Percussion Instruments (Biblical)

Percussion instruments are those that make their sound when struck or shaken; biblical percussion instruments include cymbals, the sistrum, bells, the gong, and the tambourine.

Cymbals

The usual Hebrew word for cymbals is mtziltayim (1 Chron. 15:16; 16:42; 25:1; 2 Chron. 5:13), a dual form indicating a pair of instruments struck together. Another form is tziltzlim, which may be onomatopoeic, that is, an attempt to represent the clashing sound made by the instrument in its name. This word is used...

 

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