Shofar, Salpinx, and the Silver Trumpets:
The Pursuit for Biblical Clarity
The trumpet is the most mentioned instrument in the Old and New Testaments. However, because of the lack of specificity in translation, the word “trumpet” in the Bible is oftentimes assumed to be shofar in its derivation when it may be chatsoserot (silver trumpets) or even salpinx (Greek New Testament trumpet). This generalization may lead from mere confusion to full doctrinal misconceptions. This study seeks to clarify these misunderstandings by examining the different trumpets in Scripture: the shofar, the chatsoserot, and the salpinx. I will use this examination to argue that the shofar, though lauded by both Jews and Christians, is not a sacred instrument according to the Bible, but that the chatsoserot was, and the salpinx will be. Furthermore, I demonstrate that the shofar’s now sanctified existence is ostensibly talmudic.
After an introductory chapter, chapter 2 details that the shofar currently has an inordinate amount of prestige among both the Jewish people and charismatic Christians. I make this claim by first looking at the shofar’s use in the modern Hebrew calendar and then in the milieu of Pentecostal Christianity. Chapter 3 serves as a detailed examination of the trumpets in the Old Testament by analyzing the etymologies of each instrument, their construction, references in Scripture, and extra-biblical writings. Furthermore, I demonstrate that the dominant status of the chatsoserot remained through the diaspora. Chapter 4 surveys the Second Temple period through the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 and chronicles how the shofar eclipsed the chatsoserot, rising to its modern status after AD 70. To determine this, I examine the prominence of the chatsoserot just before the Common Era, and the rise of the shofar soon after AD 70 using pseudepigraphical and deuterocanonical passages, coinage, imagery from synagogue ruins, and liturgies that include the shofar. Additionally, I will illustrate the Talmud’s positive effect on the status of the shofar. I also conclude the chapter with a study of the Greek New Testament trumpet: salpinx. Chapter 5 concludes this dissertation by discussing why this information is relevant to today’s evangelical church with four conclusions from this study toward better translation, and keener understanding of the trumpeting instruments in Scripture.
John Leslie Francis, Ph.D.
School of Church Music and Worship
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
John Francis has played all over the world, most recently as soloist with the El Salvador National Symphony Orchestra. In addition to being a Southern Baptist worship leader for over 25 years, he is the former principal trumpet of the Jefferson Brass Quintet, trumpet soloist in the Country Gentlemen Jazz Quartet, and is the director emeritus of the Somerset Brass, a municipal band in Somerset, Kentucky.
Mr. Francis’ trumpet playing has also been demonstrated in the 1993 movie, Gettysburg. He has written the book, Sound the Trumpet and has several writings and arrangements published by LifeWay (Nashville) and Cleff Publishing (Olathe KS). He has written academically for the International Trumpet Guild Journal (Trumpets of the Qumran) and for The Artistic Theologian (Eating Beauty: Book Review).
John is the Minister of Worship at Parkway Baptist Church in St. Louis, MO
John is married to Kimberly Francis, a parent educator with Parents as Teachers. They have two married children, Madelynn Hendrickson, married to Jacob Hendrickson and Tristan Francis, married to Sarah Francis. He has three lovely grandchildren, Jael, Nava, and Talia Hendrickson.
Shofar_Salpinx_and_Silver Trumpets_for web (pdf)
Download