What does the blowing of the trumpets by Gideon and his men symbolize?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10
The blowing of the trumpets by Gideon and his three hundred men is a profound event in salvation history, rich with typological and liturgical symbolism within the Coptic Orthodox tradition.
1. The Preaching of the Gospel
In the Coptic tradition, the trumpet is the primary symbol for the Preaching of the Gospel. Just as the sound of the trumpet is loud, clear, and carries over great distances, the word of God was sent out by the Apostles to the ends of the earth. St. Clement of Alexandria explains that "the trumpet sound will call upon the dead to rise." This refers not only to the final resurrection but to the spiritual resurrection of those dead in sin who hear the "trumpet" of the Gospel.
2. The Power of the Divine Word
"The Lord Almighty shall sound with the trumpet" (Zechariah 9:14). When Gideon’s men blew their trumpets, they were not using physical weapons of war like swords or spears to initiate the collapse of the enemy; rather, they used the sound. This signifies that the spiritual warfare of the Church is won through the Word of God. The Midianites—who represent the demons and the passions—are thrown into confusion and defeated when the faithful boldly proclaim the truth of the Faith.
3. The Liturgical Trumpet
In the Coptic Church, the "trumpet" is also associated with the tongue of the believer. As the writings of the Fathers suggest, "our tongues are the Lord’s flute/trumpet." When we participate in the Divine Liturgy or the praises, our voices become the trumpets that announce the presence of the King. This is why the Coptic service is loud and filled with the "shout" of joy, acknowledging that the Lord has delivered the enemy into our hands.
4. The End of the Old Covenant
The blowing of the trumpets, combined with the breaking of the pitchers, represents the manifestation of God's power through the "shattering" of the flesh. The pitchers represent our bodies—"earthen vessels"—and the blowing of the trumpets represents the Spirit-filled voice coming forth once the worldly shell is broken through asceticism.
From a Coptic perspective, this also serves as a rebuke to the Jews and heretics who look for a physical or worldly kingdom. The victory of Gideon shows that God’s kingdom is established through the "sound" of faith and the "light" of the Spirit, not through the carnal strength of a large army or political power. It proves that the "few"—the true Orthodox remnant—can overcome the vast "Midianite" forces of heresy and worldliness through the divine instruments of the Church.
5. Summary of Symbolism
- The Trumpet: The voice of the Apostles and the preaching of the Gospel.
- The Sound: The authority of the Holy Spirit that confuses the demonic hosts.
- The Shout: The "Sword of the Lord," which is the confession of the true Faith.
By blowing the trumpets, Gideon’s men demonstrated that the battle belongs to the Lord, and our role is to be the instruments through which His terrifying and saving voice is heard.