THE FULL ARTICLE — from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), general editor James Orr — public domain, printed whole.

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 MUSIC.