קַתָרֹס (qi.ta.ros)
qi.ta.ros
lyre
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun qataros refers to a stringed musical instrument, most likely a lyre or zither. It appears only four times in the Old Testament, with three occurrences clustered in the book of Daniel (2:5, 2:9, and 3:5). In these contexts, it is listed alongside other instruments like the flute and harp as part of the ensemble that plays when Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue is honored.
Because the word appears to be a loanword rather than native Hebrew, its exact musical characteristics remain somewhat obscure. Scholars generally agree it denotes a plucked instrument with a frame, similar in function to the more common Hebrew kinnor (lyre) or nevel (harp). Its rarity in Scripture suggests it may have been a specific type of instrument known in the Babylonian court rather than one widely used in Israelite worship.
The term highlights the multicultural nature of Daniel’s setting, where foreign musical traditions are recorded alongside Hebrew narratives. While not central to theological instruction, its presence underscores the historical reality of exile and the diverse cultural elements present in the Persian Empire’s administration.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qataros appears in the book of Daniel to describe a lyre, an instrument played in the Babylonian court. It is listed alongside horns and pipes as part of the music that demanded worship of Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue. This rare Hebrew term highlights the foreign cultural setting where God’s people found themselves in exile.
For your faith, this word serves as a reminder of the pressure to conform. The music was not just entertainment; it was a signal for submission to a powerful king. Daniel and his friends faced this same soundscape but chose to remain faithful to God despite the threat of the fiery furnace.
When you encounter pressures to compromise your beliefs, remember that true worship does not require fear or external coercion. It flows from a heart aligned with God. You can trust Him even when the surrounding culture demands something different.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- zither4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קַתְר֨וֹס2×
- קַתְר֤וֹס1×
- קַתְר֣וֹס1×
Key Verses
-
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 that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.
This verse introduces the full ensemble of instruments, including the lyre, that signal the required act of worship.
-
Daniel 3:10
You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music shall fall down and worship the golden image;
Here the decree explicitly links hearing the music to the legal obligation to bow down.
-
Daniel 3:15
Now if you are ready whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the image which I have made, good; but if you don’t worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the middle of a burning fiery furnace. Who is that god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
Nebuchadnezzar uses the threat of the furnace to demand compliance when the music plays, highlighting the stakes for Daniel’s friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word qataros mean?
Why is this word significant in the book of Daniel?
How does qataros differ from other Hebrew words for music?
Every Occurrence (4 verses across 1 books)
Daniel 4 verses
that whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, you fall down…
Daniel 3:7Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all…
Daniel 3:10You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and…
Daniel 3:15Now if you are ready whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music…