Kinnôr (כִּנּוֹר) means lyre, harp — the primary stringed instrument of ancient Israel. It was David's instrument and central to temple worship. First mentioned in Genesis 4:21 as Jubal's invention.
First Samuel 16:23: 'Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul.' Music as spiritual warfare — David's kinnôr drove away tormenting spirits. Psalm 137:2: 'There on the willows we hung our lyres' — exile silenced Israel's worship. Psalm 150:3: 'Praise him with the harp and lyre.' The kinnôr represents the full range of human experience before God: joy in worship, healing in suffering, and silence in exile. Revelation 5:8 shows the elders with harps before the Lamb — worship restored forever.