Viol (Hastings' Dictionary)
Thus the Heb. nebhel or ncbliel is ren- dered in AV and RV Is 14", Am 5-» 6°, and in AV Is 5'- (RV here ' lute '). See Music, vol. iii. p. 459^ and Psaltery (the more usual tr. of the Heb.), above, p. 163''. See also Driver, Amos, p. 234 tf., and Wellhausen, Psalms {PB), p. 222 tt'. Tlie 'viol' (from late Lat. vidula, vifula, through Fr. viole, viollc ; cf. Anglo-Sax.
fithclc, a fi<lille) is described by Chappell as a six-stringed musical instrument, the position of the fing^crs being marked on the finger-board by frets, as in guitars of the present day. But it was phayed with a bow, not with the fingers as the guitar. Violin is a dim. of viol, as violoncello is of violin. The violin displaced the viol in England in the leign of Charles u. J. HASTINQS.
This topic also has an entry in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Both articles offer independent scholarly perspectives.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Viol
Viol vi'-ol (nebhel, nebhel): the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) in Isa 14:11; Am 5:23; 6:5; the King James Version alone in Isa 5:12, the Revised Version (British and American) "lute." "Viol" is derived from Latin vitella, a doublet of vitula, a "viol"; hence, French vielle, doublet of viole. The viol was a bowed instrument, the parent of the violin tribe, and is not a true equivalent for nebhel. ⇒See a list of verses on VIOL in the Bible. See MUSIC. ⇒See the definition of viol in the KJV Dictionary ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia.
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Viol
A six stringed guitar, in old English (Isa 5:12; Isa 14:11; Amo 5:23; Amo 6:5). Hebrew nebel. Elsewhere translated Psaltery. (See PSALTERY)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia