Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5595 trumpet

A musical instrument with a loud, piercing sound, used as a signal, both in times of war and of peace. It was also used extensively in Israelite worship and was frequently associated with divine activity.

Trumpets used to summon the Israelites

Numbers 10:1-7 See also Isaiah 27:13

Trumpets sounded to announce religious festivals

Leviticus 25:8-12 See also Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 10:10; Numbers 29:1; Psalm 81:3-4 The NIV usually translates the Hebrew word “shophar” as “trumpet”, but in this instance it is translated “ram's horn”; Joel 2:15

Trumpets sounded to attract public attention

2 Samuel 20:1 See also 1 Samuel 13:3; Matthew 6:2

Trumpets blown to announce the accession of a king

1 Kings 1:39 See also 2 Samuel 15:10; 1 Kings 1:34,41-43; 2 Kings 9:13; Kings 11:14 pp 2 Chronicles 23:13

Trumpets used to warn of impending danger

Joel 2:1 See also Jeremiah 4:5; Jeremiah 6:1,17; Ezekiel 33:1-6; Hosea 8:1; Amos 3:6

Use of the trumpet in war

As a call to arms

Judges 6:33-35 See also Judges 3:27-28; Nehemiah 4:16-20; Isaiah 18:3; Jeremiah 51:27; Ezekiel 7:14; 1 Corinthians 14:8

As a battle cry

2 Chronicles 13:12 See also Joshua 6:2-20; Judges 7:8,16-22; 2 Chronicles 13:14-15; Job 39:24-25; Jeremiah 4:19-21; Jeremiah 42:14; Hosea 5:8; Amos 2:2; Zephaniah 1:15-16

To signal retreat

2 Samuel 2:28 See also 2 Samuel 20:22

Use of the trumpet in worship

Played by priests

2 Chronicles 29:26 See also Ezra 3:10; Nehemiah 12:31-36,40-42

Played in the tabernacle

1 Chronicles 16:6 See also 1 Chronicles 15:24; Corinthians 16:42

Played in the temple

2 Chronicles 5:12-13 See also 2 Kings 12:13; 2 Chronicles 7:6; 2 C 27-28

Played to praise God

Psalm 150:3 See also 1 Chronicles 13:8; 2 Chronicles 15:14-15; 2 C 28; 2 C 26; Nehemiah 12:40-41; Psalm 98:4-6

Accompanying the ark of the covenant

1 Chronicles 15:28 pp 2 Samuel 6:14-15 See also Joshua 6:4,8,13

The trumpet associated with divine activity

In visible manifestations of God

Exodus 19:16-19 See also Exodus 20:18; Zechariah 9:14; Hebrews 12:18-21

At the second coming of Jesus Christ

1 Thessalonians 4:16 See also Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

In metaphorical use

Revelation 4:1 See also Isaiah 58:1; Revelation 1:10

The trumpet associated with angelic activity

Revelation 8:2 See also Revelation 8:6-8,10,12-13; Revelation 9:1,13-14; Revelation 10:7; Revelation 11:15

Trumpets sometimes made from silver

Numbers 10:2

Trumpets sometimes made from animal horn

Joshua 6:4 See also Exodus 19:13; Psalm 81:3

The trumpet in non-Israelite use

Revelation 18:22 See also Jeremiah 51:27

See also

1454  theophany
5213  assembly
5420  music
5421  musical instruments
5422  musicians
5605  warfare
5611  watchman
5978  warning
7306  ark of the covenant
7359  Feast of Trumpets
8622  worship
8664  praise