A horn (as projecting); by implication, a flask , cornet ; by resemblance. an elephant's tooth (i.e. ivory), a corner (of the altar), a peak (of a mountain), a ray (of light); figuratively, power
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H7161 is a Hebrew noun for a horn and, by resemblance or function, a projecting altar corner, trumpet, oil container, ivory tusk, mountain peak, ray of light, or figurative power. First Samuel 2:1 has Hannah rejoice that her horn is exalted in the LORD, expressing restored strength and boldness rooted in salvation.
Reader summary
Full entry for קֶרֶן (H7161) · Open the biblical lexicon
H7161 is a Hebrew noun for a horn and, by resemblance or function, a projecting altar corner, trumpet, oil container, ivory tusk, mountain peak, ray of light, or figurative power. First Samuel 2:1 has Hannah rejoice that her horn is exalted in the LORD, expressing restored strength and boldness rooted in salvation.
The BSB source-word alignment has 76 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the horns (12), horns (7), horn (6), the horn (5), a horn (3).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 22:13. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (13), Exodus (10), Daniel (9), Leviticus (8).
H7161 is a Hebrew noun for a horn and, by resemblance or function, a projecting altar corner, trumpet, oil container, ivory tusk, mountain peak, ray of light, or figurative power. First Samuel 2:1 has Hannah rejoice that her horn is exalted in the Lord, expressing restored strength and boldness rooted in salvation. Second Samuel 22:3 calls God the horn of David's salvation, joining effective saving power with refuge.
First Kings 1:39 mentions both the horn of oil used to anoint Solomon and the ram's horn sounded at his accession. Other passages portray animal horns, altar horns, imperial powers in visions, false prophets' iron horns, and humbled or raised strength. H7161 opens salvation, authority, consecration, worship signals, political power, and poetic dignity. It corrects flat readings that force every horn into one symbol and triumphalist applications that identify a leader, nation, or movement's rising power with God's approval.
H7161 begins with a projecting animal horn and extends to objects or images shaped or functioning like one: trumpet, vessel, altar corner, tusk, peak, ray, and figurative power. Material clues and literary genre determine which branch is active.
At that time Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation.
Hannah rejoices that her horn is exalted in the Lord and connects renewed boldness with God's salvation.
My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation. My stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, You save me from violence.
David's song names God as rock, shield, refuge, Savior, and the horn of his salvation from violence.
Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”
Zadok anoints Solomon with oil from a horn, and the people sound the ram's horn at the royal proclamation.
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.
Hebrew word. Horn as projecting symbol of power; extends to altar corners, mountain peaks, and divine strength metaphorically.
Horn as projecting symbol of power; extends to altar corners, mountain peaks, and divine strength metaphorically.
a horn (as projecting); by implication, a flask, cornet; by resemblance. an elephant's tooth (i.e. ivory), a corner (of the altar), a peak (of a mountain), a ray (of light); figuratively, power BDB: horn Usage: × hill, horn.
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 1 selected witness from 76 lexical occurrence verses.
קֶרֶן is built from this root:
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
H7161 turns a visible feature of strength into a rich family of images. Hannah's horn is raised not through self-promotion but through the Lord's salvation after humiliation. David names God the horn of his salvation because effective rescue and protection come from Him. Horns also hold anointing oil, sound public signals, project from altars, and represent kingdoms in visions.
These uses share shape or force without sharing one hidden symbolic code. A false prophet can manufacture iron horns and attach God's name to promised victory, warning readers that powerful imagery and confident performance do not authenticate a message. Political horns in Daniel rise and fall under divine judgment, making power real but temporary. Faithful application therefore celebrates dignity restored by God and asks how power is used.
It can honor public signs and offices without treating them as magic. It can seek refuge without glamorizing retaliation. When communities speak of raised influence, anointing, or breakthrough, they should test the claim by Scripture, character, truth, and care for those affected. God's saving power is not a slogan for expanding a leader's platform.
1Sam.2.1
H7161 is a concrete noun extended by resemblance and metaphor. It may denote an animal horn, trumpet, oil flask, altar corner, ivory tusk, hill, ray, or power, so collocation, material description, and genre control translation.
The New Testament speaks of a horn of salvation in Zechariah's song and Revelation develops horn imagery for ruling powers. Those uses inherit Old Testament symbolism while keeping saving power in God and political power under judgment.