HORN, HORNS
This word in Scripture doth not seem to be very generally understood. Certainly it is more than once spoken of in reference to the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus JEHOVAH saith, "I will make the horn of David to flourish," meaning Christ. (See Psalms 132:17) And Zacharias celebrates Christ to the same amount in his song, when saying, "the Lord hath raised up an horn for salvation for us, in the house of his servant David." (Luke 1:69) But when it is said, that the Lord "will cut off the horns of the wicked, and the horns of the righteous shall be exalted," (Psalms 75:10) here it appears, that the expression is in allusion to somewhat of a man's own, and not simply with an eye to Christ. Perhaps the word may be considered as referring in general to strength. Thus the son of "Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, with these shalt thou push the Syrians." (1 Kings 22:11) And, indeed, the prophet describes the Lord as having "horns coming out of his hand, when before him went the pestilence." (Habakkuk 3:4) Hence also we read of the horns of the altar. (Jeremiah 17:1; Revelation 9:13) But whether these had reference to any thing ornamental, or to objects more important, when "the sacrifice was bound with cords even to the horns of the altar," I cannot determine. (Psalms 118:27)