Scripture names a large number of musical instruments, particularly in the OT, reflecting the importance of music in Israelite worship and culture.
Wind instruments
Trumpets
Exodus 19:16, Exodus 20:18; Leviticus 25:9; Judges 3:27; 1 Kings 1:39; Psalm 150:3; Revelation 8:7–13
Flutes
Genesis 4:21; Job 21:12; Psalm 150:4; Daniel 3:5–15; Matthew 9:23, Matthew 11:17
Horns
Psalm 98:4–6 The NIV translates several different Hebrew words as “ram's horn” or “horn”, including “shophar” (Psalm 81:3) which is translated elsewhere as “trumpet”. The horn was a very similar instrument to the trumpet, being made from the horn of an animal, usually a ram. See also Exodus 19:13; 2 Chronicles 15:14; Psalm 81:3
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth — let your cry ring out, and sing praises! Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, in melodious song with the harp. With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn shout for joy before the LORD, the King.
Stringed instruments
Harps
Genesis 4:21; 1 Samuel 16:18; Job 30:31; Psalm 43:4, Psalm 81:2, Psalm 149:3, Psalm 150:3; Daniel 3:5–11; Revelation 5:8
Lyres
Psalm 33:2, Psalm 71:22, Psalm 81:2, Psalm 108:2, Psalm 144:9; Daniel 3:5–10
Several of the psalms were intended to be sung to the accompaniment of stringed instruments
PSA 4:0 See also PSA 6:0, PSA 54:0, PSA 55:0, PSA 61:0, PSA 67:0, PSA 76:0
Percussion instruments
Tambourines
Psalm 149:3; Isaiah 5:12 See also Genesis 31:27; Exodus 15:20–21; Judges 11:34; 1 Samuel 10:5, 1 Samuel 18:6–7; 2 Samuel 6:5 parallel 1 Chronicles 13:8; Job 21:12; Psalm 68:24–25, Psalm 81:1–2, Psalm 150:4; Isaiah 24:8, Isaiah 30:32; Jeremiah 31:4
Let them praise His name with dancing, and make music to Him with tambourine and harp.
At their feasts are the lyre and harp, tambourines and flutes and wine. They disregard the actions of the LORD and fail to see the work of His hands.
Cymbals
Psalm 150:1–6; 1 Corinthians 13:1 See also 2 Samuel 6:5 parallel 1 Chronicles 13:81CH 1 Chronicles 15:16, 1 Chronicles 15:19, 1 Chronicles 16:5, 1 Chronicles 16:42, 1 Chronicles 25:1, 1 Chronicles 25:6 1 Chronicles 15:28; 2 Chronicles 5:12–13, 2 Chronicles 29:25; Ezra 3:10; Nehemiah 12:27
Hallelujah! Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty heavens. Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him for His excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the horn; praise Him with the harp and lyre. Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; praise Him with strings and flute. Praise Him with clashing cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Hallelujah!
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.
Sistrums
They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart, bringing with it the ark of God. And Ahio was walking in front of the ark. 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.
Babylonian instruments
Daniel 3:4–5 See also Daniel 3:7, Daniel 3:10, Daniel 3:15; Revelation 18:21–22
Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded: 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.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.