σάλπιγξ (salpigx)
salpigx
trumpet
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun salpigx refers to a trumpet, specifically the metal instruments used in ancient warfare and religious ceremonies. In the Septuagint, it often translates Hebrew words for horns or trumpets, bridging Old Testament ritual with New Testament imagery. The sources note its appearance in key passages such as 1 Corinthians 14:8 and Hebrews 12:19, where the sound signifies either divine warning or solemn gathering.
A notable feature of this word is its metonymic use for the blast itself rather than the instrument. This distinction appears clearly in texts like Matthew 24:31, which describes a "loud trumpet call," and 1 Thessalonians 4:16, where the Lord descends with the sound of the trumpet. The etymology may relate to quavering or reverberation, emphasizing the acoustic power that commands attention across distances.
John’s Revelation utilizes this term extensively, listing multiple trumpet blasts in chapters 8 and 9 to signal escalating judgments. These sounds serve as audible markers of divine intervention, transforming abstract theological concepts into tangible auditory events for the reader.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word salpigx refers to a metal trumpet used in ancient times for warfare and religious ceremonies. In the New Testament, it often points to moments of divine intervention or gathering. For instance, Matthew 24:31 describes angels using a great sound to gather God’s chosen ones from every corner of the earth. This imagery reminds us that our lives are not random; they are held within a purposeful plan where every voice is accounted for.
Paul uses the trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15:52 to describe the moment of resurrection, calling it the 'last trumpet.' This suggests a finality and completeness to God’s work. When we face uncertainty or fear about the future, this image offers stability. The sound is not chaotic but clear, signaling that God brings order out of confusion.
Even in Revelation, where trumpets signal judgment, the underlying theme is God’s active presence in history. These blasts serve as audible markers of divine action, transforming abstract concepts into tangible events. We can find comfort in knowing that the same God who calls us to attention also promises to gather and restore us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- trumpet;2×
- of a trumpet2×
- [the] trumpet2×
- trumpets.1×
- trumpets1×
- trumpet1×
- a trumpet call1×
- a trumpet1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σάλπιγγος5×
- σάλπιγξ1×
- σάλπιγγι·1×
- σάλπιγγι1×
- σάλπιγγες.¶1×
- σάλπιγγας1×
- σάλπιγγα·1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 24:31
He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
This verse uses the trumpet's sound to illustrate the universal gathering of believers, emphasizing God's power to collect His people from all directions.
-
I Corinthians 15:52
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
Here the 'last trumpet' marks the instantaneous transformation of the dead and living, serving as the definitive signal for the completion of resurrection.
-
I Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first,
The mention of God’s trumpet alongside the archangel's voice highlights the majestic authority accompanying Christ’s return to raise the dead in Christ.
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Revelation of John 8:2
I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
This passage introduces the seven angels with trumpets, establishing the instrument as a vessel for specific divine messages and judgments in the end times.