By Charles Medina
There is a great mystery to be learned from the blowing of the Shofar. Being a blower myself, the Ruach led me to learn all I could about this wonderful instrument. Part of this mystery can be found in the Shofar blessing: “Baruch atah Adonai elohenu melech Ha’olam asher kishadanu lishmoa Kol SHofar”. The “Kol” can mean “sound” or “voice”. It is used in two places in Genesis, one when GOD was looking for Adam and Eve after their transgreesion.
Gen 3:8 They heard the voice of Adonai, God, walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, so the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Adonai, God, among the trees in the garden.
The second time is in Exodus on Mt. Sinai when GOD’s great Shofar is heard for the first time.
Exo 19:16 On the morning of the third day, there was thunder, lightning and a thick cloud on the mountain. Then a shofar blast sounded so loudly that all the people in the camp trembled.
Now let’s look at the etymology of the word “Shofar”.
Shofar is a Hebrew word that comes from a root meaning beauty. The word shofar, however, through tradition came to mean almost solely “ram’s horn”. The shofar was used in biblical times for various occasions ranging from calling the armies together to signaling death. Which brings up the curious point that shofar is also literally translated as a “sense of incising”. Incising means to cut or burn into. Obviously the sound of the shofar was more than a mere horn blast to the ancient Hebrews, to earn a name that signified a cutting or burning into the heart and soul of the people. Strong’s confirms this understanding with his definition:
7782 showphar, sho-far’; or shophar, sho-far’; from 8231 in the orig. sense of incising; a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved horn:-cornet, shofar.
—————— Dictionary Trace ————–
8231 shaphar, shaw-far’; a prim. root; to glisten, i.e. (fig.) be (caus. make) fair:-X goodly
Shofar also literally means “to cut” or “to burn into”. This has great significance. When we hear the Shofar it should stir in us a desire for repentence and longing. But there is more. Because the Shofar is blown with our breath this is also very significant. The Hebrew word for breath is “Ruach”. The same word means “wind” or “spirit”. This means even more when we consider this passage from Genesis:
Gen 2:7 Then Adonai, God, formed a person
GOD’s “Ruach” gave us life and when you are born again the “Ruach” indwells us. So when a blower blows, he is releasing the “Ruach” upon the congregation.
So when you consider the Shofar literally means “to cut” , like in a sword and the “Ruach” or breath is used to blow it the full understanding and Impact of these verses becomes plain:
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a rousing cry, with a call from one of the ruling angels, and with God’s shofar; those who died united with the Messiah will be the first to rise;
Rev 1:16 In his right hand he held seven stars, out of his mouth went a sharp double-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Rev 2:16 Therefore, turn from these sins. Otherwise, I will come to you very soon and make war against them with the sword of my mouth.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down nations — “He will rule them with a staff of iron.” It is he who treads the winepress from which flows the wine of the furious rage of Adonai, God of heaven’s armies.
Rev 19:21 The rest were killed with the sword that goes out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
Isa 11:4 but he will judge the impoverished justly; he will decide fairly for the humble of the land. He will strike the land with a rod from his mouth and slay the wicked with a breath from his lips.
The Yemenite Shofar and the Gemsbok Shofar both resemble a sword petruding from the mouth. Both are blown with the breath. The sound pierces the heart. A double-edged sword that will bring Joy to the Righteous and fear to the Wicked.