Cithern
ArtifactsWhat is the meaning of Cithern in the Bible?
The cithern is a term found in the Greek Septuagint translation of 1 Maccabees, serving as a gloss for the Hebrew word kinura to denote a lyre-like instrument associated with ancient Jewish worship, although its precise physical construction remains uncertain due to scarce archaeological evidence.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing the cithern as a translation of the Hebrew kinura illuminates how ancient Jewish communities adapted their liturgical musical traditions for Greek-speaking audiences, thereby highlighting the intersection of Hebrew worship practices and Hellenistic cultural influences in biblical texts.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Cithern in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Cithern clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.