

Music: Instruments of Invented by David

Music: Instruments of Invented by Jubal

Music: Instruments of Made by Solomon

Music: Instruments of Made by Tyrians

Music: Instruments of Made of Almug Wood

Music: Instruments of Made of Brass

Music: Instruments of Made of Fir Wood

Music: Instruments of Made of Horns of Animals

Music: Instruments of Made of Silver

Music: Instruments of Many, With Strings

Music: Instruments of Often Expensively Ornamented

Music: Instruments of Organ

Music: Instruments of Organ, Probably Composed of Pipes Furnishing a Number of Notes

Music: Instruments of Pipe

Music: Instruments of Psaltery

Music: Instruments of Sackbut

Music: Instruments of Sackbut, a Harp

Music: Instruments of Tabret

Music: Instruments of The Jews Celebrated for Inventing

Music: Instruments of Timbrel

Music: Instruments of Trumpet

Music: Instruments of Viol

Music: Instruments of Viol, a Lyre

Music: Makalath, Maschil, Leannoth: These Terms are Found in the Titles of

Music: Maschil: This Musical Sign Occurs in the Titles of

Music: Micahtam: A Musical Term in the Titles of

Music: Muth-Labben in the Title of

Music: Neginah and Neginoth: Appear in the Titles of

Music: Nehiloth: Appears in the Title of

Music: Physical Effect of, on Man

Music: Precentor

Music: Sheminith in the Titles of

Music: Shiggaion in the Title of

Music: Shiggaion: And Its Plural, Shigionoth, in the Title of

Music: Shoshannim and Shushan-Eduth in the Titles To

Music: Signifies the Murmuring Tone of a Harp

Music: Teachers of

Music: The Jews Used in Commemorating Great Men

Music: The Jews Used in Dances

Music: The Jews Used in Funeral Ceremonies

Music: The Jews Used in Private Entertainments

Music: The Jews Used in Religious Feasts

Music: The Jews Used in Sacred Processions

Music: The Jews Used: At Consecration of Temple

Music: The Jews Used: At Coronation of Kings

Music: The Jews Used: At Dedication of City Walls

Music: The Jews Used: At Laying Foundation of Temple

Music: The Jews Used: To Celebrate Victories

Music: The Movements of Armies Regulated By

Music: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

Music: Vanity of all Unsanctified

Secular Music

Related Terms

Music-makers (18 Occurrences)

Music-maker (55 Occurrences)

Music-pipe (1 Occurrence)

Music-instruments (1 Occurrence)

String-music (8 Occurrences)

Musical (14 Occurrences)

Corded (37 Occurrences)

Door-keepers (34 Occurrences)

Pipe (13 Occurrences)

Maschil (26 Occurrences)

Lute (13 Occurrences)

Makers (20 Occurrences)

Lyre (32 Occurrences)

Musicians (6 Occurrences)

Melody (55 Occurrences)

Instrument (45 Occurrences)

Michtam (12 Occurrences)

Flute (16 Occurrences)

Gittith (6 Occurrences)

Playing (37 Occurrences)

Zither (3 Occurrences)

Strings (11 Occurrences)

Sambuca (4 Occurrences)

Singers (41 Occurrences)

Korahites (7 Occurrences)

Neginoth (6 Occurrences)

Play (61 Occurrences)

Sons (2429 Occurrences)

Sounding (99 Occurrences)

Timbrels (9 Occurrences)

Trigon (3 Occurrences)

Player (4 Occurrences)

Players (7 Occurrences)

Al-tashheth (4 Occurrences)

Asaph (47 Occurrences)

Symphony (3 Occurrences)

Sounds (64 Occurrences)

Loudly (31 Occurrences)

Singing (65 Occurrences)

Lyres (21 Occurrences)

Instruments (136 Occurrences)

Minstrel (1 Occurrence)

Psaltery (17 Occurrences)

Expert (59 Occurrences)

Obeisance (45 Occurrences)

Stringed (34 Occurrences)

Korah (51 Occurrences)

Horns (104 Occurrences)

Lutes (16 Occurrences)

Women-servants (21 Occurrences)

Improvise (1 Occurrence)

Finger (35 Occurrences)

Resembled (18 Occurrences)

Roar (53 Occurrences)

Read (681 Occurrences)

Endureth (63 Occurrences)

Endures (75 Occurrences)

Daughter-towns (17 Occurrences)

Dance (18 Occurrences)

Dancing (21 Occurrences)

Daughter (320 Occurrences)

March (41 Occurrences)

Maskil (13 Occurrences)

Praises (66 Occurrences)

Practice (71 Occurrences)

Beauty (98 Occurrences)

Cymbals (15 Occurrences)

Cries (116 Occurrences)

Aijeleth (1 Occurrence)

Set (6715 Occurrences)

Strum (1 Occurrence)

Instruction (117 Occurrences)

Jeduthun (15 Occurrences)

Hymn (5 Occurrences)

Blowing (31 Occurrences)

Choirmaster (55 Occurrences)

Voices (76 Occurrences)

Rooms (69 Occurrences)

Music: Instruments of Organ, Probably Composed of Pipes Furnishing a Number of Notes
Top of Page
Top of Page