Topical Encyclopedia
The term "horned" in the Bible often refers to the presence of horns on animals, which are frequently used symbolically to represent strength, power, and authority. In the ancient Near Eastern context, horns were seen as symbols of might and were often associated with both divine and earthly power.
Symbolism of Horns1.
Strength and Power: Horns are commonly used in the Bible to symbolize strength and power. In
Deuteronomy 33:17, the blessing of Joseph is described using the imagery of horns: "His majesty is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth." Here, the horns represent the strength and dominance of Joseph's descendants.
2.
Authority and Kingship: Horns also symbolize authority and kingship. In the prophetic visions of Daniel and Revelation, horns are often used to represent kings or kingdoms. For example, in
Daniel 7:24, the ten horns are explained as ten kings: "The ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom." Similarly, in
Revelation 17:12, the ten horns are interpreted as ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom.
3.
Divine Power: In some instances, horns are associated with divine power and protection. In
Habakkuk 3:4, the radiance of God is described with the imagery of horns: "His radiance was like the sunlight; rays flashed from His hand, where His power is hidden." The "rays" or "horns" here symbolize the power and glory of God.
Physical Horns in Sacrificial Contexts1.
Altar Horns: The altars used in the tabernacle and temple had horns on their corners. These horns were significant in the sacrificial system and were often smeared with the blood of sacrifices as part of the atonement process. In
Exodus 27:2, the instructions for the altar of burnt offering include: "Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay it with bronze."
2.
Cities of Refuge: The horns of the altar also played a role in the cities of refuge. In
1 Kings 1:50, Adonijah, fearing Solomon, "took hold of the horns of the altar" as a plea for mercy. This act symbolized seeking asylum and protection, indicating the altar's role as a place of refuge.
Prophetic and Apocalyptic Imagery1.
Daniel's Visions: In the book of Daniel, horns are prominent in the apocalyptic visions.
Daniel 8:5 describes a goat with a notable horn between its eyes, representing the king of Greece: "As I was observing, a male goat came from the west, crossing the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground. This goat had a conspicuous horn between its eyes."
2.
Revelation's Beasts: The book of Revelation uses horn imagery extensively to depict the power and authority of various beasts.
Revelation 13:1 describes a beast with ten horns: "Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns, and blasphemous names on its heads." These horns symbolize the power and authority of the beastly kingdoms opposed to God.
Cultural and Historical ContextIn the ancient world, horns were often used in art and iconography to denote power and divinity. This cultural understanding is reflected in the biblical text, where horns serve as a powerful metaphor for strength, authority, and divine intervention. The use of horn imagery in the Bible aligns with the broader ancient Near Eastern symbolism, where deities and powerful figures were often depicted with horns to signify their might and status.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
a.) Furnished with a horn or horns; furnished with a hornlike process or appendage; as, horned cattle; having some part shaped like a horn.
Greek
2768. keras -- a horn... 2768 -- properly, an animal ; (figuratively) an , ie that by displaying . [2768 ("")
symbolizes the strength of (
horned) bulls (see Ps 132:17).].
...2769. keration -- a carob pod
... husk. Neuter of a presumed derivative of keras; somethinghorned, ie (specially)
the pod of the carob-tree -- husk. see GREEK keras. (keration) -- 1 Occurrence....
Strong's Hebrew
8207. shephiphon --horned viper... 8206, 8207. shephiphon. 8208 .
horned viper. Transliteration: shephiphon
Phonetic Spelling: (shef-ee-fone') Short Definition: snake.
...Library
Of the Two-Horned Beast (who is also the False Prophet), with the...
... PART I. SYNCHRONISM II. Of the Two-Horned Beast (who is also the False Prophet),
with the Ten-Horned Beast (who is likewise called the Image of the Beast)....
The Two-Horned Beast.
... EXPOSITION OF THE APOCALYPSE. The Two-Horned Beast. "And I saw another wild
beast ascending out of the earth, and he had two horns...
The Ten-Horned Beast.
... EXPOSITION OF THE APOCALYPSE. The Ten-Horned Beast. "And I was standing
on the sand of the sea, and saw a wild beast ascending out...
Of the great Harlot, or Mystic Babylon, with the same Seven-headed...
... PART I. SYNCHRONISM III. Of the great Harlot, or Mystic Babylon, with the
same Seven-headed and Ten-horned Beast. Of the great Harlot...
Of the Measure of the Interior Court by the Reed of God, with the...
... events; the battle of the dragon and the birth of the child, with the habitation
of the woman in the wilderness, and the rise of the ten-horned beast....
A Corollary of the General Synchronism of all the circumstances...
... It follows that the revived, or ten-horned beast is contemporary with the woman
in the wilderness, with the conculcation of the Holy City, and with the...
Concerning the Passion of Christ, and Its Old Testament...
... a bull; his horns, the horns of an unicorn; on them shall he toss nations alike
unto the very extremity of the earth." Of course no one-horned rhinoceros was...
The Final Conflict.
... This identifies him as the two-horned beast of Rev.13. (13:11-17). The
two-horned beast being a representative of the Eastern Roman...
The Cardinal Point of the Synchronisms; Or, the Synchronism
... Of the Seventh Seal, which relates to the first Six Trumpets; with the
Ten-horned and Two-horned Beast, and other contemporary matters....
Of the Thousand Years in which the Dragon or Satan is bound, with...
... under the first six trumpets of the following seal; for this is the period of the
woman in the wilderness, and of the domination of the ten-horned beast, as...
Thesaurus
Horned (5 Occurrences)... (a.) Furnished with a horn or horns; furnished with a hornlike process or appendage;
as,
horned cattle; having some part shaped like a horn.
...Ten-horned (1 Occurrence)
Ten-horned. Tends, Ten-horned. Tenon . Multi-Version Concordance
Ten-horned (1 Occurrence). Revelation 17:7 Then the...
Two-horned (1 Occurrence)
Two-horned. Two-fold, Two-horned. Two-hundred . Multi-Version
Concordance Two-horned (1 Occurrence). Daniel 8:6 And...
Owl (11 Occurrences)
... These birds range from the greathorned owl of 2 feet in length, through
many subdivisions to the little screech-owl of 5 inches....
Altar (343 Occurrences)
...HORNED ALTARS OF BURNT OFFERING 1. The Tabernacle Altar 2. The Altar of Joshua 22
3. The Altar till Solomon 4. TheHorned Altar in Use 5. The Temple of Solomon...
Unicorn (6 Occurrences)
... Numbers 23:22, RV, "wild ox, " marg., "ox-antelope;24:8; Isaiah 34:7, RV, "wild
oxen"), and untamable (Job 39:9). It was in reality a two-horned animal; but...
Ox (197 Occurrences)
... The Septuagint has monokeros, "one-horned," except in Isaiah 34:7, where we find
hoi hadroi, "the large ones," "the bulky ones." In this passage also the...
Mole (2 Occurrences)
... chameleon"). In Leviticus 11:18, Deuteronomy 14:16, it is rendered, in
Authorized Version, "swan" (RV, "horned owl"). The Hebrews...
Swan (2 Occurrences)
... In the Revised Version (British and American) this is rightly changed to "thehorned
owl, and the pelican, and the vulture." A bird of the duck family wrongly...
Tenon
Resources
Why does Moses have horns in some ancient statues / sculptures? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the image of the beast? | GotQuestions.orgAre any mythological creatures mentioned in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgHorned: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus