King James Bible Dictionary

A musical instrument.

Of brass
1 Chronicles 15:19; 1 Chronicles 15:28; 1 Corinthians 13:1

Used in the tabernacle service
2 Samuel 6:5; 1 Chronicles 13:8; 1 Chronicles 15:16; 1 Chronicles 15:19; 1 Chronicles 15:28

Used in the temple service
2 Chronicles 5:12-13; 1 Chronicles 16:5; 1 Chronicles 16:42; 1 Chronicles 25:1; 1 Chronicles 25:6; Psalms 150:5

Used on special occasions:

Day of atonement
2 Chronicles 29:25

Laying of the foundation of the second temple
Ezra 3:10-11

Dedication of the wall
Nehemiah 12:27; Nehemiah 12:36

CYMBAL, noun [Latin , Gr.]

1. A musical instrument used by the ancients, hollow and made of brass, somewhat like a kettle-drum; but the precise form is not ascertained.

2. A mean instrument used by gypsies and vagrants, made of a steel wire, in a triangular form, on which are passed fie rings, which are touched and shifter along the triangle with an iron rod held in the left hand, while it is supported in the right by a ring, to give it free motion.

a pecussive musical instrument. Two kinds of cymbals are mentioned in (Psalms 150:5) "loud cymbals" or castagnettes , and "high-sounding cymbals." The former consisted of our small plates of brass or of some other hard metal; two plates were attached to each hand of the performer, and were struck together to produce a great noise. The latter consisted of two larger plates, on held in each hand and struck together as an accompaniment to other instruments. Cymbals were used not only in the temple but for military purposes, and also by Hebrew women as a musical accompaniment to their national dances. Both kinds of cymbals are still common in the East.

(Heb. tzeltzelim, from a root meaning to "tinkle"), musical instruments, consisting of two convex pieces of brass one held in each hand, which were clashed together to produce a loud clanging sound; castanets; "loud cymbals." "Highsounding cymbals" consisted of two larger plates, one held also in each hand (2 Samuel 6:5; Psalms 150:5; 1 Chronicles 13:8; 15:16, 19, 28; 1 Corinthians 13:1).