Lexical Summary sumphónia: Harmony, Agreement, Music Original Word: συμφωνία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance music. From sumphonos; unison of sound ("symphony"), i.e. A concert of instruments (harmonious note) -- music. see GREEK sumphonos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sumphónos Definition symphony, i.e. music NASB Translation music (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4858: συμφωνίασυμφωνία, συμφωνίας, ἡ (σύμφωνος) (from Plato down), music: Luke 15:25. (Polybius 28, 10, 5; (plural of 'the music of the spheres,' Aristotle, de caelo 2, 9, p. 290b, 22; others.)) Topical Lexicon Context within Luke 15:25 The only New Testament use of Strong’s 4858 appears in the climax of the Parable of the Prodigal Son: “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing” (Luke 15:25). Here the term paints an audible backdrop of celebratory joy. The father’s feast for the returning younger son is not a quiet meal; it is marked by harmonized instruments that broadcast reconciliation. The older brother hears the sound even before seeing the scene, underscoring how forgiveness with the Father manifests in public, unrestrained celebration (cf. Luke 15:7, 15:10). Echoes in the Septuagint and Intertestamental Judaism Although the Greek New Testament preserves the word only once, the Septuagint employs it repeatedly in Daniel 3 to list the instruments played when Nebuchadnezzar’s image was worshiped (Daniel 3:5, 3:7, 3:10, 3:15 LXX). That Babylonian setting highlights a contrast: there the “symphony” accompanied idolatry; in Luke it heralds restoration. Second-Temple Judaism knew both possibilities—music as corrupt enticement (Amos 6:5) and music as God-honoring praise (Psalm 150). Luke’s usage signals that the Father’s house redeems what sin distorts: sound once tied to rebellion is transformed into a vehicle for grace. Musical Life in First-Century Palestine Archaeology and contemporary writings (e.g., Josephus, Philo) confirm a thriving musical culture. Flutes, lyres, tambourines, and double reeds were common in village festivities such as weddings (Matthew 11:17) and harvest celebrations. Rural estates like the one in Luke 15 would feasibly employ hired musicians for a banquet. The older son’s farm-work context (“in the field”) juxtaposed with the sudden sound of instruments reflects everyday Galilean life where labor and festivity coexisted. Theological Implications 1. Joy of Reconciliation: The father does not wait for private proof of repentance; he initiates a communal feast. Music becomes a theological signpost of heaven’s joy over every sinner who repents (Luke 15:7). Contrast with Silent Judgment The elder brother’s refusal to enter replaces music with murmuring (Luke 15:28-29). His inward dissonance stands out sharply against the outward harmony. Luke thus employs the soundscape to expose the heart: those aligned with the Father rejoice; those bound by self-righteousness remain outside, unmoved by grace. Implications for Worship Today • Celebration and Repentance: Congregational worship should mirror the Father’s balance—serious about sin yet exuberant about pardon. Historical Trajectory in the Early Church Patristic authors drew on Luke 15 to defend the joyous use of instruments and singing in baptismal feasts and Easter vigils. Yet they also warned, as did Chrysostom, that music must direct the soul toward God, not mere entertainment—echoing the Babylonian caution from Daniel 3. Pastoral Reflection Strong’s 4858 invites ministers to ask: does the congregation’s “sound” audibly preach the gospel of welcome? Are prodigals hearing a symphony of grace, or the muffled tones of guarded acceptance? Luke 15 assures that when the Father’s forgiveness is rightly proclaimed, it will be unmistakable—heard even in the field before the repentant cross the threshold. Summary Strong’s 4858 spotlights a single but potent moment where instrumental harmony amplifies redemptive joy. From its Old Testament echoes to its New Testament fulfillment, the word reminds believers that true music arises where hearts are restored to the Father. Forms and Transliterations συμφωνιας συμφωνίας sumphonias sumphōnias symphonias symphonías symphōnias symphōníasLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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