שֹׁפָר

From the study of Isaiah 18:3

Range of meaning

A ram's horn (sometimes the horn of another animal) that could sound only a few notes. It was blown to raise an alarm or call to arms (Judges 3:27; Amos 3:6; Hosea 5:8; Jeremiah 4:5), to announce a king or a holy moment (1 Kings 1:34; Exodus 19:16, 19), and to proclaim the Jubilee (Leviticus 25:9).

Against the English

KJV, WEB and NIV have "trumpet"; BSB and NLT have "ram's horn." Hebrew has a separate word for the metal trumpet, chatsotsrah, used by priests (Numbers 10:2). "Trumpet" merges the two and calls up a valved brass instrument.

How it drifted

English Bibles following the Greek salpinx and Latin tuba used one word, "trumpet," for both instruments. Later Christian imagery of the "last trumpet" also gives the word overtones that a war-horn on a hilltop did not have in Isaiah's day.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint renders it salpinx. Isaiah 27:13 has a "great shofar" calling the scattered back. In the Dead Sea Scrolls' War Scroll (1QM), horns and trumpets organize the stages of battle. The shofar is still made and blown today.

From the study of Isaiah 27:13

Range of meaning

A ram's horn (sometimes from another animal), blown as a signal. It was used to:

• sound alarm and war (Judg 3:27; Amos 3:6)
• proclaim a king (1 Kgs 1:34, 39)
• announce the Jubilee on the Day of Atonement (Lev 25:9)
• mark sacred festival days (Ps 81:3)
• accompany God appearing in glory (Exod 19:16, 19)
• summon people to gather (Isa 18:3; Jer 4:5)

It is a different instrument from the ḥatsotsrah, the straight metal trumpet blown by priests (Num 10:2).

Against the English

KJV, WEB and most modern versions say "trumpet". BSB says "ram's horn". YLT says "trumpet".

How it drifted

The Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate used their ordinary words for "trumpet" (salpinx, tuba), and English followed them. A modern reader pictures a brass instrument, or an orchestral or military bugle.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint here has salpinx megalē, "great trumpet". The Jewish daily prayer called the Amidah quotes this verse almost word for word in its tenth blessing: "Sound the great shofar for our freedom, lift a banner to gather our exiles." The same idea of a trumpet in Zion summoning the scattered appears in Psalms of Solomon 11:1. The New Testament picks up the phrase in Matt 24:31 ("with a great trumpet … they will gather his elect"). See also Zech 9:14, where God himself blows the shofar.

From the study of Isaiah 58:1

Range of meaning

A horn made from an animal's horn, usually a ram's. It did not play melodies; it produced a few loud, harsh signal blasts. It was used to sound alarm at approaching enemies (Jer 4:5; 6:1; Amos 3:6), to call troops to battle (Judg 3:27; 6:34), to announce a king (2 Sam 15:10; 1 Kgs 1:34), to mark sacred moments (the Sinai theophany, Exod 19:16–19; the new moon, Ps 81:3), and to proclaim the Jubilee release on the Day of Atonement (Lev 25:9).

Against the English

KJV, WEB, ESV, NIV and most English versions say "trumpet". BSB and NJPS say "ram's horn". Hebrew had a separate word for the metal trumpet, ḥatsotsrah (Num 10:2, made of hammered silver and blown by priests). Isaiah chose the shofar.

How it drifted

Translating shofar as "trumpet" goes back to the Greek (salpinx) and Latin (tuba), which had no special word for a horn. In modern English "trumpet" brings to mind a brass instrument, an orchestra or a fanfare, and loses the raw animal horn with its overtones of alarm, war and atonement.

Used elsewhere in the period

About 70 times in the Hebrew Bible. Prophets use it as an image of the prophet's warning: Hos 8:1 "Set the shofar to your lips!"; Ezek 33:3–6, the watchman who blows the shofar and is guilty if he stays silent; Joel 2:1, 15. The Dead Sea Scrolls War Scroll (1QM) still distinguishes horns (shofarot) from trumpets (ḥatsotsrot).