### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **qîythârôç**, represented by `{{H7030}}`, is of Greek origin and refers to a **lyre** or **harp**. It appears 8 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible, with all occurrences found in the third chapter of Daniel. The term is exclusively used to describe one of the instruments in King Nebuchadnezzar's royal orchestra.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H7030}}` plays a specific and repetitive role. The **harp** is consistently listed as part of a group of instruments whose sound signals a royal command. When the people **hear** the sound of the cornet, flute, **harp**, and other instruments, they are ordered to fall down and worship the golden image set up by the king ([[Daniel 3:5]], [[Daniel 3:7]]). This command is established as a formal decree and is reiterated as a final warning, making the **harp** a key component in a test of faith and obedience to the state ([[Daniel 3:10]], [[Daniel 3:15]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words appear in the same context, forming the complete soundscape of Nebuchadnezzar's decree:
* `{{H7162}}` **qeren** (cornet): Defined as "a horn (literally or for sound)," it is always mentioned as part of the orchestra that includes the **harp** [[Daniel 3:5]].
* `{{H4953}}` **mashrôwqîy** (flute): Meaning "a (musical) pipe (from its whistling sound)," this instrument is also a member of the ensemble [[Daniel 3:7]].
* `{{H5443}}` **çabbᵉkâʼ** (sackbut): This word, meaning "a lyre," is listed in the orchestra, functioning alongside the **harp** to create the signal for worship [[Daniel 3:10]].
* `{{H6460}}` **pᵉçanṭêrîyn** (psaltery): A transliteration for "a lyre," this is another stringed instrument in the group [[Daniel 3:15]].
* `{{H2170}}` **zᵉmâr** (musick): This term for "instrumental music" is used to describe the collective sound of the entire orchestra [[Daniel 3:7]].
* `{{H8086}}` **shᵉmaʻ** (hear): Meaning to "hear intelligently," this verb is central to the command, as the act of hearing the music is the trigger for the required worship [[Daniel 3:10]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H7030}}` is tied directly to its function within the narrative of Daniel 3. It is not associated with worship of God, but with a state-mandated ritual.
* **A Signal for Idolatry:** The **harp**, as part of the orchestra, serves as a public and undeniable cue for all peoples, nations, and languages to engage in the worship of a golden image [[Daniel 3:7]].
* **An Instrument of Coercion:** The music is not an invitation but a command. The penalty for not bowing down upon hearing the **harp** and other instruments is death in a fiery furnace, making it a tool of royal enforcement [[Daniel 3:15]].
* **A Test of Faith:** The sound of the orchestra, including the **harp**, creates the pivotal moment of conflict. It forces a choice between obeying the king's decree and remaining faithful to God.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7030}}` is far more than a simple musical term. Within its scriptural context, the **harp** is an instrument of state power, used as the trigger for compulsory idolatry. Its role in the Book of Daniel serves to underscore the high-stakes confrontation between the authority of a human king and the unyielding convictions of the faithful.