the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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Bible Dictionaries
Horn (2)
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament
or (κέρας)
Except in Luke 1:69 (‘horns of salvation’), the only allusions to ‘horns’ in the NT are in the Apocalyptic Visions (Revelation 5:6; Revelation 9:13; Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:1; Revelation 13:11; Revelation 17:3; Revelation 17:7; Revelation 17:12; Revelation 17:16). The horn as an emblem of strength and power is obviously derived from the animal world. The bull has always been recognized among primitive peoples as a fitting symbol for strength; hence the horn of a bull, which is the characteristic feature of that animal and its natural weapon of offence, acquired a special significance. We thus find it used symbolically by the Babylonians and Assyrians, the horned cap being the distinguishing mark of the gods. The first occurrence of its emblematic use in the OT is in Deuteronomy 33:17, where Ephraim is said to have the horns of a wild ox (רְאַם). Other examples will be found in 1 Samuel 2:1; 1 Samuel 2:10 and also in 1 Kings 22:11, where Zedekiah is said to have made ‘horns of iron,’ whereby Israel would ‘push the Syrians, until they be consumed.’ In the later books of the OT the horn is used as ‘the symbol of a dynastic force’ (cf. Zechariah 1:18 ff., Daniel 7:7 ff; Daniel 8:3 ff.), and it is used in the same sense in Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:1; Revelation 13:11; Revelation 17:3 ff.
In Revelation 5:6 the ‘seven horns’ symbolize the power of the Lamb as the victorious Christ, and the ‘seven,’ which throughout the OT and the NT represents fullness, here denotes the all-sufficiency of that power. In the ‘horns of the golden altar’ in Revelation 9:13 we seem to have an echo of Exodus 27:1-2; as H. B. Swete says (The Apocalypse of St. John2, 121), there may here be some allusion to the ‘four corners of the earth’ mentioned in Revelation 7:1, and the ‘single’ voice is a suitable mouthpiece for the single-hearted and unanimous desire of the Church throughout the world. In Revelation 12:3 the great red dragon is furnished with ten horns. The horns, however, are not crowned, and it is interesting in this connexion to compare and contrast the account of the wild beast of the sea (Revelation 13:1), where the beast is represented as having ten diadems on its ten horns. The ten crowned horns in the latter passage (Revelation 13:1) denote ten kings and represent the forces which, arising out of the Roman Empire itself, like horns out of a beast’s head, would ultimately bring about its dissolution. The second beast (Revelation 13:11) is of a different character; he has ‘two horns like unto a lamb,’ but, notwithstanding his gentle and docile appearance, ‘he spake as a dragon.’ He represents a religious power, and at once recalls the ‘false prophets (Matthew 7:15) which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.’ Lastly, ‘a scarlet-coloured beast … having seven heads and ten horns’ (Revelation 17:3), is the undoer of ‘the great harlot’ (Revelation 17:16). The reference is again to the doom of the Roman Empire. The ten horns are ‘ten kings which have received no kingdom as yet’ (Revelation 17:12), but are destined to ‘receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.’ Both the kings and the beast to whom ‘they give their power and authority’ will be impotent in their attack against the Lamb, but nevertheless they are destined to be the willing or unwilling agents of the Divine purpose-‘they shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh and shall burn her utterly with fire. For God did put in their hearts to do his mind.’ The harlot is the great city (i.e. Rome; Revelation 17:18), and she was to receive her death-blow at the hands of those who ‘have received no kingdom as yet.’ The Seer’s prediction was amply verified by the numerous invasions of barbarian hordes, which blackened the page of Rome’s history in the 5th and 6th centuries a.d., and finally laid its long-established Empire in ruins.
Literature.-H. B. Swete, The Apocalypse of St. John2, 1907, pp. 78, 120, 149, 221f., 224f.; Murray’s Dict. of the Bible , 355; Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols) ii. 415f.; Encyclopaedia Biblica i. 209f.
P. S. P. Handcock.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Horn (2)'. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdn/h/horn-2.html. 1906-1918.
