The Biblical Meaning of the Feast of Trumpets

In this, we're going to dig into what Yom Teruah (also called Feast of Trumpets) actually is according to Scripture, and how to honor it.

So, what is the Biblical Feast of Trumpets?

In the Bible it is not called Rosh Hashanah. It is not a celebration of a new year or when Adam was created. It is a wake-up call. A day of sound and weight.

When you look at Scripture, you find a command from Yahweh to observe something very different then the traditional new year celebration at this time.

Leviticus 23:23–25 says: "Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a solemn rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh.'"

Numbers 29:1 adds: "In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation: you shall do no regular work. It is a day of blowing of trumpets to you."

That's it. Those are the only two places where it's commanded. But those few words carry weight. There's no direct explanation for what the day represents, just trumpet blasts and a gathering. That means its meaning has to be uncovered through the rest of Scripture.

So let's talk about that word "teruah," because understanding that one word helps us understand the purpose behind the whole day.

The Hebrew word "Teruah" doesn't just mean trumpet. It means a loud noise, a battle cry, a shout, or an alarm blast. It's used all over the Old Testament, often connected to war, warning, or worship. It's meant to stir you, to disrupt you, to get your attention. This is why it's often understood as a wake-up call or warning. A blast that breaks the silence and demands a response. It is about lifting up your head and realizing the King is near.

Now let's clear something up that causes a lot of confusion. Exodus 12:2 says very clearly when the new year is. Abib (also called Nisan), the month of Passover, which comes in the spring, is the beginning of the year. It reads: "This month shall be to you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year to you." That is the start of the biblical calendar Not the first day of the seventh month.

Yom Teruah, by contrast, falls in the seventh month, called Ethanim in 1 Kings 8:2. After the Babylonian exile, it became more commonly known by its Aramaic/Babylonian name, Tishrei (or Tishri).

The idea of it being the "Head of the Year" (Rosh Hashanah) came later, and we'll cover that in another article. For now, just know this: Scripture never calls it that.

So what's the purpose of Yom Teruah? If no reason is listed in the command, what are we supposed to understand from honoring the day?

When you study out the use of the trumpet throughout Scripture, a couple of key patterns emerge.

The trumpet is first a call to repent, and it carries a warning of judgment. Joel 2:1 says: "Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of Yahweh comes, for it is close at hand." Yom Teruah has long been connected to preparation for judgment, and that connection makes sense. It comes ten days before Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The trumpet blasts call us to examine our lives. To turn from sin. To seek mercy.

In Ezekiel 33, Yahweh tells Ezekiel that if the watchman sees the sword coming and doesn't blow the trumpet, the blood of the people is on his hands. But if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, and they don't respond, their blood is on their own heads. Yom Teruah is a warning that judgment is coming. And the only proper response is to repent and prepare your heart.

Second, that trumpet is a rehearsal for the return of the King.

Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16: "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet." And in 1 Corinthians 15:52: "…in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed."

The shofar blast is prophetic. It's a picture of the coming King, returning to call His people and judge the earth. Every year we blow the trumpet, we're rehearsing that final moment. We're preparing ourselves to meet Him. This is why it's called a "memorial of blowing."

Scripture says that in ancient Israel, trumpets were used to announce a king's coronation. When the king was crowned, the people blew the trumpets and declared him king. The trumpet blast signaled that the new king now reigned. Yom Teruah carries that same meaning going forward. It's not just a call to attention, it's an announcement of a King taking His throne.

There are a few instances of this in scripture. For example, 1 Kings 1:39, "Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the Tent, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, 'Long live king Solomon!'"

This is why many believe Yeshua will return on Yom Teruah, being He said that no one knows the day or the hour, since Yom Teruah is the only feast tied to the new moon, a day that could not be set in advance.

So how do we actually keep this day the way YHWH intended?

His instructions are simple. There's no list of rituals or tradition required. Just a few clear commands.

First, you rest from work. Leviticus 23:25 calls it a Sabbath of solemn rest. So you're to set it apart by not doing your regular work or personal interests. That includes your 9 to 5 and doing your laundry. It's a day to pause and focus.

Second, you gather together. A Set Apart gathering is commanded. That means getting together with others who follow Yahweh. If you're able to meet with others in person, do it. If not, join with others online or get your family together to read scripture, pray, blow the shofar and make some noise.

Third, you blow the trumpet. This is the defining feature of the day. Whether it's a ram's horn (shofar) or a silver trumpet, you are commanded to blow it in remembrance and in declaration. Even if you don't have a real shofar, you can still shout. Remember, "teruah" also means loud shouting. The sound matters more than the instrument.

One year I didn't have a trumpet to blow. So i found an awesome recording online. I cranked up my audio system on my computer and blasted it. Scared my neighbors half to death and blew my speakers. But Praise Yah it was awesome!

And fourth, you reflect and prepare. This is a time to examine your heart. Take it seriously. Ask the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) to reveal any areas where you're asleep or distracted. Look at your walk. Are you living like the King is coming?

And, again, to be clear, here's what Yom Teruah is not. It's not the New Year. It's not the beginning of anything. It's not a Jewish version of New Year's with apples and honey. It's not a time to party or make resolutions. And it's not optional.

This is a commanded feast of Yahweh, not a Jewish tradition. It applies to all who follow Him, whether you're native born or grafted in, per Numbers 15:15–16.

And now more than ever, this is why it is important. We live in a time of spiritual distraction. The world is loud. The church (the body of the Messiah) is divided. Many who claim to follow Yeshua don't even recognize the sound of His voice, let alone the blast of His trumpet.

Yom Teruah is a gift from Yahweh to His people, to call us back. The same God, who came in the flesh, is coming again. But this time, it won't be in a manger. It'll be with a trumpet blast, with fire, and with judgment. The warrior-King will most assuredly return.

The question is, will you be ready when the trumpet sounds? Or will it catch you off guard and asleep?