Hebrew word · H2689

חֲצֹצְרָה

chatzotzerah

trumpet

A straight metal trumpet, made of silver here (Num 10:2) and elsewhere of other metals. It is distinct from the shofar, the ram's horn, and from the qeren (horn).

Appears 29 times in 27 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

trumpet, clarion

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Numbers 10:9

Range of meaning

A straight metal trumpet, made of silver here (Num 10:2) and elsewhere of other metals. It is distinct from the shofar, the ram's horn, and from the qeren (horn). In the Hebrew Bible it is mostly a priestly and royal instrument: used for summoning, for battle signals, for feasts and sacrifices (Num 10:10), at coronations (2 Kgs 11:14) and in temple music (1 Chr 15:24; 2 Chr 5:12–13).

Against the English

'Trumpet' makes modern readers think of a brass instrument with valves. Many English Bibles also use 'trumpet' for the shofar, so readers cannot tell the two instruments apart in English.

How it drifted

English has a single word, 'trumpet', for both the metal chatsotserah and the horn shofar, so later readers often merge them.

Used elsewhere in the period

Josephus (Antiquities 3.291) describes Moses' trumpets as a little under a cubit long (a cubit is about 45 cm, roughly 18 inches), with a narrow tube a little thicker than a flute, ending in a bell. Silver and bronze trumpets found in Tutankhamun's tomb show how such instruments were used in Egyptian military and religious life. Temple trumpets appear in the spoils carved on the Arch of Titus. The Dead Sea Scrolls War Scroll (1QM) makes priestly trumpets, inscribed with slogans, central to the final battle.

From the study of 2 Chronicles 13:12

Range of meaning

A straight, flared trumpet made of hammered metal. Numbers 10:2 specifies silver. It is distinct from the shofar, the curved ram's horn. Biblical law gave these trumpets to the priests, "the sons of Aaron" (Num 10:8), to gather the assembly, to break camp, to sound at festivals and sacrifices, and to sound in war.

Against the English

English "trumpet" is accurate as far as it goes, but it does not show that this is a sacred, priestly instrument. A reader may picture a bugler or a ram's horn.

Used elsewhere in the period

Num 10:1–10; 31:6 (Phinehas the priest goes to war against Midian "with the trumpets for the alarm"); in Chronicles the priests sound them in worship (1 Chr 15:24; 16:6; 2 Chr 5:12–13; 29:26–28). The Dead Sea War Scroll (1QM, cols. 2–3, 7–9) describes in detail priests blowing inscribed trumpets to direct an eschatological holy war: a later but close development of the same idea. The Arch of Titus shows two long straight temple trumpets carried off from Jerusalem.

From the study of 2 Chronicles 5:12

Range of meaning

A straight metal trumpet, traditionally silver, blown by priests. It is distinct from the shofar (ram's horn). Torah prescribes it for summoning the assembly, breaking camp, battle alarms, and festival and sacrificial days 'as a reminder before your God' (Num 10:1–10).

Against the English

Every version has 'trumpets.' That is right in kind but misleading in form if the reader pictures a modern valved brass trumpet. It is also important not to confuse this instrument with the shofar, which many English Bibles also call a 'trumpet.'

How it drifted

English uses one word, 'trumpet,' for two Hebrew instruments (chatsotserah and shofar) and for a modern instrument unlike either.

Used elsewhere in the period

Num 10:2–10 (two silver trumpets). 1 Chr 15:24 and 16:6 (priests trumpeting before the ark). Ezra 3:10 and Neh 12:35, 41. Josephus (Antiquities 3.291) describes a narrow tube a little under a cubit long ending in a bell. The Dead Sea War Scroll (1QM) assigns inscribed trumpets to priests. The relief on the Arch of Titus shows a pair of temple trumpets among the spoils of Jerusalem.

Similar words

Where it appears

Numbers · 5
  1. Numbers 10:2 חֲצֽוֹצְרֹ֣ת trumpets of

    “Make two trumpets of hammered silver to be used for calling the congregation and for having the camps set out.

  2. Numbers 10:8 בַּֽחֲצֹצְר֑וֹת on trumpets

    The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to sound the trumpets. This shall be a permanent statute for you and the generations to come.

  3. Numbers 10:9 בַּחֲצֹצְר֑וֹת on trumpets

    When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who attacks you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God and saved from your enemies.

    Here: 'On the trumpets': the two hammered-silver trumpets described in 10:2, blown by the priests (10:8). These are not ram's-horn shofars.

  4. Numbers 10:10 בַּחֲצֹֽצְרֹ֗ת on trumpets

    And on your joyous occasions, your appointed feasts, and the beginning of each month, you are to blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings to serve as a reminder for you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”

    Here: "On the trumpets": the two hammered-silver trumpets made in v.2, straight metal instruments blown by priests (v.8), not the ram's-horn shofar.

  5. Numbers 31:6 וַחֲצֹצְר֥וֹת and [the] trumpets of

    And Moses sent the thousand from each tribe into battle, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, who took with him the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.

2 Kings · 3
  1. 2 Kings 11:14 וְהַחֲצֹֽצְרוֹת֙ בַּחֲצֹֽצְר֑וֹת and the trumpets, on trumpets

    And she looked out and saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”

  2. 2 Kings 12:13 חֲצֹ֣צְר֔וֹת trumpets

    However, the money brought into the house of the LORD was not used for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets, or any articles of gold or silver for the house of the LORD.

1 Chronicles · 5
  1. 1 Chronicles 13:8 וּבַחֲצֹצְרֽוֹת׃ and with trumpets

    David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

    Here: Straight metal trumpets (silver in Num 10:2), not the ram's-horn shofar. In Chronicles they are blown by priests on sacred occasions (1 Chr 15:24; 16:6). Their presence makes the procession sound like a solemn sacred event.

  2. 1 Chronicles 15:24 בַּחֲצֹ֣צְר֔וֹת on trumpets

    Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—the priests—were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were also to be guardians of the ark.

  3. 1 Chronicles 15:28 וּבַחֲצֹצְר֖וֹת and with trumpets

    So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and with cymbals and the music of harps and lyres.

    Here: "And with trumpets." These are straight metal trumpets, made of silver according to Num 10:2. In Chronicles the priests blow them (1 Chr 15:24). They are a separate instrument from the animal-horn shofar.

  4. 1 Chronicles 16:6 בַּחֲצֹצְר֣וֹת with trumpets

    and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

  5. 1 Chronicles 16:42 חֲצֹצְר֤וֹת trumpets

    Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for the songs of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.

2 Chronicles · 11
  1. 2 Chronicles 5:12 בַּחֲצֹֽצְרֽוֹת׃ on trumpets

    all the Levitical singers—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets.

    Here: The straight metal (traditionally silver) trumpets of Num 10:1–10, not the ram's-horn shofar. Their blast called Israel together and called on God to remember his people at their festivals.

  2. 2 Chronicles 5:13 בַּחֲצֹצְר֨וֹת with trumpets

    The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud

    Here: Long, straight metal trumpets, silver ones in Numbers 10:2. Priests played them. They are not the ram's-horn shofar, and they are not modern brass trumpets.

  3. 2 Chronicles 13:12 וַחֲצֹצְר֥וֹת and [the] trumpets of

    Now behold, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with their trumpets sound the battle call against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”

    Here: The straight metal (silver) trumpets that only priests blew (Num 10:2–10). They are not the ram's-horn shofar. They belong to the sanctuary and were sounded in war to call on God.

  4. 2 Chronicles 13:14 בַּחֲצֹצְרֽוֹת׃ on trumpets

    When Judah turned and discovered that the battle was both before and behind them, they cried out to the LORD. Then the priests blew the trumpets,

  5. 2 Chronicles 15:14 וּבַחֲצֹצְר֖וֹת and with trumpets

    They took an oath to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, trumpets, and rams’ horns.

    Here: "And with the trumpets." These were the straight metal (silver) trumpets that priests blew (Numbers 10:1–10). In Chronicles they mark official moments of worship and signal Yahweh's presence with his people.

  6. 2 Chronicles 20:28 וּבַחֲצֹצְר֑וֹת and with trumpets

    So they entered Jerusalem and went into the house of the LORD with harps, lyres, and trumpets.

  7. 2 Chronicles 23:13 וְהַחֲצֹצְרוֹת֮ בַּחֲצֹ֣צְר֔וֹת and the trumpets, on trumpets

    And she looked and saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, while the singers with musical instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason, treason!”

  8. 2 Chronicles 29:26 בַּחֲצֹצְרֽוֹת׃ ס with trumpets

    The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

  9. 2 Chronicles 29:27 וְהַחֲצֹ֣צְר֔וֹת and the trumpets

    And Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be sacrificed on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD and the trumpets began as well, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel.

  10. 2 Chronicles 29:28 וְהַחֲצֹצְר֖וֹת and the trumpets

    The whole assembly was worshiping, the singers were singing, and the trumpeters were playing. All this continued until the burnt offering was completed.

Ezra · 1
  1. Ezra 3:10 בַּחֲצֹֽצְר֗וֹת with <the> trumpets

    When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their positions to praise the LORD, as David king of Israel had prescribed.

    Here: The straight metal trumpets, usually silver, that the priests blew (Num 10:1-10). They are not the ram's-horn shofar. Their blast signalled a sacred occasion and served as a 'remembrance before God'.

Nehemiah · 2
  1. Nehemiah 12:35 בַּחֲצֹצְר֑וֹת with trumpets

    and some of the priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph,

  2. Nehemiah 12:41 בַּחֲצֹצְרֽוֹת׃ with trumpets

    as well as the priests with their trumpets—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah—

Psalms · 1
  1. Psalm 98:6 בַּ֭חֲצֹ֣צְרוֹת with trumpets

    With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn shout for joy before the LORD, the King.

Hosea · 1
  1. Hosea 5:8 חֲצֹצְרָ֖ה a trumpet

    Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the battle cry in Beth-aven: Lead on, O Benjamin!

    Here: A straight metal trumpet, like the silver trumpets of Numbers 10. Here it stands in parallel with the shofar, so the line means 'sound every signal instrument'. The verb 'blow' carries over from the first line.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.