Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The instruction to "blow the trumpet" isn't just about noise; it's about actively announcing and celebrating God's appointed times, emphasizing that these moments were divinely ordained for Israel to remember and respond to His faithfulness. This wasn't just tradition; it was a deliberate act to mark significant spiritual occasions with audible praise and remembrance.
Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm begins by calling God's people to worship with joyful noise and musical instruments, especially on their feast days. It specifically instructs them to blow trumpets on the new moon, at the full moon, and on other solemn occasions, reminding them of God's statutes and covenant. These commands recall the Exodus from Egypt, when God delivered them from bondage and led them through the wilderness.
Why did God command Israel to blow trumpets at specific times? It wasn't just for noise; it was to mark sacred appointments.
The verse calls for the trumpet to be blown 'in the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.' This points to the intentional structure of Israel's worship calendar.
Marking Sacred Time
These regularly sounded trumpet calls weren't arbitrary. They were divine appointments, setting apart specific days as holy, drawing Israel's attention to God's covenants and redemptive acts.
The blast of a trumpet isn't just a sound; in Scripture, it's a divine signal calling for attention, worship, and remembrance.
The 'shophar' (ram's horn trumpet) was a powerful instrument in Israel's worship, carrying significant meaning.
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Divine Communication
While the specific ritualistic use of the trumpet under the Old Covenant has passed, the principle remains: God uses various means to call us to Himself, to awaken our hearts, and to remind us of His powerful work in salvation.
Understand the original words
shophar · Hebrew Noun
A musical instrument, typically a ram's horn, used to signal sacred events, warn of danger, or announce the presence of God.
chodesh · Hebrew Noun
The first day of the lunar month in the Hebrew calendar, marked by special offerings and blowing of trumpets.
chag · Hebrew Noun
A consecrated time of celebration, worship, and remembrance established by God for His people.
This verse calls for the blowing of trumpets during significant festivals, particularly the Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh month. These festivals, rooted in the Exodus and the giving of the Law, served as powerful reminders of God's redemptive actions and covenant faithfulness.
c. 1440 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
God delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, a foundational event commemorated in Jewish festivals.
c. 1440 BC
The Giving of the Law at Sinai
God establishes His covenant with Israel, including specific laws and festivals for worship.
c. 1440 BC
The Institution of the Feast of Trumpets
God commands the blowing of trumpets on the first day of the seventh month (Tisri) as a holy convocation.
c. 1440 BC— this verse
The Institution of the Feast of Tabernacles
God commands the Feast of Tabernacles to be observed on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, a major pilgrimage festival.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
The united monarchy under David and Solomon centralizes worship in Jerusalem, making festivals even more significant.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
The united kingdom splits into Israel (North) and Judah (South), impacting the observance of festivals.
This passage commands the blowing of trumpets at the new moon and on other feast days, directly paralleling the instructions in Psalm 81:3 and highlighting the ceremonial importance of these sounds.
Leviticus 23:24This verse describes the 'day of the blast of trumpets' on the first day of the seventh month, which is a specific 'solemn feast day' mentioned in Psalm 81:3 and signifies a key religious observance.
Joel 2:1This prophetic passage echoes the command to 'blow the trumpet in Zion' and 'sound an alarm in my holy mountain,' linking the trumpet's call to a divine summons and a day of significance, similar to Psalm 81:3.
1 Corinthians 15:52This New Testament passage speaks of a trumpet sound at the resurrection, drawing a parallel to the ancient trumpet calls and suggesting a spiritual fulfillment of this ancient ceremony.
pulpitPsalms 81:3: "Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day."
Verse 3. - Blow up the trumpet in the new moon. There was a Mowing of trumpets at the beginning of every month (Numbers 10:10), in connection with the appointed sacrifices (Leviticus 28:11-15); so that the month intended cannot, so far, i.e. fixed. As, however, the chief blowing of trumpets was on the first day of the seventh month (Leviticus 23:24), most commentators regard the psalm as composed…
clarkePsalms 81:3: "Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day."
Blow up the trumpet - שופר shophar, a species of horn. Certainly a wind instrument, as the two last were stringed instruments. Perhaps some chanted a psalm in recitativo, while all these instruments vere used as accompaniments. In a representative system of religion, such as the Jewish, there must have been much outside work, all emblematical of better things: no proof that such things should be…
The instruction to "blow the trumpet" isn't just about noise; it's about actively announcing and celebrating God's appointed times, emphasizing that these moments were divinely ordained for Israel to remember and respond to His faithfulness. This wasn't just tradition; it was a deliberate act to mark significant spiritual occasions with audible praise and remembrance.
This psalm begins by calling God's people to worship with joyful noise and musical instruments, especially on their feast days. It specifically instructs them to blow trumpets on the new moon, at the full moon, and on other solemn occasions, reminding them of God's statutes and covenant. These commands recall the Exodus from Egypt, when God delivered them from bondage and led them through the wilderness.
This psalm begins by calling God's people to worship with joyful noise and musical instruments, especially on their feast days. It specifically instructs them to blow trumpets on the new moon, at the full moon, and on other solemn occasions, reminding them of God's statutes and covenant. These commands recall the Exodus from Egypt, when God delivered them from bondage and led them through the wilderness.
"Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day." — The instruction to "blow the trumpet" isn't just about noise; it's about actively announcing and celebrating God's appointed times, emphasizing that these moments were divinely ordained for Israel to…
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Last reviewed October 2026