Before studying more about the Feast of Trumpets, it will be helpful to examine the four Hebrew words for “trumpet.” Significantly, “trumpet” first appears in the Scriptures as yobel, calling Israel to draw near Mount Sinai. The term also signified “jubilee” when all land was returned to the individual/descendants YHWH originally had given it, guaranteeing the covenant land blessings to each Israelite family.

1. Yobel (Strong’s H3104), from the root yabal (Strong’s H2986), is translated “ram’s horn” five times, “trumpet” once (Exo. 19:13), and “jubilee” twenty-one times, for a total of twenty-seven. The first scriptural occurrence of “trumpet” was at Mount Sinai, “When the trumpet (Strong’s H3104) sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” A ram’s horn continuously blasting on the seventh Sabbath signaled Israel to approach YHWH’s presence on the fiery mountain. Yabal (Strong’s H2986) means “to flow, to bring, to carry, bring forth, lead forth, lead.” The primary root meaning is “to cause to transport an object from one place to another,” the TWOT explained.

“…when the object is people, the sense of this root is normally “lead.” This verb conveys Yahweh’s leading in three ways. First, he will lead Israel back to Canaan in Israel’s future restoration. Then, in the millennial kingdom, Yahweh will lead Israel in paths where they will not stumble (Jer. 31:9). Second, all who seek Yahweh will be led by him into the blessings of the Davidic covenant (Isa. 55:12). Third, Yahweh will lead Israel into judgment (Psa. 60:9 [H 11], Psa. 108:10 [H 11], et al.). It is also significant that the Messiah, himself, is to be led as a lamb to slaughter on behalf of the sins of the people (Isa. 53:7).”

“The word yôbel means basically “ram” (so also in Phoenician and Arabic), but in the Old Testament, it is used as an instrument and then as a name of the year whose beginning it signaled, the Jubilee (Year). (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament [the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 1980], Strong’s H2986.)

It was a Jubilee year when Israel entered the land, for they ate the produce of the land as commanded, Leviticus 25:11-12 and Joshua 5:11-12. Yobel, translated as “ram’s horn,” was the instrument blown by the priests carrying the ark around Jericho before it fell. Combining yobel events, YHWH called Israel forth as His inheritance at Sinai, led them to the Land He promised to Abraham, and gave His enemies into their hands.

2. Shofar (Strong’s H7782), from the root safar (Strong’s H8231), means “to give a clear, incising sound, a cornet, curved horn, trumpet,” and is used biblically seventy-two times. Shofar‘s first occurrence is also in Exodus 19. “On the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet [shofar] blast” (Exo. 19:16). When the trumpets sounded long and louder and louder, Moses spoke, and YHWH answered. God’s almighty voice and human response are both associated with shofar blowing. YHWH’s voice is His spirit-breath that goes forth with power to bring forth righteousness in all the earth. The shofar‘s bright and beautiful sound announced His presence and His will, leading humankind out of darkness into His marvelous light. Yobel is seemingly interchangeable with the shofar (Exo. 19:13,16, Jos. 6:4–5).

The arrival of the new moon and new year was heralded by a signal from the shophar (Psa. 81:3 [H 4]), as was the year of Jubilee (Lev. 25:9). It played a vital part in Israel’s expressions of praise (Psa. 98:6, 150:3). It was important in civil and military affairs as well. It announced a new king (1Ki. 1:34, 2Ki. 9:13). It served as a bugle for signals in battle (Jdg. 3:27, 2Sa. 20:1). It was important in the fall of Jericho (Jos. 6) and Gideon’s defeat of the Midianites (Jdg. 7). The Scripture frequently uses shophar in a figurative sense. The prophet is likened to the watchman who sounds the warning of impending disaster (Eze. 33:3–6, Isa. 58:1, Jer. 6:17).” (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament [the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 1980], Strong’s H7782.)

3. Khatsotserah (Strong’s H2689) occurs twenty-nine times, indicating “narrow,” describing the beaten silver trumpet’s long shape (Num. 10:2). Its root, khatsar (Strong’s H2690), translates “to blow” or “sound.” The shophar was usually employed for military maneuvers. Priests used silver trumpets “to summon the tribes, or their leaders, and to signal the breaking of camp” (Num. 10:2–4), though “priests sometimes used the trumpets in times of war so that YHWH would respond” (TWOT 726a, Num. 10:9, 31:6, 2Ch. 13:12, 14). Later in Israel’s history, priests blew silver trumpets over the whole burnt offerings (TWOT, 726a).

4. Ezekiel used the word taqowa (Strong’s H8619) for the word “trumpet,” the only occurrence in the Bible (Eze. 7:14), referring to the trumpet’s warning of war. The more commonly used root taqa (Strong’s H8626), indicating “clatter,” “clap,” or “clang” an instrument, has multiple meanings.

“‘Taqa’ is attested sixty-six times in the Qal stem and three times in the Niphal. The verb bears three distinct but related meanings: (1) “thrust, pound”; (2) “blow (a horn)”; (3) “clap hands.” Trumpets were blown to convene people (Num. 10:2), to sound an alarm (Jer. 6:1; note the pull with the place name Tekoa [תקוֹע], and as a sign of rejoicing (2Ch. 23:13) or triumph (Jos. 6:20). Clapping the hands was also a sign of joy (Psa. 47:1 [H 2]) or triumph (Nah. 3:19), and striking hands with someone else signified pledging oneself as collateral in a business arrangement (Job 17:3, Pro. 6:1, 11:15, 17:18, 22:26).”

(Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament [the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 1980], Strong’s H8619.)

Takeaway: 
The Hebrew text uses four words translated into English as trumpets. Each word has its niche meaning and use in the Israelite culture. When God blows the trumpet, it is a call to draw near to Him and follow His leading. When people blow trumpets, it is to communicate with God and to each other. In the next blog, I will discuss the significance of trumpet blowing in more detail.

Fun Factors:
Four words for trumpets yobel (48) יוֹבֵל, shophar (586) שׁוֹפָר, khatsotsrah (393) חֲצֹצְרָה, and taqowa (570) תָקוֹע, totaled, equal 1597, 251^st prime (251 is the 54^th prime, 2 × 27), 119^th Pythagorean prime (119 = 7 × 17), 17^th Fibonacci number, and the sum of two squares, 34² + 21², 34 = 2 × 17 and 21 = 3 × 7, signaling the power of I AM’s (21²) victory (34²). The product of 1597’s digits is 315 (the restoration number 15 appears in both numbers; “the appointed time,” zeman, is 97). The sum of 1597’s digits is 22, the number of letters in the alphabet making the Word of God. The four trumpet words are involved in pointing to the sureness (3) of I AM’s (21²) Word (22) of restoration (15) coming to pass (7 × 17), in victory (17) at the appointed time (97).