זְמָר
𐤆𐤌𐤓
zᵉmâr
H2170 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Instrumental music, especially music produced by stringed instruments; a musical performance or playing of instruments in ritual, celebratory, or courtly contexts. The term most often designates the act or product of musical artistry utilizing instruments rather than vocal singing.
Semantic Range
instrumental music, music (general, but especially instrumental); musical performance; musicians' ensemble (by metonymy); performance at court or religious gatherings
Root / Etymology
From the root זמר, which in both Hebrew and Aramaic carries the sense 'to make music, sing, play an instrument', though the nuance leans toward instrumental performance in Aramaic. In Aramaic, זְמָר is a noun form denoting 'instrumental music.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, notably Daniel and Ezra, זְמָר refers explicitly to music generated by instruments, particularly present during royal ceremonies or religious celebrations. This contrasts with the Hebrew noun זֶמֶר (zemer), which can denote either song (possibly with or without instruments) or music in general. The term appears in contexts that emphasize musical performances, frequently in relation to celebrations, processions, or public events. English translations often render the word simply as 'music,' but this can obscure the term's focus on instrumental (rather than vocal) performance. In post-biblical and later rabbinic literature, derivatives continue with the sense of both playing and singing, but in the biblical Aramaic context, the instrumental aspect is primary. This usage is distinct from other ancient Near Eastern terms for music, some of which refer specifically to instruments or to choral performance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to זָמַר; instrumental music; musick.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
זמר (z-m-r) — to sing, to play a musical instrument, to make music
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2156 | זְמוֹרָה | the pruned vine-shoot |
| H2158 | זָמִיר | with musical songs |
| H2159 | זָמִיר | the pruned shoot |
| H2160 | זְמִירָה | Zemirah |
| H2167 | זָמַר | I will make music in praise |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2170-01 |
זְמָרָ֑/א | zemara | ANcmsd/Td |
of music | the instrumental music | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2170-01 |
Daniel 3:5 | זְמָרָ֑/א | zemara | ANcmsd/Td |
of music | the instrumental music |
H2170-01 |
Daniel 3:7 | זְמָרָ֑/א | zemara | ANcmsd/Td |
of-music | the instrumental music |
H2170-01 |
Daniel 3:10 | זְמָרָ֑/א | zemara | ANcmsd/Td |
of music | the instrumental music |
H2170-01 |
Daniel 3:15 | זְמָרָ֗/א | zemara | ANcmsd/Td |
of music | the instrumental music |