כִּנּוֹר (kin.nor)

kin.nor

lyre

H3658 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 35 verses

H:N-M

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 35 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: H:N-M

Word Overview

The Hebrew noun kinnor refers to a lyre, a stringed instrument played by plucking or striking with the hand. It appears thirty-five times in the Old Testament, featuring prominently in the Psalms and historical books like Chronicles. The term describes both sacred worship and secular celebration, serving as a central accompaniment for singing in ancient Israelite culture.

Its etymology likely connects to a root meaning "to twang," suggesting a focus on the instrument's bright, resonant sound. While later traditions sometimes imagined complex designs, biblical texts depict it as a portable hand-held device. David famously played it to soothe King Saul (1 Samuel 16:23), and it accompanied joyful processions when the Ark of the Covenant returned to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:5).

Translators typically render kinnor as "harp," though this English word often evokes a large, standing instrument today. The sources clarify that the kinnor was smaller and more intimate, used for both mourning in Job 30:31 and rejoicing in Isaiah 5:12. Its versatility allowed it to express the full range of human emotion within the community's musical life.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The kinnor was a small, portable lyre, likely held in one hand while the strings were plucked or struck with the other. Unlike the large standing harps we often imagine today, this instrument was intimate and versatile. It accompanied both the joyous processions of Israel’s kings and the quiet moments of personal prayer. Its bright sound could fill a temple or soothe a troubled mind.

In your own life, music remains a bridge between emotion and spirit. When words fail, as they often do in deep grief or overwhelming joy, melody carries what language cannot. The psalmist invites us to praise with the lyre, acknowledging that our hearts find expression through song. This ancient instrument reminds us that worship is not just about doctrine but about the full range of human experience.

David played the kinnor for Saul when an evil spirit troubled him. The music did not solve political problems or change Saul’s heart, but it brought temporary relief and peace. In similar ways, the songs we sing today may not erase our struggles, but they can offer comfort and a sense of presence. We are invited to bring our whole selves—our mourning and our rejoicing—to God through these simple acts of praise.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 35 verses where it appears, by frequency.

and/ with/ harps6×
and/ harps6×
with/ a harp5×
and/ harp4×
with/ harps2×
harp2×
with/ harp1×
with <the>/ harp1×
the/ harp1×
on the/ harp1×
like <the>/ harp1×
harps/ our1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

וּ/בְ/כִנֹּר֔וֹת2×
וְ/כִנֹּר֥וֹת2×
וְ/כִנֹּר֔וֹת2×
בְּ/כִנֹּר֥וֹת2×
בְּ/כִנּ֑וֹר2×
כַּ/כִּנּ֖וֹר1×
כִּנּֽוֹר\׃1×
כִּנֹּרוֹתֵֽי/נוּ\׃1×
כִּנֹּרִ֑/י1×
כִּנּ֖וֹר1×
כִנּ֜וֹר1×
כִנּ֛וֹר1×

Key Verses

I Samuel 16:23
When the spirit from God was on Saul, David took the harp and played with his hand; so Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

This verse shows the kinnor used for therapeutic comfort, soothing Saul’s troubled spirit through David’s skilled playing.
Psalms 33:2
Give thanks to Yahweh with the lyre. Sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings.

Here the psalmist explicitly commands thanksgiving with the lyre, linking the instrument directly to acts of gratitude and praise.
Job 30:31
Therefore my harp has turned to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of those who weep.

Job describes his harp turning to mourning, illustrating how the same instrument expresses deep grief alongside joy.
II Samuel 6:5
David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with castanets, and with cymbals.

This passage depicts the kinnor as part of a massive communal celebration when the Ark of the Covenant returned to Jerusalem.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is a kinnor?

The kinnor is a Hebrew noun referring to a lyre, a small stringed instrument played by plucking or striking. It was portable and used in both sacred worship and secular celebrations throughout ancient Israel.

How is the kinnor different from a harp?

While often translated as 'harp' in English Bibles, the kinnor was likely smaller and more intimate than the large standing harps common in later Western music. It was held in the hand and suited for both solo performance and ensemble accompaniment.

Why does Job say his harp turned to mourning?

In Job 30:31, Job uses the kinnor as a metaphor for his own emotional state. Just as the instrument produces sound, his life had once produced joy; now, in suffering, even his music reflects grief and weeping.

Where does the kinnor appear most often?

The word appears thirty-five times in the Old Testament, with significant occurrences in the Psalms and the historical books of Samuel, Chronicles, and Kings. It is frequently associated with David’s ministry and temple worship.

Every Occurrence (35 verses across 10 books)

Genesis 2 verses

Genesis 4:21

His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.

Genesis 31:27

Why did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn’t tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with…

I Samuel 3 verses

II Samuel 1 verse

I Kings 1 verse

I Chronicles 8 verses

II Chronicles 4 verses

Nehemiah 1 verse

Job 2 verses

Psalms 8 verses

Isaiah 5 verses