Psaltery

The psaltery (Hebrew nebel; Greek psalterion) was a stringed instrument used in Israel's worship, generally thought to be a harp or lyre variant, possibly with twelve strings. It was distinguished from the smaller harp (kinnor). David played the nebel alongside the harp in temple worship (Ps. 33:2; 144:9). In Daniel's account of Nebuchadnezzar's dedication of the golden image, the psaltery appears in the list of musical instruments commanded to signal the act of worship (Dan. 3:5, 7, 10, 15). Its exact construction is debated, but the term consistently denotes a resonating box instrument with strings plucked rather than bowed.