מַשְׁרוֹקִי
a (musical) pipe (from its whistling sound)
Definition
The Hebrew word מַשְׁרוֹקִי (mashrôwqîy) refers to a specific type of wind instrument, a pipe or flute, characterized by its high-pitched, whistling sound. It is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel to describe one of the instruments in King Nebuchadnezzar's royal orchestra. In every occurrence (Daniel 3:5, 3:7, 3:10, 3:15), it is listed among other instruments as part of the command for all peoples to worship the king's golden image, making its sound a signal for idolatrous worship.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only four times, all within the same narrative context in Daniel 3. It appears in the repeated royal decree issued by Nebuchadnezzar, which commands that upon hearing the sound of the mashrôwqîy along with other instruments, all people must fall down and worship the golden image. Its usage is formulaic and legal, marking a moment of supreme religious and political coercion against the Jewish exiles.
Etymology
מַשְׁרוֹקִי is an Aramaic loanword used in the Hebrew Bible. It derives from a root corresponding to the Hebrew שָׁרַק (H8319), meaning 'to hiss' or 'to whistle.' The name of the instrument is thus directly descriptive of the whistling sound it produces. This connection highlights the onomatopoeic nature of the word, where the name mimics the sound of the instrument itself.
Semantic Range
The mashrôwqîy is theologically significant as it represents the coercive power of a pagan state enforcing idolatry. Its sound is not for celebration but for commanding false worship, creating a direct test of loyalty to God versus the king (Daniel 3:16-18). Understanding this instrument enriches the reading of Daniel 3 by emphasizing the sensory and public nature of the temptation faced by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who refused to bow at its sound.
In the ancient Near East, such pipes or flutes were common in both religious ceremonies and royal court music. In the context of Daniel, the instrument is part of a grand, state-sponsored ensemble designed to impress and command obedience. The modern reader might think of a simple flute, but in its original setting, its sound carried the full authority of the Babylonian empire's religious edicts.
חָלִיל (chālîyl, H2485) — A more general Hebrew term for flute or pipe, used in various contexts including celebration and lament. עוּגָב (‘ûgāḇ, H5748) — Another wind instrument, often translated 'pipe' or 'flute,' associated with joyful music.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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