The writer is not concerned with the function of the trumpet or “ram’s horn” (Exo 19.13 New English Bible), which is not entirely clear even in Exodus. In this verse it is a sign of God’s activity, like the storm and the voice. There is no difference of meaning between the words translated blast and sound. A single blast is mentioned in Exodus 19.13, 16. Similarly, voice, literally “spoken words,” as in 1.3, and word, as in 2.2, are probably used for the sake of variety rather than to emphasize the singular another word as in Exodus 20.19.

The blast of a trumpet may be “the loud noise made by a trumpet.” There may be a problem in translating the sound of a voice, since “voice” is generally related to someone speaking. But it would be wrong to translate the sound of a voice as “the sound of someone speaking,” since this would raise the question “Who is that someone?” Because the declaration referred to is uttered by God, it may be necessary to translate the sound of a voice as “the sound of God speaking.” This means that the temporal clause When the people heard the voice must be rendered as “When the people heard God speaking” or “… heard God’s voice.”

If one introduces a term such as begged, it may be necessary to indicate to whom the petition was addressed. But this may create complications, and therefore it may be better to translate they begged not to hear another word as “they strongly said they did not want to hear another word.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .