Trumpet: Required to Give an Intelligible and Understood Sound
Jump to: Torrey'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
The trumpet holds significant importance in biblical texts, serving as a powerful symbol and instrument used in various religious, military, and ceremonial contexts. Its sound is often associated with clarity, authority, and divine communication, emphasizing the necessity for it to be intelligible and understood by those who hear it.

Biblical Usage and Symbolism

In the Old Testament, the trumpet, often referred to as the "shofar" or "silver trumpets," was used for multiple purposes. It signaled the calling of assemblies, the commencement of festivals, and the announcement of significant events. Numbers 10:2-3 instructs, "Make two trumpets of hammered silver to be used for calling the congregation and for having the camps set out." The clear and distinct sound of the trumpet was essential for conveying messages to the Israelites, ensuring that the community acted in unison and with understanding.

The trumpet also played a crucial role in warfare. In Joshua 6:4-5 , the Israelites were commanded to march around Jericho with trumpets, leading to the miraculous fall of the city's walls. The sound of the trumpet was a divine signal, marking the presence and power of God in battle.

Prophetic and Eschatological Significance

The trumpet is prominently featured in prophetic and eschatological contexts, symbolizing the announcement of God's intervention in human history. In the book of Joel, the trumpet is a call to repentance and alertness: "Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near" (Joel 2:1). The clarity of the trumpet's sound serves as a warning and a call to action, urging people to prepare for the coming of the Lord.

In the New Testament, the trumpet is associated with the return of Christ and the resurrection of the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:52 states, "in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." The trumpet's sound here is unmistakable and transformative, heralding the fulfillment of God's promises.

Theological Implications

The requirement for the trumpet to give an intelligible and understood sound is underscored in 1 Corinthians 14:8 : "Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?" This verse highlights the necessity for clarity in communication, particularly in spiritual matters. Just as the trumpet must produce a clear sound to effectively convey its message, so must the proclamation of the Gospel be clear and understandable to edify and prepare believers.

The trumpet's role as a divine instrument of communication reflects the broader biblical theme of God's desire for His messages to be clearly understood by His people. It serves as a reminder of the importance of discernment and readiness in the life of faith, urging believers to listen attentively and respond appropriately to God's call.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
1 Corinthians 14:8
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The New Evangelism: and Its Relation to Cardinal Doctrines
... sky not scarlet like the inside of our trumpet, or a ... though he was a rich man, nor
to give any sensible ... into a corner and dispense it in phrases as required. ...
/.../berkhof/new evangelism and other papers/the new evangelism and its.htm

The Miracle of Pentecost and the Birthday of the Christian
... differing from all known languages, and required an interpreter ... like the uncertain
sound of a trumpet, like the ... I will give the various views which either deny ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 24 the miracle of.htm

The Prophet Joel.
... ii.1, 2: "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an ... by the parallelism that the
signification "to rule" is required. ... His people, He cannot give up as a prey to ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet joel.htm

An Essay on the Scriptural Doctrine of Immortality.
... answer this, the principal one, of making intelligible the divine ... I shall make no
attempt to give explanations of ... of the voice of the seventh trumpet, when he ...
/.../an essay on the scriptural.htm

The Preface to the Commandments
... This is like the sounding of a trumpet before a ... clothes, whereby, as by a type, God
required the sanctifying ... Let this cup pass away.' God will give his people ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/1 3 the preface to the.htm

The Essay which Brings up the Rear in this Very Guilty Volume is ...
... behind him "a great Voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I ... Bishop Butler,) "may be said
to be, to give us an ... each one for itself is all that is required." (That is ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/vii the essay which brings.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1828 to the Beginning ...
... such additional service as may be required, this might ... best suit the people; and
to give greater efficiency ... of the last cited author, " the trumpet must sound ...
/.../chapter 10 from the close.htm

Introduction to Oration ii.
... blood of simpler souls, which will be required at our ... the course of others, and rather
to give a kindly ... the whole of it is not at once intelligible to everyone ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/introduction to oration ii.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1824 to the ...
... mortal remains in Paoli, until the last trumpet shall awake ... at once chaste, plain,
and intelligible, uttered in ... a Methodist traveling preacher,) to give him a ...
/.../chapter 8 from the close.htm

The Religious Revolution
... the neutrality of France, was forced to give way. ... Naumburg were captured by force,
and it required all the ... Some of his sermons sounded like a trumpet call from ...
/.../chapter ii the religious revolution.htm

Resources
Is the last trumpet of 1 Thessalonians 4 the same as the seventh trumpet of Revelation? | GotQuestions.org

What are the seven trumpets of Revelation? | GotQuestions.org

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the midtribulational view of the rapture (midtribulationism)? | GotQuestions.org

Trumpet: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Trumpet

Trumpet by Gideon's Soldiers

Trumpet in the Siege of Jericho

Trumpet in War, of Abijah

Trumpet in Worship

Trumpet used at Mount Sinai

Trumpet used for Assembling the People to War

Trumpet used for Blowing at all Religious Processions and Ceremonies

Trumpet used for Blowing Over the Sacrifices on the Feast Day

Trumpet used for Calling Assemblies

Trumpet used for Giving Alarm in Cases of Danger

Trumpet used for Proclaiming Kings

Trumpet used for Regulating the Journeys of the Children of Israel

Trumpet used for Sounding for a Memorial when the People Went Into Battle

Trumpet used in War

Trumpet: An Instrument of Music

Trumpet: At Jehoshaphat's Triumph

Trumpet: At the Anointing of Kings

Trumpet: At the Bringing up of the Ark of the Covenant from the Household of Obed-Edom

Trumpet: At the Dedication of Solomon's Temple

Trumpet: At the Dedication of the Wall

Trumpet: At the Foundation of the Second Temple

Trumpet: At the Jubilee

Trumpet: Called the Trump

Trumpet: Figurative

Trumpet: Made of Ram's Horn

Trumpet: Made of Rams' Horns

Trumpet: Made of Silver

Trumpet: Miracles Connected With: Confusion Produced in the Camp of the Midianites by Sound

Trumpet: Miracles Connected With: Falling of the Walls of Jericho

Trumpet: Miracles Connected With: Heard at Mount Sinai at Giving of the Law

Trumpet: Moses Commanded to Make Two, for the Tabernacle

Trumpet: On the Great Day of Atonement

Trumpet: Required to Give an Intelligible and Understood Sound

Trumpet: Solomon Made a Great Many, for the Service of the Temple

Trumpet: Sounded in Time of Danger

Trumpet: Sounding of, Illustrative of God's Power to Raise the Dead

Trumpet: Sounding of, Illustrative of The Bold and Faithful Preaching of Ministers

Trumpet: Sounding of, Illustrative of The Latter Day Judgments

Trumpet: Sounding of, Illustrative of The Proclamation of the Gospel

Trumpet: Symbolical

Trumpet: The Feast of Trumpets Celebrated by Blowing of

Trumpet: The Jubilee Introduced by Blowing of

Trumpet: The Priests to Blow the Sacred

Trumpet: The War-Horse Acquainted With the Sound of

Trumpet: To Summon Soldiers by Absalom

Trumpet: To Summon Soldiers by Ehud

Trumpet: To Summon Soldiers by Gideon

Trumpet: To Summon Soldiers by Joab

Trumpet: To Summon Soldiers by Nehemiah

Trumpet: To Summon Soldiers by Phinehas

Trumpet: To Summon Soldiers by Saul

Trumpet: To Summon Soldiers by Sheba

Trumpet: Uses of, Prescribed by Moses

Related Terms

Trumpet (74 Occurrences)

Trumpet-blast (2 Occurrences)

Trumpet's (1 Occurrence)

Trump (2 Occurrences)

Blew (37 Occurrences)

Blown (30 Occurrences)

Bloweth (10 Occurrences)

Ram's (7 Occurrences)

Blast (28 Occurrences)

Almsgiving (3 Occurrences)

Cornet (8 Occurrences)

Alms (13 Occurrences)

Alarm (26 Occurrences)

Year (4027 Occurrences)

Trumpeter (1 Occurrence)

Sounds (64 Occurrences)

Ensign (21 Occurrences)

Blowing (31 Occurrences)

Trumpets (52 Occurrences)

Thunder (48 Occurrences)

Sounded (66 Occurrences)

Shouting (83 Occurrences)

Loud (222 Occurrences)

Shouted (65 Occurrences)

Shout (114 Occurrences)

Jubilee (25 Occurrences)

Blow (124 Occurrences)

Nethaneel (14 Occurrences)

Lightnings (17 Occurrences)

Imperishable (11 Occurrences)

Incapable (5 Occurrences)

Instant (19 Occurrences)

Incorruptible (8 Occurrences)

Trembled (43 Occurrences)

Twinkling (1 Occurrence)

Resembled (18 Occurrences)

Decay (18 Occurrences)

Proclamation (31 Occurrences)

Beth-haccerem (2 Occurrences)

Bichri (8 Occurrences)

Bethhaccerem (2 Occurrences)

Amos (12 Occurrences)

Ablaze (19 Occurrences)

Atonements (6 Occurrences)

Soundeth (6 Occurrences)

Signal (18 Occurrences)

Dispersed (28 Occurrences)

Warfare (18 Occurrences)

Changed (177 Occurrences)

Warning (30 Occurrences)

Lightning (49 Occurrences)

Sounding (99 Occurrences)

Moment (71 Occurrences)

Uproar (33 Occurrences)

Assemble (77 Occurrences)

Messengers (182 Occurrences)

Tekoa (12 Occurrences)

Warn (35 Occurrences)

Flat (33 Occurrences)

Banner (20 Occurrences)

Winds (35 Occurrences)

Feast (209 Occurrences)

Trunk (3 Occurrences)

Noise (126 Occurrences)

Tenth (89 Occurrences)

Over-against (156 Occurrences)

Jo'ab (120 Occurrences)

Month (197 Occurrences)

Further (121 Occurrences)

Tremble (92 Occurrences)

Standard (42 Occurrences)

Gideon (45 Occurrences)

Horn (108 Occurrences)

Afar (98 Occurrences)

War (529 Occurrences)

Ahead (98 Occurrences)

Warned (63 Occurrences)

Seventh (123 Occurrences)

Abroad (120 Occurrences)

Trumpet: On the Great Day of Atonement
Top of Page
Top of Page