חֲצֹצְרָה (cha.tso.tse.rah)
cha.tso.tse.rah
trumpet
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 26 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun chatzotserah refers to a straight metal trumpet, distinct from the curved horn called a shofar. In the Hebrew Bible it appears twenty-six times, most frequently in Numbers and the Chronicles. It was crafted for specific liturgical and military purposes, serving as an instrument of assembly and alarm rather than general musical accompaniment.
Its etymology is likely onomatopoetic, imitating the sharp, quavering sound of the metal pipes themselves. This sonic quality matches its primary function: to signal the gathering of the community or the movement of the camp. Numbers 10:2 records God’s command to Moses to make two silver trumpets for calling the congregation and directing the journey.
Translators consistently render chatzotserah as "trumpet," preserving the distinction from the shofar in English versions. The word carries a sense of urgency and clarity, marking moments when the people needed immediate attention or divine intervention, such as during the battles described in Chronicles.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chatzotserah refers to a straight metal trumpet, distinct from the curved shofar made of ram’s horn. In the Hebrew Bible, this instrument served specific liturgical and military purposes. It was crafted to signal the gathering of the community or the movement of the camp, carrying a sense of urgency and clarity.
God commanded Moses to make two silver trumpets for calling the congregation (Numbers 10:2). These sounds marked moments when people needed immediate attention or divine intervention. The sharp, quavering tone matched its function, reminding listeners that God was present and active in their midst.
This word invites us to consider how we listen for God’s call in our daily lives. Just as the trumpets signaled assembly or alarm, Scripture calls us to pay attention to His voice. We can trust that He guides us with clarity, whether in times of celebration or when facing challenges.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 26 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- on/ trumpets8×
- with/ trumpets6×
- and/ with/ trumpets4×
- and/ the/ trumpets4×
- and/ [the] trumpets of2×
- with <the>/ trumpets1×
- trumpets of1×
- trumpets1×
- a trumpet1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/בַ/חֲצֹצְר֖וֹת2×
- וַ/חֲצֹצְר֥וֹת2×
- בַּ/חֲצֹצְרֽוֹת\׃2×
- בַּ/חֲצֹצְר֑וֹת2×
- בַּ/חֲצֹ֣צְר֔וֹת2×
- חֲצֽוֹצְרֹ֣ת1×
- חֲצֹצְרָ֖ה1×
- חֲצֹצְר֤וֹת1×
- וּ/בַ/חֲצֹצְרֽוֹת\׃1×
- וּ/בַ/חֲצֹצְר֑וֹת1×
- וְ/הַ/חֲצֹצְרוֹת֮1×
- וְ/הַ/חֲצֹצְר֖וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 10:2
“Make two trumpets of silver. You shall make them of beaten work. You shall use them for the calling of the congregation and for the journeying of the camps.
This verse records God’s specific command to make two silver trumpets for calling the congregation and directing the journey, establishing the instrument's primary purpose.
-
Numbers 10:9
When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets. Then you will be remembered before Yahweh your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.
Here the trumpets serve as an alarm in war, reminding the people that sounding them brings God’s memory and salvation against their adversaries.
-
II Chronicles 5:13
when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking Yahweh; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised Yahweh, saying, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever!” then the house was filled with a cloud, even Yahweh’s house,
The trumpeters and singers unite to make one sound of praise, resulting in the house of God being filled with His cloud, showing the instrument's role in worship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chatzotserah mean?
How is chatzotserah different from shofar?
Where does this word appear most often?
Every Occurrence (26 verses across 8 books)
Numbers 5 verses
“Make two trumpets of silver. You shall make them of beaten work. You shall use them for the calling of the…
Numbers 10:8“The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. This shall be to you for a statute forever throughout your…
Numbers 10:9When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the…
Numbers 10:10“Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the…
Numbers 31:6Moses sent them, one thousand of every tribe, to the war with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with…