Bible Question:
Our Sunday school class is unhappy with simple 'horn of salvation' definition (strength)presented by our lesson book. So I was asked to do research on the term. I have studied the roots and various verses and am leaning towards something else. Started with root word used in OT about Moses's shining face. Amused to read scholars at one time argued the scripture meant he'd grown horns. That shining lead me to other verses and all used the same Hebrew root "arq" for horn. Which is a verb meaning 'to shine'. Of strength, but also rays of light. Verse-- I can't remember the book but says, "hannah said....my horn is exalted in Your salvation". and Jeremiah 48:25 "...horn of Moab cut off and his arm broken..." The Hebrew of cut off is 'cut in two', 'severed', the broken goes to 'shattered', the arm is 'strength' or 'political or military forces'; so-- the strength of Moab was severed and his strength was shattered?'. Repetitive but have found alot of that in the Bible, but still couldn't get away from that 'to shine' and 'of rays of light' in the root Hebrew though. So I went to various NT verses that use 'light' (Matt and Lu). Found Greek word fwUV which root means "to shine or make manifest by rays". Same as Hebrew 'arq' used for horn. Psalms 75:10 says the 'horns of the wicked' will be cut off and the 'horns of the righteous' will be lifted up. I've always just read that as everybody having 'horns', but now I'm thinking each of the individual wicked has a 'horn' and each of the individual righteous has a 'horn', making horns for each group. So if the 'horn' of the wicked is severed (no salvation-no victory); likewise if the 'horn' of the righteous is lifted up (salvation-victory). Read that word for 'lifted up' also means 'raised or reared like children' and 'lifted off and contributed or presented'. Spirit was severed by sin, death. Likewise our spirit is exalted by righteousness, life. Our 'horn' by this verse will be lifted up--raised, like a child (infants in Christ); lifted off and presented to Jesus/God. (God's victory completed when Jesus presents everything back to Him) Psalm 18:2 and 2Samuel 22:3 both say God is 'the horn of my salvation'. The NT says Jesus is 'the light of the world'; both speak directly to our victory (God's victory) over death. My question: Could 'horn' be defined as our spirit or the state of our soul? Making 'horn of salvation' mean something more like 'our souls being in a state of grace; shining with the light of truth, victory, salvation? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Melanie! You asked me to check out this post! I would be careful trying to read Greek meanings into Hebrew words, unless the LXX actually uses a Greek term to translate a Hebrew term. In this case, the LXX translates 'horn' with 'keras' or 'horn'. So, I would not see any connection between 'light' and 'horn'. The term 'horn' or 'qeren' is a noun which speaks of horn like objects. Musical instruments, mountains, ect..., can all be refered to by this term. In the case of Moses, the rays of light shining forth from him were 'horn-like'. So, I would stick with the definition given by your Sunday School material. The horn was simply viewed as a source of power. So also, God is the 'horn' of our salvation. I hope this helps! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |