(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to זָמַר; instrumental music; musick.
Transliteration:zᵉmâr
Pronunciation:zem-awr'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic term H2170 (זְמָר, zᵉmâr) denotes "instrumental music" or "music" in a general sense. Its etymology traces back to a root corresponding to the Hebrew זָמַר (zāmar) `{{H2167}}`, which typically signifies "to sing," "to make music," or "to praise." While the Hebrew cognate often carries connotations of vocal praise or the act of singing, H2170 in its Aramaic context appears to emphasize the instrumental aspect of music, referring to the sounds produced by musical instruments. Its semantic range is relatively narrow, focusing on the auditory phenomenon of organized sound, particularly as it emanates from an ensemble of instruments.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term H2170 appears exclusively within the Aramaic portions of the Book of Daniel, specifically in chapter 3. It is found four times, always in connection with the elaborate musical ensemble commanded by King Nebuchadnezzar to signal the worship of his golden image:
* [[Daniel 3:5]]: "that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and all kinds of music (וְכֹל זְמָר), you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up."
* [[Daniel 3:7]]: "Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and all kinds of music (וְכֹל זְמָר), all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up."
* [[Daniel 3:10]]: "You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and all kinds of music (וְכֹל זְמָר), shall fall down and worship the golden image."
* [[Daniel 3:15]]: "Now if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and all kinds of music (וְכֹל זְמָר), to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?"
In each instance, H2170 is the concluding item in a comprehensive list of diverse musical instruments. It functions either as a general, encompassing term for "music" that includes all the preceding instruments, or perhaps refers to a specific, perhaps undefined, category of instrumental sound that completes the royal orchestra. The consistent repetition underscores the critical role of this musical signal in enforcing the king's decree for idolatrous worship. The sound of zᵉmâr was the explicit cue for universal prostration before the idol.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary linguistic connection for H2170 is its Hebrew cognate, זָמַר (zāmar) `{{H2167}}`. This Hebrew root is widely used throughout the Old Testament to describe the act of singing, playing musical instruments, and offering praise through music, often in the context of worship to Yahweh (e.g., in the Psalms). While H2167 frequently implies vocal praise, H2170 in Aramaic seems to focus more on the instrumental aspect.
Other Aramaic terms for specific musical instruments found alongside H2170 in Daniel 3 include:
* קֶרֶן (qeren) `{{H7161}}` - horn
* מַשְׁרוֹקִיתָא (mashroqitha) `{{H4953}}` - pipe or flute
* קַתְרוֹס (qathros) `{{H7023}}` - lyre or zither
* סַבְּכָא (sabbeka) `{{H5443}}` - trigon or sambuca (a stringed instrument)
* פְּסַנְטֵרִין (pesanterin) `{{H6460}}` - psaltery or harp
* סוּמְפֹּנְיָה (sumponyah) `{{H5481}}` - bagpipe or a general term for "symphony" (likely a Greek loanword)
The broader concept of music in the Bible encompasses a vast array of uses: celebration, lament, war, prophecy, and most significantly, worship of God. The use of H2170 in Daniel 3 provides a stark contrast to the sacred use of music in Israelite worship.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H2170 is profoundly shaped by its singular context in Daniel 3. Here, music, which is often a medium for divine praise and spiritual elevation in the biblical narrative, is conspicuously perverted. Instead of being used to glorify the one true God, the "all kinds of music" (zᵉmâr) serves as the coercive signal for idolatrous worship of Nebuchadnezzar's golden image. This highlights:
1. **The Perversion of Divine Gifts:** Music is a powerful human expression, a gift from God. In Daniel 3, it is co-opted and instrumentalized by a pagan king to enforce false worship, demonstrating how even good gifts can be twisted for ungodly purposes.
2. **The Nature of Idolatry:** The command to bow upon hearing the zᵉmâr illustrates the pervasive and compelling nature of idolatry in a totalitarian regime. The music creates an atmosphere designed to compel conformity and suppress individual conscience.
3. **The Sovereignty of God Amidst Coercion:** Despite the overwhelming display of power and the seductive/coercive nature of the music, Daniel's companions (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) refuse to bow. Their steadfastness underscores that true worship is not compelled by external sounds or threats, but flows from an internal commitment to God's exclusive sovereignty. The music, intended to enforce human will, ultimately serves as a backdrop against which divine faithfulness is dramatically revealed.
4. **Music as a Spiritual Catalyst:** This passage powerfully illustrates music's capacity to stir emotions and incite action, for both good and ill. The zᵉmâr was not merely background noise; it was the active catalyst for a religiously charged act, albeit one of apostasy.
### Summary
H2170 (זְמָר, zᵉmâr) is an Aramaic term referring to "instrumental music" or "music" in general. Its sole appearances in the biblical text are within Daniel 3, where it consistently denotes the orchestrated sound that served as the mandatory signal for all peoples, nations, and languages to prostrate themselves before Nebuchadnezzar's golden idol. While related to the Hebrew root זָמַר `{{H2167}}`, which often signifies praise and worship to God, H2170 in its Aramaic context is tragically employed as a tool for enforcing idolatry and testing the faithfulness of God's people. It stands as a potent biblical example of how even powerful and beautiful human expressions, like music, can be perverted for ungodly purposes, yet simultaneously serves as a backdrop against which the unwavering devotion to the one true God shines forth.
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