Asor

Overview

The asor is an ancient musical instrument named in the Hebrew Bible. The name derives from a word meaning “ten,” and the instrument is generally understood to have had ten strings. Its precise form is not known, but it is most often identified with a small harp or lyre. Some sources translate the term as a kind of psaltery.

Origin & History

References to the asor appear in several Psalms, where it is mentioned alongside other instruments such as the kinnor and the nevel. It is believed to belong to the broader family of ancient Near Eastern stringed instruments that included the harps and lyres of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Levant. Because no surviving examples have been found and biblical descriptions are short, modern reconstructions are based on comparative iconography from neighbouring cultures rather than direct evidence.

How It Was Played

The asor was almost certainly plucked, either with the fingers or with a small plectrum. With ten strings tuned to a defined scale, it could have accompanied singing in temple and household settings. Beyond this general picture, details of tuning, playing position, and technique are not known with certainty.

Cultural Significance

For Jewish and Christian readers the asor is part of the soundscape of biblical worship, particularly the singing of Psalms. It has therefore been important to scholars of early Jewish liturgy and to musicologists trying to reconstruct ancient temple music. Modern instrument-makers have built speculative reconstructions for use in religious and educational contexts.

Related Instruments

• Kinnor – the lyre most commonly associated with biblical music
• Nevel – another biblical stringed instrument
• Lyre – the broader ancient Mediterranean instrument family
• Harp – the wider category often used to translate asor
• Psaltery – a medieval European cousin in the plucked-string family

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strings did the asor have?
The name itself implies ten strings, although the exact tuning is not preserved.

Is the asor the same as the kinnor?
No. They are distinct instruments named in the Hebrew Bible, although both belong to the wider lyre and harp family.

Image: drawing by Henri Marie Lavoix, public domain (Wikimedia Commons).