Lectionary Calendar
Friday, October 31st, 2025
the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
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Castanets
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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kas´ta -nets , kas -ta -nets ´ (מנענעים , mena‛an‛ı̄m ): Are mentioned in 2 Samuel 6:5 among the musical instruments upon which David and the house of Israel played at the time of the bringing up of the ark out of the house of Abinadab. This word is incorrectly translated "cornets" in the King James Version. The castanet was probably about the same kind of instrument as the Egyptian sistrum , and the Revised Version (British and American) has "sistra" in the margin of 2 Samuel 6:5 . The sistrum was a loop-shaped metal frame through which were passed loose rods at the ends of which were rings. The instrument was held by a long handle and was rattled during songs and dances. It was used in Egypt in religious worship or to scare away evil influences. There is only the one reference to this instrument in the Bible.
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Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Castanets'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/isb/c/castanets.html. 1915.
