Hebrew word · H2485

חָלִיל

bechalil

flute

A wind instrument with a reed, the pipe or "flute," probably a double pipe like the Greek aulos. It was played at processions, prophetic bands, coronations and celebrations (1 Sam 10:5; 1 Kgs 1:40; Isa 5:12), and also at funerals as a lament (Jer 48:36).

Appears 6 times in 5 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

pipe, flute

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Isaiah 30:29

Range of meaning

A wind instrument with a reed, the pipe or "flute," probably a double pipe like the Greek aulos. It was played at processions, prophetic bands, coronations and celebrations (1 Sam 10:5; 1 Kgs 1:40; Isa 5:12), and also at funerals as a lament (Jer 48:36). The name probably comes from a root meaning "to pierce, bore" (a bored pipe).

Against the English

"Flute" (BSB, WEB) and "pipe" (KJV, YLT) are both acceptable. A modern flute is held sideways and made of metal. The chalil was a reed pipe with a sharper, buzzing tone that carried well outdoors at the head of a procession.

Used elsewhere in the period

Mishnah Bikkurim 3:3 describes later pilgrims bringing firstfruits to Jerusalem: "the flute (chalil) was played before them until they came near to Jerusalem" and on to the Temple Mount. Mishnah Sukkah 5:1 and Arakhin 2:3 record flute-playing in the temple at festivals. Double pipes appear on Near Eastern reliefs and musicians' figurines.

From the study of 1 Kings 1:40

Range of meaning

Ḥalil is a hollow pipe. It probably comes from the root ḥ-l-l, 'to bore, pierce, hollow out', so it is literally 'a bored thing'. The verb ḥillel in this sense is built from the noun and means 'to play the pipe'. (Other words spelled the same way mean 'to profane' or 'to begin'. Those are unrelated.) The instrument was a reed or cane pipe, often played as a pair, comparable to the Greek aulos.

Against the English

KJV 'piped with pipes' keeps both the instrument and the Hebrew sound-echo. BSB and NASB 'flutes' give a modern listener the wrong picture. NIV and ESV 'pipes' are closer.

How it drifted

English Bibles adopted 'flute' as a general word for any wind instrument. Today 'flute' suggests a soft, silver orchestral instrument held sideways. The ancient ḥalil was blown from the end, usually had a reed, and was loud and nasal, closer to an oboe or a folk bagpipe chanter.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ḥalil appears at bands of prophets in procession (1 Sam 10:5), at feasts (Isa 5:12), with pilgrims going up to Zion (Isa 30:29: 'as when one sets out with the pipe to go to the mountain of the LORD'), and also at mourning (Jer 48:36; compare the flute-players at the mourning in Matt 9:23). The Septuagint usually translates it aulos. Double pipes are known from finds and pictures across the ancient Near East.

Similar words

Where it appears

1 Samuel · 1

  1. 1 Samuel 10:5 וְחָלִ֣יל and flute

    After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying.

    Here: A reed pipe, often double. The name comes from a root meaning 'to bore, hollow out'. It had a piercing, stirring tone used at festivals and in mourning.

1 Kings · 1

  1. 1 Kings 1:40 בַּחֲלִלִ֔ים with flutes

    All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound.

    Here: Reed or cane pipes, very likely the double pipe. It was a loud, piercing outdoor instrument used at festivals and processions. 'Piping with pipes' is a deliberate sound-echo in the Hebrew.

Isaiah · 2

  1. Isaiah 5:12 וְחָלִ֛יל and flute

    At their feasts are the lyre and harp, tambourines and flutes and wine. They disregard the actions of the LORD and fail to see the work of His hands.

    Here: A reed pipe, probably double-piped like the Greek aulos. The word comes from a root meaning 'pierced, hollowed.' It was played at feasts, and also at mourning (Jeremiah 48:36).

  2. Isaiah 30:29 בֶּֽחָלִ֔יל with <the> flute

    You will sing as on the night of a holy festival, and your heart will rejoice like one who walks to the music of a flute, going up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.

    Here: "With the flute": a reed pipe, probably a double pipe. It was played at the head of joyful processions, so the pilgrim walks to its music.

Jeremiah · 2

  1. Jeremiah 48:36 כַּחֲלִלִ֣ים כַּחֲלִילִ֖ים like flutes

    Therefore My heart laments like a flute for Moab; it laments like a flute for the men of Kir-heres, because the wealth they acquired has perished.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.