In the biblical context, music-makers hold a significant role in the worship and cultural life of the people of God. From the earliest times, music has been a means of expressing devotion, celebrating victories, and lamenting losses. The Bible provides numerous references to individuals and groups who were skilled in the art of music-making, highlighting their contributions to both religious and communal life.

Old Testament

The Old Testament is replete with references to music and those who made it. One of the earliest mentions is found in Genesis 4:21, where Jubal is described as "the father of all who play the harp and flute." This indicates the ancient origins of music-making among the descendants of Adam.

The Levites, a tribe set apart for religious duties, were particularly associated with music in worship. King David, himself a skilled musician and composer of many Psalms, organized the Levites into groups of singers and instrumentalists to serve in the tabernacle and later the temple. In 1 Chronicles 15:16, David instructs the leaders of the Levites "to appoint their brothers as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals."

The Psalms, a central book of the Old Testament, is a collection of songs and prayers, many of which were intended to be sung with musical accompaniment. Psalm 150:3-5 exhorts, "Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; praise Him with strings and flute. Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals."

New Testament

In the New Testament, music continues to play a vital role in the life of the early church. The Apostle Paul encourages the use of music in worship and edification. In Ephesians 5:19 , he writes, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord." Similarly, in Colossians 3:16 , Paul advises, "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."

The Book of Revelation also depicts music as an integral part of heavenly worship. Revelation 5:8-9 describes the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders falling before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and singing a new song of praise.

Instruments and Roles

Throughout the Bible, various musical instruments are mentioned, including harps, lyres, trumpets, flutes, tambourines, and cymbals. These instruments were used in a variety of settings, from temple worship to royal courts and public celebrations.

Music-makers in the Bible were not only instrumentalists but also singers and composers. They played a crucial role in leading the people in worship, teaching theological truths through song, and providing comfort and encouragement through music.

Cultural and Spiritual Significance

Music-makers in the biblical narrative were often seen as divinely inspired, their talents viewed as gifts from God to be used for His glory. Music was a means of connecting with the divine, expressing the inexpressible, and uniting the community in shared worship and experience.

The legacy of biblical music-makers continues to influence Christian worship practices today, as believers around the world use music to praise God, teach doctrine, and build community.Music-makers (18 Occurrences)

1 Chronicles 15:16
And David gave orders to the chief of the Levites to put their brothers the music-makers in position, with instruments of music, corded instruments and brass, with glad voices making sounds of joy.
(BBE)

Ezra 2:41
The music-makers: the children of Asaph, a hundred and twenty-eight
(BBE)

Ezra 2:70
So the priests and the Levites and the people and the music-makers and the door-keepers and the Nethinim, took up their places in their towns; even all Israel in their towns.
(BBE)

Ezra 7:7
And some of the children of Israel went up, with some of the priests and the Levites and the music-makers and the door-keepers and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
(BBE)

Ezra 10:24
And of the music-makers, Eliashib; and of the door-keepers, Shallum and Telem and Uri.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 7:1
Now when the building of the wall was complete and I had put up the doors, and the door-keepers and the music-makers and the Levites had been given their places,
(BBE)

Nehemiah 7:44
The music-makers: the children of Asaph, a hundred and forty-eight.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 7:73
So the priests and the Levites and the door-keepers and the music-makers and some of the people and the Nethinim, and all Israel, were living in their towns.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 10:28
And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the door-keepers, the music-makers, the Nethinim, and all those who had made themselves separate from the peoples of the lands, to keep the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and wisdom;
(BBE)

Nehemiah 11:22
And the overseer of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi, the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the music-makers, who was over the business of the house of God.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 11:23
For there was an order from the king about them and a regular amount for the music-makers, for their needs day by day.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 12:8
And the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the music-makers, he and his brothers.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 12:28
And the sons of the music-makers came together from the lowland round about Jerusalem and from the daughter-towns of the Netophathites,
(BBE)

Nehemiah 12:29
And from Beth-gilgal and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the music-makers had made daughter-towns for themselves round about Jerusalem.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 12:45
And they kept the watch of their God, and were responsible for making things clean, and so did the music-makers and the door-keepers, as it was ordered by David and Solomon his son.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 12:47
And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave what was needed by the music-makers and the door-keepers day by day: and they made the offerings holy for the Levites; and the Levites did the same for the sons of Aaron.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 13:5
Had made ready for him a great room, where at one time they kept the meal offerings, the perfume, and the vessels and the tenths of the grain and wine and oil which were given by order to the Levites and the music-makers and the door-keepers, and the lifted offerings for the priests.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 13:10
And I saw that the Levites had not been given what was needed for their support; so that the Levites and the music-makers, who did the work, had gone away, everyone to his field.
(BBE)

Music-makers (18 Occurrences)
Music-makers. Music-maker, Music-makers. Music-pipe . Multi-Version
Concordance Music-makers (18 Occurrences). 1 Chronicles ...
/m/music-makers.htm - 12k

Door-keepers (34 Occurrences)
... Ezra 2:70 So the priests and the Levites and the people and the music-makers and
the door-keepers and the Nethinim, took up their places in their towns; even ...
/d/door-keepers.htm - 17k

Daughter-towns (17 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 12:28 And the sons of the music-makers came together from the lowland round
about Jerusalem and from the daughter-towns of the Netophathites, (BBE). ...
/d/daughter-towns.htm - 12k

Needed (59 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 12:47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah
gave what was needed by the music-makers and the door-keepers day by day ...
/n/needed.htm - 25k

Regulated (2 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Nehemiah 11:23 For there was an order from the king about them and a regular
amount for the music-makers, for their needs day by day. (See NIV). ...
/r/regulated.htm - 7k

Regulation (6 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Nehemiah 11:23 For there was an order from the king about them and a
regular amount for the music-makers, for their needs day by day. (See NAS). ...
/r/regulation.htm - 8k

Music-pipe (1 Occurrence)
Music-pipe. Music-makers, Music-pipe. Musing . Multi-Version Concordance
Music-pipe (1 Occurrence). ... (BBE). Music-makers, Music-pipe. Musing . Reference ...
/m/music-pipe.htm - 6k

Corded (37 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 15:16 And David gave orders to the chief of the Levites to put their
brothers the music-makers in position, with instruments of music, corded ...
/c/corded.htm - 18k

Sounds (64 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 15:16 And David gave orders to the chief of the Levites to put their
brothers the music-makers in position, with instruments of music, corded ...
/s/sounds.htm - 26k

Taxes (19 Occurrences)
... to you, that it will be against the law to put any tax or payment in goods or forced
payment on any of the priests or Levites, the music-makers, door-keepers ...
/t/taxes.htm - 14k

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