Jeremiah 4:21 — Word Study
WLCעַד־ מָתַ֖י אֶרְאֶה־ נֵּ֑ס אֶשְׁמְעָ֖ה ק֥וֹל שׁוֹפָֽר׃ ס
BSAHow longʻad [till when, for how much longer] must I seerâʼâh▸ [look upon, gaze at] the signal flagnêç [standard, ensign, flag of war] and hearshâmaʻ [listen to, heed] the soundqôwl [voice] of the hornshôwphâr [trumpet, ram's horn]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| עַד־ | until | Preposition |
| מָתַ֖י | when? | Particle |
| אֶרְאֶה־ | will I see | Verb, Qal, imperfect first person common singular |
| נֵּ֑ס | a standard | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| אֶשְׁמְעָ֖ה | will I hear | Verb, Qal, infinitive construct first person common singular |
| ק֥וֹל | [the] sound of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| שׁוֹפָֽר׃ ס | a trumpet | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | How long must I see the signal flag and hear the sound of the horn? |
| KJV | How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? |
| ASV | How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? |
| YLT | Till when do I see an ensign? Do I hear the voice of a trumpet? |
| WEB | How long will I see the standard and hear the sound of the trumpet? |
| BBE | How long will I go on seeing the flag and hearing the sound of the war-horn? |
Translations agree on the term נֵס as 'signal flag'.
The main question is posed first, followed by a subordinate clause detailing what he perceives.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbרָאָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Jeremiah 4:21
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Lament of Jeremiahgenerated
Jeremiah 4:21 captures the prophet's anguish as he observes the devastation of his land. He questions how much longer he must endure the signs of destruction, represented by the signal flag and the sound of the horn. This verse is part of a broader lament where Jeremiah reflects on the foolishness of the people and the consequences of their actions, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 4:5–6 | Announce in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: “Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land. Cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble yourselves and let us flee to the fortified cities.’ |
| 2 | Jeremiah 6:1 | “Run for cover, O sons of Benjamin; flee from Jerusalem! Sound the ram’s horn in Tekoa; send up a signal over Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms from the north, even great destruction. |
| 3 | 2 Chronicles 35:25 | Then Jeremiah lamented over Josiah, and to this day all the choirs of men and women sing laments over Josiah. They established them as a statute for Israel, and indeed they are written in the Book of Laments. |
| 4 | 2 Chronicles 36:3–6 | And the king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נֵס, Nesgenerated
The word נֵס (nes) refers to a standard or signal, often associated with a flag that indicates a rallying point or call to action. In this verse, it symbolizes the impending danger and the call for attention amidst chaos.
This noun is in the masculine singular form, indicating a specific standard. Its use here emphasizes the urgency of the situation, as Jeremiah is not merely observing a flag but is deeply concerned about the implications of what it represents.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse is structured around two main verbs: אֶרְאֶה (will I see) and אֶשְׁמְעָה (will I hear), with the noun נֵס serving as the object of the first verb and ק֥וֹל as the object of the second. This structure highlights Jeremiah's dual focus on what he sees and hears.
The order of the verbs emphasizes the immediacy of his plea, as he grapples with the distressing sights and sounds of impending doom.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates נֵס as φεύγοντας, which suggests a focus on those fleeing, potentially indicating a broader interpretation of the signal flag as a call to escape danger.
This choice reflects a different nuance, emphasizing the urgency of flight rather than merely the symbol of the flag.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Jeremiah 4:21 expresses the prophet's anguish as he questions how long he must see the signal flag and hear the sound of the horn. This reflects his concern over the destruction of the land and the foolishness of the people, as he laments their inability to understand the gravity of their situation.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The signal flag symbolizes a call to attention regarding the impending disaster and serves as a warning of danger.
Jeremiah's question reflects his despair over the ongoing calamity and his desire for relief from the suffering of his people.
The sound of the horn is a traditional call to arms or a warning, highlighting the urgency of the situation and the need for action.
This verse encapsulates Jeremiah's role as a prophet who laments the consequences of his people's actions and calls for their awareness and repentance.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What signs of warning do I observe in my own life that I may be ignoring?
- How can I be more attentive to the messages and calls for action in my community?
- In what ways can I respond to the urgency of situations around me, similar to Jeremiah's plea?
- How does understanding the context of Jeremiah's lament affect my interpretation of his message?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Jerome's commentary reflects on this verse, discussing the implications of the fleeing and the sound of the horn as a warning of impending disaster.
How long will I see those fleeing (Vulgate: the one fleeing), hear the sound of the horn? Whether those fleeing from the king of Babylon, or those fleeing from me and departing from my service.Early Church Fathers on Jeremiah 4 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 4:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHow long shall I see the standard,.... "Ensign" or "banner" displayed; either by the watchmen placed on high hills or towers, who, when they see the enemy approaching, lift up their ensign or banner,
Read John Gill on Jeremiah 4 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHow long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? How long shall I see the standard? - Judah in perplexity asks, 'How long is this state of things to continue?'
Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 4 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHe seems to have these concomitants of war, both of Judea preparing for defence, and especially these of the enemy preparing for ruin and destruction. always in his eye and ear, , and bewailing the continuance of it in taking city after city, with the several sackings of Jerusalem under her three last kings. The LXX. read, How long shall I see them flying? reading nas, a refuge, for nes, a banner, differing only in the points.
Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 4 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJeremiah 4:21 How long shall I see the standard, [and] hear the sound of the trumpet?Ver. 21. How long shall I see the standard?] Sad sights and doleful ditties are common in times of war. And hear the sound of the trumpet.] Tubam turbamque hostiurn.
Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 4 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(21) How long shall I see . . .—The “standard,” as in Jeremiah 4:6, is the alarm signal given to the fugitives. The “trumpet” sounds to give the alarm, and quicken their flight to the defenced city. The prophet sees no end to the miseries of the coming war.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Jeremiah 4 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and CollegesCh. Jeremiah 4:5-31. Impending judgements. National disaster This section and the two that follow it (viz. chs. 5 and 6) are somewhat later than the preceding, as presenting a more definite description of the punishment there threatened. They picture the excitement and dismay caused throughout the defenceless portions of the land by the approach of the enemy, and the hasty retreat to walled towns on the part of the country people. No doubt as originally uttered these sections referred to the threatened invasion of Palestine by the Scythian hordes. (See Introd. i. § 3 and on Jeremiah 1:13.) On being reproduced in the Roll of b.c. 604 (ch. 36), when the Chaldaeans had become the formidable…
Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 4 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe standard - See Jeremiah 4:6. The alarm caused by the invasion is graphically described. The people are dispersed over the land following their usual pursuits, when tidings come of the enemy’s approach.
Read Albert Barnes on Jeremiah 4 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
How long must I see the signal flag and hear the sound of the horn?
How long will I see the standard and hear the sound of the trumpet?
How long must I see the signal flag and hear the sound of the horn?
“How long must I see the enemy’s battle flags and hear the military signals of their bugles?”
Tyndale line
How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
Howe long shall I see the standert, and heare the sounde of the trumpet?
Strictly literal
How long shall I see the standard, [and] hear the sound of the trumpet?
Till when do I see an ensign? Do I hear the voice of a trumpet?
Until when do I see an ensign? Do I hear the voice of a horn?
How long shall I see the standard, hear the sound of the cornet?
How long will I see the standard? Will I hear the sound of the horn?
From the Latin
How long shall I see men fleeing away, how long shall I hear the sound of the trumpet?
Simplified
How long do I have to see the flags of war and hear the trumpets of battle?”
How long will I go on seeing the flag and hearing the sound of the war-horn?
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of the verse, with all seven words matched. This indicates a strong consistency in the transmission of this text across these two ancient witnesses.
עַד־ מָתַ֖י אֶרְאֶה־ נֵּ֑ס אֶשְׁמְעָ֖ה ק֥וֹל שׁוֹפָֽר׃ ס
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Jeremiah 4:21
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while
prep.
of space
Of time
Of degree
conj.
until
While
Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)
עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus
of space
Of time
Of degree
base
H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space
. Of time
. Of degree
. conj. . until
. While
. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)
. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space
. Of time
. Of degree
5704 `ad ad
properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or
conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,
or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,
while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,
at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),
(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,
till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.
see HEBREW for 05703
עַד (ad) — till.
prep
1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as
1a) of space
1a1) as far as, up to, even to
1b) in combination
1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)
1c) of time
1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end
1d) of degree
1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like
conj
2) until, while, to the point that, so that even
Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)
Prep — PrepositionHR
מָתַי (mathay) is an adverb meaning 'when?' It is derived from an unused root that suggests extension, particularly in relation to time. The word is used interrogatively to ask about timeframes, such as 'how long?' or 'until when?'. It appears in contexts that require a temporal inquiry.
מָתַי 43 interrog.adv. when?
base
H4970 מָתַי when?
4970 mathay maw-thah'ee
from an unused root meaning to extend; properly, extent (of
time); but used only adverbially (especially with other
particle prefixes), when (either relative or
interrogative):--long, when.
מָתַי (ma.tay) — how.
1) when?
1a) with prep
1a1) against when?, until when?, how long?, after how long?
HTi — ParticleHTi
רָאָה (ra'ah) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to see' and encompasses a wide range of visual and perceptual actions, including looking, observing, and causing others to see. It can refer to both literal sight and figurative understanding, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as appearing or being visible. The entries indicate a rich semantic field without significant disagreement among lexicographers.
רָאָה 1315 vb. see
Qal 1141
see, subj.
see, c. acc. rei
see, sq. acc. cl. or phr. of closer design
see, so as to learn to know
abs. see, have (power of) vision
see = perceive
look at, see, by direct volition
of mental observation
c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest
see, c. acc. rei
Niph.
appear
be seen
be visible
Pu. appar. his bones are not detected
Hithp. recipr. look at each other
Hiph.
cause one to see something, shew
cause to experience something
cause to look intently at, to behold
Hoph.
be caused to see, be shewn
be exhibited to
base
H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.
. see, c. acc. rei
. see, sq. acc. + cl. or phr. of closer design
. see, so as to learn to know
. abs. see, have (power of) vision
. see = perceive
. look at, see, by direct volition
. of mental observation
. . c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest
. see, c. acc. rei
. . appear
. be seen
. be visible
. appar. his bones are not detected
. recipr. look at each other
. . . cause one to see something, shew
. cause to experience something
. cause to look intently at, to behold
. . be caused to see, be shewn
. be exhibited to
H7200b רְאוּת look
7200 ra'ah raw-aw'
a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in
numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,
intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve,
behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have
experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look
(on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up,
upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide,
regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one
another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X
surely, X think, view, visions.
רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.
: see/show
1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to see
1a2) to see, perceive
1a3) to see, have vision
1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out
1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish
1a6) to look at, gaze at
1a7) to provide, choose
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to appear, present oneself
1b2) to be seen
1b3) to be visible
1c) (Pual) to be seen
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to see, show
1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at
1e) (Hophal)
1e1) to be caused to see, be shown
1e2) to be exhibited to
1f) (Hithpael) to look at each other, face
רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.
: examine/consider
1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to see
1a2) to see, perceive
1a3) to see, have vision
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singularHVqi1cs
se: In addition to the ordinary sense of perceiving by the eye, we have
(1) chazah, "to see" (in vision): "Words of Amos .... which he saw concerning Israel" (Am 1:1). The revelation was made to his inward eye. "The word of Yahweh .... which he (Micah) saw concerning Samaria" (Mic 1:1), describing what he saw in prophetic vision (compare Hab 1:1); see REVELATION, III, 4;
נֵס (nes) refers to a standard, ensign, or signal, often associated with a flag or banner. It can imply a rallying point or a token, and is linked to the concept of something lifted up. The entries collectively emphasize its use as a symbol or signal in various contexts.
נֵס n.[m.] standard, ensign, signal, sign
base
H5251 נֵס standard, ensign, signal, sign
5251 nec nace
from 5264; a flag; also a sail; by implication, a flagstaff;
generally a signal; figuratively, a token:--banner, pole,
sail, (en-)sign, standard.
see HEBREW for 05264
נֵס (nes) — Banner.
This name means a standard, signal, ensign, banner
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
נֵס (nes) — ensign.
1) something lifted up, standard, signal, signal pole, ensign, banner, sign, sail
1a) standard (as rallying point), signal
1b) standard (pole)
1c) ensign, signal
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear
Qal 1052
subj. pers. hum.
י׳ (God) subj.
Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound
be heard of
be regarded, obeyed
= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.
Pi. he caused the people to hear
Hiph. 63
of man
י׳ subj.
base
H8085 שָׁמַע hear
8085 shama` shaw-mah'
a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with
implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to
tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X
carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,
declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make
to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)
obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,
regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,
understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.
: hear
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to
1a5) to understand (language)
1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)
1a7) to listen, give heed
1a7a) to consent, agree
1a7b) to grant request
1a8) to listen to, yield to
1a9) to obey, be obedient
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)
1b2) to be heard of
1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed
1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound
1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)
1d3) to make proclamation, summon
1d4) to cause to be heard
n m
2) sound
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.
: obey
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
V-Qal-1cs — Verb · Qal · infinitive construct first person common singularHVqc1cs
קוֹל (qol) primarily means 'voice' or 'sound,' encompassing various contexts such as music, noise, and even thunder. It can also denote lightness or frivolity. The word is built from a root meaning to call aloud and appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including a reference in Jeremiah 3:9.
ref
H6963a קוֹל sound, voice H6963b קֹל lightness, frivolity
6963 qowl kole
or qol {kole}; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a
voice or sound:--+ aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (+ out),
fame, lightness, lowing, noise, + hold peace, (pro-)claim,
proclamation, + sing, sound, + spark, thunder(-ing), voice, +
yell.
קוֹל (qol) — voice.
: voice/shout/loud
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
קֹל (qol) — frivolity.
lightness, frivolity
קוֹל (qol) — voice: sound.
: sound/noise
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
קוֹל (qol) — voice: thunder.
: thunder
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
קוֹל (qol) — voice: message.
: message/proclaim
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
קוֹל (qol) — voice: [sound of].
: [sound_of](THING)
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
קוֹל (qol) — voice: listen.
: listen
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
שֹׁפָר (sho-far) refers to a horn or trumpet, specifically one used for blowing. It is derived from a root meaning to incise and is associated with producing a clear sound. The term encompasses both a cornet and a ram's horn, as noted in various lexicons.
שֹׁפָר, שׁוֹפָר 72 n.m. horn, for blowing
base
H7782 שֹׁפָר, שׁוֹפָר horn, for blowing
7782 showphar sho-far'
or shophar {sho-far'}; from 8231 in the original sense of
incising; a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved
horn:--cornet, trumpet.
see HEBREW for 08231
שֹׁפָר (sho.phar) — trumpet.
horn, ram's horn
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
[CORNET]
The Lord commanded Moses to make two trumpets of beaten silver, for the purpose of calling the people together when they were to decamp, Nu 10:2. They used these trumpets to proclaim the beginning of the civil year, of the sabbatical year, Le 23:24 Nu 29:1, and of the jubilee, Le 25:9-10. See MUSIC.
The feast of Trumpets was kept on the first day of the seventh month of the sacred year, which was the first of the civil year, called Tishri. The beginning of the year was proclaimed by sound of trumpet, Le 23:24 Nu 29:1; and the day was kept solemn, all servile business…
- An instrument of music
- Called the trump
- MADE OF
. Rams' horns
. Silver
- Required to give an intelligible and understood sound