The Difference between seeing and hearing the Word of God is blurred when the seeing and hearing are done without the physical eyes and ears. Yet, God makes a poignant distinction between the two.

“And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw [it], they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” (Exodus 20:18-19 AV)

The statement that the people "saw" the noise of the thundering and the trumpet really leaps out of the page at me. God makes a point of telling us that the noise of the trumpet is seen, not just heard. Thunder is a sound by definition, but God specifically mentions the noise of the trumpet, not the trumpet itself. There's no confusion or question that this might be a literal trumpet. Anyone can hold up an actual trumpet for someone to see without it making a sound. God obviously wants to be very clear on this point so that naysayers would have a difficult time picking this apart. It must be a pretty major point if He makes the unequivocal reference to the sound that a trumpet can be used to make, which can't be seen with the eyes.

At the same time, God makes it clear that the verb translated "saw in the above passage actually means to see. The Hebrew root in the original text is often used to refer to literal instances of seeing with actual eyes.

2 Chronicles 29:8 Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes.

Proverbs 20:12 ¶ The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

Even carefully examining the rare instances in which this common Hebrew verb root is not translated into any form of the English verb to see yields the finding that these instances are mistranslations; this verb root always means to see, even in its most primitive form.

A reference to watching the weather:
Ecclesiastes 11:4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

References to having such a close relationship with the king that one can see his face:
Jeremiah 52:25 He took also out of the city an eunuch, which had the charge of the men of war; and seven men of them that were near {were seeing} the king’s person, which were found in the city; and the principal scribe of the host, who mustered the people of the land; and threescore men of the people of the land, that were found in the midst of the city.
2 Kings 25:19 And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were {were seeing} in the king’s presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city:

Since God speaks in parables, and since He wants us to see a noise, then we have to conclude without a doubt that God must not be talking about a literal trumpet. The trumpet refers to God speaking, i.e., His Word. Anything God says is His Word.

“And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw [it], they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” (Exodus 20:18-19 AV)

References to the trumpet integrated with the Hebrew root under discussion, various forms of the verb to see:
Exodus 20:18 And all the people saw <07200> the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet <07782>, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw <07200> it, they removed, and stood afar off.
Isaiah 18:3 All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see <07200> ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet <07782>, hear ye.
Jeremiah 4:21 How long shall I see <07200> the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet <07782>?
Jeremiah 42:14 Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see <07200> no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet <07782>, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:
Ezekiel 33:3 If when he seeth <07200> the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet <07782>, and warn the people;
Ezekiel 33:6 But if the watchman see <07200> the sword come, and blow not the trumpet <07782>, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
Zechariah 9:14 And the LORD shall be seen <07200> over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet <07782>, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.

it can be seen that God ties the noise or the sound of the trumpet very closely to both seeing and hearing. How is knowing this beneficial to us? Here are just a few benefits; this is not exhaustive:

• IT teaches us that God cares more about spiritual eyes and ears than their physical equivalents with respect to His Word.


• It teaches us that we need not be able to use our physical eyes or ears to know His Word and, consequently, God Himself.


• It teaches us that The noise of the trumpet is not a noise at all, but a warning that can be heard if spoken aloud or that can be seen when written.


• It reminds us that God uses all kinds of unexpected earthly concepts and references to represent the spiritual substance of the Bible.


• It raises questions as to the details of the meanings of the trumpet, seeing, hearing, and sight and sound as taught in the Bible and how we are to apply this to our lives.

“Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take [any] person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” (Ezekiel 33:1-6 AV)