κιθαρῳδός
kitharōidós
G2790 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A person who sings and/or plays the κιθάρα (lyre or harp); specifically, a lyre-singer, lyre-player, or harpist. The term designates someone who both performs on the stringed instrument and may also provide vocal music, though instrumental performance is primary; in later and literary contexts, often one skilled in accompanied singing or professional performance.
Semantic Range
lyre-player, lyre-singer, harpist, singing musician, performer on the κιθάρα (Greek lyre/harp)
Root / Etymology
Compound of κιθάρα (kithara, a stringed instrument such as a lyre or harp) and -ωδός (from ᾠδή, 'song'), forming a term for someone who sings to the lyre or plays it, paralleling similar Greek compounds for professional musicians.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, κιθαρῳδός refers to performers of the κιθάρα—an ancient Greek stringed instrument—who may sing and play simultaneously or just perform instrumentally. The κιθαρῳδός was distinct from the αὐλητής (aulētēs, flute-player) and the ψαλτής/ψαλμωδός (psalmist, singing psalms usually to the psaltery). In the Greco-Roman world, κιθαρῳδοί held roles as entertainers at feasts, ceremonies, and worship; the term can also denote a professional musician. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the term reflects Greco-Roman musical terminology, and standard translations such as 'harpist' or 'harper' may obscure the vocal aspect indicated by -ωδός ('singer'). The κιθάρα itself is often rendered 'lyre' or 'harp' in English Bibles. The word is rare in biblical sources, reflecting broader Greco-Roman musical culture and performance practice rather than specifically Israelite or Judean tradition. The -ωδός ending indicates the possibility of combined instrumental-vocal performance, a distinction not always captured in translation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from κιθάρα and a derivative of the same as ᾠδή; a lyre-singer(-player), i.e. harpist:--harper.
Root Family
κιθαρ-, ᾠδ- (kitharōidós) — to play the lyre, to sing, to accompany singing with a lyre
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2790-01 |
κιθαρῳδῶν | kitharodon | N GEN M PL |
of harpists | of lyre-players | of harpists | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2790-01 |
Revelation 14:2 | κιθαρῳδῶν | kitharodon | N GEN M PL |
of harpists | of lyre-players | of harpists |
G2790-01 |
Revelation 18:22 | κιθαρῳδῶν | kitharodon | N GEN M PL |
of harpists | of lyre-players | of harpists |