What types of musical instruments are mentioned in the Old Testament?

The principal word used is nebel, and it is supposed to refer to some unknown form of stringed instrument used to accompany the voice. It is at times mentioned along with the harp. 1 Sam. 10:5; Ps. 33:2; Ps. 144:9; Ps. 150:3; etc. The same word is also translated VIOL in Isa. 5:12; Isa. 14:11; Amos 5:23; Amos 6:5. In Dan. 3:5-15 the word is pesanterin.

toph. A musical instrument with loose pieces of metal attached, similar to the modern tambourine. This instrument is still a favourite in the East. It is tapped with the fingers. Gen. 31:27; Ex. 15:20; Judges 11:34; 1 Sam. 10:5; 2 Sam. 6:5; Ps. 68:25; Ps. 81:2; Ps. 149:3; Ps. 150:4; Isa. 30:32; etc.

uggab, ugab. A wind musical instrument, of either one or several pipes. The Egyptian monuments show a double pipe, with holes as in a flute: several pipes of different lengths were also joined together. Gen. 4:21; Job 21:12; Job 30:31; Ps. 150:4. The syrinx, or Pan's pipe, is still used in Syria, and sometimes has as many as twenty-three pipes.

The simplest of musical instruments, often made of a reed, with holes to vary the notes. They were sometimes double, as seen on the Egyptian monuments, and in present use in Egypt: a number of them fastened together was called an 'organ.' 1 Sam. 10:5; 1 Kings 1:40; Isa. 5:12; Isa. 30:29; Jer. 48:36; Ezek. 28:13; 1 Cor. 14:7.

In Dan. 3:5-15 the word is qeren and signifies 'horn or cornet.' In 2 Sam. 6:5 the word is manaanim, and signifies an instrument that makes a tinkling sound on being shaken, as a 'sistrum.' In the four other places the word is shophar, which is often translated 'trumpet.' 1 Chr. 15:28; 2 Chr. 15:14; Ps. 98:6; Hosea 5:8.

sumponyah. A musical instrument formed of two pipes inserted into a leathern bag, somewhat like the bagpipes, or the Italian sampogna. Dan. 3:5, 10, 15. It was not, like the modern dulcimer, formed with strings.

Ancient musical instruments, formed of metallic plates which were struck together; they produced no melodious sound in themselves (cf. 1 Cor. 13:1) and could only be used with other instruments. 1 Chr. 15:16, 19, 28; Ezra 3:10; Ps. 150:51 etc. In Corinthians it is a similitude of one making a show in speaking without love in the heart.

A stringed instrument. The word is nebel, and is often translated 'PSALTERY.' Its exact form is not known. Isa.5:12; Isa.14:11; Amos 5:23; Amos 6:5.

What a day will that be! Trumpets, psalteries, harps, timbrels, stringed instruments, pipes, organs, loud cymbals, and high-sounding cymbals, all will be pressed into the service of praise. And yet more, that most melodious of all instruments — the human voice — will be heard, amid the sounding of trumpets and the clashing of cymbals, lifted up in praise to Jehovah. Shall we stop there? "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord" (150:6); so runs and ends the Psalm. Cannot Rev. 5:13 give breadth to this exhortation, as every creature in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and in the sea, and all that are in them, John in vision heard saying, "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be to Him that sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever"?

After the introductory "Praise the Lord," then we are told to do so in His sanctuary. There will be an earthly sanctuary then (the temple) and a heavenly sanctuary, where the Church is gathered, with all heavenly saints. Verses 3, 4 and 5 then emphasize the accompaniments of that praise, the trumpet, lute and harp, timbrel and dance, stringed instruments and flutes' loud cymbals and clashing cymbals, all speaking of genuine spiritual worship in various ways. "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."