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2 Chronicles 20:28 — Word Study

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WLCוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם בִּנְבָלִ֥ים וּבְכִנֹּר֖וֹת וּבַחֲצֹצְר֑וֹת אֶל־ בֵּ֖ית יְהוָֽה׃

BSASo they enteredbôwʼ [came to, arrived at] JerusalemYᵉrûwshâlaim [the city of peace] and went intoʼêl [approached, came to] the housebayith [temple, dwelling place] of the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the Lord God] with harpsnebel [accompanied by, psalteries, stringed instruments] lyreskinnôwr [a musical instrument] and trumpetschătsôtsᵉrâh [used to signal important events, made a quavering note]

Word
Listen & take away2 Chronicles 20
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 28 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (Yah.weh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
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2 Chronicles 20:28quick helps
In a sentenceThe people of Judah joyfully entered Jerusalem and approached the house of the LORD with musical instruments.
Who is speakingThe narrative describes the actions of the men of Judah and Jerusalem under Jehoshaphat's leadership.
Where we areThis verse describes the celebratory return to Jerusalem after a victory.
The hard wordיְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם
Take awayThe people came together to worship, marking a moment of joy and gratitude.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbבּוֹא The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — 2 Chronicles 20:28

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Celebration of Victorygenerated

27Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies.
28So they entered Jerusalem and went into the house of the LORD with harps, lyres, and trumpets.
29And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.
30Then Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

2 Chronicles 20:28 describes the joyful return of the men of Judah and Jerusalem to their capital after a significant victory. They came together to worship in the house of the LORD, celebrating with music and instruments. This moment highlights the importance of communal worship and gratitude to God for His deliverance, similar to the celebrations described in 2 Samuel 6:5 and 1 Chronicles 13:8.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
12 Samuel 6:5David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of wood instruments, harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.
21 Chronicles 13:8David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
31 Chronicles 23:54,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I have made for giving praise.”
41 Chronicles 25:6All these were under the direction of their fathers for the music of the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the direction of the king.
5Psalm 57:8Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם, ye.Ru.sha.Limgenerated

The word יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫͏ם (ye.Ru.sha.Lim) refers to Jerusalem, the capital city of Palestine, often called the city of peace. Its name suggests a foundation of peace, reflecting its significance in the biblical narrative.

As a proper noun, it appears in the context of worship and community, emphasizing Jerusalem's role as the dwelling place of God and the center of Israel's religious life.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses Jerusalem for יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫͏ם.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יָּבֹ֨אוּ֙, and they came, governs the entire sentence, with several phrases detailing their actions and the location. The structure highlights the movement towards a significant place of worship.

The prepositional phrases that follow describe the destination and the means of their approach, emphasizing the communal aspect of their worship with musical instruments.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫͏ם as ιερουσαλημ, maintaining the name of the city. This shows continuity in the significance of Jerusalem across both Hebrew and Greek texts.

The Greek word εἰσῆλθον corresponds to the Hebrew verb וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙, indicating entrance or arrival, which aligns with the celebratory context of the verse.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Chronicles 20:28 tells us that the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully after a victory, entering the city and going to the house of the LORD with musical instruments. This celebration marks a moment of gratitude and worship, emphasizing the importance of community in praising God.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that they entered the house of the LORD?

Entering the house of the LORD signifies approaching the temple for worship and offering thanks to God for His help and deliverance.

Why is music mentioned in this verse?

Music is an important part of worship in the Bible, symbolizing joy and celebration, especially in moments of communal thanksgiving.

What is the significance of Jerusalem in this context?

Jerusalem is the central place of worship for the Israelites and represents peace and God's presence among His people.

How does this verse connect to other biblical celebrations?

This verse connects to other instances in the Bible where the people gather to worship and celebrate God's victories, such as in 2 Samuel 6:5.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I incorporate music into my worship and expressions of gratitude?
  2. What are some ways I can celebrate God's victories in my life with others?
  3. Why is it important to gather as a community for worship and thanksgiving?
  4. In what ways can I reflect on the significance of Jerusalem as a place of peace and worship?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Chronicles 20:28 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries, and harps, and trumpets,.... The three principal instruments of music used in singing the praises of God; these they played upon as they came to the city,

Read John Gill on 2 Chronicles 20 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for

Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Chronicles 20 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

To renew their praises in the court of the temple, the proper and usual place for it.

Read Matthew Poole on 2 Chronicles 20 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2 Chronicles 20:28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.Ver. 28. Unto the house of the Lord.] Not to tippling houses and wine taverns, as now-a-days the manner of some is. Non recta in aenopolia se contulerunt. - Lavat.

Read John Trapp on 2 Chronicles 20 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(28) With psalteries.—So Vulg. Rather, with harps, guitars, and clarions. (Comp. Psalms 47:5-6, which may be supposed to commemorate this procession to the Temple.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Chronicles 20 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

28. They came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps — It was one of the most magnificent triumphal enterings into Jerusalem that had ever been witnessed, and it was celebrated accordingly.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 2 Chronicles 20 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

So they entered Jerusalem and went into the house of the LORD with harps, lyres, and trumpets.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

They came to Jerusalem with stringed instruments, harps, and trumpets to Yahweh’s house.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

So they entered Jerusalem and went into the house of the LORD with harps, lyres, and trumpets.

NETBNew English Translation2006

They entered Jerusalem to the sound of stringed instruments and trumpets and proceeded to the temple of the Lord.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of Jehovah.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets to the house of the LORD.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And they came to Ierusalem with viols and with harpes, and with trumpets, euen vnto the house of the Lord.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And they came to Jerusalem with lutes and harps and trumpets, to the house of Jehovah.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And they come in to Jerusalem with psalteries, and with harps, and with trumpets, unto the house of Jehovah.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And they come to Jerusalem with psalteries, and with harps, and with trumpets, to the house of YHWH.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and with harps and with trumpets unto the house of the Lord.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

They came to Jerusalem and to the house of Yahweh with lyres, harps, and trumpets.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And they came into Jerusalem with psalteries, and harps, and trumpets into the house of the Lord.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They entered Jerusalem and went straight to the Temple of the Lord, accompanied by music from harps, lyres, and trumpets.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

So they came to Jerusalem with corded instruments and wind-instruments into the house of the Lord.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseverbיָּבֹ֨אוּ֙they.cameadverbialיְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םJerusalemprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseבִּwithנְבָלִ֥יםlyresוּandprepositional phraseבְwithכִנֹּר֖וֹתharpsוּandprepositional phraseבַwithחֲצֹצְר֑וֹתtrumpetsprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtonoun phraseבֵּ֖יתthe.houseיְהוָֽהof.Yahweh

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all eight words matched in the Greek translation. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the text's meaning across these traditions.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם בִּנְבָלִ֥ים וּבְכִנֹּר֖וֹת וּבַחֲצֹצְר֑וֹת אֶל־ בֵּ֖ית יְהוָֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙εἰσῆλθονיְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םιερουσαλημבִּנְבָלִ֥יםνάβλαιςוּבְכִנֹּר֖וֹתκινύραιςוּבַחֲצֹצְר֑וֹתσάλπιγχινאֶל־εἰςבֵּ֖יתοἶκονיְהוָֽה׃κυρίου

8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

2 Chronicles 20:28בּוֹאand they caand they cameבּוֹאיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫JerusalemJerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫נֵ֫בֶלwith lyreswith lyresנֵ֫בֶלכִּנּוֹרand with haand with harpsכִּנּוֹרחֲצֹצְרָהand with trand with trumpeחֲצֹצְרָהאֶלtotoאֶלבֵּית[the] house[the] house ofבֵּיתיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהחצצרto blowto blowחצצרבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהנָבֵלbe senselebe senselessנָבֵלהָיָהto beto beהָיָהיְרוּשְׁלֵםJerusalemJerusalemיְרוּשְׁלֵםיָרָאto shootto shootיָרָאמְצִלְתַּיִםcymbalcymbalמְצִלְתַּיִםשֶׁ֫מֶשׁsunsunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁמָלַךְto reignto reignמָלַךְחוֹמָהwallwallחוֹמָהכִּנּוֹרlyrelyreכִּנּוֹרנֵ֫בֶלbagbagנֵ֫בֶלתְּרוּעָהshoutshoutתְּרוּעָהפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫האוֹצָרtreasuretreasureאוֹצָרנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָא
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in 2 Chronicles 20:28

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and they came Jerusalem with lyres and with harps and with trumpets to [the] house of Yahweh
וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙vai.ya.Vo.'u and they came H935 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
2,573× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Amplified meaning
came to, arrived at
Tyndale gloss
Lebo
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go

Qal

come in

come (approach, arrive)

go, i.e. walk, associate with

go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

Hiph.

cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

Hoph.

be brought in (of pers. and things)

be brought

be introduced, put

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in

. come (approach, arrive)

. go, i.e. walk, associate with

. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

. . be brought in (of pers. and things)

. be brought

. be introduced, put

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

935 bow' bo

a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of

applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +

besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X

certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,

upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,

(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be

fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),

grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,

pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken

(in age), X surely, take (in), way.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.

: come/go_in

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

1a5) to go

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to lead in

1b2) to carry in

1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon

1b4) to bring to pass

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be brought, brought in

1c2) to be introduced, be put

לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).

This name means to go in, enter

Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.

: towards/entrance

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vqw3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they came Jerusalem with lyres and with harps and with trumpets to [the] house of Yahweh
יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םye.Ru.sha.Lim Jerusalem H3389 Noun proper
643× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Jerusalem is the capital city of Palestine, also known as the city of peace. It was the chief city of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
Amplified meaning
the city of peace
Tyndale gloss
Jerusalem
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫͏ם (Yruwshalaim) refers to Jerusalem, the capital city of Palestine. The name is thought to derive from terms meaning 'founded peaceful' and is linked to its two main hills. It is described as the chief city of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫͏ם, יְרוּשָׁלַ֫יִם 644 n.pr.loc. Jerusalem

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3389 יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫͏ם, יְרוּשָׁלַ֫יִם Jerusalem

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3389 Yruwshalaim yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im

rarely Yruwshalayim {yer-oo- shaw-lah'-yim}; a dual (in

allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of

the former reading, seems to be that of 3390)); probably from

(the passive participle of) 3384 and 7999; founded peaceful;

Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of

Palestine:--Jerusalem.

see HEBREW for 03390

see HEBREW for 03384

see HEBREW for 07999

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם (ye.ru.sha.laim) — Jerusalem.

§ Jerusalem = "teaching of peace"

the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

je-roo'-sa-lem:

I. THE NAME

1. In Cuneiform

2. In Hebrew

3. In Greek and Latin

4. The Meaning of Jerusalem

5. Other Names

II. GEOLOGY, CLIMATE AND SPRINGS

1. Geology

2. Climate and Rainfall

3. The Natural Springs

III. THE NATURAL SITE

1. The Mountains Around

2. The Valleys

3. The Hills

IV. GENERAL TOPOGRAPHY OF JERUSALEM

1. Description of Josephus

2. Summary of the Names of the Five Hills

3. The Akra

4. The Lower City

5. City of David and Zion

V. EXCAVATIONS AND ANTIQUITIES

1. Robinson

2. Wilson, and the Palestine Exploration Fund (1865)

3. Warren and Conder

4. Maudslay

5. Schick

6. Clermont-Ganneau

7. Bliss and Dickie

8. Jerusalem Archaeological Societies

VI. THE CITY'S WALLS AND GATES

1. The Existing Walls

2. Wilson's Theory

3. The Existing Gates

4. Buried Remains of Earlier Walls

5. The Great Dam of the Tyropoeon

6. Ruins of Ancient Gates

7. Josephus' Description of the Walls

8. First Wall

9. Second Wall

10. Third Wall

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Jerusalem

Called also Salem, Ariel, Jebus, the “city of God,” the “holy city;” by the modern Arabs el-Khuds, meaning “the holy;” once “the city of Judah” (2 Chr. 25:28). This name is in the original in the dual form, and means “possession of peace,” or “foundation of peace.” The dual form probably refers to the two mountains on which it was built, viz., Zion and Moriah; or, as some suppose, to the two parts of the city, the “upper” and the “lower city.” Jerusalem is a “mountain city enthroned on a mountain fastness” (comp. Ps. 68:15, 16; 87:1; 125:2; 76:1, 2; 122:3). It stands on the edge of one of the highest table-lands in Palestine, and is surrounded on the south-eastern, the southern, and the western sides by deep and precipitous ravines.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(the habitation of peace), Jerusalem stands in latitude 31 degrees 46’ 35" north and longitude 35 degrees 18’ 30" east of Greenwich. It is 32 miles distant from the sea and 18 from the Jordan, 20 from Hebron and 36 from Samaria. "In several respects," says Dean Stanley, "its situation is singular among the cities of Palestine. Its elevation is remarkable; occasioned not from its being on the summit of one of the numerous hills of Judea, like most of the towns and villages, but because it is on the edge of one of the highest table-lands of the country. Hebron indeed is higher still by some hundred feet, and from the south, accordingly (even from Bethlehem), the approach to Jerusalem is by a slight descent. But from any other side the ascent is perpetual; and to the traveller approaching the city from the east or west it must always have presented the appearance beyond any other capital…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The chief city of the Holy Land, and to the Christian the most illustrious in the world. It is situated in 31 degrees 46’43" N. lat., and 35 degrees 13’ E. long. on elevated ground south of the center of the country, about thirty-seven miles from the Mediterranean, and about twenty-four from the Jordan. Its site was early hallowed by God’s trial of Abraham’s faith, Ge 22:1-24 2Ch 3:1. It was on the border of the tribes of Benjamin and Judah, mostly within the limits of the former, but reckoned as belonging to the latter, because conquered by it, Jos 15:8 18:16,28 Jud 1:18. The most ancient name of the city was Salem, Ge…

and they came Jerusalem with lyres and with harps and with trumpets to [the] house of Yahweh
בִּנְבָלִ֥יםbin.va.Lim with lyres H5035 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A harp is a musical instrument, and this word is also used to describe a skin-bag for liquids or a vase. It is often translated as a psaltery or viol in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
accompanied by, psalteries, stringed instruments
Tyndale gloss
bag
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נֵ֫בֶל (nevel) refers to both a container and a musical instrument. It can denote a skin-bottle or jar used for liquids, as well as a harp or lute. The word is derived from a root meaning to collapse, reflecting its use for a flexible container. The entries consistently highlight these two main meanings without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֵ֫בֶל n.m.

skin-bottle, skin

jar, pitcher

base

נֵ֫בֶל, נֶ֫בֶל n.m. a musical instrument, either a portable harp, or a lute, guitar

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5035a נֵ֫בֶל . skin-bottle, skin

. jar, pitcher

H5035b נֵ֫בֶל, נֶ֫בֶל a musical instrument, either a portable harp, or a lute, guitar

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5035 nebel neh'-bel

or nebel {nay'-bel}; from 5034; a skin-bag for liquids (from

collapsing when empty); hence, a vase (as similar in shape

when full); also a lyre (as having a body of like

form):--bottle, pitcher, psaltery, vessel, viol.

see HEBREW for 05034

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֵ֫בֶל (ne.vel) — bag.

1) a skin-bag, jar, pitcher

1a) skin-bottle, skin

1b) jar, pitcher (earthen)

נֵ֫בֶל (ne.vel) — harp.

harp, lute, guitar, musical instrument

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
HR/Ncmpa
and they came Jerusalem with lyres and with harps and with trumpets to [the] house of Yahweh
וּבְכִנֹּר֖וֹתu.ve.khi.no.Rot and with harps H3658 Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine plural absolute
42× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Kinnor is a musical instrument, specifically a lyre or harp. It is used to make music and is mentioned in the Bible as a instrument used by musicians.
Amplified meaning
a musical instrument
Tyndale gloss
lyre
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּנּוֹר (kinnor) refers to a lyre or harp, derived from a root meaning to twang. The term is consistently used across lexicons to denote this stringed musical instrument.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּנּוֹר n.m. lyre

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3658 כִּנּוֹר lyre

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3658 kinnowr kin-nore'

from a unused root meaning to twang; a harp: -harp.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּנּוֹר (kin.nor) — lyre.

lyre, harp

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-mp — Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine plural absolute
HC/R/Ncfpa
and they came Jerusalem with lyres and with harps and with trumpets to [the] house of Yahweh
וּבַחֲצֹצְר֑וֹתu.va.cha.tzo.tze.Rot and with trumpets H2689 Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine plural absolute
29× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for trumpet, which made a quavering note, is used in the Bible to signal important events. In Numbers 10:2, God tells Moses to make two trumpets to call the community together. Trumpets were also used in battle, as in Joshua 6:4.
Amplified meaning
used to signal important events, made a quavering note
Tyndale gloss
trumpet
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֲצֹצְרָה (chatsotsrah) refers to a trumpet, characterized by its distinctive sound. It is noted for both secular and sacred uses, suggesting its importance in various contexts. The word is derived from a related term, חָצֹר (chatsor), which also pertains to sound.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֲצֹצְרָה n.f. clarion

as secular instr.

as sacred instr.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2689 חֲצֹצְרָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2689 chatsotsrah khats-o-tser-aw'

by reduplication from 2690; a trumpet (from its sundered or

quavering note):--trumpet(-er).

see HEBREW for 02690

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֲצֹצְרָה (cha.tso.tse.rah) — trumpet.

trumpet, clarion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-fp — Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine plural absolute
HC/R/Ncfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Trumpets

Were of a great variety of forms, and were made of divers materials. Some were made of silver (Num. 10:2), and were used only by the priests in announcing the approach of festivals and in giving signals of war. Some were also made of rams’ horns (Josh. 6:8). They were blown at special festivals, and to herald the arrival of special seasons (Lev. 23:24; 25:9; 1 Chr. 15:24; 2 Chr. 29:27; Ps. 81:3; 98:6).

“Trumpets” are among the symbols used in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 1:10; 8:2). (See HORN.)

Nave's Topical Bible

→ FEAST OF

When and how observed Le 23:24,25; Nu 29:1-6

Celebrated after the captivity with joy Ne 8:2,9-12

See FEASTS

and they came Jerusalem with lyres and with harps and with trumpets to [the] house of Yahweh
אֶל־'el- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Amplified meaning
approached, came to
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
and they came Jerusalem with lyres and with harps and with trumpets to [the] house of Yahweh
בֵּ֖יתbeit [the] house of H1004 Noun common · masculine singular construct
2,049× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Amplified meaning
temple, dwelling place
Tyndale gloss
place
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בַּיִת (*bayith*) means 'house' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including dwelling, family, and place. It can refer to physical structures, such as homes and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like the body or household affairs. The word is built from the root related to 'between' and appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between

base

בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house

house

place

receptacle

of house as containing a family

household, family (592 t.)

house, including household affairs

lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards

מִבַּיִת

adv. on the inside

prep. within

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1004a בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between H1004b בַּ֫יִת house

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1004 bayith bah'-yith

probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest

variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court,

daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as

would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold),

inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet,

temple, web, + within(-out).

see HEBREW for 01129

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּית (bet) — place.

nm

place, origin, between

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.

: home/temple/building

nm

1) house

1a) house, dwelling habitation

1b) shelter or abode of animals

1c) human bodies (fig.)

1d) of Sheol

1e) of abode of light and darkness

1f) of land of Ephraim

2) place

3) receptacle

4) home, house as containing a family

5) household, family

5a) those belonging to the same household

5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body

6) household affairs

7) inwards (metaph.)

8) (TWOT) temple

adv

9) on the inside

prep

10) within

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Combined with ash.be.a (אַשְׁבֵּעַ "Ashbea" H0791)

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they came Jerusalem with lyres and with harps and with trumpets to [the] house of Yahweh
יְהוָֽה׃Yah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, the Lord God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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