Isaiah 27:13 · Bible study
Isaiah 27:13 Commentary: The Great Trumpet of Gathering
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Isaiah 27:13 announces a great trumpet gathering exiles from Assyria and Egypt to worship on Zion.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God sounds a trumpet to gather His scattered people from exile to worship in Jerusalem.
- Key words: shofar (ram’s horn trumpet), avad (perish), nadach (outcast).
- Main debate: Does this refer to the return from Babylon under Cyrus (Barnes) or a future end-time ingathering (Gill, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)?
- Theological theme: Restoration and reunion: God does not abandon His people even when they are scattered.
- Best use: Teaching on hope, the call of the Gospel, and the centrality of worship.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And in that day a great ram’s horn will sound, and those who were perishing in Assyria will come forth with those who were exiles in Egypt. And they will worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.
WEB World English Bible 2000
It will happen in that day that a great trumpet will be blown; and those who were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and those who were outcasts in the land of Egypt, shall come; and they will worship Yahweh in the holy mountain at Jerusalem.
KJV King James Version 1769
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great trumpet shall be blown; and they shall come that were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and they that were outcasts in the land of Egypt; and they shall worship Jehovah in the holy mountain at Jerusalem.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And it hath come to pass, in that day, It is blown with a great trumpet, And come in have those perishing in the land of Asshur, And those cast out in the land of Egypt, And have bowed themselves to Jehovah, In the holy mount--in Jerusalem!
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the great trumpet shall be blown; and they shall come that were perishing in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and they shall worship Jehovah in the holy mountain at Jerusalem.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And it shall come to pass, that in that day a noise shall be made with a great trumpet, and they that were lost, shall come from the land of the Assyrians, and they that were outcasts in the land of Egypt, and they shall adore the Lord in the holy mount in Jerusalem.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Acontecerá también en aquel día, que se tañerá con gran trompeta, y vendrán los que habían sido esparcidos en la tierra de Asiria, y los que habían sido echados en tierra de Egipto, y adorarán á Jehová en el monte santo, en Jerusalem.
E será naquele dia, que uma grande trombeta será tocada; então os que estiverem perdidos na terra da Assíria e os que tiverem sido lançados à terra do Egito voltarão, e adorarão ao SENHOR no monte santo em Jerusalém.
En ce jour, on sonnera de la grande trompette,
Zu der Zeit wird man mit einer großen Posaune blasen; so werden kommen die Verlorenen im Lande Assur und die Verstoßenen im Lande Ägypten und werden den HERRN anbeten auf dem heiligen Berge zu Jerusalem.
En het zal te dien dage geschieden, dat er met een grote bazuin geblazen zal worden; dan zullen die komen, die in het land van Assur verloren zijn, en de heengedrevenen in het land van Egypte; en zij zullen den HEERE aanbidden op den heiligen berg te Jeruzalem.
E in quel giorno sonerà una gran tromba; e quelli ch’eran perduti nel paese d’Assiria, e quelli ch’eran dispersi nel paese d’Egitto verranno e si prostreranno dinanzi all’Eterno, sul monte santo, a Gerusalemme.
Stanie się też dnia onego, że zatrąbią w trąbę wielką, i przyjdą, którzy byli poginęli w ziemi Assyryjskiej, i którzy byli zagnani do ziemi Egipskiej; i będą się Panu kłaniali na górze świętej w Jeruzalemie.
и будет в тот день: вострубит великая труба, и придут затерявшиеся в Ассирийской земле и изгнанные в землю Египетскую и поклонятся Господу на горе святой в Иерусалиме.
當 那 日，必大 發 角聲，在亞述 地 將要滅亡的，並在埃及 地 被趕散的，都要來，他們就在耶路撒冷 聖 山上 敬拜 耶和華。
And it will be in that day that a great horn will be sounded; and those who were wandering in the land of Assyria, and those who had been sent away into the land of Egypt, will come; and they will give worship to the Lord in the holy mountain at Jerusalem.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Isaiah 27:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree this verse depicts a divine gathering. The trumpet signals God's sovereign call. The perishing in Assyria and outcasts in Egypt represent Israelites scattered by judgment. The destination is the holy mountain in Jerusalem, where they worship Yahweh. However, the timing divides interpreters. Barnes sees the decree of Cyrus as the fulfillment. Gill and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown point to the gospel and the last days. Keil and Delitzsch reject a reference to return from Babylon, arguing the boundaries of verse 12 imply a gathering within the land, likely the resurrection. The shared core: God collects His scattered people to Himself.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Historical Return: Sees the decree of Cyrus as the trumpet; fulfilled in Ezra-Nehemiah.
- Eschatological Restoration: Links to New Testament last trumpet and the phrase 'in that day'; expects future gathering of Israel.
- Resurrection within the Land: Based on verse 12 boundaries; reads it as resurrection of the dead in the promised land (Keil and Delitzsch).
What is clear: God will gather His scattered people to worship Him in Jerusalem.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Timing of fulfillment | The verse describes God gathering His scattered people. | Some interpret this as fulfilled under Cyrus (Barnes). Others see a future eschatological restoration (Gill, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). Keil and Delitzsch argue it refers to a resurrection within the land. |
| Identity of the gathered | The gathered include exiled Israelites, likely both the northern tribes (Assyria) and those who fled to Egypt. | Some see only Israelites; others, noting the mention of Egypt's conversion (Clarke), see a foreshadowing of Gentile inclusion. |
| Nature of the trumpet | The trumpet is a divine summons, signaling God's action. | Barnes reads it as the decree of Cyrus. Gill and others interpret it figuratively as the gospel trumpet. Cambridge Bible links it to the last trumpet. |
| Geographical scope | Assyria and Egypt represent places of exile and judgment. | Are they specific historical locations or symbolic of all lands of dispersion? Jamieson-Fausset-Brown see them as representative of the whole world. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Two regions loom large in Israel's history of scattering. Assyria, which deported the northern tribes (2 Kings 17:6), and Egypt, a refuge that became a prison for some who fled the Babylonians (Jeremiah 41-42). The trumpet here, the shofar (H7782), was a ram's horn used for assemblies, feasts, and war (Leviticus 25:9; Numbers 10:2). Its sound called people to attention before God. The holy mountain is Jerusalem's temple mount, the center of worship. This verse closes the section of Isaiah often called the 'Isaiah Apocalypse' (chapters 24-27), which looks beyond immediate judgment to God's final victory. Verse 12 describes threshing from the Euphrates to the brook of Egypt, boundaries of the promised land. Some interpreters, following Keil and Delitzsch, argue that the gathering happens within these borders, suggesting a resurrection of the dead in the land rather than a return from exile. The terms 'perish' (H0006 avad) and 'outcasts' (H5080 nadach) convey utter loss and banishment, underscoring the magnitude of God's rescue.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant variants for Isaiah 27:13.
Reception History
The verse has been interpreted in multiple traditions. Jewish interpretation often sees it as the ingathering of exiles in the messianic age. Early Christian writers linked it to the last trumpet of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:52). Medieval and Reformation commentators often saw its fulfillment in the return from Babylon. More recent interpretation, following Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and Gill, emphasizes a future restoration of Israel. The verse is also used in Christian liturgy concerning the coming of the Lord.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The Sound of the Trumpet: God initiates the gathering with a clear, authoritative call. No human effort brings the exiles home.
- The Gathering of the Scattered: Those who were dead in exile and cast out in foreign lands are brought in. God saves the hopeless.
- The Worship of the Redeemed: The journey ends not in a place, but in a posture: bowing before Yahweh on His holy mountain.
Five-Point Outline
- The Day: 'In that day' ties this to the eschatological horizon, whether near or far.
- The Trumpet: A divine summons that cannot be ignored. (Psalm 47:5; Matthew 24:31)
- The Exiles: Those who perished in Assyria and were cast out in Egypt symbolize every lost child of God.
- The Movement: They 'shall come', a confident future promise in the Hebrew verb (H0935).
- The Goal: Worship. Not just restoration to land, but restoration to God.
Illustration Hooks
- A family separated by war receives a phone call that the missing son has been found. The trumpet is that call.
- A refugee camp hears an announcement: the border is open. The exiles stand and walk.
- A wedding invitation goes out to relatives scattered across the world. Travel arrangements are made because the invitation is from the bridegroom.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Does this verse promise the physical return of Jewish people to Israel today?
- What does this trumpet have to do with the last trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15:52?
- How can we, who are not exiles in Assyria or Egypt, claim this promise?
Leading a Discussion
This verse shows God's heart for the scattered and the lost. Notice the sequence: a trumpet, a gathering, worship. Before you discuss, read Isaiah 27:13 aloud together and sit in silence for a moment, imagining the sound of that trumpet.
Discussion Questions
- What does the trumpet symbolize in the Old Testament? Look at Numbers 10:2 and Leviticus 25:9.
- Who are 'those ready to perish' and 'the outcasts'? What do these words tell you about their condition?
- Where do they come from? Where do they go? Why might both locations matter?
- How does verse 12 ('thresh from the Euphrates to the brook of Egypt') help you understand verse 13?
- Some Christians see this as a past return from exile. Others see a future ingathering of Israel or of all nations. What evidence do you find for each view in the text?
- How does the New Testament pick up the trumpet imagery (Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16)?
- If this promise is for God's people, how does it shape our hope and our worship now?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Leviticus 25:9 | Then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land. |
| 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. |
| Numbers 10:4 | If they blow just one, then the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. |
| II Kings 17:6 | In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. |
| 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. |
| Psalms 47:5 | God has gone up with a shout, Yahweh with the sound of a trumpet. |
| Psalms 81:3 | Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. |
| Psalms 89:15 | Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, Yahweh. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke connects the great trumpet to the future conversion of Egypt, which he believes will follow the collapse of Ottoman rule. For him, the prophecy points to a literal historical event, not just a spiritual metaphor, and the removal of Mohammedan power is a necessary step.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes identifies the great trumpet as a figure for the decree of Cyrus, which summoned the scattered Jews back to their homeland. He emphasizes that this gathering included both the ten tribes lost in Assyria and those who had fled to Egypt. The prophecy, he concludes, was completely fulfilled in the historic return under Cyrus.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible School notes that the great trumpet here signals a second return from exile, gathering not just the scattered nation but specifically those who were perishing and outcast. This prophecy parallels earlier promises (Isaiah 11) and anticipates the trumpet call in the New Testament.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes emphasize that the great trumpet signals a gathering of those who perished in Assyria and those driven into Egypt. These scattered exiles are brought together to worship the Lord on His holy mountain in Jerusalem, fulfilling a prophetic promise of restoration.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill interprets the great trumpet not as a literal signal but as the Gospel itself, a joyful sound of grace and salvation. In the latter day this trumpet will be blown with greater clarity and power, calling perishing sinners from every nation—symbolized by Assyria and Egypt—to come to Christ and into the church for true worship.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB sees the great trumpet as a type fulfilled in the gospel call that the Jewish people will finally heed in the last days. The references to Assyria and Egypt point to a future restoration of all Israel, including the ten tribes, which has never yet been fully accomplished.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argues the prophecy describes not a literal return of exiles but a resurrection of the dead within Israel's promised borders. The "beating" carefully separates true Israelites from false, like tender grain knocked from husks, with the word shibboleth carrying a double meaning of "flood" and "ear" to support this.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange identifies the ruined city as the worldly power's capital, not Jerusalem. Its complete desolation and the people's lack of understanding explain why their Creator shows them no mercy. In sharp contrast, God personally gathers every scattered Israelite one by one for joyful worship.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that God's judgment falls on His own people first, not just on their enemies. Unlike the total destruction of Israel's oppressors, God's discipline of Jacob is measured and purifying, aimed at removing sin rather than annihilating the sinner.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley reads the trumpet as more than a literal or future sound. It is God's direct signal of his providence, recalling how trumpets gathered the Israelites for assembly. The point is that God uses a familiar, authoritative call to bring his people together at his appointed time.