חָצַר (cha.tsar)
cha.tsar
to blow
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb chatsar means to sound a trumpet, specifically using a long metal instrument called a clarion or ram’s horn. In the Old Testament, it appears only six times, almost exclusively in the Chronicles. These passages describe the musical accompaniment for temple worship and royal ceremonies, where priests played these horns to mark sacred moments.
The word is denominative, meaning its root comes from the name of the instrument itself. The sources note two main forms: the Piel participle refers to the players themselves, while the Hiphil form describes the act of sounding the clarion. This distinction highlights that the focus is not just on the noise, but on the designated role of the musicians in leading the community’s praise.
Translators often render this as "blow" or "sound," but the context always involves a formal, liturgical setting rather than a casual signal. By limiting its usage to Chronicles, the text emphasizes the organized, ceremonial nature of Israel’s worship, where music served as a structured response to God’s presence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chatsar refers to the specific act of sounding a trumpet or clarion during formal worship in ancient Israel. It appears only six times, all within the books of Chronicles, highlighting its role in structured liturgy rather than casual signaling. This distinction reminds us that biblical praise is often an ordered, communal response to God’s presence, led by designated musicians and priests.
When these instruments were blown, they marked sacred moments where heaven and earth seemed to meet. In II Chronicles 5:13, the unified sound of trumpets and singers coincided with the temple being filled with a cloud, symbolizing God's glory. This connection between music and divine presence invites us to view our own worship as a serious, joyful offering that honors God.
For your faith life, this word encourages intentionality in how you approach God. Whether through singing, playing instruments, or silent prayer, your participation is part of a larger chorus of praise. It is not about performance but about unity and thanksgiving, joining the ancient community in declaring God's enduring kindness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [were] blowing a trumpet4×
- to the/ trumpeters1×
- [who were] blowing a trumpet1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַחְצְרִ֖ים2×
- מַחְצְרִים֙1×
- מַחְצְרִ֣ים1×
- מַחְצְרִ֑ים1×
- לַ/מְחַצְּרִ֨ים1×
Key Verses
-
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,
This verse shows the word describing the unified sound of trumpeters and singers that accompanied the temple being filled with God's glory.
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I Chronicles 15:24
Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew the trumpets before God’s ark; and Obed-Edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.
Here the priests are specifically noted as blowing the trumpets before the ark, emphasizing their liturgical role in transporting the symbol of God's presence.
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II Chronicles 7:6
The priests stood, according to their positions; the Levites also with instruments of music of Yahweh, which David the king had made to give thanks to Yahweh, when David praised by their ministry, saying “For his loving kindness endures forever.” The priests sounded trumpets before them; and all Israel stood.
The text links the sounding of trumpets directly to David's appointed instruments for giving thanks, showing how music facilitated corporate praise.