📖 Biblical Definition
The lyre in Scripture overlaps heavily with the harp — it is the portable, handheld stringed instrument of David, the Levitical choirs, the prophetic schools, and heavenly worship. Jubal first crafted it (Gen 4:21). David's mastery of the lyre brought him to Saul's court (1 Sam 16:18). The temple worship of Solomon employed 288 trained singers with lyres, harps, and cymbals (1 Chron 25:7). The exiles in Babylon hung their lyres on the willows because they could not sing the LORD's song in a foreign land (Ps 137:2-4). Heaven itself rings with lyres: the 144,000 redeemed sing "a new song before the throne" accompanied by "harpers playing on their harps" (Rev 14:2-3). Lyres and harps together are the signature sound of sanctified music across Scripture.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
LYRE, n.
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LYRE, n. [Gr. lyra.] A stringed instrument of music, resembling the harp but lighter, and usually held in the hand; a species of the cithara, or Hebrew kinnor. It was the common instrument of ancient Israel, and the same which David played to Saul, and upon which the Levitical choirs accompanied the temple Psalms. The lyre, in Scripture, is the instrument of praise, of prophecy, and of holy mourning; and in the Revelation, the redeemed hold lyres as they sing before the throne of God the new song of the Lamb.
📖 Key Scripture
1 Chronicles 25:7 — "The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the LORD, all who were skillful, was 288."
2 Kings 3:15 — "But now bring me a musician. And when the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon him."
Psalm 150:3 — "Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!"
Revelation 14:2-3 — "I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Much of modern worship has cut away instrumental skill; the Bible models a trained, skilled instrumental culture.
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First Chronicles 25 is astonishing: 288 highly skilled instrumentalists, trained to lead the worship of Israel, organized in courses. Solomon's temple was a music academy. Modern evangelicalism — having swung away from "performance" fears — has often underinvested in trained musicians, leaving worship to whoever is willing. This is neither the Old Testament pattern nor the heavenly pattern (harpers in tune, singing a new song). Train singers. Train instrumentalists. Honor musical skill in the church rather than making it suspect. The redeemed will sing and play with skill forever; we might as well start practicing now.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
H3658 — kinnor (כִּנּוֹר) — lyre, harp.
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H3658 — kinnor (כִּנּוֹר) — lyre/harp; the portable stringed instrument of David and the Psalms.
G2788 — kithara (κιθάρα) — lyre, harp; instruments of the heavenly worshipers.
Usage
"Elisha would not prophesy until the musician played. Music prepares the heart for the Word — never despise the accompaniment."
"They hung their lyres on the willows. Grief silences the instrument; resurrection takes it down again."