A horn (literally or figuratively)
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G2768 names a horn, including an animal-like projection, an altar projection, or a symbolic representation of power. Biblical imagery draws on horns as signs of strength, but the surrounding interpretation decides whether that power saves, opposes God, or belongs to a liturgical object.
Reader summary
Full entry for κέρας (G2768) · Open the biblical lexicon
G2768 names a horn, including an animal-like projection, an altar projection, or a symbolic representation of power. Biblical imagery draws on horns as signs of strength, but the surrounding interpretation decides whether that power saves, opposes God, or belongs to a liturgical object.
The BSB source-word alignment has 11 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include horns (10), a horn (1).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Luke 1:69. Its strongest book concentrations include Revelation (10), Luke (1).
G2768 names a horn, including an animal-like projection, an altar projection, or a symbolic representation of power. Biblical imagery draws on horns as signs of strength, but the surrounding interpretation decides whether that power saves, opposes God, or belongs to a liturgical object. In Luke. 1. 69, Zechariah praises God for raising a horn of salvation in David's house, using inherited royal-strength language for the promised deliverer.
In Rev. 5. 6, the slain yet standing Lamb has seven horns and seven eyes, portraying complete power and Spirit-filled knowledge within the vision. In Rev. 17. 12, ten horns are explicitly interpreted as ten kings receiving brief authority with the beast. G2768 opens teaching on messianic rescue, cruciform sovereignty, and limited rebellious power. It does not make every horn the same ruler, support confident identification of contemporary politicians, or sanctify dominance as Christian strength.
G2768 appears in salvation praise, altar imagery, and Revelation's symbolic creatures and kingdoms. Horns can represent strength or rulers, but some references are physical features and Revelation often supplies its own interpretation.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
Zechariah blesses Israel's God for raising a horn of salvation in David's house as part of covenant visitation and redemption.
Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
John sees the slain yet standing Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes, which the vision identifies with the seven Spirits sent into all the earth.
The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings along with the beast.
The interpreting angel identifies the ten horns as ten kings who receive limited authority with the beast for one hour.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Greek word. In Revelation, horns symbolize political power and dominion; in Luke, strength and salvation.
In Revelation, horns symbolize political power and dominion; in Luke, strength and salvation.
(pl. not irreg. as in Attic), τό, [in LXX chiefly for קָרַן ;] a horn: Rev.5:6 12:3 13:1, 11 17:3, 7 17:12, 16; of the projections at the corners of the altar (Exo.29:12, al.): Rev.9:13. Metaphorical, as symbol of strength, κ. σωτηρίας (cf. Psa.18:3, al.): Luk.1:69.
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
11 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
a horn
Read versea horn
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Read versea horn
Read versea horn
Read versea horn
Read versea horn
Read versea horn
Read versea horn
Read versea horn
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 4 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 1 selected witness from 11 lexical occurrence verses.
Symbolizes Davidic strength and covenant salvation.Luke 1:57–80
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
G2768 presents power that must be interpreted by God's story. Zechariah's horn of salvation gathers Old Testament language of raised strength into praise for God's covenant faithfulness in David's house. Revelation then shows the Lamb with complete horned power, but this ruler appears as slain and standing. Divine victory is not modeled on the beast's coercion; the Lamb conquers through faithful sacrifice and receives worship.
Other horns belong to dragon-like or beastly powers, and Revelation explains some as kings whose authority is sharply limited. The same visual feature can therefore signify saving strength or rebellious rule according to its bearer. Faithful teaching does not treat power as morally neutral and does not use apocalyptic imagery to baptize a favored regime. It asks whether authority follows the Lamb, tells the truth, protects the vulnerable, and recognizes God's limit.
Christian hope rests in the strong Savior raised by God, while every beastly coalition receives only borrowed time and cannot overturn the Lamb's kingdom.
Luke.1.69
G2768 is a neuter Greek noun for a horn. Figuratively it can represent strength or ruling power, while altar horns remain architectural projections. Number, bearer, and explicit visionary interpretation are essential for identifying the referent.
Old Testament poetry speaks of God raising or exalting a horn as strength and deliverance, while Daniel's visions use horns for kings and kingdoms. Luke applies salvation language to David's heir, and Revelation reworks royal-beast imagery around the slain Lamb's victory.