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Bible Encyclopedias
Horn

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature

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Horn, from its primary use for defense in the case of horned animals, came to acquire several derivative meanings, some of which are connected with the illustration and right understanding of holy writ. As horns are hollow and easily polished, they have in ancient and modern times been used for drinking-vessels and for military purposes; and as they are the chief source of strength for attack and defense with the animals to which God has given them, they serve in Scripture as emblems of power, dominion, glory, and fierceness (;;;;;;;;;;; ). Hence to defile the horn in the dust (), is to lower and degrade oneself, and, on the contrary, to lift up, to exalt the horn (;; ), is poetically to raise oneself to eminent honor or prosperity, to bear oneself proudly. In the East, at present, horns are used as an ornament for the head, and as a token of eminent rank. The women among the Druses on Mount Lebanon wear on their heads silver horns of native make, 'which are the distinguishing badge of wifehood.'

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Horn Head Dresses

By an easy transition, horn came to denote an elevation or hill (); in Switzerland mountains still bear this name, thus, Schreckhorn, Buchhorn. The altar of burnt-offerings () and the altar of incense (), had each at the four corners four horns of shittim-wood, the first being overlaid with brass, the second with gold (;;; ). Upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offerings was to be smeared with the finger the blood of the slain bullock (;;;;; ). By laying hold of these horns of the altar of burnt-offering the criminal found an asylum and safety (; ). These horns are said to have served as a means for binding the animal destined for sacrifice (); but this use Winer denies, asserting that they did not and could not answer for such a purpose.

 

 

 

 

Bibliography Information
Kitto, John, ed. Entry for 'Horn'. "Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature". https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​kbe/​h/horn.html.
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