Bible Encyclopedias
Gittith

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Gittith', גַּתַּית, prob. for נְגֶנֶת, and so kindred with NEGINOTH), a stringed instrument of music (Psalms 8:1; Psalms 81:1; Psalms 84:1). The term seems to be derived (with the Targums) from the city GATH, not (with the Sept. ὑπὲρ τῶν ληνῶν ) from a wine-press (as a vintage-song, Michael. Suppl. page 382); nor from the root נָגִן, to strike (Redslob, De praecepto nus., etc., Lips. 1831, page 24), Gesenius, Tanes. Hebr. page 849. On the other hand, Furst (Concord. page 256) derives it from גָּתִת, to deepen, and calls it "a musical instrument curved and hollow (syn. חָלַיל );" as in his Heb. Lex. page 304, he says it is the name of "a musical body of Levites who had their chief seat in the Levitical city of Gath-rimmon, the word in the titles of Psalms not being capable of an interpretation referringr to instruments or airs." (See PSALMS).

Bibliography Information
McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Gittith'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tce/​g/gittith.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.