Rams Horn

A musical wind instrument made from a ram’s horn, used for signals and celebrations.

Horn, ram’s horn
(Image generated by ChatGPT using OpenAI technology) Horn, ram’s horn

About Rams Horn

Primitive musical instrument made from an animal horn (Jos 6:4–6, 13). See Musical Instruments (Shophar).

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Form, use in ancient daily life, and how translators render the term.

Key References

Exodus 19:13

No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows—whether man or beast, he must not live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”

Joshua 6:4

Have seven priests carry seven ramshorns in front of the ark. Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns.

Joshua 6:20

So when the ramshorns sounded, the people shouted. When they heard the blast of the horn, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. Then all the people charged straight into the city and captured it.

1 Kings 1:39

Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”

All Scripture References (69)

Exodus (4)
Exodus 19:13

No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows—whether man or beast, he must not live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”

Exodus 19:16

On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled.

Exodus 19:19

And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.

Exodus 20:18

When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sounding of the ram’s horn, and the mountain enveloped in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance.

Leviticus (1)
Leviticus 25:9

Then you are to sound the horn far and wide on the tenth day of the seventh month, the Day of Atonement. You shall sound it throughout your land.

Joshua (8)
Joshua 6:4

Have seven priests carry seven ramshorns in front of the ark. Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns.

Joshua 6:5

And when there is a long blast of the ram’s horn and you hear its sound, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the wall of the city will collapse and all your people will charge straight into the city.”

Joshua 6:6

So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven ramshorns in front of the ark of the LORD.”

Joshua 6:8

After Joshua had spoken to the people, seven priests carrying seven ramshorns before the LORD advanced and blew the horns, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.

Joshua 6:9

While the horns continued to sound, the armed troops marched ahead of the priests who blew the horns, and the rear guard followed the ark.

Joshua 6:13

And the seven priests carrying seven ramshorns kept marching ahead of the ark of the LORD and blowing the horns. The armed troops went in front of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the LORD, while the horns kept sounding.

Joshua 6:16

After the seventh time around, the priests blew the horns, and Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city!

Joshua 6:20

So when the ramshorns sounded, the people shouted. When they heard the blast of the horn, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. Then all the people charged straight into the city and captured it.

Judges (8)
Judges 3:27

On arriving in Seirah, he blew the ram’s horn throughout the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down with him from the hills, and he became their leader.

Judges 6:34

So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who blew the ram’s horn and rallied the Abiezrites behind him.

Judges 7:8

So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred men, who took charge of the provisions and ramshorns of the others. And the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley.

Judges 7:16

And he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each man a ram’s horn in one hand and a large jar in the other, containing a torch.

Judges 7:18

When I and all who are with me blow our horns, then you are also to blow your horns from all around the camp and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon!’”

Judges 7:19

Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the changing of the guard. They blew their horns and broke the jars that were in their hands.

Judges 7:20

The three companies blew their horns and shattered their jars. Holding the torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!”

Judges 7:22

And when the three hundred ramshorns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.

1 Samuel (1)
1 Samuel 13:3

Then Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”

2 Samuel (6)
2 Samuel 2:28

So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight.

2 Samuel 6:15

while he and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sounding of the ram’s horn.

2 Samuel 15:10

Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’”

2 Samuel 18:16

Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab had restrained them.

2 Samuel 20:1

Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”

2 Samuel 20:22

Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.

1 Kings (3)
1 Kings 1:34

There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’

1 Kings 1:39

Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”

1 Kings 1:41

Now Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their feast when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn. “Why is the city in such a loud uproar?” asked Joab.

2 Kings (1)
2 Kings 9:13

Quickly, each man took his garment and put it under Jehu on the bare steps. Then they blew the ram’s horn and proclaimed, “Jehu is king!”

1 Chronicles (1)
1 Chronicles 15:28

So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, with the sounding of ramshorns and trumpets, and with cymbals and the music of harps and lyres.

2 Chronicles (1)
2 Chronicles 15:14

They took an oath to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, trumpets, and ramshorns.

Nehemiah (2)
Nehemiah 4:12

At that time the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

Nehemiah 4:14

After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

Job (2)
Job 39:24

Trembling with excitement, he devours the distance; he cannot stand still when the ram’s horn sounds.

Job 39:25

At the blast of the horn, he snorts with fervor. He catches the scent of battle from afar, the shouts of captains and the cry of war.

Psalms (4)
Psalm 47:6

Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises!

Psalm 81:4

For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

Psalm 98:6

With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn shout for joy before the LORD, the King.

Psalm 150:3

Praise Him with the sound of the horn; praise Him with the harp and lyre.

Isaiah (3)
Isaiah 18:3

All you people of the world and dwellers of the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it; when a ram’s horn sounds, you will hear it.

Isaiah 27:13

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.

Isaiah 58:1

“Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins.

Jeremiah (7)
Jeremiah 4:5

Announce in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: “Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land. Cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble yourselves and let us flee to the fortified cities.’

Jeremiah 4:19

My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the pain in my chest! My heart pounds within me; I cannot be silent. For I have heard the sound of the horn, the alarm of battle.

Jeremiah 4:21

How long must I see the signal flag and hear the sound of the horn?

Jeremiah 6:1

“Run for cover, O sons of Benjamin; flee from Jerusalem! Sound the ram’s horn in Tekoa; send up a signal over Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms from the north, even great destruction.

Jeremiah 6:17

I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’ But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’

Jeremiah 42:14

and if you say, ‘No, but we will go to the land of Egypt and live there, where we will not see war or hear the sound of the ram’s horn or hunger for bread,’

Jeremiah 51:27

“Raise a banner in the land! Blow the ram’s horn among the nations! Prepare the nations against her. Summon the kingdoms against her—Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a captain against her; bring up horses like swarming locusts.

Ezekiel (5)
Ezekiel 7:14

They have blown the trumpet and made everything ready, but no one goes to war, for My wrath is upon the whole multitude.

Ezekiel 33:3

and he sees the sword coming against that land and blows the ram’s horn to warn the people.

Ezekiel 33:4

Then if anyone hears the sound of the horn but fails to heed the warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.

Ezekiel 33:5

Since he heard the sound of the horn but failed to heed the warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had heeded the warning, he would have saved his life.

Ezekiel 33:6

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and fails to blow the horn to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes away a life, then that one will be taken away in his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’

Daniel (4)
Daniel 3:5

As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

Daniel 3:7

Therefore, as soon as all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music, the people of every nation and language would fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Daniel 3:10

You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden statue,

Daniel 3:15

Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the statue I have made, very good. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?”

Hosea (2)
Hosea 5:8

Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the battle cry in Beth-aven: Lead on, O Benjamin!

Hosea 8:1

Put the ram’s horn to your lips! An eagle looms over the house of the LORD, because the people have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law.

Joel (2)
Joel 2:1

Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near—

Joel 2:15

Blow the ram’s horn in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a sacred assembly.

Amos (2)
Amos 2:2

So I will send fire against Moab to consume the citadels of Kerioth. Moab will die in tumult, amid war cries and the sound of the ram’s horn.

Amos 3:6

If a ram’s horn sounds in a city, do the people not tremble? If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?

Zephaniah (1)
Zephaniah 1:16

a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers.

Zechariah (1)
Zechariah 9:14

Then the LORD will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord GOD will sound the ram’s horn and advance in the whirlwinds of the south.