VOICE OF THE SHOFAR
by Jeremy Chance Springfield
9/14/2015
One of the strangest musical instruments in the Bible is arguably the shofar – the ram’s horn. It originates on a living creature, is cut off, and is returned to a living creature to be utilized in a totally new and important way.
Interestingly, before a shofar is blown, by those in Judaism and in many Messianic communities, a traditional Hebrew blessing is spoken:
Interestingly, before a shofar is blown, by those in Judaism and in many Messianic communities, a traditional Hebrew blessing is spoken:
"Blessed are You, YHWH our Elohim, King of the world, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us to hear the sound of the shofar."
It is just a tradition to recite the prayer, but a detail in the prayer holds a hint to a unique insight and application for us. The word "sound" in the Hebrew blessing actually conveys much more than a generic "sound." Rather, the term is QOL, which literally means in the Hebrew tongue the concept of a "voice." A volcano erupting can make a sound, a lightning strike can make a sound, but they are not living beings, and so, they do not have a "voice." However, the ram's horn was once alive, and although is a dead object once it is removed from the animal, it is said to have a "voice." How can that be?
Read the blessing literally, with the word QOL translated in this way, and it comes off rather odd:
"Blessed are You, YHWH our Elohim, King of the world, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us to hear the voice of the shofar."
Now, a shofar cannot really make a sound. It has no voice. It is not alive. It is just a vessel. A shofar requires someone to put into it the breath that creates the "voice." By breathing into the shofar, the user gives the shofar a voice.
This is important, because in Hebrew, the word for "breath" is RUAKH, which is also the same word for "spirit." Whenever you say "breath," in Hebrew, you've also just said the word for "spirit" - RUAKH. In fact, the Holy Spirit in Hebrew is called simply RUAKH HAQODESH - the Spirit / Breath of Set-Apartness.
This is important, because in Hebrew, the word for "breath" is RUAKH, which is also the same word for "spirit." Whenever you say "breath," in Hebrew, you've also just said the word for "spirit" - RUAKH. In fact, the Holy Spirit in Hebrew is called simply RUAKH HAQODESH - the Spirit / Breath of Set-Apartness.
Therefore, the voice of the shofar is truly a spiritual voice. It is just a vessel on its own, and it must receive the breath / spirit to have any value or function. The Word imbues the shofar with a spiritual essence by commanding us to use it in a unique way. Scripture commands us to have a memorial each year to blow / sound (Leviticus 23:24), as the Hebrew text shows us:
"Speak to the sons of Yisra'El, to say, 'In the seventh month, on the first of the month, there shall be for you a rest, a memorial of sounding, a holy gathering.' "
To truly appreciate the unique detail that the ram's horn possesses a voice, we must return to the very first time a shofar is ever blown in the Word, which is at Mount Sinai, when the people arrive after their leaving Egypt. Exodus 19:13, 16, 19 tell us that the Israelites and the mixed multitude were prohibited upon pain of death from touching or ascending the mountain until the sound of a shofar was heard, and only then could they draw near. The verses read:
13 No hand shall touch it, for he shall be certainly stoned, or certainly shot through, whether beast, whether man – he shall not live. In the protraction of the ram’s horn they shall ascend upon the mountain . . .
16 And it came to be on the third day, there were voices, and lightning, and a heavy cloud was upon the mountain. And a sound of a shofar was very strong, and all the people were trembling in the camp.
19 And when the sound of the shofar went on and was very strong, Mosheh spoke, and the Elohim answered him with a voice.
Again, the word used in the text for "sound" is literally QOL - "voice," in Hebrew. The people had to wait for the voice of the shofar to be heard. It finally burst forth over the mountain, and the incredible Presence of the Most High came down in a way never experienced before by man.
13 No hand shall touch it, for he shall be certainly stoned, or certainly shot through, whether beast, whether man – he shall not live. In the protraction of the ram’s horn they shall ascend upon the mountain . . .
16 And it came to be on the third day, there were voices, and lightning, and a heavy cloud was upon the mountain. And a sound of a shofar was very strong, and all the people were trembling in the camp.
19 And when the sound of the shofar went on and was very strong, Mosheh spoke, and the Elohim answered him with a voice.
Again, the word used in the text for "sound" is literally QOL - "voice," in Hebrew. The people had to wait for the voice of the shofar to be heard. It finally burst forth over the mountain, and the incredible Presence of the Most High came down in a way never experienced before by man.
But wait -- who blew the shofar? No human man or woman had that authority or was given that directive. Rather, everyone was waiting to hear it. No man took it upon himself. No human blew the first shofar ever blown in Scripture.
It was the Spirit who blew the shofar at Mount Sinai!
The Spirit gave voice to the shofar, which gave men the ability to approach the mountain without fear of death! The Spirit called men to repent (to return) to the Most High. Now we can understand well the words of the verses cited above about commanding us to have a yearly memorial of blowing! It is the opportunity to recall the initial voice of the Spirit through the shofar that allowed Israel to draw near. When you blow the shofar and give the object a voice, remember that it is truly a spiritual event, for it was the Spirit who first blew it over His people at Sinai with the voice of acceptance! It is the call to return, to hear that we are accepted into His Presence once more!
It was the Spirit who blew the shofar at Mount Sinai!
The Spirit gave voice to the shofar, which gave men the ability to approach the mountain without fear of death! The Spirit called men to repent (to return) to the Most High. Now we can understand well the words of the verses cited above about commanding us to have a yearly memorial of blowing! It is the opportunity to recall the initial voice of the Spirit through the shofar that allowed Israel to draw near. When you blow the shofar and give the object a voice, remember that it is truly a spiritual event, for it was the Spirit who first blew it over His people at Sinai with the voice of acceptance! It is the call to return, to hear that we are accepted into His Presence once more!
All study contents Copyright Jeremy Chance Springfield, except for graphics and images, which are Copyright their respective creators.