The Shofar

Shofar is the Hebrew term for a trumpet made from a curved ram's horn. To sound the ram's horn came from the root word "Teruwah" in Hebrew which means clangor of trumpets, acclamation of joy, clamor, rejoicing, high joyful sound, loud noise, wild shout, a battle cry, to announce forcefully or loudly. "Uwah" means to split the ears with sound. The ram's horn represents the ram caught in the thicket, when Abraham was about to sacrifice Issac. Likewise, it represents God's humble substitute for us, Jesus Christ. It is not considered a musical instrument but is blown for a variety of reasons.

1. Blown to herald the Lord's decent and the giving of the law at Mt. Sanai. EX. 19:16,19 and 20:18

2. Blown to usher in the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanna). This was a call to "Sabbath rest, a memorial of blowing trumpets, a holy convocation." It marked the beginning of a ten-day period of self-examination and repentance culminating with the Day of Atonement. The one who blows the shofar recites the blessing: "Blessed art Thou, Lord or God, King of the universe who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to hear the sound of the shofar." The congregation responds with "Amen." It tells us to "Awake, ye sleepers from your sleep...and ponder your deeds." Nu. 29:1

3. Blown to herald the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). A long blast is sounded to begin Yom Kippur. Lev. 25:9

4. Blown to announce the Year of Jubilee. Jubilee in Hebrew is "Yabel," meaning to flow and is rendered trumpets. Every fifty years slaves were freed, debts were forgiven and land returned to the original owner. Lev. 25:9-10 (verse 10 says, "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants" and is inscribed on the Liberty Bell.)

5. Blown continually be seven priests before the Ark of the Covenant, as part of strategic warfare at the battle of Jericho. Joshua 6:4-20

6. Blown by Gideon to rally troops and by the 300 men in his army in battle. Judges 6:34 and 7:8, 16, 20

7. Blown to usher in the ark of the Lord (His presence) as David danced with all his might. IISam 6:15; I Chron 15:14

8. Blown when a king was anointed. I Kings 1:34, 39, 41; II Kings 9:13

9. Blown at the taking of an oath. II Chron 15:14

10. Blown to rally the troops. Nehemiah 4:18, 20

11. Blown to announce God's presence and to praise and worship Him. Ps. 47:5, 98:6, 150:3; Is. 27:13, 18:3. Rev1:10

12. Blown to call people to repentance. Is 58:1; Hosea 8:1; Joel 2:1

13. Blown to sound the alarm of war. Jer. 4:19, 21, 6:1, 17; 51:27; Joel 2:1

14. Blown to sound the warning of danger. Amos 2:2, 3:6; Zephaniah 1:16; Hosea 5:8, 8:1; Ezekiel 33:2-9; Isaiah 58:1 (The sound of the trumpet is compared to a prophet's voice.)

15. Blown to call the assembly together to repentance and fasting. Joel 2:1, 15

16. Blown by the Lord. Zechariah 9:14

17. Blown by the angels. Matt. 24:31; Rev. 8:2, 3; 9:1, 13-14; 10:7; 11:15

18. Blown at His coming. I Corinth. 15:52; Thess. 4:16 "FOR THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, AND WITH THE SHOFAR OF GOD: AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST."

E-mail me with any comments or questions you might have. Barbara Knight

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