סַבְּכָא
𐤎𐤁𐤊𐤀
çabbᵉkâʼ
H5443 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A stringed musical instrument, likely with a frame resembling a harp or lyre, used in formal or ritual settings in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible. The precise form and construction are not certain, but the context suggests a distinctive instrument among an ensemble in royal ceremonies.
Semantic Range
lyre, stringed musical instrument, harp-like instrument, ceremonial court instrument
Root / Etymology
Root is סבך (to interweave, entwine). The noun סַבְּכָא is derived from this root idea, possibly referencing the intricate, interlaced structure of the instrument’s frame or strings, rather than a direct root meaning of playing music. The term likely describes an instrument characterized by a woven or latticework design.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term סַבְּכָא (sabbəkāʼ) appears only in the Aramaic portions of Daniel (Daniel 3:5, 3:7, 3:10, 3:15) as part of an official list of musical instruments at the Babylonian court. Its identification as "sackbut" in older English versions follows the Septuagint and Vulgate traditions, but the connection to the medieval European instrument by that name is anachronistic. Modern scholarship generally understands it as a type of lyre or harp, based on the Aramaic root and from parallels in Babylonian musical terminology. The exact instrument remains uncertain; it is differentiated from other instruments in the list (e.g., harp, lyre, zither), suggesting a distinct design or usage in ceremonial music. The term has no attested use in earlier Israelite or Judahite contexts and reflects the influence of Babylonian musical culture during and after the exile.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) or שַׂבְּכָא; (Aramaic), from a root corresponding to סָבַךְ; a lyre; sackbut.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סבך (s-b-k) — to intertwine, to interweave, to entangle
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5440 | סָבַךְ | entwined ones |
| H5441 | סֹבֶךְ | his tangled thicket |
| H5442 | סְבָךְ | in the tangled thicket |
| H5444 | סִבְּכַי | Sibbekai |
| H7730 | שׂוֹבֶךְ | interwoven thicket of |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5443-01 |
סַבְּכָ֤א | sabekha | ANcfsa |
trigon | interwoven lyre | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5443-01 |
Daniel 3:5 | סַבְּכָ֤א | sabekha | ANcfsa |
trigon | interwoven lyre |
H5443-01 |
Daniel 3:7 | שַׂבְּכָא֙ | sabekha | ANcfsa |
zither | interwoven lyre |
H5443-01 |
Daniel 3:10 | שַׂבְּכָ֤א | sabekha | ANcfsa |
triangle | interwoven lyre |
H5443-01 |
Daniel 3:15 | שַׂבְּכָ֡א | sabekha | ANcfsa |
trigon | interwoven lyre |