Bible Strands
Psalms 81:3
Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and at the full moon on the day of our Feast.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses the Israelite assembly, directing them to mark specific lunar calendar dates with trumpet blasts. This command immediately follows a call to lift up songs and strike stringed and percussion instruments.
The words — The imperative תִּקְע֣וּ (tik‘û) commands the blowing of the שׁוֹפָ֑ר (shôpār), or ram’s horn. The prepositional phrase בַּחֹדֶשׁ (baḥōḏeš) specifies the new moon, while בַּכֵּסֶה (bakkeśeh) designates the full moon.
The thread — The instruction to sound the horn at appointed lunar festivals corresponds to the statutory calendar in Leviticus 23:24 and the accompanying sacrificial ordinances in Numbers 15:3. These passages establish the trumpet blast as a required public marker for Israel’s sacred assemblies.
Why it lands — The text requires the community to interrupt ordinary time to perform a specific auditory act of obedience. It demands that worship be structured by divine timing rather than human preference.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 23:24 “Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly announced by trumpet blasts.
- Numbers 15:3 and you present a food offering to the LORD from the herd or flock to produce a pleasing aroma to the LORD—either a burnt offering or a sacrifice, for a special vow or freewill offering or appointed feast—
- 2 Chronicles 2:4 Behold, I am about to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God to dedicate to Him for burning fragrant incense before Him, for displaying the showbread continuously, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening as well as on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts of the LORD our God. This is ordained for Israel forever.
- Numbers 10:1 Then the LORD said to Moses,
- Deuteronomy 16:15 For seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the LORD your God in the place He will choose, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that your joy will be complete.
- 2 Chronicles 13:14 When Judah turned and discovered that the battle was both before and behind them, they cried out to the LORD. Then the priests blew the trumpets,
- Numbers 28:11 At the beginning of every month, you are to present to the LORD a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished,
- 2 Kings 4:23 “Why would you go to him today?” he replied. “It is not a New Moon or a Sabbath.” “Everything is all right,” she said.
- 1 Chronicles 15:24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—the priests—were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were also to be guardians of the ark.
- 1 Chronicles 16:6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.