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κιθαρίζω

kitharízō

G2789 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To play the kithara (a type of lyre or harp); specifically, to make music by plucking or strumming the strings of the kithara. The core lexical meaning is musical performance on the instrument. In extended contexts, it may refer more generally to singing or performing music to the accompaniment of the kithara, highlighting not just the act of playing but the musical setting created.

Semantic Range

to play the kithara (lyre/harp), to perform music on stringed instruments, to sing or praise with instrumental accompaniment

Root / Etymology

From κιθάρα (kithára, "lyre, cithara, harp"), which itself is derived from a probable non-Greek (likely Anatolian) source referring to stringed musical instruments. The verb form is built on the nominal base κιθαρ- with the verbal suffix -ίζω, denoting the act associated with the noun.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, κιθαρίζω is used of musicians performing with the κιθάρα, an instrument distinct from the λύρα (lyra), though both are plucked stringed instruments. In literary and poetic contexts, the verb can encompass not only instrumental performance but, by extension, the leading of musical worship or poetic recitation accompanied by music. In the Septuagint and New Testament, appearances are rare and typically denote literal instrumental playing, though the imagery of musical praise often surrounds the term. English translations often render the verb as "play the harp" or "play the lyre," but this may obscure the specific reference to the kithara as the instrument, which had a developed tradition in ancient musical practice. Usage of κιθαρίζω in post-classical Greek sometimes merges with more general terms for playing stringed instruments, reflecting the evolution and spread of such instruments in the eastern Mediterranean.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κιθάρα; to play on a lyre:--harp.

Root Family

κιθαρ- (kithára) — stringed instrument, to play music

Root κιθαρ- to play (an instrument), to strum, to accompany musically
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2788 κιθάρα lyre

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2789-01 κιθαριζόμενον kitharizomenon V PRS PASS PTCP NOM N SG is harped being played on the kithara being played on the kithara 1
G2789-02 κιθαριζόντων kitharizonton V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL playing of those playing the lyre playing on harps 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2789-01 1 Corinthians 14:7 κιθαριζόμενον kitharizomenon V PRS PASS PTCP NOM N SG is harped being played on the kithara being played on the kithara
G2789-02 Revelation 14:2 κιθαριζόντων kitharizonton V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL playing of those playing the lyre playing on harps
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