כִּנּוֹר

The word "כִּנּוֹר" (kinnor) is an ancient biblical word that originally described an ancient stringed instrument, probably a type of lyre (a small harp-like instrument). However, the use of the word to describe the modern violin began only in the 19th century. The modern violin, called in Italian "violino" (meaning small viol), was invented in northern Italy in the early 16th century and spread throughout Europe, including among Jewish musicians who were called "klezmorim" (from the phrase "klei zemer," instruments of song). But among Ashkenazi Jews, the violin was not called "kinnor" but was referred to by its Yiddish name "fidl" or by its German names Geige and Violine. In 1807, when Judah Leib Ben-Zeev compiled his German-Hebrew dictionary "Otzar HaShorashim" (Treasury of Roots), he offered two possible translations for the German word Geige: "נֶבֶל" (nevel) and "כִּנּוֹר" (kinnor). Following this, these two words were used in Hebrew literature and press in the 19th century, until in the early 20th century the use of "כִּנּוֹר" was established to describe the modern instrument, while "נֶבֶל" was established as the Hebrew word for what was called in Yiddish "harfe" (harp). Interestingly, the choice of "kinnor" seems surprising, since in medieval paintings, King David is always depicted playing what we now call a "harp." It is possible that what led Ben-Zeev to this choice was Martin Luther's translation of the Book of Genesis, in which he translated the verse about Jubal son of Lamech, "He was the father of all who play the harp and pipe" (Genesis 4:21) with the words: "von dem sind hergekommen die Geiger und Pfeifer," meaning, "from him came all violinists and pipers."