King James Bible Dictionary

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 honour (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 (Daniel 8:5, 9; 1 Samuel 2:1; 16:1, 13; 1 Kings 1:39; 22:11; Joshua 6:4, 5; Psalms 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 (Psalms 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; Daniel 8:24).

Used to hold the anointing oil
1 Samuel 16:1; 1 Kings 1:39

Used for a trumpet
Trumpet

Figurative:

Of divine protection
2 Samuel 22:3

Of power
1 Kings 22:11; Psalms 89:24; Psalms 92:10; Psalms 132:17

Symbolic
Daniel 7:7-24; Daniel 8:3-9; Daniel 8:20; Amos 6:13; Micah 4:13; Habakkuk 3:4; Zech 1:18-21; Revelation 5:6; Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:1; Revelation 13:11; Revelation 17:3-16
Altar

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 Isr'l," (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.; Zechariah 1:18 Out of either or both of these last two metaphors sprang the idea of representing gods with horns.

HORN, noun [Latin cornu]

1. A hard substance growing on the heads of certain animals, and particularly on cloven-footed quadrupeds; usually projecting to some length and terminating in a point. Horns are generally bent or curving, and those of some animals are spiral. They serve for weapons of offense and defense. The substance of horns is gelatinous, and in Papin's digester it may be converted into jelly.

HORN is an animal substance, chiefly membranous, consisting of coagulated albumen, with a little gelatin and phosphate of lime.

The horns of deer possess exactly the properties of bone, and are composed of the same constituents, only the proportion of cartilage is greater.

2. A wind instrument of music, made of horn; a trumpet. Such were used by the Israelites.

3. In modern times, a wind instrument made of metal.

4. An extremity of the moon, when it is waxing or waning, and forming a crescent.

5. The feeler or antenna of an insect.

6. The feeler of a snail, which may be withdrawn; hence, to pull or draw in the horns, is to repress one's ardor, or to restrain pride.

7. A drinking cup; horns being used anciently for cups.

8. A winding stream.

9. Horns, in the plural, is used to characterize a cuckold.

He wears the horns.

10. In Scripture, horn is a symbol of strength or power.

The horn of Moab is cut off. Jeremiah 48:25.

HORN is also an emblem of glory, honor, dignity.

My horn is exalted in the Lord. 1 Samuel 2:1.

In Daniel, horn represents a kingdom or state.

HORN'BEAK, noun A fish. [See Hornfish.]

HORN'BEAM, noun [See Beam.] A genus of trees, the Carpinus, so named from the hardness of the wood.

HORN'BILL, noun A fowl of the genus Buceros, which has a flat bony forehead with two horns; a native of the E. Indies.

HORN'BLEND, noun A mineral of several varieties, called by Hauy amphibole. It is sometimes in regular distinct crystals; more generally the result of confused crystallization, appearing in masses, composed of lamins, acicular crystals or fibers, variously aggregated. Its prevailing colors are black and green.

HORNBLOWER, noun One that blows a horn.

HORN'BOOK, noun The first book of children, or that in which they learn their letters and rudiments; so called from its cover of horn. [Now little used.]

HORN'-DISTEMPER, noun A disease of cattle, affecting the internal substance of the horn.

HORN'ED, adjective Furnished with horns; as horned cattle.

1. Shaped like a crescent, or the new moon.

HORN'EDNESS, noun The appearance of horns.

HORN'ER, noun One who works or deals in horns.

1. One who winds or blows the horn.

Heb. tsir'ah, "stinging", (Exodus 23:28; Deuteronomy 7:20; Joshua 24:12). The word is used in these passages as referring to some means by which the Canaanites were to be driven out from before the Israelites. Some have supposed that the word is used in a metaphorical sense as the symbol of some panic which would seize the people as a "terror of God" (Genesis 35:5), the consternation with which God would inspire the Canaanites. In Palestine there are four species of hornets, differing from our hornets, being larger in size, and they are very abundant. They "attack human beings in a very furious manner." "The furious attack of a swarm of hornets drives cattle and horses to madness, and has even caused the death of the animals."

Or wasp.
Exodus 23:28; Deuteronomy 7:20; Joshua 24:12

The hornet bears a general resemblance to the common wasp, only it is larger. It is exceedingly fierce and voracious, especially in hot climates and its sting is frequently dangerous. In Scripture the hornet is referred to only by the means which Jehovah employed for the extirpation of the Canaanites. (Exodus 23:28; 7:20; Joshua 24:12) Wisd. 12.8. (It is said that the Phaselit', a Phoenician people, were driven from their locality by hornets; and other examples are given in Paxton's "Illustrations of Scripture," 1.303. --ED.)

HORN'ET, noun An insect of the genus Vespa or wasp, the Vespa crabro. It is much larger and stronger than the wasp, and its sting gives severe pain. This insect constructs a nest of leaves or other substance which resembles brown paper of a light color. This is attached to the branches of trees, and often of the size of a half-peck measure.

HORN'FISH, noun The garfish or sea-needle, of the genus Esox.

HORN'FOOT, adjective Having a hoof; hoofed.

HORN'IFY, verb transitive To bestow horns upon. [Not used or vulgar.]

HORN'ING, noun Appearance of the moon when increasing, or in the form of a crescent.

HORN'ISH, adjective Somewhat like horn; hard.

HORN'LESS, adjective Having no horns.

HORN'MERCURY, noun Muriate of mercury.

HORN'OWL, noun A species of owl, so called from two tufts of feathers on its head like horns.

HORN'PIPE, noun An instrument of music in Wales, consisting of a wooden pipe with horns at the ends; one to collect the wind blown from the mouth; the other to carry off the sounds as modulated by the performer.

1. An air or tune of triple time, with six crotchets in a bar; four to the descending beat, and two to the ascending.

HORN'SHAVINGS, noun Scrapings or raspings of the horns of deer.

HORN'SILVER, noun Muriate of silver, or chlorid of silver.

HORN'SLATE, noun A gray siliceous stone.

HORN'SPOON, noun A spoon made of horn.

HORN'STONE, noun A siliceous stone, a subspecies of quartz. It is divided by Jameson into splintery, conchoidal, and wood-stone. [See Chert.]

HORN'WORK, noun In fortification, an outwork composed of two demi-bastions joined by a curtain.

HORN'Y, adjective Consisting of horn or horns.

1. Resembling horn.

2. Hard; callous.