מְצִלְתַּיִם (me.tse.let)
me.tse.let
cymbal
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Definition
Definition
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word meztalaim refers to the metallic cymbals used in ancient Israelite worship. These were not background noise but essential tools for lifting voices in joy and marking sacred moments. When David organized the Levites, he placed these instruments at the center of temple service, showing that praise is meant to be bold, communal, and wholehearted.
For your faith life, this word reminds us that worship is not a private whisper but a shared declaration. Whether in times of rebuilding or dedication, Christians are called to join the chorus of gratitude. The cymbals signal that God deserves our loudest thanks, echoing through history as we honor Him together.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with/ cymbals4×
- and/ with/ cymbals3×
- with <the>/ cymbals2×
- and/ cymbals2×
- cymbals1×
- and/ with/ [the] cymbals1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בִּ/מְצִלְתַּ֙יִם֙3×
- וּ/בִ/מְצִלְתָּ֑יִם2×
- מְצִלְתַּ֖יִם1×
- וּ/מְצִלְתָּ֑יִם1×
- וּ/מְצִלְתַּ֙יִם֙1×
- וּ/בִ/מְצִלְתַּ֜יִם1×
- וּ/בִ/מְצִלְתַּ֖יִם1×
- בַּֽ/מְצִלְתַּ֥יִם1×
- בַּֽ/מְצִלְתַּ֔יִם1×
- בִּ/מְצִלְתַּ֥יִם1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 15:16
David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers with instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up their voices with joy.
This verse establishes the official role of cymbals in Levitical worship, showing they were assigned to specific leaders to lead the congregation in joyful sound.
-
II Chronicles 5:13
when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking Yahweh; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised Yahweh, saying, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever!” then the house was filled with a cloud, even Yahweh’s house,
Here the cymbals join trumpeters and singers to create one unified sound that fills the temple with God's glory, highlighting their role in corporate praise.
-
Ezra 3:10
When the builders laid the foundation of Yahweh’s temple, they set the priests in their vestments with trumpets, with the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Yahweh, according to the directions of David king of Israel.
The use of cymbals during the laying of the temple foundation connects the post-exilic community to David’s original worship patterns, emphasizing continuity in praising God.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does meztalaim mean in the Bible?
Why are cymbals mentioned so often in Chronicles?
How is meztalaim different from other musical terms?
Every Occurrence (13 verses across 4 books)
I Chronicles 8 verses
David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, with harps, with stringed instruments,…
I Chronicles 15:16David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers with instruments of music, stringed…
I Chronicles 15:19So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were given cymbals of bronze to sound aloud;
I Chronicles 15:28Thus all Israel brought the ark of Yahweh’s covenant up with shouting, with sound of the cornet, with trumpets, and…
I Chronicles 16:5Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom,…
I Chronicles 16:42and with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should sound aloud, and with instruments for…
I Chronicles 25:1Moreover, David and the captains of the army set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of…
I Chronicles 25:6All these were under the hands of their father for song in Yahweh’s house, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and…