Original Word: שׁוֹפָר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: showphar
Pronunciation: SHO-far
Phonetic Spelling: (sho-far')
KJV: cornet, trumpet
NASB: trumpet, trumpets, horn, horns, ram's horn
Word Origin: [from H8231 (שָׁפַר - To be beautiful) in the original sense of incising]

1. a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved horn

cornet, trumpet

Or shophar {sho-far'}; from shaphar in the original sense of incising; a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved horn -- cornet, trumpet.

see HEBREW shaphar

Word Origin
from shaphar
Definition
a horn (for blowing)
NASB Translation
horn (4), horns (1), ram's horn (1), trumpet (46), trumpeter* (1), trumpets (19).

שֹׁפָר, שׁוֺפָר₇₂

noun masculine^{Isaiah 27:13} horn, for blowing (Aramaic שׁיפורא √ dubious; CAdler^{PAOS 1889, Clxxi ff.} compare Assyrian šappar(u) a species of wild goat; in any case the ׳שׁ is a curved horn, as of cow or ram, compare Dr^{Amos 2:2} (with illustrations)); — absolute ׳שׁוֺ 2 Samuel 6:15 +, ׳שׁ Exodus 19:16 +; construct שׁוֺפַר Leviticus 25:9; plural שׁוֺפָרוֺת Judges 7:22 +, construct שׁוֺפְרוֺת Joshua 6:4 +; suffix שׁוֺפְרֹתֵיהֶם Judges 7:8; — horn, mostly as used in war, rarely, and chiefly late, as sacred instrument: Hosea 8:1; Judges 7:8,16; Isaiah 58:1 (simile) Job 39:25 (׳בְּדֵי שׁ, see דַּי 2a); (הַ)יּוֺבְלִים ׳שׁ Joshua 6:4 rams' horns (see יבל), so Joshua 6:6; Joshua 6:8; Joshua 6:13 (all E); ׳קוֺל (הַ)שׁ Exodus 19:16,19; Exodus 20:18 (Gi Exodus 20:15), Joshua 6:5,20 (all E), Amos 2:2 13t.; ׳תָּקַע בַּשּׁ = give a blast with the horn, Judges 3:27; Judges 6:34; Joshua 6:4 9t. Joshua, 1 Samuel 13:3; 1 Kings 1:34,39 9t., +(׳י subject) Zechariah 9:14; ׳תָּקַע שׁ Hosea 5:8; Amos 3:6 (verb Niph`al), Jeremiah 4:5 7t., +׳תֹּקְעֵי הַשּׁ Joshua 6:9 Qr (Kt תָּֽקְעוּ); compare לִתְקוֺעַ ׳הַשּׁ Judges 7:20, ׳בְּתֵקַע שׁ Psalm 150:3; also תְּרוּעָה ׳הֶעֱבִיר שׁ Leviticus 25:9 a (H), compare Leviticus 25:9 b (P), וּתְרוּעָה ׳יוֺם שׁ Zephaniah 1:16; used on religious occasions, Joshua 6:4ff.; Leviticus 25:9; Joel 2:1; Joel 2:15; Psalm 47:6; Psalm 81:4; Psalm 98:6; Psalm 150:3; 2Chronicles 15:14. — On ׳שׁ see Adler^{The Shophar (1894)} Dr^{Amos 2:2} Hpt^{We Psalms Transl. 221 f.} Abrahams^{Hast. DB TRUMPET}.

Definition and General Description

The shofar is a natural wind instrument fashioned from the hollowed horn of a clean animal, most commonly a ram. Its raw, untuned blast is distinctive from metal trumpets, yet Scripture often places the two side by side (e.g., Numbers 10:1–10). Across approximately seventy-two Old Testament occurrences, the shofar functions as a God-ordained signal that transcends mere sound to convey covenantal summons, warning, and celebration.

Materials and Construction

Though horns of several kosher species were acceptable, the ram’s horn became emblematic because of Genesis 22, where a ram caught by its horns prefigured substitutionary atonement. The horn is heated, straightened or curved according to natural shape, cleaned, and polished. No added mouthpiece insures the instrument remains an organic reminder that strength and voice belong to the Lord, not human craftsmanship.

Ceremonial and Cultic Use

1. Day of Atonement and Jubilee. “Then on the tenth day of the seventh month you shall sound the trumpet loud” (Leviticus 25:9). The shofar announced liberty in the fiftieth year, foreshadowing ultimate redemption in Christ.
2. Feast of Trumpets. “A sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts” (Leviticus 23:24). Israel gathered at the seventh-month new moon, hearing the shofar as both memorial and prophetic harbinger of the coming King.
3. Mount Sinai. Before the Ten Commandments, “a very loud trumpet blast” caused the people to tremble (Exodus 19:16, 19). The shofar underscored divine holiness and covenant initiation.
4. Processions and worship. With harps, lyres, and cymbals, the shofar accompanied temple praise (2 Samuel 6:15; 1 Chronicles 15:28; Psalm 150:3).

Military and Civil Functions

1. Rallying troops. Gideon’s three hundred men each held a shofar (Judges 7:16–22), signaling unity and divine victory.
2. Warning of invasion. “If the watchman sees the sword coming and blows the trumpet …” (Ezekiel 33:3–6). Failure to heed brought bloodguilt on the hearer, prefiguring accountability to the gospel call.
3. Announcing strategy. Saul “blew the trumpet throughout the land” to muster Israel (1 Samuel 13:3).
4. Terminating battle. “Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops returned” (2 Samuel 2:28).

Festal and Liturgical Role

Psalms link shofar blasts to joyful acclaim: “Blow the trumpet at the New Moon” (Psalm 81:3) and “Praise Him with resounding trumpets” (Psalm 150:3). The instrument’s range—from piercing alarm to jubilant shout—mirrors the full spectrum of covenant life: repentance, remembrance, and rejoicing.

Symbol of Kingship and Coronation

Anointing rites employed the shofar to proclaim God’s chosen ruler. When Samuel anointed Saul, “all the people blew the trumpet and shouted, ‘Long live the king!’” (1 Samuel 10:24). Likewise Solomon’s enthronement resounded with shofar blasts (1 Kings 1:34, 39). The coronation motif anticipates Messiah’s royal entry and ultimate reign.

Prophetic and Eschatological Significance

Prophets employ shofar imagery for the Day of the Lord. Joel writes, “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on My holy mountain” (Joel 2:1). Zephaniah foresees “a day of trumpet and battle cry” (Zephaniah 1:16). These pronouncements stretch forward to New Testament revelation: “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with the trumpet call of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16) and “the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable” (1 Corinthians 15:52). Thus the ancient horn points to the consummation of salvation history.

Spiritual Lessons and Ministry Application

• Call to Repentance: As Israel prepared to meet God at Sinai, so believers today must heed the Spirit’s convicting blast.
• Readiness: The watchman motif urges vigilant proclamation of truth. Pastors and evangelists serve as modern trumpeters, accountable for faithful warning and comfort.
• Celebration of Redemption: Jubilee’s liberty anticipates freedom in Christ; congregational worship retains the shofar’s rejoicing spirit even when no literal horn is sounded.
• Hope of Resurrection: Every shofar text that signals divine intervention nurtures Christian expectation of the final trumpet, when Christ gathers His saints.

Occurrences and Key Texts

Representative passages:

Exodus 19:16, 19; Leviticus 23:24; Leviticus 25:9; Numbers 29:1; Joshua 6:4–20; Judges 3:27; Judges 7:16–22; 1 Samuel 13:3; 2 Samuel 6:15; 1 Kings 1:34, 39; 2 Kings 9:13; 1 Chronicles 15:28; 2 Chronicles 15:14; Nehemiah 4:20; Job 39:25; Psalm 47:5; Psalm 81:3; Psalm 98:6; Psalm 150:3; Isaiah 18:3; Isaiah 27:13; Jeremiah 4:5, 19; Jeremiah 6:1; Ezekiel 33:3–6; Hosea 5:8; Joel 2:1, 15; Amos 2:2; Amos 3:6; Zephaniah 1:16; Zechariah 9:14.

See Also

Trumpet (Hebrew khatsotsrah), Watchman, Feast of Trumpets, Jubilee, Day of the Lord, Resurrection.

בְּשׁוֹפָ֣ר בַּשֹּֽׁפָר֑וֹת בַּשֹּׁפָ֔ר בַּשֹּׁפָ֗ר בַּשּֽׁוֹפָר֑וֹת בַּשּֽׁוֹפָרוֹת֮ בַּשּׁ֣וֹפָר֔וֹת בַּשּׁוֹפָ֔ר בַּשּׁוֹפָ֖ר בַּשּׁוֹפָ֣ר בַּשּׁוֹפָ֤ר בַּשּׁוֹפָר֑וֹת בַּשּׁוֹפָר֙ בַּשּׁוֹפָר֜וֹת בַּשּׁוֹפָרֽוֹת׃ בשופר בשופרות בשופרות׃ בשפר בשפרות הַשֹּׁפָ֔ר הַשּֽׁוֹפָר֑וֹת הַשּׁוֹפָ֔ר הַשּׁוֹפָ֗ר הַשּׁוֹפָ֤ר הַשּׁוֹפָר֖וֹת הַשּׁוֹפָר֙ הַשּׁוֹפָרוֹת֒ השופר השופרות השפר וּבְשׁוֹפָרֽוֹת׃ ובשופרות׃ כַּשּׁוֹפָ֖ר כשופר שֹׁפָ֔ר שֹׁפָ֖ר שֹׁפָ֨ר ׀ שֽׁוֹפְרוֹת֙ שׁוֹפְר֜וֹת שׁוֹפְר֤וֹת שׁוֹפְרֹֽתֵיהֶ֗ם שׁוֹפַ֤ר שׁוֹפָ֑ר שׁוֹפָ֔ר שׁוֹפָ֖ר שׁוֹפָ֜ר שׁוֹפָ֤ר שׁוֹפָֽר׃ שׁוֹפָר֙ שׁוֹפָר֤וֹת שופר שופר׃ שופרות שופרתיהם שפר baš·šō·p̄ā·rō·wṯ baš·šō·p̄ār baš·šō·w·p̄ā·rō·wṯ baš·šō·w·p̄ār bashshoFar bashshofaRot baššōp̄ār baššōp̄ārōwṯ baššōwp̄ār baššōwp̄ārōwṯ bə·šō·w·p̄ār beshoFar bəšōwp̄ār haš·šō·p̄ār haš·šō·w·p̄ā·rō·wṯ haš·šō·w·p̄ār hashshoFar hashshofaRot haššōp̄ār haššōwp̄ār haššōwp̄ārōwṯ kaš·šō·w·p̄ār kashshoFar kaššōwp̄ār shoFar shofaRot shofRot shofroteiHem šō·p̄ār šō·w·p̄ā·rō·wṯ šō·w·p̄ar šō·w·p̄ār šō·wp̄·rō·ṯê·hem šō·wp̄·rō·wṯ šōp̄ār šōwp̄ar šōwp̄ār šōwp̄ārōwṯ šōwp̄rōṯêhem šōwp̄rōwṯ ū·ḇə·šō·w·p̄ā·rō·wṯ ūḇəšōwp̄ārōwṯ uveshofaRotInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts