“Cymbal” From Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(hollow of a vessel). Metallic plates, slightly concave, used as musical instruments, by striking them together (1 Chron. 13:8; 16:5; Psa. 150:5; 1 Cor. 13:1).
“Locust” From Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(leaping). Confused original, supposedly embracing the destructive insects—locust, grasshopper, caterpillar, palmer-worm. They constituted the eighth Egyptian plague (Ex. 10:1-15; Joel 2:3-10).
“Spear” From Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(spar). In general, a wooden staff with a sharp metallic head. Some were light for throwing, others long and heavy for attack either by footmen or horsemen (1 Sam. 13:22; 17:7; 26:7; 2 Sam. 2:23).
“Cymbals” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
Ancient musical instruments, formed of metallic plates which were struck together; they produced no melodious sound in themselves (Compare 1 Cor. 13:1) and could only be used with other instruments (1 Chron. 15:16,19,28; Ezra 3:10; Psa. 150:5, and so forth). In Corinthians it is a similitude of one making a show in speaking without love in the heart.
“Locusts” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
There are several species of locusts which visit Palestine; they are brought by the wind, and carried away by the same. Five Hebrew words are translated “locusts,” but they cannot now be definitely distinguished. Some of the Hebrew words are also translated GRASSHOPPERS. They formed one of the plagues of Egypt (Ex. 10:4-19). They are remarkable for the immense numbers that suddenly swarm upon a district, and for the vast devastation they accomplish in vegetation in a little while, as the prophet says, before them the land may be as the garden of Eden, and behind them a desolate wilderness: nothing escapes them (Joel 2:3).
Locust Swarm
They were classed among the clean things that might be eaten by the Israelites (Lev. 11:22); they were the food of John the Baptist (Matt. 3:4); and are eaten at the present time. They are boiled, roasted, and fried, or salted, or pounded into cakes with salt. The Œdipoda migratoria is a species that commonly visits Palestine.
THE BALD LOCUSTS, salam. These are mentioned only in Leviticus 11:22; as distinct from the common locusts (arbeh). The bald locust is supposed to be a species of Truxalis, which have smooth heads.
In Revelation 9:3,7 the locust is symbolical of some destructive power that will issue from “the smoke,” or influence, of the bottomless pit, to sting and torment the men that have not the seal of God in their foreheads. These locusts have stings like scorpions, are in shape or appearance like horses, with faces of men, and with crowns of gold on their heads, implying imperial power, with pretended subjection to God; but withal cruel, pitiless and false.
“Spears” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
See ARMS.
Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:
Transliteration:
tslatsal
Meaning:
from 6750 reduplicated; a clatter, i.e. (abstractly) whirring (of wings); (concretely) a cricket; also a harpoon (as rattling), a cymbal (as clanging)
KJV Usage:
cymbal, locust, shadowing, spear
From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Psalm 150:5. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
The ancient cymbals resembled those in use in our day, consisting of two circular concave plates of brass, or other metal, and producing a clanging sound by being struck against each other.
Two kinds are supposed to be mentioned in the text. The “loud cymbals” are thought to have corresponded to the castanets which are used by the Moors and Spaniards as an accompaniment to guitars and dances. Two of these small cymbals were held in each hand. The “high-sounding cymbals” are thought to have been the larger kind that we are accustomed to see in military bands. They were thus used in ancient times, and were also employed by the Hebrews in Divine worship as an accompaniment to the chorus of singers (1 Chron. 15:16; 25:6; 2 Chron. 5:13). Paul refers to this instrument in 1 Corinthians 13:1: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”