Topical Encyclopedia
The flute is a musical instrument mentioned in the Bible, primarily within the context of worship, celebration, and cultural practices. It is a woodwind instrument that produces sound from the flow of air across an opening. In biblical times, the flute was likely made from materials such as reed, bone, or wood.
Biblical References:1.
Daniel 3:5, 7, 10, 15 : The flute is prominently mentioned in the Book of Daniel during the account of King Nebuchadnezzar's golden image. The king commanded that at the sound of various musical instruments, including the flute, all peoples were to fall down and worship the image. This passage highlights the flute's role in royal and religious ceremonies: "As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up."
2.
1 Kings 1:40 : The flute is also associated with celebration and joy. When Solomon was anointed king, the people rejoiced with music, including the sound of flutes: "And all the people went up after him, playing flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the ground shook with the sound."
3.
Isaiah 30:29 : The prophet Isaiah uses the imagery of the flute to describe the joy and celebration of God's people as they worship the Lord: "You will sing as on the night of a holy festival, and your hearts will rejoice like one who walks with a flute to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel."
Cultural and Religious Significance:In ancient Israel, music played a vital role in both religious and social contexts. The flute, as part of the ensemble of instruments, was used in various settings, from temple worship to royal courts and public celebrations. Its sound was associated with joy, festivity, and sometimes solemnity, depending on the occasion.
The use of the flute in worship and celebration underscores the importance of music in expressing devotion and communal joy. It served as a means to unite people in shared experiences, whether in reverence to God or in honoring a king.
Symbolism:The flute, with its melodious and often soothing sound, can symbolize the harmony and peace that comes from worship and obedience to God. It represents the joy and celebration that are integral to the life of faith, as well as the call to worship the one true God, as opposed to idols, as seen in the narrative of Daniel.
Conclusion:The flute, as depicted in the Bible, is more than just a musical instrument; it is a symbol of worship, celebration, and the cultural life of ancient Israel. Its presence in Scripture highlights the integral role of music in expressing faith and community values.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Flute(1 Kings 1:40) (marg.,PIPE), A musical instrument mentioned amongst others, (Daniel 3:5,7,10,15) as used at the worship of the golden image which Nebuchadnezzar had set up. It bore a close resemblance to the modern flute, and was made of reeds, of copper, and other material. It was the principal wind-instrument.
ATS Bible Dictionary
FluteA soft, sweet-toned wind instrument of music. The word flute is used only inDaniel 3:5,7,10,15, and is supposed to mean a pipe with two reeds, such as are still to be found in the East. It is blown at the end. SeeMUSIC,PIPE.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A musical instrument, probably composed of a number of pipes, mentioned
Dan. 3:5, 7, 10, 15.
InMatthew 9:23, 24, notice is taken of players on the flute, here called "minstrels" (but in R.V. "flute-players").
Flutes were in common use among the ancient Egyptians.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A musical wind instrument, consisting of a hollow cylinder or pipe, with holes along its length, stopped by the fingers or by keys which are opened by the fingers. The modern flute is closed at the upper end, and blown with the mouth at a lateral hole.
2. (n.) A channel of curved section; -- usually applied to one of a vertical series of such channels used to decorate columns and pilasters in classical architecture.
3. (n.) A similar channel or groove made in wood or other material, esp. in plaited cloth, as in a lady's ruffle.
4. (n.) A long French breakfast roll.
5. (n.) A stop in an organ, having a flutelike sound.
6. (n.) A kind of flyboat; a storeship.
7. (v. i.) To play on, or as on, a flute; to make a flutelike sound.
8. (v. t.) To play, whistle, or sing with a clear, soft note, like that of a flute.
9. (v. t.) To form flutes or channels in, as in a column, a ruffle, etc.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
FLUTEfloot.
SeeMUSIC.
Greek
832. auleo -- to play on aflute... to play on a
flute. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: auleo Phonetic Spelling:
(ow-leh'-o) Short Definition: I play the
flute, pipe Definition: I play the
...836. aulos -- a pipe,flute
... a pipe,flute. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: aulos Phonetic Spelling:
(ow-los') Short Definition: aflute, pipe Definition: aflute, pipe....
834. auletes -- aflute player
... aflute player. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: auletes Phonetic
Spelling: (ow-lay-tace') Short Definition: aflute-player Definition: aflute...
2351. thorubos -- an uproar
... (Mk 5:35-39) Josephus ( ad 1st century) reports that hiredflute players
were common in NT times. They performed public lamentations...
Strong's Hebrew
2485. chalil --flute, pipe... 2484, 2485. chalil. 2486 .
flute, pipe. Transliteration: chalil Phonetic
Spelling: (khaw-leel') Short Definition:
flute. Word Origin
...5155. nechilah -- perhapsflute (a musical instrument).
... 5154, 5155. nechilah. 5156 . perhapsflute (a musical instrument).... Word Origin
perhaps from chalil Definition perhapsflute (a musical instrument). aflute...
5748. uggab -- (a reed musical instrument) perhaps aflute
... uggab or uggab. 5749 . (a reed musical instrument) perhaps aflute. Transliteration:
uggab or uggab Phonetic Spelling: (oo-gawb') Short Definition:flute....
4953. mashroqi -- a (musical) pipe
... 4952, 4953. mashroqi. 4954 . a (musical) pipe. Transliteration: mashroqi
Phonetic Spelling: (mash-ro-kee') Short Definition:flute....flute....
2490. chalal -- to bore, pierce
... (from chaliyl) to play (theflute) -- begin (X men began), defile, X break, defile,
X eat (as common things), X first, X gather the grape thereof, X take...
Library
How to Conduct Ourselves at Feasts.
... day, not spending our time in rioting and drunkenness, in chambering and wantonness."
[1401] Let the pipe be resigned to the shepherds, and theflute to the...
The Test by Fire
... Then the herald cried aloud, "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations: 'The moment
you hear the sound of the trumpet,flute, lute, harp, bagpipe, and all...
That the Form of Man was Framed to Serve as an Instrument for the...
... 3. Now the music of the human instrument is a sort of compound offlute and lyre,
sounding together in combination as in a concerted piece of music....
Acts of the Holy Apostle Thomas.
... And, behold, the voices offlute-players, and of water-organs, and trumpets, sounding
round them; and the apostle inquired, saying: What festival is this in...
The Testimony of the Prophets.
... of their minds by the impulses of the Divine Spirit, uttered the things with which
they were inspired, the Spirit making use of them as aflute-player [722...
The Physical Theory Continued Further Reasons Advanced against the...
... For even in your amusements you do not award the crown as a prize to theflute or
the harp, but to the musician who manages the saidflute or harp by the power...
Another Cavil Answered, IE , the Fall Imputable to God, Because...
... And in an act of your own, such as blowing into aflute, you would not thereby make
theflute human, although it was your own human breath which you breathed...
Jairus' Daughter and the Invalid Woman.
... a and saw theflute-players, and the crowd making a tumult, 24 he said, Give place
[Mourning began at the moment of death, and continued without intermission...
Philosophy Conveys Only an Imperfect Knowledge of God.
... him. For as the lyre is only for the harper, and theflute for the
flute-player; so good things are the possessions of good men....
Whitefield -- the Method of Grace
... over immense congregations was largely due to his histrionic talent and his exquisitely
modulated voice, which has been described as "an organ, aflute, a harp...
Thesaurus
Flute (16 Occurrences)... 3:5, 7, 10, 15. In Matthew 9:23, 24, notice is taken of players on the
flute,
here called "minstrels" (but in RV "
flute-players").
...Flute-players (2 Occurrences)
Flute-players.Flute,Flute-players. Flutes . Multi-Version
ConcordanceFlute-players (2 Occurrences). Matthew 9:23...
Pipe (13 Occurrences)
... The Hebrew word halil, so rendered, means "bored through," and is the name given
to various kinds of wind instruments, as the fife,flute, Pan-pipes, etc....
Lute (13 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 5:12 The harp, lyre, tambourine, andflute, with wine, are at their feasts;
but they don't respect the work of Yahweh, neither have they considered the...
Musick (10 Occurrences)
... Daniel 3:5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet,flute, harp, sackbut,
psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the...
Psaltery (17 Occurrences)
... Daniel 3:5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet,flute, harp, sackbut,
psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the...
Cornet (8 Occurrences)
... Daniel 3:5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet,flute, harp, sackbut,
psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the...
Lyre (32 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 5:12 The harp, lyre, tambourine, andflute, with wine, are at their feasts;
but they don't respect the work of Yahweh, neither have they considered the...
Sackbut (4 Occurrences)
... Daniel 3:5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet,flute, harp, sackbut,
psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the...
Zither (3 Occurrences)
... Daniel 3:5 that whenever you hear the sound of the horn,flute, zither, lyre, harp,
pipe, and all kinds of music, you fall down and worship the golden image...
Resources
What is Psalm 151? Should Psalm 151 be in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat did the Israelites do during a mourning period (Deuteronomy 34:8)? | GotQuestions.orgShould Christians celebrate Father's Day? | GotQuestions.orgFlute: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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