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Horn.
The word “horn” is often used metaphorically to signify strength and honor, because horns are the chief weapons and ornaments of the animals which possess them; hence they are also used as a type of victory. Of strength the horn of the unicorn was the most frequent representative, (33:17) etc., but not always; comp. (1 Kings 22:11) where probably horns of iron, worn defiantly and symbolically on the head, are intended. Among the Druses upon Mount Lebanon the married women wear silver horns on their heads. In the sense of honor, the word horn stands for the abstract “my horn,” (Job 16:16) “all the horn of Israel,” (1 Samuel 2:3) and so for the supreme authority. It also stands for the concrete , whence it comes to mean king, kingdom. (Daniel 8:2) etc.; Zech 1:18 Out of either or both of these last two metaphors sprang the idea of representing gods with horns.
Horns of animals were used as drinking vessels, and to hold ointments, perfumes, etc., 1 Samuel 16:1 1 Kings 1:39. The “horns of the altar” were its four corners and elevation on them, Exodus 27:2 30:2. See ALTAR.
The principal defense and ornament of many beasts are in their horns; and hence the horn is often a symbol of strength, honor, and dominion. The Lord exalted the horn of David, and of his people; he breaketh the horn of salvation, and of defiling the horn in the dust, De 33:17 1 Samuel 2:1,10 Job 16:15 Psalm 75:10 Daniel 7:20-24 Luke 1:69. There may be an allusion in these passages to a very common part of the female dress in some parts of the East. The married women among the Druses of mount Lebanon still wear on their heads silver horns, as in the accompanying cut; the other head is that of an Abyssinian chief.
Trumpets were at first horns perforated at the tip, used for various purposes (Joshua 6:4, 5). Flasks or vessels were made of horn (1 Samuel 16:1, 13; 1 Kings 1:39).
But the word is used also metaphorically to denote the projecting corners of the altar of burnt offerings (Exodus 27:2) and of incense (30:2). The horns of the altar of burnt offerings were to be smeared with the blood of the slain bullock (29:12; Leviticus 4:7-18). The criminal, when his crime was accidental, found an asylum by laying hold of the horns of the altar (1 Kings 1:50; 2:28).
The word also denotes the peak or summit of a hill (Isaiah 5:1, where the word “hill” is the rendering of the same Hebrew word).
This word is used metaphorically also for strength (Deuteronomy 33:17) and honor (Job 16:15; Lamentations 2:3). Horns are emblems of power, dominion, glory, and fierceness, as they are the chief means of attack and defence with the animals endowed with them (Dan. 8:5, 9; 1 Samuel 2:1; 16:1, 13; 1 Kings 1:39; 22:11; Joshua 6:4, 5; Psalm 75:5, 10; 132:17; Luke 1:69, etc.). The expression “horn of salvation,” applied to Christ, means a salvation of strength, or a strong Saviour (Luke 1:69). To have the horn “exalted” denotes prosperity and triumph (Psalm 89:17, 24). To “lift up” the horn is to act proudly (Zechariah 1:21).
Horns are also the symbol of royal dignity and power (Jeremiah 48:25; Zechariah 1:18; Dan. 8:24).
2. (n.) The antler of a deer, which is of bone throughout, and annually shed and renewed.
3. (n.) Any natural projection or excrescence from an animal, resembling or thought to resemble a horn in substance or form; esp.: (a) A projection from the beak of a bird, as in the hornbill. (b) A tuft of feathers on the head of a bird, as in the horned owl. (c) A hornlike projection from the head or thorax of an insect, or the head of a reptile, or fish. (d) A sharp spine in front of the fins of a fish, as in the horned pout.
4. (n.) An incurved, tapering and pointed appendage found in the flowers of the milkweed (Asclepias).
5. (n.) Something made of a horn, or in resemblance of a horn
6. (n.) A wind instrument of music; originally, one made of a michael horn (of an ox or a ram); now applied to various elaborately wrought instruments of brass or other metal, resembling a horn in shape.
7. (n.) A drinking cup, or beaker, as having been originally made of the horns of cattle.
8. (n.) The cornucopia, or horn of plenty.
9. (n.) A vessel made of a horn; esp., one designed for containing powder; anciently, a small vessel for carrying liquids.
10. (n.) The pointed beak of an anvil.
11. (n.) The high pommel of a saddle; also, either of the projections on a lady’s saddle for supporting the leg.
12. (n.) The Ionic volute.
13. (n.) The outer end of a crosstree; also, one of the projections forming the jaws of a gaff, boom, etc.
14. (n.) A curved projection on the fore part of a plane.
15. (n.) One of the projections at the four corners of the Jewish altar of burnt offering.
16. (n.) One of the curved ends of a crescent; esp., an extremity or cusp of the moon when crescent-shaped.
17. (n.) The curving extremity of the wing of an army or of a squadron drawn up in a crescent like form.
18. (n.) The tough, fibrous material of which true horns are composed, being, in the Ox family, chiefly albuminous, with some phosphate of lime; also, any similar substance, as that which forms the hoof crust of horses, sheep, and cattle; as, a spoon of horn.
19. (n.) A symbol of strength, power, glory, exaltation, or pride.
20. (n.) An emblem of a cuckold; — used chiefly in the plural.
21. (v. t.) To furnish with horns; to give the shape of a horn to.
22. (v. t.) To cause to wear horns; to cuckold.
horn (Hebrew and Aramaic qeren; keras; for the “ram’s horn” (yobhel) of Joshua 6 see MUSIC, and for the “inkhorn” of Ezekiel 9 (qeceth) see separate article):
(1) Qeren and keras represent the English “horn” exactly, whether on the animal (Genesis 22:13), or used for musical purposes (Joshua 6:5 1 Chronicles 25:5), or for containing a liquid (1 Samuel 16:1, 13 1 Kings 1:39), but in Ezekiel 27:15 the horns of ivory are of course tusks and the “horns” of ebony are small (pointed?) logs. Consequently most of the usages require no explanation.
(2) Both the altar of burnt offering (Exodus 27:2; Exodus 38:2; compare Ezekiel 43:15) and the incense altar (Exodus 30:2; Exodus 37:25, 26; compare Revelation 9:13) had “horns,” which are explained to be projections “of one piece with” the wooden framework and covered with the brass (or gold) that covered the altar. They formed the most sacred part of the altar and were anointed with the blood of the most solemn sacrifices (only) (Exodus 30:10 Leviticus 4:7, 18, 25, 30, 34; Leviticus 16:18; compare Ezekiel 43:20), and according to Leviticus 8:15; Leviticus 9:9, the first official sacrifices began by anointing them. Consequently cutting off the horns effectually desecrated the altar (Amos 3:14), while “sin graven on them” (Jeremiah 17:1) took all efficacy from the sacrifice. On the other hand they offered the highest sanctuary (1 Kings 1:50, 51; 1 Kings 2:28). Of their symbolism nothing whatever is said, and the eventual origin is quite obscure. “Remnants of a bull-cult” and “miniature sacred towers” have been suggested, but are wholly uncertain. A more likely origin is from an old custom of draping the altar with skins of sacrificed animals (RS, 436). That, however, the “horns” were mere conveniences for binding the sacrificial animals (Psalm 118:27, a custom referred to nowhere else in the Old Testament), is most unlikely. See ALTAR.
(3) The common figurative use of “horn” is taken from the image of battling animals (literal use in Daniel 8:7, etc.) to denote aggressive strength. So Zedekiah ben Chenaanah illustrates the predicted defeat of the enemies by pushing with iron horns (1 Kings 22:11 2 Chronicles 18:10), while “horns of the wildox” (Deuteronomy 33:17 Psalm 22:21; Psalm 92:10, the King James Version “unicorn”) represent the magnitude of power, and in Zechariah 1:18-21 “horns” stand for power in general. In Habakkuk 3:4 the “horns coming out of his hand” denote the potency of Yahweh’s gesture (the Revised Version (British and American) “rays” may be smoother, but is weak). So to “exalt the horn” (1 Samuel 2:1, 10 Psalm 75:4, etc.) is to clothe with strength, and to “cut off the horn” (not to be explained by Amos 3:14) is to rob of power (Psalm 75:10 Jeremiah 48:25). “Suck a mans horn” Hence, the “horn of salvation” in 2 Samuel 22:3 Psalm 18:2 Luke 1:69 is a means of active defense and not a place of sanctuary as in 1 Kings 1:50. When, in Daniel 7:7-24; Daniel 8:3, 8, 9, 20, 21 Revelation 13:1; Revelation 17:3, 7, 12, 16, many horns are given to the same animal, they figure successive nations or rulers. But the seven horns in Revelation 5:6; Revelation 12:3 denote the completeness of the malevolent or righteous power. In Revelation 13:11, however, the two horns point only to the external imitation of the harmless lamb, the “horns” being mere stubs.